Comments on: Ask Dr. Heather about Infertility or Weight Loss http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/101/ask-dr-heather-about-infertility-or-weight-loss/ Insulite PCOS System- a platform for information, expression & inspiration Wed, 09 May 2012 06:10:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Khadija http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/101/ask-dr-heather-about-infertility-or-weight-loss/comment-page-3/#comment-85823 Khadija Wed, 09 May 2012 06:10:55 +0000 http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?p=101#comment-85823 Hello I am a 21 year old who was diagnosed with pcos last year. I had been to multiple doctors in my teens due to my irregular periods but it wasn’t until last year they found what it actually was. My question is that i am quite thin weighing 113 lbs with a 5’4″ height. I have managed my mild acne, slight unwanted hair growth and mild hair loss symptoms with a low glycemic diet. I have cut down on all the sugar and white carbs. I have started to exercise recently since I wasn’t very active. I have weight around my midsection mostly and that is about it. I am not sure what I should do since I am not a typical pcos with overweight issues. My doctor put me on birthcontrol and I tried it for 3 months and hoped that my periods would become regular but they didn’t. Know i have just been watching my diet but I am not sure what exactly to do. My mom and sister do not have pcos. My sister has to beautiful daughters and she had no issues getting pregnant. Though I am not trying to conceive, I really want to get regular periods since I haven’t had one in the past 3 months. I am a indian woman and we eat home cooked meals at home although I am not a vegetarian. Please send me any suggestions of information you have about thin pcos. I had an ultrasound done last year and it showed that I had multiple cysts in my right ovary but there were none in my left. If I did not have any cysts in my left ovary shouldn't I still be able to get my period? My question is what else could I do to get regular periods? Hello I am a 21 year old who was diagnosed with pcos last year. I had been to multiple doctors in my teens due to my irregular periods but it wasn’t until last year they found what it actually was. My question is that i am quite thin weighing 113 lbs with a 5’4″ height. I have managed my mild acne, slight unwanted hair growth and mild hair loss symptoms with a low glycemic diet. I have cut down on all the sugar and white carbs. I have started to exercise recently since I wasn’t very active. I have weight around my midsection mostly and that is about it. I am not sure what I should do since I am not a typical pcos with overweight issues. My doctor put me on birthcontrol and I tried it for 3 months and hoped that my periods would become regular but they didn’t. Know i have just been watching my diet but I am not sure what exactly to do. My mom and sister do not have pcos. My sister has to beautiful daughters and she had no issues getting pregnant. Though I am not trying to conceive, I really want to get regular periods since I haven’t had one in the past 3 months. I am a indian woman and we eat home cooked meals at home although I am not a vegetarian. Please send me any suggestions of information you have about thin pcos. I had an ultrasound done last year and it showed that I had multiple cysts in my right ovary but there were none in my left. If I did not have any cysts in my left ovary shouldn’t I still be able to get my period? My question is what else could I do to get regular periods?

]]> By: jasmin http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/101/ask-dr-heather-about-infertility-or-weight-loss/comment-page-3/#comment-85805 jasmin Fri, 04 May 2012 12:32:30 +0000 http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?p=101#comment-85805 hi doctor I was wondering if you could help me. My doctor said i may have mild PCOS. I have been off yasmin, (which ive been on for about 9 years) for 18 months whilst trying to get pregnant and in this time I have lost a lot of hair gradually from my hairline receding back an inch and have terrible acne, greasy hair that has gone very fine and delicate. I feel so ugly and disgusting because on yasmin i was always healthy and glowing and lovely thick hair. We found out my husband has low motility and we cannot conceive naturally. so we have to go through icsi. Since we found out, i went back on yasmin because i was losing the will to live and have been back on it for nearly 4 months. safe to say my skin is now great and glowing again, my hair, although it hasnt grown back, is now thicker feeling and not greasy and I feel happy in myself mentally again. I guess i want to ask you, if i go off yasmin again to receive this treatment and hopefully get pregnant, will my hair start to fall out again and my acne come back? or the extra estrogen from pregnancy cause everything to stabilise? thanks so much for taking the time to read this, my gp doesn't really care. hi doctor I was wondering if you could help me. My doctor said i may have mild PCOS. I have been off yasmin, (which ive been on for about 9 years) for 18 months whilst trying to get pregnant and in this time I have lost a lot of hair gradually from my hairline receding back an inch and have terrible acne, greasy hair that has gone very fine and delicate. I feel so ugly and disgusting because on yasmin i was always healthy and glowing and lovely thick hair. We found out my husband has low motility and we cannot conceive naturally. so we have to go through icsi. Since we found out, i went back on yasmin because i was losing the will to live and have been back on it for nearly 4 months. safe to say my skin is now great and glowing again, my hair, although it hasnt grown back, is now thicker feeling and not greasy and I feel happy in myself mentally again. I guess i want to ask you, if i go off yasmin again to receive this treatment and hopefully get pregnant, will my hair start to fall out again and my acne come back? or the extra estrogen from pregnancy cause everything to stabilise? thanks so much for taking the time to read this, my gp doesn’t really care.

]]> By: Megha http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/101/ask-dr-heather-about-infertility-or-weight-loss/comment-page-3/#comment-85747 Megha Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:42:01 +0000 http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?p=101#comment-85747 Hello, I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2005 and have been struggling with it since. I have also have diabetes diagnosed in 2008, I'm on metaformin 850 mg twice a day. Also have Hashimoto thyroidtis & take levothryroxin. My doctor advised me to be on b 12 shots of 1000 every two weeks. I do have elevated cholestrol & testosterone levels. Would you suggest an Insulite programmme for me. Thank you Dear Megha, Thank you for posting on the PCOS Support Blog. It sounds like these last few years have been difficult not only with PCOS but the other health conditions that have also affected your ability to manage how you are feeling. With what you have explained in your post, I would recommend the Insulite Pre-Diabetes System with the additional PolyPlus supplement. This will give you nutrients to support lowering your glucose levels as well as addressing the underlying problems, supporting cardiovascular health and hormone imbalance. Keep in mind that we do recommend that you work with your doctor to help make changes to your medication, if needed and to be sure that you are being monitored. Megha, I hope that this helps and you consider the System. Please let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns. -- Best Wishes, Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.On 4/23/12 12:12 PM, Catherine Lord wrote: Hello,
I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2005 and have been struggling with it since. I have also have diabetes diagnosed in 2008, I’m on metaformin 850 mg twice a day. Also have Hashimoto thyroidtis & take levothryroxin. My doctor advised me to be on b 12 shots of 1000 every two weeks.
I do have elevated cholestrol & testosterone levels.
Would you suggest an Insulite programmme for me.

Thank you

Dear Megha,

Thank you for posting on the PCOS Support Blog.

It sounds like these last few years have been difficult not only with PCOS but the other health conditions that have also affected your ability to manage how you are feeling.

With what you have explained in your post, I would recommend the Insulite Pre-Diabetes System with the additional PolyPlus supplement. This will give you nutrients to support lowering your glucose levels as well as addressing the underlying problems, supporting cardiovascular health and hormone imbalance.

Keep in mind that we do recommend that you work with your doctor to help make changes to your medication, if needed and to be sure that you are being monitored.

Megha, I hope that this helps and you consider the System. Please let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns.

–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.On 4/23/12 12:12 PM, Catherine Lord wrote:

]]> By: Alex http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/101/ask-dr-heather-about-infertility-or-weight-loss/comment-page-3/#comment-82169 Alex Mon, 17 Oct 2011 05:39:54 +0000 http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?p=101#comment-82169 hello, I am 24 years old & have been on birth control since I am 18. I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2009. this past march i decided to stop my birth control since I have gained 18lbs. I stopped getting a period around the end of June as well. I went to see my doctor and got back on birth control, and am in my final week for the month. I eat a high protein diet, exercise about 5 times a week and cannot seem to lose any weight. I have never been tested for insulin resistance, but am wondering if my birth control pills help regulate my hormones so I can lose weight? Also, is there any other way to find out if I am insulin resistant other than blood work? <strong>Dear Alex,</strong> Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog. Insulin resistance can be verified by looking at the insulin levels (fasting and random) and the insulin: glucose ratio. Some doctors hesitate to perform a fasting insulin test on their patients because the normal range (0-20) is so wide. However, we have found that a fasting insulin level of about 9 or higher is starting to indicate problems with insulin resistance. For the random insulin, results over 25 or 30 may indicate insulin resistance. Other factors that would make me suspicious of insulin resistance include high blood pressure, difficulty losing weight, skin tags, acanthosis nigricans (dark brown patches on the skin), and a family history of diabetes or metabolic syndrome. We do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. Treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist. Our philosophy is to treat the cause of the disorder so that there is no longer a need for using contraceptives. Of course if you are using birth control to prevent pregnancy, you will need to find an alternate form of contraception (condoms, diaphragm, etc.) if you decide to discontinue the birth control pill! The supplements of The PCOS System do not do the same thing as the birth control pills, they do something even better! They work to correct the underlying cause of PCOS. You can read much more about the Insulite PCOS System by visiting the following link and browsing around: HYPERLINK "http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/" http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/. I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns. Best wishes, Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. hello,
I am 24 years old & have been on birth control since I am 18. I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2009. this past march i decided to stop my birth control since I have gained 18lbs. I stopped getting a period around the end of June as well. I went to see my doctor and got back on birth control, and am in my final week for the month. I eat a high protein diet, exercise about 5 times a week and cannot seem to lose any weight. I have never been tested for insulin resistance, but am wondering if my birth control pills help regulate my hormones so I can lose weight? Also, is there any other way to find out if I am insulin resistant other than blood work?

Dear Alex,

Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog.

Insulin resistance can be verified by looking at the insulin levels (fasting and random) and the insulin: glucose ratio. Some doctors hesitate to perform a fasting insulin test on their patients because the normal range (0-20) is so wide. However, we have found that a fasting insulin level of about 9 or higher is starting to indicate problems with insulin resistance. For the random insulin, results over 25 or 30 may indicate insulin resistance. Other factors that would make me suspicious of insulin resistance include high blood pressure, difficulty losing weight, skin tags, acanthosis nigricans (dark brown patches on the skin), and a family history of diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

We do not recommend oral contraceptives as a treatment for PCOS because they are synthetic hormones that mask some of the symptoms of PCOS rather than fixing the problems. Treating absent menses or other symptoms with oral contraceptives does not treat the underlying disorder of PCOS and when the contraceptives are discontinued, the PCOS symptoms will persist.

Our philosophy is to treat the cause of the disorder so that there is no longer a need for using contraceptives. Of course if you are using birth control to prevent pregnancy, you will need to find an alternate form of contraception (condoms, diaphragm, etc.) if you decide to discontinue the birth control pill! The supplements of The PCOS System do not do the same thing as the birth control pills, they do something even better! They work to correct the underlying cause of PCOS.

You can read much more about the Insulite PCOS System by visiting the following link and browsing around: HYPERLINK “http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/” http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/.

I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.

Best wishes,

Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.

]]> By: Eve http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/101/ask-dr-heather-about-infertility-or-weight-loss/comment-page-3/#comment-82112 Eve Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:00:55 +0000 http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?p=101#comment-82112 I have PCOS and was on BCP for 20 years. I have been off BCP since April 2009. My cycle over the last few months has started to become regular (27-30 days). Previously it was 40-60 days. I take natural progesterone which has helped tremendously. However, I find I still have extreme depression 1-2 weeks before onset. I have tried Metformin which gave me insomnia. I have just recently tried D-Chiro-Inositol and it also gave me insomnia. My concern is that the Insulite products will do the same. I don't know if I am ovulating (not TTC). My labs indicate my testosterone has reduced but my dhea is still elevated. My triglycerides have reduced from 517 down to 144. However, I continue to gain weight despite exercise and eating well. I am incredibly frustrated and concerned to start another product. What can you tell me about why Met and DCI would cause insomnia. Neither one have stimulatory aspects to my knowledge. Do you think that the insulite products will cause insommnia based on my history. I should also mention I was on Armour thyroid and it eventually caused me insomnia and heart palpitations though my labs indiciate I am on the border towards the low side. Thank you, <strong>Dear Eve Elizabeth,</strong> Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog. I can’t say for sure that the Insulite PCOS System will not cause insomnia. We don’t have customers on the system reporting this side effect. I wonder if you are getting drops in your blood sugar while you are sleeping causing the insomnia. Our adrenal glands produce cortisol in response to low blood sugar levels and in response to stress (fight or flight response). After long periods of stress, whether emotional, physical, or mental, our adrenals get fatigued and need some additional support to get their biorhythms back on track. Many women with PCOS and hypothyroidism need adrenal support. Long periods of stress can cause high cortisol levels and can lead to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance leads to spikes and drops in blood sugar, which we see in PCOS. So you see the adrenals and PCOS are closely related. Our products do contain some adrenal support. So you may do well on our system. You may want to monitor your blood sugar levels, especially when you are experiencing insomnia to see if it’s related to your blood sugar. The metformin and DCI may have been causing your blood sugar to go too low. We are able to adjust the dosage in those that experience hypoglycemia. Also our system contains ingredients to help keep your blood sugar more balanced between meals. If you do decide to purchase our product and find that it does not work for you, just let us know and we will be glad to refund your investment. *OUR GUARANTEE*: Insulite Labs offers a 90 day money back guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied with the Insulite System, we will refund your original purchase price for up to 90 days. (Excluding shipping and handling) I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns. Best wishes, Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. I have PCOS and was on BCP for 20 years. I have been off BCP since April 2009. My cycle over the last few months has started to become regular (27-30 days). Previously it was 40-60 days. I take natural progesterone which has helped tremendously. However, I find I still have extreme depression 1-2 weeks before onset. I have tried Metformin which gave me insomnia. I have just recently tried D-Chiro-Inositol and it also gave me insomnia.
My concern is that the Insulite products will do the same. I don’t know if I am ovulating (not TTC). My labs indicate my testosterone has reduced but my dhea is still elevated. My triglycerides have reduced from 517 down to 144. However, I continue to gain weight despite exercise and eating well. I am incredibly frustrated and concerned to start another product. What can you tell me about why Met and DCI would cause insomnia. Neither one have stimulatory aspects to my knowledge. Do you think that the insulite products will cause insommnia based on my history. I should also mention I was on Armour thyroid and it eventually caused me insomnia and heart palpitations though my labs indiciate I am on the border towards the low side.

Thank you,

Dear Eve Elizabeth,
Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog. I can’t say for sure that the Insulite PCOS System will not cause insomnia. We don’t have customers on the system reporting this side effect. I wonder if you are getting drops in your blood sugar while you are sleeping causing the insomnia. Our adrenal glands produce cortisol in response to low blood sugar levels and in response to stress (fight or flight response). After long periods of stress, whether emotional, physical, or mental, our adrenals get fatigued and need some additional support to get their biorhythms back on track. Many women with PCOS and hypothyroidism need adrenal support. Long periods of stress can cause high cortisol levels and can lead to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance leads to spikes and drops in blood sugar, which we see in PCOS. So you see the adrenals and PCOS are closely related. Our products do contain some adrenal support. So you may do well on our system. You may want to monitor your blood sugar levels, especially when you are experiencing insomnia to see if it’s related to your blood sugar. The metformin and DCI may have been causing your blood sugar to go too low. We are able to adjust the dosage in those that experience hypoglycemia. Also our system contains ingredients to help keep your blood sugar more balanced between meals.

If you do decide to purchase our product and find that it does not work for you, just let us know and we will be glad to refund your investment.

*OUR GUARANTEE*: Insulite Labs offers a 90 day money back guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied with the Insulite System, we will refund your original purchase price for up to 90 days. (Excluding shipping and handling)

I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.

Best wishes,

Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.

]]> By: Ivelina Stoyanova http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/101/ask-dr-heather-about-infertility-or-weight-loss/comment-page-3/#comment-80842 Ivelina Stoyanova Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:29:42 +0000 http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?p=101#comment-80842 Hello, I am from Bulgaria. 34 yars old. I was diagnosed with PCOS a few weeks ago. My insulin is 8.9 mkU/l/doctor said that up to 15 is normal/ and have a normal glucose. Have high levels androstendion 5.4 ng/ml; high LH 9.6 IU/l; ratio LH:FSH is 9.6 IU/l: 6.39 IU/l; estradiol is low 0.003nmol/l. I have never took hormonal tablrts. My sicle is irregular since 6 months. I have grasy hair and face skin. I have excessive hair but not too much. So what I wanderig is it sutable for my case insulite program? What is going to happen if the glucose level and insulin are in norm? <strong>Dear Ivelina</strong>, Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog. The mechanism of PCOS without insulin resistance is still not entirely understood in the medical community. As you may know, many women with PCOS do have insulin resistance, but some do not. Some women with PCOS hyper secrete insulin but do not yet manifest insulin resistance. Furthermore, in many women with PCOS, their ovaries are highly sensitive to insulin, so that even if their serum insulin levels are normal, the ovaries are highly reactive to that insulin. Insulin resistance can be verified by looking at the insulin levels (fasting and random) and the insulin: glucose ratio. Some doctors hesitate to perform a fasting insulin test on their patients because the normal range (0-20) is so wide. However, we have found that a fasting insulin level of about 9 or higher is starting to indicate problems with insulin resistance. For the random insulin, results over 25 or 30 may indicate insulin resistance. Other factors that would make me suspicious of insulin resistance include high blood pressure, difficulty losing weight, skin tags, acanthosis nigricans (dark brown patches on the skin), and a family history of diabetes or metabolic syndrome. If the insulin result of 8.9 is your fasting insulin, I would say you are most likely insulin resistant now or could soon be insulin resistant. I am beginning to think that there is a lot we don't know about diagnosing insulin resistance and that our detection methods are not sophisticated enough to catch all of the cases of insulin resistance. I understand if you are still hesistant to order the system. Your other labs and symptoms show me that you could benefit from the system, so I hope you will consider trying it. I would recommend for anyone with hypoglycemia to use HALF the dose of the InsulX and RejuvenX for 2 weeks when first using the System as these formulas have the greatest impact on blood sugar levels. After two weeks, if your blood sugar is stable, you can go to the full doses of InsulX and RejuvenX safely. Additionally, if you suffer from hypoglycemia, eat 5-6 small meals per day that are protein-based and watch consumption of carbohydrates. Making sure to eat protein with every meal can really help to prevent those symptoms. I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns. Best wishes, Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Hello,
I am from Bulgaria. 34 yars old. I was diagnosed with PCOS a few weeks ago. My insulin is 8.9 mkU/l/doctor said that up to 15 is normal/ and have a normal glucose. Have high levels androstendion 5.4 ng/ml; high LH 9.6 IU/l; ratio LH:FSH is 9.6 IU/l: 6.39 IU/l; estradiol is low 0.003nmol/l. I have never took hormonal tablrts. My sicle is irregular since 6 months. I have grasy hair and face skin. I have excessive hair but not too much. So what I wanderig is it sutable for my case insulite program? What is going to happen if the glucose level and insulin are in norm?

Dear Ivelina,

Thank you for contacting the Insulite PCOS Support Blog.

The mechanism of PCOS without insulin resistance is still not entirely understood in the medical community. As you may know, many women with PCOS do have insulin resistance, but some do not. Some women with PCOS hyper secrete insulin but do not yet manifest insulin resistance. Furthermore, in many women with PCOS, their ovaries are highly sensitive to insulin, so that even if their serum insulin levels are normal, the ovaries are highly reactive to that insulin.

Insulin resistance can be verified by looking at the insulin levels (fasting and random) and the insulin: glucose ratio. Some doctors hesitate to perform a fasting insulin test on their patients because the normal range (0-20) is so wide. However, we have found that a fasting insulin level of about 9 or higher is starting to indicate problems with insulin resistance. For the random insulin, results over 25 or 30 may indicate insulin resistance. Other factors that would make me suspicious of insulin resistance include high blood pressure, difficulty losing weight, skin tags, acanthosis nigricans (dark brown patches on the skin), and a family history of diabetes or metabolic syndrome. If the insulin result of 8.9 is your fasting insulin, I would say you are most likely insulin resistant now or could soon be insulin resistant.

I am beginning to think that there is a lot we don’t know about diagnosing insulin resistance and that our detection methods are not sophisticated enough to catch all of the cases of insulin resistance.

I understand if you are still hesistant to order the system. Your other labs and symptoms show me that you could benefit from the system, so I hope you will consider trying it. I would recommend for anyone with hypoglycemia to use HALF the dose of the InsulX and RejuvenX for 2 weeks when first using the System as these formulas have the greatest impact on blood sugar levels.

After two weeks, if your blood sugar is stable, you can go to the full doses of InsulX and RejuvenX safely. Additionally, if you suffer from hypoglycemia, eat 5-6 small meals per day that are protein-based and watch consumption of carbohydrates. Making sure to eat protein with every meal can really help to prevent those symptoms.

I hope this information answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again with any further questions or concerns.

Best wishes,

Dr. Nicole Kellum, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams

Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and
issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email
and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose
of being informative. This information is not and
should not be used or relied upon as medical advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or
other qualified health care provider before you
undergo any treatment, take any medication,
supplements or other nutritional support, or for
answers to any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.

]]> By: Nicole Joy-Harris http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/101/ask-dr-heather-about-infertility-or-weight-loss/comment-page-3/#comment-80790 Nicole Joy-Harris Sun, 21 Aug 2011 09:47:37 +0000 http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?p=101#comment-80790 I have been taking the PCOS system since beginning of July I was shocked to find i received my cycle on the 19th of July something I had not been able to achieve in over a year. However, August there is no cycle. I have all the pre-menstrual symptoms but not peroid. I even took two pregnancy tests which were negative. Is this normal? I know every body's is different but I expected since I got my period in July i would get it in August and that the supplements were working. Thanks. Nicole <strong>Dear Nicole,</strong> Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. I am glad that you have chosen to use the PCOS System. With regard to your question, it is not unusual to have some hiccups at this point. What often happens is that since you did not have a period in quite a long time, the PCOS System helped get you started and there were changes to the hormones that supported your body's ability to have a period. This is exactly what we want. However, you may not yet be regular with your periods or cycles. This may take time. Some women will see periods return only to miss a couple. The fact is that we know hormones are changing and it is a great sign that you had a period. The System is working and I believe that you will see another period. It will be important to be consistent with the supplements and with reducing carbs and exercise. These will further support balancing of hormones and supporting the changes we are trying to make. So, keep up the great work. If you have any problems or have any questions, please contact me. I am here to help. Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums -- Best Wishes, Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. I have been taking the PCOS system since beginning of July I was shocked to find i received my cycle on the 19th of July something I had not been able to achieve in over a year. However, August there is no cycle. I have all the pre-menstrual symptoms but not peroid. I even took two pregnancy tests which were negative. Is this normal? I know every body’s is different but I expected since I got my period in July i would get it in August and that the supplements were working. Thanks.
Nicole

Dear Nicole,

Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. I am glad that you have chosen to use the PCOS System.

With regard to your question, it is not unusual to have some hiccups at this point. What often happens is that since you did not have a period in quite a long time, the PCOS System helped get you started and there were changes to the hormones that supported your body’s ability to have a period. This is exactly what we want.

However, you may not yet be regular with your periods or cycles. This may take time. Some women will see periods return only to miss a couple.

The fact is that we know hormones are changing and it is a great sign that you had a period.

The System is working and I believe that you will see another period. It will be important to be consistent with the supplements and with reducing carbs and exercise. These will further support balancing of hormones and supporting the changes we are trying to make.

So, keep up the great work.

If you have any problems or have any questions, please contact me. I am here to help.

Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS
symptoms: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums

–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite
Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This
information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical
advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other
qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take
any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers
to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

]]> By: Josie http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/101/ask-dr-heather-about-infertility-or-weight-loss/comment-page-3/#comment-80673 Josie Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:29:14 +0000 http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?p=101#comment-80673 Hello, I'm Josie and I am 20 years old. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 18 after years of irregular, heavy periods. My GP recommended a combined Pill, and prescribed me Yasmin. I took it correctly for 1 and a half years, which helped me have regular periods. However, it caused me to put on some weight, I went from 10 stone to 11 stone, so I stopped taking the Pill Yasmin to see if I could lose the weight and whether I could have natural periods. I have not taken the Pill for seven months now. I have not had a single periods, no slight bleeding or anything. I am not pregnant, as I have done several pregnancy tests. But I would now like to go back onto the Pill, but as I am not having periods at all, I would like to know when I would be able to start taking it again. For the combined Pill, I have to start taking them the day I start my period, so I am a little unsure as to what effect this may have on me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. <strong>Dear Josie,</strong> Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. Regarding when to start the birth control pill when you are not having a period.... well, you can start at any time and the pill will regulate your cycle. If there are certain times of the month that you actually feel as if your period would start or have symptoms such as breast tenderness, cramping, or are more irritable (if these are symptoms that you can experience before or with your period), then you can start that as day 1. This may be the time you would have your period. However, if you are unsure, you can contact your doctor who prescribed the pill for you or contact your local pharmacist. I understand that you want to have some regularity with your periods and cycles. Have you considered a more natural approach to helping balance hormones and help re-establish a period? If so, I would like to pass along our website: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/ We have developed a comprehensive, non-pharmaceutical approach that addresses the underlying cause of PCOS, the hormone imbalances and also reduces the long term risk factors associated with having PCOS. I hope that this helps. Please let me know if I can help further. Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums -- Best Wishes, Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Hello, I’m Josie and I am 20 years old. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 18 after years of irregular, heavy periods. My GP recommended a combined Pill, and prescribed me Yasmin. I took it correctly for 1 and a half years, which helped me have regular periods. However, it caused me to put on some weight, I went from 10 stone to 11 stone, so I stopped taking the Pill Yasmin to see if I could lose the weight and whether I could have natural periods. I have not taken the Pill for seven months now. I have not had a single periods, no slight bleeding or anything. I am not pregnant, as I have done several pregnancy tests. But I would now like to go back onto the Pill, but as I am not having periods at all, I would like to know when I would be able to start taking it again. For the combined Pill, I have to start taking them the day I start my period, so I am a little unsure as to what effect this may have on me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Dear Josie,

Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog.

Regarding when to start the birth control pill when you are not having a period…. well, you can start at any time and the pill will regulate your cycle. If there are certain times of the month that you actually feel as if your period would start or have symptoms such as breast tenderness, cramping, or are more irritable (if these are symptoms that you can experience before or with your period), then you can start that as day 1. This may be the time you would have your period. However, if you are unsure, you can contact your doctor who prescribed the pill for you or contact your local pharmacist.

I understand that you want to have some regularity with your periods and cycles. Have you considered a more natural approach to helping balance hormones and help re-establish a period? If so, I would like to pass along our website: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/

We have developed a comprehensive, non-pharmaceutical approach that addresses the underlying cause of PCOS, the hormone imbalances and also reduces the long term risk factors associated with having PCOS.

I hope that this helps. Please let me know if I can help further.

Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS
symptoms: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums

–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

]]> By: Sara http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/101/ask-dr-heather-about-infertility-or-weight-loss/comment-page-3/#comment-79580 Sara Sun, 27 Feb 2011 21:09:24 +0000 http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?p=101#comment-79580 I was diagnosed with a mild case of PCOS. I am 21 yrs old and married. I also have a mild case of hyperthyroidism. I am one point lower than I should be. I have been taking Thyroid Complex. I got my period the 11th of February through the 15th of February and I definitely ovulated on the 23rd of February I also had sex on that day and skipped a day and had sex again. What are the chances of being pregnant? <strong>Dear Sara,</strong> Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support Blog. I understand that you are anxious to know if you have conceived during this time. However, I wish I had a really helpful answer for you. There are many factors that affect conception and the good thing is that you had good timing and ovulation. With PCOS, it is more difficult to conceive as many women do not have regular cycles and do not ovulate with each cycle. So, your chances increase when you are. But it comes down to other factors such as sperm quality, motility, quantity, etc. Also, hormone levels impact conception as well as the quality of the cervical mucus as well. And since you had intercourse the day you ovulated, the sperm can stay alive and be available to the egg after ovulation. This greatly increases the probability of you getting pregnant. Conception risk is highest on the day before and the day of ovulation. In normally fertile couples, those without complications such as PCOS, there is a 25 percent chance of becoming pregnant each cycle, meaning around 75 to 85 percent of women who have sex without using birth control will get pregnant within one year. At this point, you will want to look for early pregnancy symptoms. These can include implantation bleeding, which can happen 6-12 days after conception, missed period (sometimes difficult with PCOS), breast swelling or tenderness, nausea, headaches and fatigue. I hope that this helps and best of luck to you! Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms: http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums -- Best Wishes, Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. I was diagnosed with a mild case of PCOS. I am 21 yrs old and married. I also have a mild case of hyperthyroidism. I am one point lower than I should be. I have been taking Thyroid Complex. I got my period the 11th of February through the 15th of February and I definitely ovulated on the 23rd of February I also had sex on that day and skipped a day and had sex again. What are the chances of being pregnant?

Dear Sara,

Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support Blog.

I understand that you are anxious to know if you have conceived during this time. However, I wish I had a really helpful answer for you. There are many factors that affect conception and the good thing is that you had good timing and ovulation. With PCOS, it is more difficult to conceive as many women do not have regular cycles and do not ovulate with each cycle. So, your chances increase when you are. But it comes down to other factors such as sperm quality, motility, quantity, etc. Also, hormone levels impact conception as well as the quality of the cervical mucus as well.

And since you had intercourse the day you ovulated, the sperm can stay alive and be available to the egg after ovulation. This greatly increases the probability of you getting pregnant. Conception risk is highest on the day before and the day of ovulation.

In normally fertile couples, those without complications such as PCOS, there is a 25 percent chance of becoming pregnant each cycle, meaning around 75 to 85 percent of women who have sex without using birth control will get pregnant within one year.

At this point, you will want to look for early pregnancy symptoms. These can include implantation bleeding, which can happen 6-12 days after conception, missed period (sometimes difficult with PCOS), breast swelling or tenderness, nausea, headaches and fatigue.

I hope that this helps and best of luck to you!

Please visit our PCOS community where you can share ideas, concerns and issues and find additional information and support to reverse PCOS symptoms:
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php PCOS Support Blog http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/forums/index.php PCOS Forums

–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

]]> By: MORGAN http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/101/ask-dr-heather-about-infertility-or-weight-loss/comment-page-3/#comment-78154 MORGAN Fri, 12 Nov 2010 07:41:14 +0000 http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/blog/index.php/?p=101#comment-78154 Hello, I have been recently diagnosed with PCOS.. Im 21 & I havent had my period in 5 years (except for a few very painful forced periods when on birth control, but birth control aggravates my symptoms dramatically so I wasnt on them for long). I have polycystic ovaries but I dont have elevated testosterone. No hair growth or acne. Im 5'5'' and 130lbs. (pls note, during childhood I have always been a very small eater, I was an elite gymnast & had to watch what I ate) I didnt go through puberty until I was 17. I had 2 natural periods, & ballooned in weight from 107lbs to 130lbs in a few months regardless of eating a low calorie diet. My periods stopped & my skin broke out badly. I was put on birth control for my skin & gained even more weight to 140lbs but my skin cleared up. I went on a super low calorie diet because I was determined to lose the weight. I ate 600cals per day & still didnt lose any weight. I started exercising as well and lost about 3lbs. I finished school & went on holiday for a week & ate about 1500 cals per day & in 1 week I gained 10lbs. I spent 4 years after that trying my hardest to lose the weight. I began exercising 2 hours per day & got a personal trainer. I was put on a 900 cal per day diet & my weight didnt budge, I was slowly putting ON weight over 6 months. I couldnt understand. Everyone thought I must of been secretly bingeing but I WANST! I went off my birth control because I thought that was stopping my weight loss. I lost 6lbs because my cravings were much smaller so I found it easy to stick to a 600cal per day intake. I wanted to lose more weight so I increased exercise to 3 hours per day & decreased calories to 500, then to 400 then to 300.. Until I finally reached 107lbs which I was very happy with. To maintain that weight though, was almost impossible. I was doing hard cardio 4 hours per day and eating very little for over 1 year & my weight yo-yo'd around 107 - 120 lbs. I got very sick and couldnt keep up with the exercise and low calorie eating. This is when I started seeing a doctor because of feeling unwell, no periods & my weight concerns. I was gaining weight as I decreased my exercise to 2 hours per day, & calorie intake was 600 per day. This was infuriating. I was up to 128lbs. I decided to stop exercising so much & eating a "normal" 1200 cals per day because my doctor thought this may be the reason for no period. In 3 weeks I was back to 140lbs. I did this for 7 months & no period returned. I started seeing a specialist at this time who has finally diagnosed me with PCOS. I have just been given Metformin and will start taking it in a few days time. I have a few questions.... Is the struggle I had with weight related to my PCOS? If I wasnt dieting so hard over those 5 years, do you think I would be overweight like many of the other PCOS sufferers? Because I am not overweight at the moment do I classify as a "lean PCOS" suffer? Or am I a normal PCOS sufferer that has gone to dieting extremes to keep a low weight? Is it possible for PCOS sufferers like myself get down to a low weight and maintain it? Will taking the Metformin help me lose weight? All I want is to be 107lbs again. I have a very small frame & feel so fat & uncomfortable at 130lbs. I try so hard to lose weight, eat very healthy, low calorie & am still bigger than all my friends. Most people cant understand why I am not stick thin because of what I eat & how much I exercise! I cant understand it either!!? Maybe if I ate 1300 cals per day I would be comfortable at 130lbs. But I never eat more than 1000 cals per day & im struggling maintaining my weight without gaining. Sorry for such a long question. I cant seem to get answers from my doctor & because I am a "healthy" weight, no one is concerned about my issues. I was mis-diagnosed 3 times before finally being diagnosed with PCOS because I am at a "healthy" weight. Please help me! Kind Regards, Morgan. <strong>Dear Morgan</strong>, Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. I am sorry that it has taken me this long to reply to your post. Please know that your concerns are very important to us. I hope that your recent diagnosis has helped to provide some understanding of how you have been feeling over these past years and the reason why you have these symptoms and are struggling to maintain a healthy weight. As you have experienced there are many times it takes quite a long time and many doctors to receive the proper diagnosis. It is frustrating but persistence can pay off. Many women go from doctor to doctor as they know that something is wrong even when they are told otherwise. PCOS is the reason why weight loss and maintenance are difficult. However, your goal of 107 pounds is too low and the calorie and high amounts of exercise needed to get to this weight are not healthy. Currently at 5’ 5” and 130 pounds you are at a healthy BMI (body mass index) of 21.6. Normal BMI is 19.1 to 24.9, as you can see you are well within this guideline. Although this is not a perfect tool, we use it as a guideline to determine what is “normal” or “abnormal” when it comes to weight in relationship to height. At 107 pounds your BMI would be about 17.8 and this can cause its own problems. It is considered well underweight and we can see periods stop, lack of ovulation, lower estrogen levels, elevated blood pressure, slower heart rate recovery, excessive muscle fatigue, decreased immunity, gastrointestinal disturbances, and loss of appetite. Other symptoms may also include: depression, decreased self-confidence, mood changes, lethargy, lack of concentration, anxiety, sleep disturbance, restlessness, and aggression. So, although you feel that this is the weight that is best for you, it may not be best for your body. I am not sure what this will be for you. The information that I am providing is general as I am not your doctor and do not have all the information needed. Having PCOS, you are more likely to have a difficult time with weight but what is important is that you are not starving yourself with very low calories diets and hours of exercise each day. It is important to start learning how PCOS affects your body and the impact that is has on hormones and future risk factors associated with PCOS. You are likely classified as a lean PCOS woman, but as you may know, this does not mean that you will not have the same symptoms over time, or trouble staying with in the normal weight category. But then again, you may not experience all of it. This is a condition that is very individual and we can’t say how each woman will be effected. There are many women that can maintain a healthy weight, and many who continue to struggle. What we have seen in our work is that many times, not all, control of total carbohydrates helps manage PCOS. This is because the underlying cause is often insulin resistance. This can be identified by looking at fasting insulin levels. The topics of lean women with PCOS, and PCOS without insulin resistance are still not entirely understood in the medical community. Many thin women with PCOS do have insulin resistance, but some do not. It is not a clear-cut distinction that thin women are not Insulin resistant. Some lean women with PCOS hyper-secrete insulin but do not yet manifest insulin resistance. And in many women with PCOS, their ovaries are highly sensitive to insulin, so that even if their serum insulin levels are normal, the ovaries are highly reactive to that insulin. Metformin may help you lose weight. Some women find that this does help and others find that it does not. It will be a matter of trying it to see how you do. Here is a link comparing lean and obese women with PCOS (lean women found to hyper-secrete insulin): HYPERLINK "http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/89/6/2942" http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/89/6/2942 Our specialty is in addressing PCOS without the use of medications, as much as we can. Have you considered the Insulite PCOS System? This is a comprehensive, non-pharmaceutical approach to addressing insulin resistance and PCOS. As you can see, clear answers are not easy. However, I hope that this helps some and encourages you to keep learning about PCOS. Lastly, here is a link from our website of support/educational websites: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Support-Links.php Please let us know if we can help further. -- Best Wishes, Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Hello,
I have been recently diagnosed with PCOS..
Im 21 & I havent had my period in 5 years (except for a few very painful forced periods when on birth control, but birth control aggravates my symptoms dramatically so I wasnt on them for long). I have polycystic ovaries but I dont have elevated testosterone. No hair growth or acne.
Im 5’5” and 130lbs.
(pls note, during childhood I have always been a very small eater, I was an elite gymnast & had to watch what I ate)

I didnt go through puberty until I was 17. I had 2 natural periods, & ballooned in weight from 107lbs to 130lbs in a few months regardless of eating a low calorie diet. My periods stopped & my skin broke out badly. I was put on birth control for my skin & gained even more weight to 140lbs but my skin cleared up. I went on a super low calorie diet because I was determined to lose the weight. I ate 600cals per day & still didnt lose any weight. I started exercising as well and lost about 3lbs. I finished school & went on holiday for a week & ate about 1500 cals per day & in 1 week I gained 10lbs.
I spent 4 years after that trying my hardest to lose the weight. I began exercising 2 hours per day & got a personal trainer. I was put on a 900 cal per day diet & my weight didnt budge, I was slowly putting ON weight over 6 months. I couldnt understand. Everyone thought I must of been secretly bingeing but I WANST!
I went off my birth control because I thought that was stopping my weight loss. I lost 6lbs because my cravings were much smaller so I found it easy to stick to a 600cal per day intake.
I wanted to lose more weight so I increased exercise to 3 hours per day & decreased calories to 500, then to 400 then to 300.. Until I finally reached 107lbs which I was very happy with.
To maintain that weight though, was almost impossible. I was doing hard cardio 4 hours per day and eating very little for over 1 year & my weight yo-yo’d around 107 – 120 lbs.
I got very sick and couldnt keep up with the exercise and low calorie eating. This is when I started seeing a doctor because of feeling unwell, no periods & my weight concerns.
I was gaining weight as I decreased my exercise to 2 hours per day, & calorie intake was 600 per day. This was infuriating. I was up to 128lbs.
I decided to stop exercising so much & eating a “normal” 1200 cals per day because my doctor thought this may be the reason for no period. In 3 weeks I was back to 140lbs. I did this for 7 months & no period returned. I started seeing a specialist at this time who has finally diagnosed me with PCOS.

I have just been given Metformin and will start taking it in a few days time.

I have a few questions….

Is the struggle I had with weight related to my PCOS?

If I wasnt dieting so hard over those 5 years, do you think I would be overweight like many of the other PCOS sufferers?

Because I am not overweight at the moment do I classify as a “lean PCOS” suffer?
Or am I a normal PCOS sufferer that has gone to dieting extremes to keep a low weight?

Is it possible for PCOS sufferers like myself get down to a low weight and maintain it?

Will taking the Metformin help me lose weight?

All I want is to be 107lbs again. I have a very small frame & feel so fat & uncomfortable at 130lbs. I try so hard to lose weight, eat very healthy, low calorie & am still bigger than all my friends. Most people cant understand why I am not stick thin because of what I eat & how much I exercise! I cant understand it either!!? Maybe if I ate 1300 cals per day I would be comfortable at 130lbs. But I never eat more than 1000 cals per day & im struggling maintaining my weight without gaining.

Sorry for such a long question. I cant seem to get answers from my doctor & because I am a “healthy” weight, no one is concerned about my issues. I was mis-diagnosed 3 times before finally being diagnosed with PCOS because I am at a “healthy” weight.

Please help me!
Kind Regards,
Morgan.

Dear Morgan,

Thank you for writing into the PCOS Support blog. I am sorry that it has taken me this long to reply to your post. Please know that your concerns are very important to us.

I hope that your recent diagnosis has helped to provide some understanding of how you have been feeling over these past years and the reason why you have these symptoms and are struggling to maintain a healthy weight. As you have experienced there are many times it takes quite a long time and many doctors to receive the proper diagnosis. It is frustrating but persistence can pay off. Many women go from doctor to doctor as they know that something is wrong even when they are told otherwise.

PCOS is the reason why weight loss and maintenance are difficult. However, your goal of 107 pounds is too low and the calorie and high amounts of exercise needed to get to this weight are not healthy.

Currently at 5’ 5” and 130 pounds you are at a healthy BMI (body mass index) of 21.6. Normal BMI is 19.1 to 24.9, as you can see you are well within this guideline. Although this is not a perfect tool, we use it as a guideline to determine what is “normal” or “abnormal” when it comes to weight in relationship to height.

At 107 pounds your BMI would be about 17.8 and this can cause its own problems. It is considered well underweight and we can see periods stop, lack of ovulation, lower estrogen levels, elevated blood pressure, slower heart rate recovery, excessive muscle fatigue, decreased immunity, gastrointestinal disturbances, and loss of appetite. Other symptoms may also include: depression, decreased self-confidence, mood changes, lethargy, lack of concentration, anxiety, sleep disturbance, restlessness, and aggression.

So, although you feel that this is the weight that is best for you, it may not be best for your body. I am not sure what this will be for you. The information that I am providing is general as I am not your doctor and do not have all the information needed.

Having PCOS, you are more likely to have a difficult time with weight but what is important is that you are not starving yourself with very low calories diets and hours of exercise each day. It is important to start learning how PCOS affects your body and the impact that is has on hormones and future risk factors associated with PCOS.

You are likely classified as a lean PCOS woman, but as you may know, this does not mean that you will not have the same symptoms over time, or trouble staying with in the normal weight category. But then again, you may not experience all of it. This is a condition that is very individual and we can’t say how each woman will be effected. There are many women that can maintain a healthy weight, and many who continue to struggle.

What we have seen in our work is that many times, not all, control of total carbohydrates helps manage PCOS. This is because the underlying cause is often insulin resistance. This can be identified by looking at fasting insulin levels.

The topics of lean women with PCOS, and PCOS without insulin resistance are still not entirely understood in the medical community. Many thin women with PCOS do have insulin resistance, but some do not. It is not a clear-cut distinction that thin women are not Insulin resistant. Some lean women with PCOS hyper-secrete insulin but do not yet manifest insulin resistance. And in many women with PCOS, their ovaries are highly sensitive to insulin, so that even if their serum insulin levels are normal, the ovaries are highly reactive to that insulin.

Metformin may help you lose weight. Some women find that this does help and others find that it does not. It will be a matter of trying it to see how you do.

Here is a link comparing lean and obese women with PCOS (lean women found to hyper-secrete insulin):
HYPERLINK “http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/89/6/2942″ http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/89/6/2942

Our specialty is in addressing PCOS without the use of medications, as much as we can. Have you considered the Insulite PCOS System? This is a comprehensive, non-pharmaceutical approach to addressing insulin resistance and PCOS.

As you can see, clear answers are not easy. However, I hope that this helps some and encourages you to keep learning about PCOS.

Lastly, here is a link from our website of support/educational websites: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/Insulite-PCOS-System-Support-Links.php

Please let us know if we can help further.

–
Best Wishes,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Insulite Laboratories Consulting & Advisory teams

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

]]>