RE: PCOS (Full Version)

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wendylady -> RE: PCOS (11/10/2007 1:47:13 PM)

Thanks for the response.

My doctor said the CT scan was to determine if there were any abnormalities primarily on my adrenals, ovaries, kidneys, but that of course, everything else would be examined. He also mentioned that my endocrinologist might want to do a scan of my head.

I know that hirsutism and oligomenorrhea are common together, and most commonly caused by PCOS. (Yep, I've been reading up, because it somehow seems less embarrassing with the technical terms.) However, I got the impression that it the fluid discharge was something that isn't as common to be combined with the other two. I think it this point I have all these random little things, and it's hard to know which ones might be because I need a vacation, and which ones might be indicative of the overall problem.

One thing that has been nice was that my doctor put me on a medicine to help with some of the issues until I see the next doctor, and it has helped with the fluid retention. I had noticed that my shoe size had gone up, but I thought it was just because I had switched to different styles. Apparently that wasn't the issue because I was cracking myself up at work a couple of days ago because my shoes kept falling off my feet when I sat and had only my toes on the ground. Unfortunately, the nature of the medication is something that I shouldn't take for more than a month.



kayjaybe7 -> RE: PCOS (11/22/2007 7:47:59 PM)

Leslie, If you have PCOS it has to be a very mild case of it, Lucky You!



kayjaybe7 -> RE: PCOS (11/22/2007 8:10:05 PM)

I have symptoms much like yours. I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2000. However, it took several doctors over ten years to figure it out. I have seen MD's, OB/GYN, and top Reproductive Endocrinologists in Chicago. All of them have insisted that I take Metformin. I would ditch the doctor who says you don't need it. The Metformin makes me severely nautious and I experience severe diarrehea as well. It will subside, but it takes a l ong time. It took me over a year. Finally, I decided to cut my pill in half and take half (250 mg) per day. after a month or so I took one whole pill. after a couple more months, I took one pill and a half etc. This was the only way I could survive. Also, when you are on Met, absolutely no fatty or fried foods, this will make the side effects worse. Hope this helps, I will be praying for you! I also recommend the website Soulcycsters.com invaluable info. I also take Vitex everyday. that helps my cycles stay somewhat normal. More normal than they have every been anyway.



kayjaybe7 -> RE: PCOS (11/22/2007 8:15:46 PM)

I can see you posted this awhile back, so you may have found out. Metformin and KFC do not mix. When you are on met, fatty or fried is bound to cause BIG problems. I have been trying to commit to taking my met (1500 mg/day) for seven years. I finally made headway a year ago. I had to cut my pill in half and take half a dose for a couple of months, then I increased to a whole pill for a couple of months and then I did one and a half pills etc. Also have plenty of immodium on hand. I took me over a year for the nausea and diarrehea to subside. Praying for ya.



SweetLittleErin -> RE: PCOS (11/23/2007 10:41:25 AM)

Yeah, I am pretty much over the sickness by the Metformin. Somedays if I eat certain foods it makes me gassy and crampy but not bad. Thankfully, my symptoms were very mild and didnt last long. Nothing that was not tolerable.



wendylady -> RE: PCOS (11/24/2007 10:20:32 PM)

Well, I had an appointment with my endocrinologist. All that happened so far was basically taking my history and another blood test, which I'm waiting for results. She said that if this test didn't reveal anything, then there were other tests that to perform.

This test involved taking medication (dexamethasone) the night before, and then a blood test in the morning. When I looked it up on the web, it appeared to be a screening test for Cushing's disease.

I don't know if PCOS has been ruled out, or if this is a situation in which they are ruling everything out.



agapetos -> RE: PCOS (11/25/2007 4:21:41 AM)

quote:

This test involved taking medication (dexamethasone) the night before, and then a blood test in the morning. When I looked it up on the web, it appeared to be a screening test for Cushing's disease.
quote:

Dexamethasone can be used to treat severe asthma, allergic conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, collagen disease and other inflammatory disorders.

Dexamethasone can also be used to treat nausea associated with chemotherapy and to diagnose Cushing's disease.
From here

There are a lot of medications that are listed as treating one thing but doctors have found that they will work for another very well ~ but it's often difficult to find these other things (ie not the main usage) out.

I did a really quick search for dexamethasone and found at another site that it can be used in dental treatment as well.

Don't worry about having to have that test until (or if) you need it ~ and then discuss your concerns with your doctor if/when necessary.



wendylady -> RE: PCOS (11/26/2007 1:23:45 AM)

I hear you on the off-label usage, though none of the items you mentioned would be applicable for me. I have no allergies, arthritis, or asthma, etc.

I had the test last week. It appeared to be the low-dose test, because I took only 1mg at 11:00 with the blood test in the morning. I'm hoping to have the results tomorrow, because I know the lab was open over Thanksgiving.

Truthfully, I should have asked the doctor, but I had already been talking with the doctor for about 45 minutes, and I needed to get back to work.



ladioffaith -> RE: PCOS (11/26/2007 3:22:35 PM)

THIS LINK explains about Cushing's.

A lot of the symptoms of PCOS are very similar to Cushing's.

It sounds like you have a very thorough endo who is trying to get to the bottom of what's going on with you. Consider yourself lucky!



wendylady -> RE: PCOS (11/26/2007 6:15:53 PM)

Thanks for the link.

Believe me, I know I'm extremely lucky to be with doctors who are at least checking things out. In July, I had a physical with another doctor, who basically told me I needed to exercise more and quit eating fast food. While I admit I don't exercise the way I should, I don't east fast food on a regular basis. It didn't matter that some of the problems predated my weight gain and were independent of my stress level.

I have a friend who had been diagnosed with Grave's disease, and she was completely disgusted with what I told her. Some of my symptoms were similar to hers, and she said convinced me to go to her doctor.

Truthfully, based on what I've read, I'm no where near as bad as some of the stories for Cushing's. Some of these people sounded almost incapacitated, which I'm not. Of course, I'm not sure how typical any of this is.

It's hard because I know how I used to be, and what I am now. I realize that I work in excess of 50 hours a week on most weeks. It's just that I used to do that plus be much more active in the evenings or on the weekends. Everyone says I just need a vacation, but come on, if everyone grew hair in weird places because we needed a vacation, America would be one hairy place.

Oh well, I guess I'm going to have to call the doctor tomorrow.



wendylady -> RE: PCOS (11/27/2007 2:23:18 PM)

Totally disheartened today.

My test results came back normal, so the office lady said something like "This isn't the cause of the weight issues. There's nothing wrong with your endocrine system. You have to go back to your regular doctor."

What's so annoying is that while I don't like the fact that I have to struggle to lose weight, that isn't the real reason why I even went back to the doctor.

It's not all in my head, but there's nothing wrong either.



clag4christ -> RE: PCOS (11/27/2007 2:49:09 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: wendylady

Totally disheartened today.

My test results came back normal, so the office lady said something like "This isn't the cause of the weight issues. There's nothing wrong with your endocrine system. You have to go back to your regular doctor."

What's so annoying is that while I don't like the fact that I have to struggle to lose weight, that isn't the real reason why I even went back to the doctor.

It's not all in my head, but there's nothing wrong either.



It's not all in your head either! I promise! All of my hormonal tests came back normal too...and I still have PCOS. Keep praying that you'll find a doctor who will listen and believe you!



SweetLittleErin -> RE: PCOS (11/27/2007 2:51:58 PM)

My tests all came back normal too. There was no way to tell for "sure" that I had PCOS, thats just where the signs point, so we treated that, and it seems to be working.



wendylady -> RE: PCOS (11/27/2007 5:24:39 PM)

Well, I've had a few people suggest that I just need an anti-depressant, because they think I'm just overly stressed, or at least that is what they are willing to go on record as saying. I'm not going to ignore the suggestion. At the same time, it feels dismissive. Some of the things I have going on don't happen no matter what kind of stress you have or if you are depressed.

I suppose I'm just cranky...



wendylady -> RE: PCOS (11/27/2007 5:28:35 PM)

BTW- Welcome to Texas!

The land of a 9 month summer and cheap real estate.



ladioffaith -> RE: PCOS (11/27/2007 9:43:01 PM)

My previous doctor is the one who did the glucose tolerance test with insulin draws. When I switched to an endo, she didn't see the need to do expensive blood tests. She could tell I have The Syndrome just by looking at my symptoms.

It's good that you don't have Cushings!

However, I am really thinking that you have PCOS because of the symptoms. Check out www.soulcysters.net where they have all the symptoms listed. Depression and weight gain are among them.



clag4christ -> RE: PCOS (11/27/2007 9:52:40 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: wendylady

Well, I've had a few people suggest that I just need an anti-depressant, because they think I'm just overly stressed, or at least that is what they are willing to go on record as saying. I'm not going to ignore the suggestion. At the same time, it feels dismissive. Some of the things I have going on don't happen no matter what kind of stress you have or if you are depressed.

I suppose I'm just cranky...


The doctors used to say that it was just stress that was causing me to bleed for three weeks at a time per cycle too, and that it was normal and "just my cycle". Stress can cause physiological symptoms to appear...but if a doctor wasn't treating the pointers to my problems...like it sounds like they're not for you...then I'd find a new doctor. Especially if they were trying to put a 'band-aid' cure on you in the form of a seemingly unneeded anti-depressant.



clag4christ -> RE: PCOS (11/27/2007 9:54:53 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: wendylady

BTW- Welcome to Texas!

The land of a 9 month summer and cheap real estate.



LOL! Thanks! We're enjoying it! It's a lot like CA weather...not so much the real estate prices, thank goodness...without the mountains! [;)]



agapetos -> RE: PCOS (11/28/2007 5:01:15 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: wendylady

Well, I've had a few people suggest that I just need an anti-depressant, because they think I'm just overly stressed, or at least that is what they are willing to go on record as saying. I'm not going to ignore the suggestion. At the same time, it feels dismissive. Some of the things I have going on don't happen no matter what kind of stress you have or if you are depressed.

I suppose I'm just cranky...
You've got a lot to think about... take some time and just think before going back to the doctors maybe.

* Look into soulcysisters and see how it fits in with your symptoms. See what treatment is available.
* Look into your stress levels and see if they could be affecting things and if there's anything you can do about them.
* Look into your exercise routine and what you eat. Keep an accurate food and exercise diary for at least a week or do one for a week every month or so. Mark when you have symptoms that are causing you problems (and what symptoms they are). They can be tiresome to do, but you will be able to give them to your doctor so they can see you aren't eating badly and you are exercising.
* Find out more about antidepressants. Probably something you would need to speak with the doctor about to discuss how long you'd be on them for, what they'd be, side effects etc. It's not being dismissive to use them.
* If you are stressed, find out about what you can do about it. A short course of therapy may help you to work this out and work out ways you can deal with stress in your life, now and in the future.

Write questions to ask your doctor down. If you feel as though it's going to take more than 1 regular appointment, phone and speak with the receptionist/doc's secretary and explain that, see if you can have a longer appointment.



wendylady -> RE: PCOS (11/28/2007 10:48:48 AM)

Well, I'm a lawyer...so I think stress and bit of work obsession comes with the territory. However, a lot of my weird symptoms started in my second year of law school, which for me wasn't that stressful. I did go to my classes, and do work...but I spent more time watching t.v. that year and hanging out than anything. It totally rocked to have my only responsibility was four hours of class a day. At the time, I was also walking a couple of miles everyday.

My regular doctor did recommend a particular anti-depressant when he thought it was PCOS, among three or four other meds. He said that some of the side effects have been shown to help with the symptoms of having too much testosterone. He said that it was possible that stress was exacerbating something small into this annoying thing.

My regular doc is actually pretty awesome. If you need to talk with him for an hour, he sits there for an hour. He doesn't do the appointment thing. If you show up when he's open, he'll see you that day. I haven't gone back to him, yet. I may try later this week.

My aunt (who's in health care) suggested going organic on food and seeing if I'm allergic to any chemicals and such. She said sometimes people's bodies do odd things because of allergies.



clag4christ -> RE: PCOS (11/28/2007 3:10:47 PM)

Wendy,

Have you tried going low carb? If you do indeed have PCOS low carb, if you're not on Metformin...is the only way to go. PCOS usually means that your insulin/glucose resistant. Which means, smiply, that your body doesn't process simple or complex carbs properly and instead of turning them to energy, like a normal body would, it turns them to fat! Ick! This can also cause your ovaries to not work properly, even though your hormone levels are normal...

Blessings,
Kim



reach -> RE: PCOS (12/14/2007 6:12:09 PM)

I am bringing this to the top for someone who had a question about PCOS



Mrs.Wifey -> Interesting PCOS article (12/21/2007 1:18:10 PM)

HERE is the article, it talks about the pregnancy rates with Met VS Clomid and also the miscarriage rates.
quote:


Although metformin and clomiphene resulted in statistically similar rates of ovulation in the treatment groups (about 2 out of 3 cycles), there was a big difference in the pregnancy rates. The percycle pregnancy rate was twice as high in the metformin group (15.1% vs 7.2%, P=.009). The cumulative pregnancy rate was also far higher in the metformin group (68.9% vs 34.0%, P<.001), and the abortion rate was much lower (9.7% vs 37.5%).



Mrs.Wifey -> RE: Interesting PCOS article (12/21/2007 7:21:16 PM)

5 Types of PCOS, which are you?



clag4christ -> RE: Interesting PCOS article (12/22/2007 6:44:50 PM)

quote:

non-traditional PCOS --anovulatory, normal androgens, obese, insulin resistant or type 2 diabetes


That's the kind I have. Though I don't have the type 2 diabetes...just the IR.



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