What does PCOS fatigue feel like?

Why does PCOS make me feel fatigued? PCOS stems from hormonal imbalance, which can spark a cascade of sleep, stress, weight and mood issues. As a result, you may feel sluggish, unmotivated, lethargic, brain-foggy, and desperate to crawl back under your duvet.


Does PCOS cause extreme fatigue?

Fatigue is one of the most common complaints of women with PCOS. Normal tiredness can be relieved by sleep and rest. But excessive tiredness, also known as fatigue, can be overwhelming and seriously affect a person's quality of life. Fatigue is also a common symptom of many other disorders.

How do you deal with PCOS fatigue?

How to fight PCOS fatigue in your day-to-day life
  1. Try to balance your diet. Achieving the right balance of food groups on your plate can make a real difference to how you feel.
  2. Stay hydrated. ...
  3. Take more exercise. ...
  4. Improve your sleep. ...
  5. Cut down on caffeine. ...
  6. Take supplements.


What are the symptoms of PCOS getting worse?

PCOS affects your hormones dramatically, so you may experience these symptoms:
  • Hair loss from your scalp and/or hair growth (hirsutism) in unexpected places.
  • Oily skin and acne problems.
  • Infertility (ovulation problems) or repeat miscarriages.
  • Weight gain, especially around your waist.
  • Menstrual problems.


Do people with PCOS sleep a lot?

Clinic-based studies indicate that sleep disturbances and disorders including obstructive sleep apnea and excessive daytime sleepiness occur more frequently among women with PCOS compared to comparison groups without the syndrome.


How I handled my PCOS fatigue



How many hours of sleep does a woman with PCOS need?

Being active, exercising and going outdoors can improve quality of sleep. People can differ in how much sleep they require, but most people need between 7-9 hours every night to function normally. Avoid screens e.g. computer, phone late at night that emit blue light. This can make it harder to fall asleep.

How many hours of sleep does a PCOS need?

Recent studies have revealed a high prevalence of sleep disorders in women living with PCOS, suggesting that it is an amendable factor. Hence, it is recommended to sleep for 6 to 9 hours a day.

What aggravates PCOS?

Foods which have saturated or hydrogenated fats in, include dairy products such as cream or cheese and fatty red meats, as well as processed or fried foods. These unhealthy fats can increase estrogen production, which can make your PCOS symptoms worse, and can lead to weight gain which can also worsen symptoms.


How do I know if my PCOS is mild or severe?

Symptoms of PCOS can vary from mild to severe. For example, mild unwanted hair is normal, and it can be difficult to say when it becomes abnormal in women with mild PCOS. At the other extreme, women with severe PCOS can have marked hair growth, infertility and obesity. Symptoms may also change over the years.

What is the life expectancy of PCOS?

Recent studies have shown that women who were diagnosed as having PCOS 30 years ago have a completely normal life expectancy. An inspection of more than 700 death certificates from women with PCOS has shown that there is no excess risk of cancer in any organ or of heart disease.

What helps with PCOS flare ups?

How is PCOS treated?
  • Birth control pills. These help to control menstrual cycles, lower androgen levels, and reduce acne.
  • Diabetes medication. This is often used to lower insulin resistance in PCOS. ...
  • A change in diet and activity. ...
  • Medications to treat other symptoms.


Do PCOS symptoms worsen over time?

People may experience more severe symptoms of PCOS for several reasons, with some occurring if they have other conditions such as diabetes or overweight. In other cases, a person may not receive treatment early enough, leading to PCOS symptoms worsening over time and further complications, such as infertility.

Is PCOS considered a disability?

PCOS by itself is very unlikely to qualify you for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) does take the combine affects of multiple medical conditions into account when evaluating disability claims.

Does PCOS make you achy?

Inflammation which may cause brain fog, joint pain, aches and fatigue. Depression. Glucose intolerance. Patched, dark skin in creased body areas such as thighs, underarms, nape etc.


Do you get brain fog with PCOS?

For instance, brain fog is common among PCOS patients because of a number of conditions associated with the syndrome. These may include sleep apnea, mood disorders, abnormal hormone levels, and blood sugar spikes and dips due to insulin resistance.

Can you feel sick with PCOS?

This means that even when you do sleep, you do not feel well-rested after you wake up. Headaches. The surging hormones that cause PCOS can give you headaches, too. Heavy periods.

What are the stages of PCOS?

The four functional types of PCOS include insulin-resistant PCOS, post-pill PCOS (which is temporary), inflammatory PCOS, and the far less common adrenal PCOS.


What is PCOS belly?

A PCOS belly is the result of PCOS-related weight gain and may be caused by different factors. Weight gain in individuals with PCOS follows a characteristic pattern that involves more abdominal visceral fat gain compared to the rest of the body.

How do I know what type of PCOS I have?

The four types of PCOS
  1. Insulin resistance PCOS. According to the nutritionist, it occurs in 70 per cent of the cases. ...
  2. Adrenal PCOS. This occurs during a massive stressful period. ...
  3. Inflammatory PCOS. This type of PCOS occurs due to chronic inflammation. ...
  4. Post-pill PCOS.


What should a PCOS patient avoid?

Women suffering from PCOS should avoid the following foods:
  • Sugary drinks.
  • Fried foods.
  • Processed meats (ex. sausages, hamburgers, and hot dogs)
  • Refined Carbohydrates (ex. white bread, pasta, and pastries)
  • Processed food (ex. cakes, candy, sweetened yogurt, ice creams with excess sugar)


What are the donts If you have PCOS?

Don't have refined carbohydrates. Foods such as white breads, pastries, muffins, and white potatoes exacerbate insulin resistance and cause inflammation which will worsen your PCOS symptoms. Don't have sugary snacks or drinks.

What should I avoid if I have PCOS?

Foods to avoid

Refined carbohydrates, such as mass-produced pastries and white bread. Fried foods, such as fast food. Sugary beverages, such as sodas and energy drinks. Processed meats, such as hot dogs, sausages, and luncheon meats.

How many meals a day with PCOS?

What and when to eat. It is recommended that women with PCOS eat regularly to help stabilise their insulin levels. It is suggested that they eat every three to four hours, which for most women means having three meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and a snack between each.


How much should I walk with PCOS?

Even a short 20-minute walk is worth it. ' What's more, studies have shown that just 30 minutes a day, three times a week, to three total hours per week can improve metabolic and reproductive symptoms associated with PCOS.

What is the best time to exercise for PCOS?

Some women wake up earlier in the morning to work out or try to fit it in during a lunch hour or after work. There is no perfect time to exercise, only when you can make it work consistently.