PCOS and panic attacks

OMG YES CLARE. I have heard this as well. I was dx last Oct or Nov with PCOS. But I have had "generalized anxiety disorder" since 2006. Please let me know what further research you find/do. I would love to know more. I am a firm believer there is a link between the 2! I am slowly coming off my anxiety meds since I have been on them for over 7 years...I wish they had a cure for anxiety and PCOS. Do you know of any helpful educational material discussing ideas to help with anxiety when it comes on? I know there is no real cure...but I have heard stay away from yeast, etc. exercise, try to eat right, add meditation not just cardio to your exercise routine, to help balance your body, etc. Take care!

Hi Juls. I have been suffering from panic attacks for 11 years, about the same time as I was diagnosed with PCOS. I have tried many things. Am about to move onto level 3 counselling (although I hold out not a lot of hope!). I have contacted a university that does research, with no hope either. The adrenal gland is the problem but as of yet the levels of adrenaline aren't measurable in the brain. I was wondering that if the hormonal imbalance caused by the PCOS could be more controlled by something like the pill but apparently I'm now too old! I will still pester the medical profession with all this but they don't want to confirm or not any of my ideas because there hasn't been enough research into the link. If I find out anything I will post again.

That sounds great! Thank you. I have had counseling with 2 therapists in the past. Only for a total of ~5 visits. I hope it helps you get some insight on how to handle or deal with your symptoms. I myself am on a waiting list at this time to see someone to manage me as I come off my anxiety meds. I am hopeful in finding out educational material and therapist's insight on the situation as hopefully she has met others with the same diagnosis or issue. Cheers to living life and being worry free!! Amen! Definitely keep in touch!

I just found this site after having what seems to be a panic attack, will fill you in briefly as I can with my history. had been a bit of a problem child from as early as I can remember, 1 of 5 siblings and had always been the worst & most problematic, put this down to other problems that occurred during my childhood which probably didn't help. worst teenager ever!! met my wonderful husband at 16 years old & life was perfect! we had nothing but we didn't care, just glad to be with each other & from then on, nothing bothered me, I was the most chilled out easy going person you could ever meet, absolutely nothing bothered me! briefly on the pill & came off at age 17. age 22/23 approx was refered to fertility clinic, found cyst in my right ovary & told prob there since periods started age 11 which would explain why they were always so very heavy & painful.two unsuccessfull attempts at ivf, very very disappointing but still carried on forever hopeful & planning for the next try. trust me this is very brief, if I told you even half of what I've been through in life so far you would wonder how the hell I've coped but I took everything in my stride, shrugged my shoulders & knew that everything would be fine (much to the annoyance & confusion sometimes of my husband who wondered how I could be so calm & relaxed)! then a year & half ago I decided to ask for the cyst in my ovary to be removed, which was agreed my the specialist at our clinic & a laparoscopy was planned. two months before it was due, I began vomiting on the 2nd day of every period. it was only ever on the 2nd day but each time it was worse & felt like I couldn't breath, I just put it down to eating too much & the pain. I told this to the specialist before my laparoscopy. anyway after the procedure, I woke up & immediately felt sick & burning hot, like I was infected all over my body, especially my face & couldn't pee.didnt bother me so much as was told the cyst had been removed & they found a little bit of endo which they also removed. was told I couldn't go home until I passed urine which I wasn't able to do so they had to put a catheter in which then gave me a urine infection. many anti sickness inj & 2 days later, I got home with a letter for my gp for antibiotics for urine infection, however next day I was at local casualty with the sickness,dizziness & burning hotness again, she told me I had an ear infection & sent me home with antibiotics. cut a long story short, this went on for 6 months each time an extra infection, urine,kidney,ear,throat with symptoms getting worse tingling in hands & feet, very bad palpatations, difficulty breathing & when I went to get my stitches removed, the nurse asked me twice if I was sure I wasn't pregnant, my tummy was so bloated I looked 6/7 months pregnant.also found out the specialist lied to me about the cyst being removed, it was still there. finally got an mri cause I thought they infected me during laparoscopy & was diagnosed with pcos in left ovary. also diagnosed with b12 deficiency & low iron. its a year & a half on & I can't count how many of these panic attacks I've had, dizziness feeling like I'm goin to pass out, sickness, diarreha , palpatations , bloatedness, turning burning hot & not being able to breath,.get a lot of ringing in ears, & feels like ear infections, hotness all over, blackness under eyes & just look & feel like crap. I have been in denial that these were panic attacks as I am so laid back normally, I never ever had any problems like this before, was always healthy looking & although had really bad period & cyst pain, I always managed to cope with it well. I cant believe that this torture has all been down to pcos. so yes, I know for sure that panic attacks are definitely linked to pcos and its really crap!!!

I'm so sorry to hear all the stuff that you've had to go through. I'm still fighting to be heard by the medical profession. One day I hope we can all help each other and win this battle. I'm still on the list (apparently near the top!) to see the next level up to sort out my brain and panic attacks. When I get in I'll update to see if they can help, but after having suffered for over ten years, I doubt it!

I know how you feel, its bad enough trying to find a good doctor who really listens to you & actually cares without all the months of waiting! I feel sorry that you've suffered with this for 11 years though. I wish you the best of luck & hope you find something that helps. just curious wether you have tried any anxiety meds or the metformin that a lot of others seem to be trying & If so, how did you get on with them? also if your pcos affected your ability to conceive? I understand if this questions, is too personal to answer.this is the first forum I have ever been on, been reading a lot of them & trying to gather & compare everyones experiences. also are you in the uk?

Hi capricorn2010. I have been on metformin before quite a few years ago. It seems to help some people but I came off because it helped me put on more weight and gave me stomach cramps so thought better of it. I've been on anxiety tabs before but it just masks the problem and doesn't always help. Sometimes the the side effects aren't worth it! I am in England. Without sounding too personal too, I haven't used protection for about 20 years and still haven't got pregnant. That's not to say that it's not possible. I knew someone who has PCOS and has four children. It's basically luck of the draw. I am soon going to put a small survey on this site and hope that you will help me. If we all clump together maybe we can get some more answers? Thanks

hi clare, I've read a lot about people who are taking metformin, most of them say it is a miracle drug & have fallen pregnant but that it does make them awfully sick & I agree that the anxiety meds just mask the problem. I am feeling very optimistic since visiting my doctors last week, I have recently moved to a new area & we have found a very nice, caring, intelligent, irish doctor who is way ahead of us & who we don't need to insist & prompt with everything. she agreed that all these symptoms are caused by the hormones, it's not anxiety or depression etc & that anxiety meds are just masking the symptoms, she has referred me to a gynaecologist in a different area & is testing all my bloods (testosterone etc) & will wait for results from gynae before making a plan. I will help anyway I can, just tell me what to do. do you want me to answer the survey too? have had a quick look, its good idea & see you have had a couple of replies already. can I ask how long you tried the metformin for? just let me know what you want me to do. thanks clare.

Hi capricorn2010. It's great that you seem to have found a sympathetic doctor. I was on metformin for about a year but me and sickness don't go together very well so me personally I had to stop it! I would like to to do survey if you could? I'm trying to make the doctors sit up and listen. There's not been very much research gone into PCOS in great detail and would to force the issue into more research to help others. I did go to a gynaecology for about two years but think they have learnt a bit more since then. Thanks for your help.

Clare

no problem! & thanks for all your info & answering my nosey questions!

Yes ladies, you all are right. PCOS and panic attacks are intertwined. It has been proven clinically Anxiety rates are higher among women with PCOS.

There are several possibilities one that PCOS causes chemical changes in your body that result in anxiety or, two, Having PCOS can cause anxiety/depression with all the symptoms we suffer. These symptoms include infertility, irregular menstrual cycles, abnormal hair growth, weight gain, acne and other skin conditions, sleep disturbances, and more.

Usually Metformin works very well, but very sorry to hear that it didn’t help you out really. Improvement in diet (keeping in mind insulin resistance that is often main culprit behind PCOS) and regular workout has been found by many women to alleviate the intensity of their symptoms. Thanks Clare.

Luis

Yes! I completely relate to this. I generally find just before my period and on the first day of my period I am almost bed bound. Feel so anxious, dizzy and queezy. The intense cramps are an added bonus too! I've been to the doctors a few times to discuss my anxiety - never have they related the 2. I suppose I'm lucky in the sense I only get my period once in a blue moon so dont have to go through this ordeal all the time!! There must be something to help though - I am desperate!!! =(