PCOS and Acne

Two for one this morning, aren't you guys lucky?

I thought I would do a separate post for this as it is a separate issue so rather than lump everything into one I wanted to do it this way to keep my blog tidy, it's an OCD thing so you'll have to bear with me on this!

I was diagnosed with PCOS back in 2010 and believe me, it took a hell of a long time for me to get this diagnosis! I first started having problems back in 2005, my periods became an absolute nightmare to be honest with you. They were very heavy and very very painful. The stomach cramps and backache that I would get everytime I went through my cycle at times made me cry and I have a very high tolerance for pain.

At first I just accepted it, I didn't want to go to my doctor as to be honest, I was embarassed to talk about the problems that I was having. It was only when the pain became so bad and I was so ill that my mother took me to the hospital so I could get some strong pain relief that I relented and went to see my GP. She started to give me different hormone treatments to try and regulate my cycle which was on a schedule of it's own, due to my weight she wouldn't prescribe the pill so I had to make do with other treatments instead.

I tried numerous different things for almost a year before she finally made the decision to send me to see a gynaecologist. After being put on different tablets which never worked for a year I was delighted that I was finally going to get things sorted. That delight unfortunately turned to dismay when I did get to see the gynaecologist at the hospital.

I won't name names as I don't want to get sued but honestly, this person was probably the most horrible, condescending Doctor I have ever had the displeasure to meet. No sooner had I walked in to see her, she briefly flicked through my file, put it down on the table and basically said 'All your problems are weight related, I will refer you to a dietician'.

She didn't ask for any tests to be done, any scans, she didn't even ask me what symptoms I had, she just judged me on my weight as soon as I walked in through the door. I tried to be as nice as I could as I explained to her what was going on but I could see that she wasn't listening, she had made her decision and there was nothing that I could do.

I think I was in there for a little over ten minutes and when I came out of her room I felt like I had just wasted her time. I was very embarrassed and instead of going back to my GP and asking for a referral to another doctor I decided to just put up with things and attempt to lose weight to see if things got any better.

Now to be fair, for a couple of years I didn't have that many problems. Sometimes I would only get three periods a year, I knew that was not normal but I didn't have too much of a problem with it as no periods meant no pain and no problems.

It was mid 2008 that things started to get worse. I remember starting a period in the middle of May, it was heavy and painful but I didn't think too much of it, until it went on and on and on...said period did not end until the beginning of August. Did I go to the doctor? No, I had tried to hide how bad things were from my mother so she wouldn't make me go either, I did not want to go back to see said doctor and have her tell me it was all my fault for not losing weight. So I let it go but unfortunately, another period began at the end of August, I left it for a month before I finally broke down in tears one night and told my mother what was happening.

Of course, she practically marched me to the doctors and at first, she decided to try me on some hormone tablets to see if that would solve the problem. I gave them a few months to work but they didn't so again, I was referred to gynaecology. This time though my mother demanded that I see a different doctor and fortunately another was available.

Rather than being happy about going back to the hospital, I was dreading it. I thought that once again, I would see a doctor who would put all my problems down to my weight and this time, because of how long and heavy my periods were, I was desperate to figure out what was wrong with me because even I knew that this was not normal, not even for a fat person!

Well, as much as I had been dreading it, the day finally came and I went to the hospital. Again, as much as I would love to on this occasion, I won't use names as I have no money and don't wish to be sued! I went in to see the doctor and the difference was unbelievable.

I was in the office for nearly half an hour, we discussed at length the problems I had been having, I was asked lots of questions and this time I did not feel like a complete fool, I was taken seriously and nothing was just simply put down to my weight. The doctor wanted me to have blood tests and a scan as he thought that the likely culprit causing all my problems was PCOS but, with or without a firm diagnosis, I was told that having something called a Mirena coil (IUD) fitted would be the best option for me.

Now when this was mentioned, I must admit I freaked out a little. The thought of having to go through having it fitted whilst awake made me panic but once I explained my fears I was told that it could be done under a general anaesthetic, because of this I decided that I might as well go ahead and give it a try, I had tried everything else so why not this?

As it happened, when I went to have my scan, it showed that my ovaries were indeed Polycystic, I was even shown the little cysts because I am a nosey bugger I wanted to know what I was looking at as they scanned me!

I had to wait around six months to go into hospital and have the coil fitted and I will be honest and say it is the best thing I ever did. The Mirena has worked wonders, I have no periods, no pain and that has made my life so much easier.

I can never thank the doctor that I saw enough for taking me seriously and not making me feel like a fool. I know that many people who suffer from PCOS go through similar experiences and it's very unfair. It's difficult enough to go to a doctor and explain what's wrong without having them sneer at you and just look at you like you're a child who has said a naughty word. Thankfully, the second doctor I saw restored my faith after the previous one had shattered it.

Now that I have given you the background of my diagnosis and what has helped with my periods I now want to go on to the bain of my life since getting the diagnosis, spots!!!

As if suffering with acne as a teenager wasn't bad enough, I am now fighting them once again in my twenties! I know it's not a life threatening issue and believe me I am thankful that my only side effects of PCOS are unwanted hair and the dastardly pimples that forever pop up on my face but it's still very annoying and it does nothing for my already rock bottom self-esteem.

I think I have tried almost every skin product out there to sort things out but unfortunately, the acne I have seems to be related to my hormones and nothing seems to work that well. Just over a month ago I went to my doctor after I decided enough was enough and I am now taking Tetralysal antibiotics and I have an ointment to put on the spots on a daily basis too.

After about three weeks, I thought I had hit the jackpot as my skin cleared up and I did not have to pile on layers of make up to look decent but sadly, this did not last long. Over the past week, despite using the ointment and taking the antibiotics, my angry skin has flared up once again.

I have a three month course of these antibiotics to take and then I go back to the doctor for her to see how I am doing, if they have not worked I will be referred to a Dermatologist,  I am hoping that these work as I feel kind of bad about being referred for something which is purely a vanity thing. It's not life threatening, it just bugs the hell out of me and I get depressed when I see another spot on my face. When I talk to people, I automatically think they are zooming in on my zits when they are probably not but it's just how I feel.

It would also be nice not to have to wear make up every single day! As much as I love the stuff, it takes me twenty minutes each day to go through my skin routine and put the damn stuff on! I would rather spend more time sorting out my frizzy copper hair!

Eeek! I realise this has been a long and boring post but I thought it would be good to give you some background. Any questions, feel free to leave a comment and just ask, I don't offend easily :)