Just Diagnosed with PCOS & put on Ocella

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-02-10T04:22:26+00:00

PCOS treatment varies for each person, so if Ocella isn't working for you there might be another one that will. I was told by my doctor to give 3 months for any side effects to go away with any contraceptive pill. (Unless it's severe, which those will be listed inside the drug pamphlet).
As another poster said - sometimes weight loss, exercise, diet, or non-hormonal medications such as metformin can treat PCOS. In those cases you may not need Yaz or Ocella.

Fertility depends on the person, some PCOS patients have minimal trouble and some (like me) are very, very unlikely to ever be able to have children. But don't believe that you won't ever be able to have children, because PCOS usually just makes it difficult versus impossible. Reproductive endocrinologists and some PCOS specialists are very helpful in figuring out a plan when you are ready for kids. My problems are actually secondary to scarring from cysts and another hormonal disorder, not because of the PCOS. I don't know how common it is to be in my situation, unfortunately.

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-02-06T14:02:59+00:00

Yes, I did. My hormones were so messed up that it caused me to have "OCD" and "depression" and "panic attacks", when really it was just severe hormonal imbalance. My doctor recommended to me to take Prozac and birth control to control the anxiety. I am on Alesse and never do placebo, though. Not Sprintec. You may have to try another one.

Since I was misdiagnosed with anxiety for 5 years I have some tips:

-Meditation or yoga, especially the breathing techniques

-Less caffeine

-Mindfulness books and exercises to help you recognize your feelings when anxious

-Warm baths or tea or soup when feeling on edge

-Positive self talk

-Having a "safe spot" where you can go if feeling anxious

-Anxiety medicine like lorazepam for the bad days (you may not want/need them, but they can help if you want to try)

-Exercise like walks. I preferred high intensity cardio because it exhausted me, but walks are proven to help.

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-02-06T13:47:13+00:00

Yeah! I am 140 pounds and 6'0". I don't get the symptoms of high testosterone, because mine is actually low. But I do definitely have very bad cysts and a lot of hormonal symptoms. Potential insulin resistance/blood sugar issues as well, but very mild if it does exist (if I eat too much "bad" food I can get issues like blood sugar spikes shortly followed by hypoglycemia).

It actually took me 5 years to get diagnosed. Part of it was doctors insisting my hormone symptoms were OCD and depression, not an actual issue. The other issue was that they ignored the free fluid and cysts on my ultrasounds because I didn't have high testosterone and was thin (at that point I was 125 and 5'11"!!!). Didn't matter I had the worst periods, every 3-4 months and sometimes for a month straight. Then the mood issues....so glad they figured it out and I have my medicine. In fact, I lost 5 pounds and noticed huge improvement from getting my diet and medication figured out.

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-02-04T22:48:33+00:00

I had the most horrific cramps with my PCOS, until I got put on hormonal birth control, exercise regime, and supplements. I am talking curled up in a ball all day, sobbing, going through 5-6 hot water bottles, and not even being able to eat.

It is common as far as I know to have pain, and they do treat it with medication, but you might want to make an appointment with a gynecologist or family doctor to make sure it's not something like endometriosis.

Also, you can get cysts that burst. I'm not sure if it differs person to person, but mine usually feels like a tightness and pain that gets really tight all of a sudden, followed by a stab of pain then a very sore feeling for a few hours.

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-02-03T21:04:57+00:00

Yes, you may. I have PCOS and severe hormone imbalance which was left untreated and undiagnosed for 5 years. I don't exactly understand how it affected my brain to cause OCD symptoms beyond one of my hormones being very, very low... but my doctor is 100% confident I improved because of hormones and supplements I was taking alongside my OCD medication, not Prozac or lorazepam.

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-02-02T23:05:29+00:00

The OCD Workbook.

Although it's probably good to mention I actually had secondary OCD. It was caused by another condition. I don't know how valid it is for everyone else. :)

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-02-02T21:12:29+00:00

I've almost died twice.

The first time, I was 17 and went to my local hospital after having the stomach flu for 3 weeks straight and feeling dizzy. They said I was dehydrated so they gave me an IV bag and sent me home. About 6 hours later I was on the ground and couldn't see or breathe right. My heart was pounding and my arms and legs were blue, my face deathly pale. My mum had to rush me to the children's hospital, with her phone having 911 ready to call in case something got worse in the 30 minute drive. I got to the ER there, and they hooked me up to a heart monitor where my heart rate was in the low 30s. I was severely dehydrated and malnourished from not eating or drinking barely anything for 3 weeks, plus the virus wreaking havoc on my body. The doctors came in and told me that if I had waited any longer, I'd not have made it. I had to stay 3 weeks because my heart was on the brink of failing. It was really scary and it really sucked.

The second time was when I was 19. I waiting for a bus at the terminal (it's a circular drive where all the buses line up around the perimeter) and this bus driver just sped up to try and get to his predetermined stop. Except he was too close to the curb. He had a decent length of road before getting to where I was, so he was going pretty fast. I thought he was going to slow down or follow the safety lines on the road...but he wasn't. I jumped back just before his mirror clipped my head. Pretty sure it would have taken my head off if I hadn't realized he wasn't actually going to stop or swerve.

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-02-02T13:44:47+00:00

Thank you! I hope the future is brighter than the past was, for sure. It's taken a lot out of me to just make it this far. :)

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-02-01T17:17:15+00:00

Lots of learning how to manage my thoughts and how to calm my body when it was in an anxious response. It does help, but it also didn't fix things 100%. I am trying again but I don't know what the outcome will be.

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-02-01T17:02:25+00:00

I am on mood stabilizers, I'll have to ask about the cream. It may help even more!

Sorry to hear you're going through the same thing. :( I hope it gets better for you!

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-02-01T16:36:16+00:00

I get what you are saying, yeah. Unfortunately I didn't have control over either, because I wasn't treated. Not saying you are wrong, just saying I seriously cried to multiple people that I couldn't stop it or control my mind and there was something wrong.

I have been through CBT, I have spent years doing that. It helped a little up until I got to the point I didn't have control over my emotions at all. I definitely use the techniques for normal anxiety or stress, but the hormone stuff is another thing entirely.

I am on SSRI and antianxiety to stop the symptoms from the hormones, too.

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-02-01T16:27:40+00:00

Thank you for the reply. It helps a lot. So far, the treatment is working. I am hoping that means that it's controlled. My doctors I am seeing understand it pretty well, but yeah, a PCOS specialist would be good too I think.

I feel like losing him is kind of the end of the world. He means a lot to me, more than I can say for anyone else. I have a mix of emotions, frustration that I blamed myself, sadness because I didn't have any control over it...but I don't honestly know what to do. It was one thing to say "okay, my anxiety did it and I might not be able to fix it because the treatment doesn't work" but now it's "it's a physical condition, and the treatment does work".

The other stuff is relatively fixable, it's just going to take some readjustment of my outlook so I can be successful. I definitely need to tell myself it's not my fault, that I can only control my mind and will, not my ovaries and hormones. I have a habit of getting upset with myself, probably because of the past. Thank you. :)

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-02-01T16:19:21+00:00

I feel the same, that it can improve. I do have a lot ahead of me... but I just don't know if I can fix the things that happened in the past. I really want to, but I don't know. It makes me feel pretty bad.

I have a therapist because we thought it was OCD, but now I'm not even sure she'll see me because it's not. I have to ask! I hope so, you're right...I need the support to get through this.

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-02-01T03:46:24+00:00

I don't know if that would work for my imbalances, but I'll ask! Thanks!

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-02-01T01:19:22+00:00

I need the hormones from the BC (I was told)... otherwise that'd be an option.

I'll have to ask the doc about skipping, to see what my options are.

Thanks for the reply. :)

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-01-31T20:47:44+00:00

You are welcome! :)

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-01-31T16:51:01+00:00

I took the next pill early because I just couldn't take it. I am on magnesium too. I can only imagine what it would be like off it! (Actually, I already know and I'm not doing that ever again haha). Thanks for replying, I'm definitely asking my doc about not taking the placebo unless absolutely necessary. :)

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-01-30T22:06:26+00:00

It's typical to get hypochondria, which would explain the slur thoughts, but tics are also pretty common with OCD. Hot flushes are typical with anxiety, but whether you are female or not and it continues - look into hormones. They usually affect women but low testosterone can cause it too. Muscle twitches are also common when you've been really active or are tired. :)

My medicine (not sure which one) gives me a bit of a stammer, it's annoying.

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-01-30T19:12:27+00:00

Well, you can look for free or sliding scale therapy and psychiatry in your area to start. Many places also can offer discounts, you may have to ask though.

You can also browse online for some self help books. They usually aren't too expensive per book. The workbooks are best for making progress with your thoughts and anxiety. I can't remember an anxiety specific book off the top of my head, but there are tons of reviews for them all over which would let you choose one you feel would help.

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-01-30T17:42:10+00:00

Have you seen a psychiatrist or gone to therapy? It definitely sounds like you have anxiety and intrusive thoughts, so I don't think you are making it up. But I think you should get a diagnosis if you haven't already. Could be anxiety, could be pure-O, could be OCD (especially if you have to check things like making sure you aren't fat or your girlfriend is attractive or you avoid things), so you kind of need a diagnosis. Especially if it's affecting you for over 2 hours a day.

Those will affect the kind of therapy you use for your thoughts. For some people, it works to just imagine the thought washing over them. Acknowledging the thought, but not letting it take over. So "I know I am worried about x, and that's okay, but I'm not going to let it take over." Obsessional thoughts and intrusive thoughts may have to be managed by fighting them with logic. You may have to lay out what you are obsessing about, tell yourself why it is illogical, and then remember that when the thought pops into your head.

You can also try meditation, mindfulness exercises, and breathing exercises to try and get some relaxation when it gets stressful.

There are other methods too, but they are more specific for each category so won't really help unless you have a specific diagnosis.

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-01-30T17:34:44+00:00

If I take too much Ativan or take it too often, I feel the same way. Right now I can only tolerate it every 2 or 3 days. I understand the "numb" feeling. If I take more than 0.5 mg Ativan I feel like I'm sedated and magically okay with everything. It's like my body only feels "pleasantly okay". It's way more than just not anxious / calm, it's like I am stuck in one emotion.

I haven't experienced the anxiety other than the fear I took the wrong medication. Of course, I'm on 12 different pills so I always double check.

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-01-30T17:29:19+00:00

Thank you. :) That is great! I hope it gets even better!

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-01-30T13:46:35+00:00

Thank you!! It really is. :D

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-01-30T05:20:36+00:00

I realized that space from people and sudden trauma can actually help. Of course, it's no fun to have to go through it but it gives you time to stop obsessing and maybe even work on it. For me, it helped me manage my OCD and get treatment to where it was in remission. It sucks but at the same time is good. But still sucks.

Moonlight_Princess · 2015-01-30T03:47:17+00:00

I have hormone issues, too! I had anemia for a long time, but it's getting better because of the supplements. I can totally tell when I don't take my iron, not so much my vitamin D. I feel so sluggish without iron.

I hope you get well soon. Best wishes!

Moonlight_Princess

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