I am new to this, I was officially hit with this today. I am trying to find information about PCOS and elevated adrenal glands. I dont have insulin restance and I was able to concieve children at the drop of the hat. I do have the facial hair(which seems to be getting worse as I get older) and I put on 60lbs in the last 7 months and my periods are so erratic(anywhere between 2-5 months.) My Dr. suggested that i go back on the pill(which I had been on from age 16-19 then again at 21 then off of it at age 22 to have my second child, then I had my tubes tied and didn't need to use the pill) I also had a blood clot at age 23 which was also a factor in not using the pill and having the tubal. I would like to know if I might have another option other than the pill. Which had made me gain weight( but I am trying to loose the 60lbs!!! 13lbs down 47 left to go) If anyone has any info, please please HELP
are you sure they ran an insulin test and not just glucose?? also if they did do the insulin..what were the results along with teh lab ranges?? also what about thryoid results... something isnt going on right for you and i know the pill isnt right for you if you already have had a blood clot and i agree with you there.. perhaps you might want to get your blood work tests and list them here and someone can see if the dr is missing something. also there are other things besides the pill that focus on teh problem such as metformin/glucophage and i have heard that even if you arent insulin resistant some pcos girls use them at it helps.... good luck xo jenn
__________________ jennifer, 33years old
long island, new york
dxd 2001
searching for new therapies/meds for pcos
met/gluc not working as well..but on 1000mgxr
married on 9/28/06 to keith
well, so far all I was told was my adrenal gland was producing too much stress hormones which in turn caused to much testosterone which leads to PCOS. I have aslo been told by the same Dr. Office that my pituatary gland was very high and they did a cat scan and said it was normal(I am thinking they were looking for a tumor) My thyroid was a little low, and my glucose was at 88 after a 12 hour fast. I am so confused and I really don't think the Dr. was putting everything together if he thinks to correct all of this with the BCP! I am sure that I am PCOS b/c everything I read is VERY similar to everything that I have gone through since puberty. HE said he wanted to talk to his professor in St. Louis and get back to me on what we can do. I am hoping he'll find something better than BCP. Until then I am looking for any ideas that I can write down, I am hoping to be more "armed" with info the next time I see him. I don't want to just "treat" my periods or hid the symptoms.
Nicnac
nicnac,
Your stress hormone is cortisol,and too much is a bad thing.Did they do any 24 hour urine tests on you or was it a plasma level? Also,a ct scan is not a good test to check for pituitary tumors.You would need a mri,and even then they are not all conclusive.Your pit could be telling your adrenals to produce too much. Please go check out www.cushings-support. See how many of these symptoms you relate to.Pcos can be caused by cushings.How high were your cortisol readings?Cushings will also cause the high androgen levels,the rapid weight gain,the hairy face,and the abnormal periods.What other symptoms are you having?
Amber
I looked up the cushings and alot of it didn't go with what I am dealing with. My weight disperses evenly through out my body, my skin isn't fragile or thin, I bascally heal very well, the only stetch marks are from the kids, my blood pressure is wonderful, I have a very active sex drive, I'm not tired all the time, I've never broken a bone, and my musles aren't weak. I don't work, so I am home with the children all day, we play, go on walks, I am on the Go from 7 am until 10pm then a few of my friend take turns having "me" time at each other's houses after the kids are asleep, and we are up unilt 12a to 1a, then I come home and go to sleep.
Nicnac
What were your cortisol numbers?There is a beginning to this disease.You do not have to have all or even most symptoms.As a matter of fact,most dont untill they have had the disease for several years.
Amber
I'm not sure what my level are. I do know that the Dr. said if they had been any higher we would have ahd to look for a tumor. I feel like I didn't get enough information from him. Should I call the office and would they give me the info?
Just to quickly let you know,I'm not trying to push you into a disease you dont have,but high cortisol readings are nothing to mess with.The fact that you are on the go from sun up till sun down could very well mean your cortisol is high.Its when your body drops it back down that you get the fatigue.I also have even fat.I just blew out my first stretch mark last month,and I believe I've had cushings for about 1 1/2 years.The skin,bp,and all that come further down the road as the cortisol does its damage.
Amber
Sorry,I was typing while you were! Yes, get your levels.yes,they have to give them to you.Anything even a little high is suspect unless you are under a considerable amount of stress.You never said,was it a urine test or blood?
Amber
It was a blood test, they drew quite a lot, but they weren't able to get all the results, the lab said lack of amount of blood(this is the 2nd time that had happened) I called the dr office and they will get back to me with the results of what did go through. I do know that my glucose was 88 after 12 hour fast, they said that was normal. I started the low carb diet and have lost 13 lbs as of yesterday. As soon as I started the diet(3 days later) I had my period...perhaps it was related? I hadn't had a period 3 months prior to that one. i started having facial hair in 6th grade, shaving under arms and legs in 4th grade, but like I said my period didn't come until I was 15 then again at 16 and I was put on the pill for having a "trail" from my pelvis to my belly button. I have always know something wasn't right hormonally...why else was hair growing where it shouldn't? I was told that sometimes that is just the way it is...i come from a line of itialian women that all had to wax the moustache...even though I am not anywhere as dark in skin tone or hair color as they are(heck I am blonde with fair skin and they are typical itialian women, olive tone and black hair)and of course that's where I learned to pluck chin hair. I am so glad to finnaly hear that it's not just me I could jump for joy and I am not so embarassed anymore. Sorry for going on and on. It's just exciting to talk to others going through the same thing.
Nicnac
nicnac,
If your doc said you have somewhat high cortisol in your blood test,I would think about asking him for a 24 hour urine test.The levels in your blood just give you a snapshot view of what it is at the time.The 24 will tell you how you did over a whole day and is a much better test .If it comes out good.thats awesome.Its a pretty cheap test to run to make sure you cover all your bases.If he showed a bit of concern for your serum cortisol,he shouldn't have any problem with running it on you.I would love to hear what you find out.
Amber
amber
I just got off the phone with the Dr. Office. Here is what they told me....
glucose 88
thyroid 1.5
prolactin 119(they said it should be 24 or lower)
DHEA 357(should be 340 or lower)
LH 5.13
The nurse agreed with me on not wanting BCP b/c of blood clot, and has PCOS herself, she has been on BCP for the last 15 years b/c of PCOS. She tried to help me with the interpretation of the result, but the adrenal gland results were in the DHEA and that was all she could tell me about that. I asked about cushings and she said not to worry about that b/c I didn't have that for sure.
Nicnac
__________________ 26
dx 5/2004
no meds yet
2 wonderful children
That is a huge prolactin level!!! There is a pit tumor that is called a prolactinoma(sp).These little tumors are small but can cause all sorts of problems.Your dhea is high,but your prolactin is through the roof!Did he give you a reason for it?Do you have or did you have a follow up?
Thanks,
Amber
PS-Just for the record,the tests you had would definately not rule in/out Cushings.They would show me you need more testing.Holy cow,thats a huge prolactin!
adrenal gland and PCOS...I need info 
