Hi Kat, thanks for the quick reply. For some reason my doctor never has used terms such as vellous, terminal, androgenic, etc., although I have already educated myself on what they meant before I even saw her for the first time. So I am not sure if she is considering the hair to be terminal or not. But from my point of view-- this is hair I did NOT use to have, even 6 months ago, and I am long past puberty (I am nearly 23). It is also longer, darker, and thicker than any normal vellous type hair that I may have, and I have watched it steadily appear and transform. Maybe it is possible this is hypertrichosis-- I can only find very conflicting info on that condition and don't know what could be causing it if that's what I have. But the areas I grow hair in are androgen-sensistive areas, just as you would expect with PCOS. I think my doctor may not understand the extent of the problem. But, she did see the hair on my back, shoulders and upper arms, and I explained to her that it was bleached, but she felt that because it was "fine" the spiro would do nothing for it-- not even stop the spread of new hairs!
Another thing I forgot to mention which makes me think she might be clueless is that she told me not to start shaving any new areas. At first I thought it was just advice based on how I would get stubble if I shaved and would have to keep it up, but then she said something about how I "wouldn't want to stimulate any new hair growth" and how whenever I decided to go for electrology I should talk to the electrologist about shaving vs. not shaving. This made me do a double take!! Anyone who is at all educated about hair growth should know that shaving DOES NOT change the hair in any way and DOES NOT stimulate more growth! It only appears to make the hair thicker because it is cut off at the thickest point, and grows straight out of the skin when growing back. There is also no way that I know of that it could stimulate more growth... so what is that supposed to mean I wonder?!
I really did try to get her to clarify as much as I could, but she kept saying the same things over and over, and how I had "stumped" her and she "just didn't know." I started crying a bit and I couldn't really think right to ask any more questions, but I think I would have gotten more of the same. Do you think I should try to find another endocrinologist? I'm not sure I will find anyone else because this is the best center I could be going to, but my doctor just doesn't seem to have the same information as all the studies, medical info and personal reports that I have read... |