The KInd Life Community Forum

contiued from first post...

January of 2009 I spoke with a nurse about headaches and high blood pressure and more weight gain. I decided to stop the pill. No period. For months. I went to see the specialist again. He said that new research showed that Metformin was not necessarily the only treatment. He prescribed a 12 day Progesterone pill that I would repeat every 3 months. It was awful. Imagine the worst PMS you've ever had! It lasted 3 weeks. I did have a period but determined that I could not go through that again. My husband agreed. :) I also enlisted the help of a homeopath who has me taking evening primrose oil.

I was so excited when I found the Kind Diet. I always wanted to be a vegitarian but lacked the knowledge to do it well and I had discovered an alergy to dairy, so this was perfect. I started in April 2010 with the highest hopes. It has now been a year since I've had a period. The cysts are still there (they probably always will be) my pap is normal. I don't want to go on birth control again, worse yet the progesterone treatment. The doc wants to put me on meds. I will stay a vegan because I love it and I beleive in it and feel the best that I've felt for a long time. But still no period and no weight loss. Am I missing something? What do I do? Please help!

Hi both,

Don't give up! I've suffered from PCOS for over 8 years. I developed a dairy intolerance around 5 years ago so since then have avoided it. I've been a vegan for 5 months (well I still eat fish and eggs.. so not quite yet.. but im approaching it gradually)

But only since I stopped eating meat in the last 5 months have I noticed a dramatic difference in my periods and overall health. Despite having irregular periods for the last 8 years.. sometimes once a year, every 6 months etc..I am now pretty regular, have had my period every month. It feels amazing and I definitely put it down to stop eating meat. I've done a bit of research on it, and personally i dont think it's surprising it's had such an effect given the different hormones, chemicals and whatever else are pumped into our meat and the agricultural system.

I've been on and off the pill but finally stopped taking it around 1 year ago and definitely never wish to go back on it!

I too have started adding Macca to my breakfast smoothies..as well as a teaspoon of flaxseed oil. I also swear by Udo's choice oil blend (flax,sunflower, sesame and coconut oils..) Candice I'm sure that would help with your acne.

Overall, I eat plenty of vegetables, some fruits (but also go through phases of going without as I think it can contribute to Candida which definitely doesnt help PCOS) I avoid sugar, opting for agave syrup and natural alternatives, I also avoid wheat, but eat plenty of brown rice, quinoa and oats, lots of seeds and nuts.

Good luck!

Thanks everyone for your comments and support. I will do some research on all your suggestions and see if they will help as well.

A Crowther it's interesting the similarities in our experiences. I too try to avoid sugar as much as possible because of the PCOS and my father is diabetic.

I have also spoken to a nutritionist who believes that gluten is contributes to imbalanced hormones. I want to look into this further but it makes sense on some levels. I have yet to eliminate gluten from my diet because going vegan was a dramatic change but I will probably move in that direction eventually. I am also experiences ache that I had not had when I was on the pill. It's driving me crazy!

My specialist had suggested Spironolactone as well. Maybe I should reconsider it.

Thanks again everyone. I look forward to hearing more from you.

PCOS is an epidemic. Many women have it that don't yet know it. It also takes different forms in different people. It is essentially a disease of metabolism and the imbalances it engenders can manifest in numerous ways.

Our bodies make the hormones and other chemical messengers it needs from the foods we consume. What we eat gets broken down and then rebuilt by our system into the chemicals we need. The nutrients and amounts of calories we consume effects this process.

The superhero plan is a great way to begin. If some small adjustments need to be made, they become apparent as you make the transition.

The main idea is to get all the nutrition you need while limiting your bodies exposure to excess concentrated protein, fat and carbohydrate. Animal based foods contain concentrated forms of fat and protein. Processed food often contain concentrated carbohydrate. Sugars and oils are also avoided.

This reduces the stored fat on the body as well as the protein precursors that make our hormones. Under these circumstances the body is able to find it's own balance.

Hey all. I gave up dairy in Sept of 09, became vegan in Febuary of this year and i HAD pcos. My PCOS was different, no periods at all, on pills (not birth control because I had flu like symptoms everytime I took them) once every 3 months to make sure I got my period. Then this past april I got my period, on my own, no pills. Because I only have 1 ovary, had one taken out when I was 8, I only get my period once every 2 months at this time. This life style has changed my life dramatically. Stick with it and have faith. Things will get better. I'm also down 50 pounds now, have about 30 more to go, although I will be happy with 20.

Good luck to you all! Send a note if you want to talk in private or anything.

Kelly :)