Can PCOS Cause Sleep Problems?

I came across one interesting piece of information on the internet today. You see, I have been suffering from sleepless nights for some time already. At first, I really thought that it is because I just had plenty of things to think about. But when I tried to look for information regarding PCOS and insomnia, I found out that there may be a link on blood glucose levels and my inability to sleep.

As of this time, the connection between high insulin levels and sleep problems is not yet well understood. But I am relieved to know that I am not the only one with PCOS who has sleep issues. I practically spent the entire day reading more on the link that is believed to cause sleep issues on people having blood glucose problems. Here’s a possible scenario:

In PCOS women, the pancreas works doubly hard to keep blood glucose levels within normal limits. But over time, this altered mechanism may lead to hyperinsulinemia, or the condition in which elevated insulin levels are circulating in the body. I was able to read that blood glucose problems and stress may be closely related. Hence, these glucose fluctuations may then trigger your body to pump out epinephrine or norepinephrine, which basically prepares your body for the fight or flight response.

This is the same body response that we get during emergencies or during instances when we feel threatened. Basically, this explains why falling asleep is difficult because your body is preparing you for some kind of battle. So even if you want to get some shut eye, you may end up feeling like you just had cups of strong black coffee!

While the association may not be clear yet, this somewhat makes sense. Some doctors may not associate it with PCOS, but the number of women complaining about it is a clear indication that there must be some hormonal mechanisms that’s causing it. As for now, I can only work on managing my sugar levels so that I won’t have to entertain other symptoms. Sigh!

Do you have sleep issues too? If you have, did your doctor recognize it as part of PCOS? I would love to hear stories about your symptoms!

What To Do With This Skin Tag?

I took a good look at my reflection today. And although I consider myself lucky for not having acne break outs, I am already contemplating on seeing a dermatologist for a mild discoloration on my face, and a growing skin tag on my left eyelid. While I have been expecting more symptoms to appear, I am not completely prepared to deal with more issues on my appearance.

PCOS can cause high androgen levels, and it is no wonder why some women have no choice but to deal with acne, skin darkening, and skin tags. I have noticed a mild discoloration on my face for some time already, but I have managed to hide it through the use of a concealer. I have also tried other products to even out the skin tone, but to my disappointment —it still looks the same!

And each time I look at myself at the mirror now, my gaze tends to linger on the skin tag on my eyelid! If you are wondering what skin tags are, it actually looks like a small piece of hanging skin which can be found on the neck, armpits, eyelids, and even under the breasts. They can appear smooth, or wrinkled, and they may be the same color as your skin, or even darker. It may be harmless, but I am not too happy learning that I should be expecting more in the long run!

When I first noticed this irritating skin tag, it was relatively small and it really wasn’t such an issue for me. But in a short span of time, it has grown in size and now I can already grasp it with my fingers Ugh! So far, this is the only one that I have, but it’s really pushing me to see a dermatologist! It’s like a ripe grape that’s waiting to be plucked! I actually tried to do just that, but it was too painful! Any suggestions on how I can get rid of it without seeing a doctor yet? Can I just snip it off?

I Am In Pain

Pain is not a symptom that many health care professionals would associate with PCOS. But for many women, the pain is real, and it can really be disturbing. I first had pelvic pain six years ago, but it was very tolerable and it didn’t really happen often. Nevertheless, I wanted to know what was going on so I had some tests done. When my results came out, my doctor told me that I had PCO or polycystic ovaries, and she further explained that the pain may occur when the cysts on my ovaries rupture. Over the years, I haven’t been bothered by any pelvic discomfort, but lately it has come back and it has become too intense.

For the last two months, I have been dreading the time when I’d get my period again. While other PCOS women long to get their period regularly, I seem to get mine each month. But along with it comes pain before the onset. The pain is not really dysmenorrhea, or the discomfort that many women feel during their period. I certainly know how that feels because I always had menstrual cramps before. This pain is totally different, and it is so much worse.

The pain is sharp and it occurs in the area where I perceive my ovaries to be. Sometimes I can feel the pain on one side only, while there are also other times when both sides would hurt. The pain feels like a fresh incision being stretched, and it usually got in the way with my daily activities. When I felt this pain, I thought that it was just muscular in nature because the discomfort worsened with movement or with position changes.

When I would lift my legs, I would feel that some part of my pelvic area is being stretched and it would hurt. When climbing the stairs, I would take it one step at a time because it would hurt so much if I move a little quicker. I hate being sick, and this pain frustrates me because it makes me seem like a patient fresh from the operating room. To add to that, it does not really respond to pain relievers.

When I had it checked, my OB said that it’s really strange that I have been feeling this kind of pain.  She immediately ordered an ultrasound, but it still showed that I have polycystic ovaries. She could not rule out any other cause. She said that it must be hormonal and it should be gone in a few days. True to her word, the pain subsided five days after my period. And I am partly relieved.

However, I still had questions that were left unanswered and I wanted to validate whether other women have the same kind of discomfort. After doing some research, I was surprised to find out that many PCOS women are struggling with pelvic pain. While doctors may not really recognize this as a classic sign of PCOS, many women still agree that it exists.  After so many restless nights, it’s such a relief to know that this symptom is not unusual.

But now I am feeling the pain again. It’s not intense yet but when I bend down, I feel as if there’s something heavy and sharp on my pelvic area. I am now wondering whether I’d have this pain each month. As for now, I can only hope that the pain will not progress and linger for too long. And if I can wish for one thing more, I’d definitely wish that it won’t bother me anymore.

What You Need To Know About PCOS

When I learned that I had PCO or polycystic ovaries, I was resigned to the fact that I may never get to have my own baby. The thought of infertility always haunted me and I vowed to learn more about PCOS so I can have the best chance of conceiving. My frustration drove me to do more research so I can better understand and deal with the symptoms.

I found out that the presence of cysts in the ovary/ovaries is not a definitive symptom of PCOS or otherwise known as Stein-Leventhal Syndrome. Many women have the same cysts in their ovaries without manifesting any of the bothersome symptoms. I can totally say that they are the lucky few and there is nothing that I want more than to be asymptomatic.

In healthy individuals, a matured egg is released from the ovary so that it can travel to the uterus for fertilization. With PCOS, high levels of hormones interfere with the development and release of eggs. This is the reason why it is associated with infertility because the egg is not released during ovulation. As a result, the immature follicles bunch together forming grape-like clusters. Upon ultrasound, the appearance can resemble a “string of pearls”. It can be unilateral or one sided, or it can affect both ovaries. And although the imbalance is reproductive in nature, it can cause a pattern of other symptoms which is why it is classified as a syndrome.

Ever since I got diagnosed with the disease, I gradually noticed new symptoms as time went by. Here are some of the common symptoms of PCOS including my personal account of my journey with the syndrome:

-    Pelvic Pain – Some doctors do not really associate pelvic discomfort with PCOS, but it was the symptom that prompted me to see my doctor. The pain is very different from having menstrual cramps. I can describe the pain as sharp, intermittent, and it is very similar to the pain that you feel when you have a fresh incision. Sometimes it is tolerable, but on other occasions the discomfort is such that I could not do anything else but lie in bed.

-    Thinning Hair – For a time, I am quite positive that I shed at least 30 strands of healthy hair each time I’d get a shower. Again, I went to see a doctor and she told me that I was just too stressed! I am just glad that it stopped falling off otherwise I’d totally be frantic.

-    Hirsutism – The term implies to excessive hair growth, and it tends to occur on the wrong places. Some women may suddenly notice a growth of a beard, or even facial and chest hair. Although I am just thankful not to have any of this, I worry everyday whether I will sport a beard anytime soon!

-    Weight Gain and Difficulty Losing Weight – A great percentage of women with PCOS have weight issues. Before having PCOS, I can easily lose weight when I want to. Now, it’s a totally different story. I am still trying to win the battle of the bulge, and it’s totally frustrating!

-    Skin changes – Some women complain of oily skin, acne and even dandruff. While I don’t have any of these menacing symptoms, I happen to have patches of skin that are darker than some areas.

-   Irregular Periods – Women with PCOS usually have fewer than nine periods in a year, while others really don’t get to have any. This is the first year that my periods have gotten pretty late every month. And I noticed that the cycles have become quite longer than usual.

-    Infertility – Many women have trouble conceiving, but I am very fortunate to have a daughter to call my own. I never had any fertility treatment before I had her, and I really consider her my greatest blessing.

-    Insulin Resistance – When a person is insulin resistant, the body cells do not respond to insulin, or the hormone that regulates glucose in the blood. This results to abnormally high blood glucose levels. I used to think that my values were good because my Random and Fasting Blood Glucose results always showed normal levels. But when my doctor ordered OGTT or oral glucose tolerance test, the result indicated that my value was twice to that of the normal level.

Overall, PCOS is really not a welcome addition into my life. But after three years of unsuccessful management, I am resolved not to allow it to take the better of me. Apart from these physical symptoms, the emotional pain is just harder to deal with. With small steps, I know that I can learn how to effectively deal with this life-changing syndrome.

My Ongoing Battle With PCOS

Mabuhay! I could not contain my excitement over starting this blog about PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It has been six years since I started my battle with the condition, and I have finally mustered the courage to openly discuss my struggles with you. As you know, PCOS is not a very pleasant condition because it does not only cause unwanted bodily changes, but it also has the potential to damage your self-confidence and self- esteem to the point of extinction.

When I learned that I had polycystic ovaries, I really felt that I was in tiptop shape. Aside from my allergies, I only had to deal with common ailments like the flu, fever, and other common health issues. In my 5’7’’ stature, I was in excellent shape. But I had to see a doctor because I had this very weird and disturbing pelvic pain that sometimes radiated to my upper abdomen. I really went paranoid thinking that it may be something really serious. I was almost done with Nursing School then, and it only made matters worse because I only had very morbid thoughts.

I first went to a doctor specializing in Gastroenterology thinking that my symptoms may be due to some digestive problems. But after a physical exam and a couple of ultrasound tests, the doctor gave me a clean bill of health! I got more bothered because the pain was very much present and it was totally impossible to ignore.

Grappling for answers, I consulted an OB-GYNE to check whether the pain was caused by my reproductive organs. And boy my instincts were right! Although my blood tests came negative, they were able to find that I had polycystic ovaries through a pelvic ultrasound. At that time, the condition was not really “full blown”, and I only had a couple of symptoms like very painful menstrual periods, hair loss, and irregular cycles. She said it’s not really the syndrome yet and the symptoms may be due to my polycystic ovaries. Nevertheless, she prescribed me with an oral contraceptive pill (Diane to be exact) to better regulate my cycles and to hopefully make my period-related discomforts tolerable.

Being on the pill, I had bearable menstrual periods but I gained so much weight. My doctor assured me that I will just have minimal weight gain but I guess I’m just different. I steadily gained 10 pounds each month for three months! After all that weight, I resolved not to take any hormonal pill and instead focus on getting more physical activity and leading a healthier lifestyle. I talked to my doctor about stopping treatment and she respected my decision to try treatment only when I decided to get pregnant.

Although the thought of infertility always bothered me, I tried to shift my focus on the other aspects of my life. But amidst my struggles, I can still consider myself extremely blessed. On September 17, 2005, I gave birth to a healthy baby girl through caesarean section. She is my joy and my world — but my journey with PCOS has taken yet another turn. After pregnancy, came the symptoms that were very distinct with PCOS, and I had no doubt in my mind that it has already taken a turn for the worse.

Fast track to 2009, I am currently dealing with the more annoying symptoms of PCOS namely – more weight gain, skin changes, abnormal menstrual periods, severe pelvic pain, and insulin resistance to name a few! But regardless of all this, I am very optimistic that there is hope. If you have PCOS or if you know anyone with the disease, I really hope that we can all share our struggles on this challenging journey. You don’t have to feel so alone. I can’t wait to hear from you!