PCOS Message Board - View Single Post

Jashobeam · 12-13-2006, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pal

I've got a personal interest in the history of PCOS. Would be curious to learn more. I only found out about the insulin theory in the last three years, and from my own experience think that's the clue to the syndrome. But I wonder why no doctor ever told me about it if they've known about the insulin connection for 25 years!

I had Pcos since around age 15 (circa 1963) and was checked for everything medical (my mom was freaking out about my physical appearance...bad acne, sudden weight gain, hair!) I recall they even checked my insulin and even thought for a short time that I was diabetic. I remember being almost glad they had found a reason for my problems...but then shortly later the doctors changed their mind...so I must have been borderline IR.

Story jumps to 1983, when I was diagnosed with "androgen excess syndrome." By then, I'd managed to lose alot of weight, so looked "normal" but still chunky--but the doctor never asked me how hard it was for me to maintain my weight. I exercised like mad! I had an ovarian ultrasound at that point...fairly new procedure at the time, I think, and had the classic string of pearl cysts. Doc put me on spiro (and maybe BCPs)...which did nothing to help, so I quit the meds. Did they already know about insulin in the 1980s? I wonder why the docs didn't A) check me for IR and B) TELL ME ABOUT IT!

Needless to say, I've got little faith in the medical profession...and feel lwith PCOS you've got to really be your own advocate.

By the way...I'm originally from Kansas...lived in Manhattan for a few years. Is K-State doing PCOS research??

Many docs still overlook IR when dxing PCOS. Since not all cysters have IR or will ever have it, it often is not listed in with PCOS symptoms. Many cysters tell of docs who have never heard of PCOS and others who say their weight is the only problem, that everything will settle down when they loose weight (ignoring the fact that HALF of all cysters don't have weight problems). Others encourage women to get pregnant or have a hysterectomy (ignoring the real problems of the syndrome) to correct PCOS problems. This site has been amazing for educating thousands if not tens of thousands of women on what PCOS really is. I wish docs would spend just a week a year going through the wonderful articles Kat has posted. I think it would revolutionize PCOS health care!