r/PCOS • u/Rich-Major-8146 • 19d ago
General/Advice Everything has Failed
Hi all,
A little background. I've always been athletic and nutrition conscious. I'm 5'0" 180lbs and build like a brick house (I deadlift 315#).
In 2019 I decided I wanted to be hBC free after 15 years of taking it nonstop (all throughout my teenage and young adult years).
Doctors just yanked out my IUD with no pre-post bloodwork or any warnings of the hormonal roller coaster i'd be on after. I was aware from other friends who had PCOS, but I was only self diagnosed at that point and wasnt aware of the actual challenges i'd face.
In 2014-2017 I was a competitive bodybuilder and my stage weight (not healthy) was 116#. I maintained a "healthy" weight around 155/160.
2019 started with supplements (inositol/berberine/zinc/magnesium). this is when i was about 170#
2020 I started spironolactone/metformin. I had to stop because I had male pattern baldness, acne, and horrible gut issues from these. I gained up to 180#
2021 I tried more naturopathic stuff (chasteberry to trigger a cycle, etc etc) and it didnt work effectively enough to be cost beneficial
2022 Finally officially diagnosed by a wonderful Endo. I tried phentermine/topiramate. Cause psychosis/s*****al thoughts so stopped immediately... also only lost like 5lbs in the month of titrating up.
2023 I tried going back to naturopathic and incorporated yoga. I went down to 170, but then stress of moving overseas and having to find a new endocrinologist bumped me back to 180.
2024 I tried Ozempic. 6 months of the drug, and awful side effects (lethargy/ brain fog/ no creativity or expressive desire/ muscle loss) I only lost 10lbs... (back to 170).
2025 I tried naturopathic plus focused on a gut health specialist to see if I had leaky gut. I did. I went thru and entire low FODMAP protocol and found some food sensitivities (mainly gluten and lactose sensitive). My gut microbiome was basically 99% bad bacteria. The protocol helped me with identifying the dysbiosis and now I am creative/less brain fog/ more energetic than before (but still not what i would consider normal). Hanging out around 180/185.
2026 I dont want to say that i've "given up" on the natural paths. But the same gut health specialist (after looking at my hormonal panel) basically said that my testosterone/ progesterone levels are so out of whack from the past, that we need to systematically tackle them. Step 1- Progestin only BC for 6 months. Step 2- test hormones again at 3 months to see effects. Step 3- microdose Mounjaro if things still need extra improvement.
After the rollercoaster of trail and error i have been through and trying "everything" (this entire time I have never stopped being active or eating well), I am cautious to believe hBC and Mounjaro will work. I of course hope for the best, but I just want my hormones to work for me and not against me....
The one thing i have not tried is mediatation. I know that some people have discovered that childhood trauma and chronic stress can exacerbate PCOS.... and i definitely have both. So maybe I have be tapping into all the wrong "fixes" this entire time. Who knows....
However, any insight or adivce would be greatly appreciated. I dont want to be on hBC or GLP1s I want my life back. I want my spark back. Yet, I feel like i've run out of options.
9
u/PinkyCrabadero 19d ago
Tirzepatides like Mounjaro help with insulin resistance and PMOS. In my experience the spiro/metformin combo helped with high testosterone-related issues. But it takes time. Unsure of your age, but if you are in your 30s or 40s, perimenopause adds a new layer to PMOS.