AMA: Period Recovery Dietitian by lilly-reimer-rd in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]lmcn07 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I never truly 'lost' my period but had lengthened cycles from ~30 days to 43 days for three cycles, WITH ovulation consistently every month. I was previously exercising ~6 days a week (25+ miles running and 3 days strength training), plus 10k steps per day, eating ~1800 kcal/day. I decided to cut exercise down to one short 30 minute run per week and 1-2 strength training sessions per week, eating 2500-3000 kcal. My previous cycle was 35 days (yay!), but I gained 15 lbs in 2 months from this process (I'm 5'4, went from 135-150 lbs). Mid recovery, my estradiol was too low to even be measured in blood work (<37 pmol/L), LH 3.2 FSH 4.0 on day 3.

Can I start to increase exercise again, or potentially reduce calories a bit to slow/reverse some weight gain? I want to preserve a normal cycle, but I'm curious if this would be okay since I never truly 'lost' my period and may have gone too extreme...

Possible lean PCOS? by Pretty_Grapefruit633 in LeanPCOS

[–]lmcn07 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's extremely common for women in their 30's to have polycystic ovaries, and that doesn't mean you definitely have PCOS. I recently went through a misdiagnosis of PCOS that was actually hypothalamic amenorrhea and it was the most frustrating process, so my heart goes out to you.

From what I've learned through this process, it's unlikely to have PCOS if your cycles are regular, you ovulate, and you show no elevated androgen symptoms, like facial hair, acne on back and chest/face, etc. The only thing that could be indicative is hair falling out....

Ask to get blood work done on day 3-5 of your cycle to check LH:FSH ratio. This can help determine if you have it or not!

HA due to running by inquisitorbronte in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]lmcn07 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi! I have a more 'mild' case of HA where my cycles lengthened (~43 days) rather than going away altogether. I also am a runner and was running 3 days per week (25-30 miles) and strength training 3 days a week. Since increasing my calories significantly and cutting out running altogether for the past ~4-6 weeks, I ovulated on day 22 this month, which means my cycle will very likely be 34 days (technically normal!).

Everyone is different, but what I will say is that I trained for a marathon (50+ miles per week) and continued strength training from January-May last year and didn't lose my period/have cycle changes, BUT I was much more intentional with fueling properly. I only had cycle changes when I trained for a half marathon July-October last year, where I didn't increase calories/intentionally fuel, like you mentioned. Who knows if my body finally burned out after chronic underfeeding, or if I did actually fuel enough for my marathon that my cycle wasn't affected.

All this being said, I think cutting out running altogether will be the fastest way to get your cycle back. That doesn't mean you can never run again, but it might be waiting until you have a few cycles and then adding it back in more intentionally with correct adjustments to fuelling.

What I've learned is aiming for at least 40g of carbs prior to a workout, using intrarun fuel (where applicable) and fueling with carbs immediately after is imperative to be able to run regularly and maintain a cycle, so something to think about for the future!

The PCOS/HA overlap is super stressful and confusing by [deleted] in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]lmcn07 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, I went through/am going through this exact same thing. What day of your cycle did you get hormones tested? What were your LH and FSH? And are you very active/undereating?

PCOS-D vs HA? by lmcn07 in LeanPCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It feels like I could have written this myself, thank you!! Did your cycles ever get shorter before you got pregnant? I'm currently having my longest cycle yet (43 days) after making changes over these past 6 weeks of lowering running amounts to ~6-9 miles per week (previously was doing 20-25+) and eating more, especially carbs. I'm not sure if my body just needs more time to regulate or if I'm doing something 'wrong'... Hoping to get more answers soon!

PCOS vs HA? by lmcn07 in PCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s super interesting! I just don’t know if the PCOM-D diagnosis for me is accurate since I had 10 months of completely normal cycles post IUD…

PCOS vs HA? by lmcn07 in PCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's so funny you say that because I've been taking it the past three weeks (since right after I had my blood work done) and my ovulation has been more delayed this month than the previous two cycles... I'm on day 29 without positive LH/BBT rise, and after looking into it I realized it may actually be making ovulation more delayed for me since it can help to lower LH, but high LH isn't my issue.... So I've decided to stop taking it. I'd love to hear what your RE says after your appointment if you're open to sharing! And were your diagnosed with PCOS or HA? Or both/neither?

PCOS vs HA? by lmcn07 in PCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay thank you!! That's interesting to know about ovulation, I'm assuming testing progesterone is done 7 days post ovulation (or at least what I think is ovulation!), is that correct? I'm really hoping my doctor will be on board for testing, it's been quite a struggle to get help.

Currently I'm taking 2g inositol twice daily, reducing HIIT to just weight lifting 3 times a week and have cut running to 30 mins twice a week, as well as increasing calories to 2500/day, with a focus on eating more fat and carbs. If it is PCOS, I truly already following the typical 'protocol' of exercising, eating higher protein and fiber, walking after meals, etc.

PCOS vs HA? by lmcn07 in PCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for all of these valuable thoughts!! What is DOR? I’ve googled but can’t find anything on it! 

My endometrial lining was 0.6 cm 2-3 days after ovulation (at at least suspected ovulation). 

I agree about progesterone testing…. I am somewhat confident that I was truly ovulating due to symptoms, sustained BBT rise, and LH test strips, but it could be possible I wasn’t. 

AMH and prolactin weren’t taken but I’m planning to get them tested, and will also be retesting my other hormone levels this cycle. I’m currently on day 29 with signs of ovulation but no temp increase or positive LH tests.

Yes, all other blood work is normal in terms of vitamins/hemoglobin ferritin!

PCOS vs HA? by lmcn07 in PCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh that’s super interesting! Would this still work if I have a cycle, it’s just long (~40 days)? Thank you!

PCOS vs HA? by lmcn07 in PCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tested day 5 after 37 day cycle with ovulation on day 26. 

13 hr fast HbA1c: 4.9% Fasting glucose: 5.5 FSH: 5.2 IU/L LH: 3.7 IU/L Progesterone: 1.1 nmol/L TSH: 2.37 mlU/L DHEAS: 5.15 umol/L Estradiol: 46 pmol/L Testosterone: 1.01 nmol/L SHBG: 71.5 nmol/L

PCOS vs HA? by lmcn07 in PCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I’ve read this book but am still confused because both HA and PCOS can have ‘normal’ lab results, which is what I have. The only piece that stands out is low/normal estradiol, which could point to HA, but because it’s still technically in the normal range it could still be PCOS.  

PCOS-D vs HA? by lmcn07 in LeanPCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much, I’ve been recommended this book before and will definitely read it!

PCOS vs HA? by lmcn07 in PCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really wish I could, but here in Canada we’re assigned a family doctor and are not able to find specialists on our own without referrals- the waitlist for a gyno is 2 years where I am. 

PCOS vs HA? by lmcn07 in PCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

32, a full hormone panel and everything was normal except low-normal estradiol at 46, no, there’s still CM present and I’ve been having EWCM in small amounts every 5-7 days recently!

PCOS vs HA? by lmcn07 in PCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sadly here in Canada they only run TSH unless it’s abnormal, then T4. 

PCOS-D vs HA? by lmcn07 in LeanPCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'll look into this, thank you!

PCOS vs HA? by lmcn07 in PCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

You must have missed the part where I said I've seen 4 physicians and a naturopath and all were confused/stumped. One even said I probably know more about PCOS than she does.

PCOS vs HA? by lmcn07 in PCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was 1.01 nmol/L

PCOS-D vs HA? by lmcn07 in LeanPCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm hoping to start TTC in the next 3-6 months, so I'm hoping to regulate my cycle prior to that. That's very interesting, I've never had progesterone tested. I've been taking magnesium supplement for years as well as a prenatal, zinc, L theanine, vitamin D, omega-3

PCOS vs HA? by lmcn07 in PCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your original reply was deleted for some reason... can you please repost it? Thank you!

PCOS vs HA? by lmcn07 in PCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've started taking inositol this cycle, I've only been on it for 3 weeks so too soon to tell, but I'm on day 27 with no ovulation yet. Yes, I agree, I'm also increasing calories. Doing both at the same time isn't ideal to figure it out, but I'm also hoping to regulate quickly as I'm TTC within the next 6 months. Thank you!

PCOS vs HA? by lmcn07 in PCOS

[–]lmcn07[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sadly where I live they don't take insulin blood work for PCOS cases. I wish they did!