Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Support Group

Hi! I've always been reluctant to wake up in the morning and tend to sleep for more than 8 hours at any time. I've always been a little sluggish, but I have noticed since I stopped taking BCP last year in the hopes of getting pregnant the fatigue has gotten worse. I'm not sure if its from the hormones or the medications I'm on. But, that being said, I also cut back on the amount of sugar and processed foods in my diet and that seems to have helped level out my moods and I feel a little more energetic than I have been. Its hard to say exactly what's going on, but you are definitely not alone!

Hi, yep I am like this too. When I get days off from work I always nap during the day.

havent been diagnosed with pcos yet(find out friday) but i do suffer from endo and endo definalty makes me exhausted. no matter how much i sleep, nap, rest or relax i still get so tired. for some reason it always hit me 11:00 am on the dot lol

Hi there - I too go through bouts of complete exhaustion coupled with joint aches, particularly when Aunt Flo comes for a visit. This weekend was rough for me as I didn't have the energy to do much of anything. Slept late on both Sat and Sun, yet by 2 pm on Sun, I actually fell asleep in my easy chair before dinner. I drink coffee just to get going most days and am soo tired by the middle of the day I can barely keep going. I take vitamins which helps a little. Sometimes I get the opposite too, where I can't sleep well for days on end. Hormones have a lot to do with sleep problems.

I can relate to this! Just going on to a BCP. So we will see how that goes. I know I rely on coffee a lot which only exacerbates the PCOS. So it's a viscious cycle. But I am going to try and really make some changes - researching a lot etc. So i'll keep you up dated on any improvements (I'm being optimistic). I have a full-time job, travel 2hrs every day for work and a three year - so the fatigue is hard! x

Thanks ladies. I thought something was really wrong with me, so it is a bit helpful to know that is the same old thing wrong with me lol, and no new issues. I really think the BCP helped before. I have been taking Vitex for about 6 days now, and I feel like that is helping me some. I hope the more it gets into my system the more that will help me with the sleeping and everything else it is supposed to do! Please, please keep me posted of any info you would find. I am always reading and trying to learn more about this syndrome as well as how to better take care of myself. Hope everyone has a great (and nonsleepy) week!

Dear Curly,

I'm 31 and struggle with severe fatigue. I basically slept my 20's away. I've tried lots of things, let me tell you what worked for me.

1. Sleep Apnea is associated with PCOS. I had a sleep study and they found out that I woke up 9 times an hour because I stopped breathing. I got a machine that helps me breathe. It took a little while, but it has made all the difference. Just think- I never went into deep sleep for all those years. I was sleep deprived for so long.

2. Impaired Glucose tolerance- this is also associated with PCOS. I'd eat sugar, which would give me energy for a little while but then I'd crash and be sooo tired. Then I'd need more sugar, and on and on.
To help this, I went to a dietitian who taught me how to eat a certain number of carbs and proteins per day, and eat at regular intervals. I can't say enough about how much this has helped. It isn't hard to do, either, because its not like a diet where I feel deprived.

3. Stay-awake pills: My psychiatrist prescribed me some pills to stay awake. If I keep a regular schedule with meds, this helps a lot. Warning- don't take stimulants if your doctor hasn't prescribed them. They can be addictive.

As I said, it took ten years to find out what was wrong with me. So, don't give up, try new things, there is help!

I am actually glad to see these replies as well! I am tired all the time. I have to get 12 plus hours of sleep or I will stay in bed all day. Its hard being a full time student and working and suffering from this problem.

Cardinal- don't give up on school. You can do it! I slept over 12 hours a few nights a week, and I got through undergrad and grad school.
Also, sometimes I feel guilty about sleeping for so long. Does anyone else have that?
I don't think we need to feel guilty, I'm just asking how others deal with it.
Thanks!

i sleep for a good 12-13 hours a night, and i still dont wanna get up after being up for 9 hours i feel as if i could go bk 2 sleep. i have a very busy life style as well really dosent help i have 2 jobs and am doing a full time collage course and 9 times outta 10 i feel as if i could sleep days