It's almost a relief to finally be diagnosed with PCOS. I mean, how hard should it be to get a doctor to listen to you?! I've known something about my body was seriously off kilter since my son was born in 2000 and has been getting progressively worse, but my doctors kept dismissing my concerns as "normal hormonal changes". Three years ago, I was tested for thyroid disorders and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and put on medication. One doctor had me scared to death that I had ovarian or uterine cancer- I even went through a uterine biopsy and a CA-125 blood screen only for them to both come up negative. My last OB/GYN actually went through the trouble of pulling an Estradiol and FSH, but never took the time to review the results in context with my cycle! WTH?!
I'd finally had it with the crazy periods, ovarian cysts, excess body hair, thinning hair on my scalp, excess weight around my middle, etc and went to see Dr. RuthAnn Rees in Columbus, GA. My friends that urged me to see her were right- she knows her stuff! After a very thorough exam, she asked me about my complete health history including cycles and childbirth. She made a few notes in her files then said, "I know you've done some research on all your symptoms. Give me your top 3 possible guesses."
I listed premature menopause, premature ovarian failure, and PCOS. Based the history of my cycles, all of my other symptoms, and the insulin dependant gestational diabetes I had with my son, she said her money was on choice #3. Well, I went off to the lab for a ton of bloodwork and a fasting glucose tolerance test and got a call back from her office a few days later- PCOS and another appointment for a re-check and get started on meds. I know this is just the beginning of a new journey, but at least I have a starting point!
good luck! happy you found a doc that would listen, i had to go thru a few years of docs with painted on ears before getting my dx too so im happy for you!
hope all goes well for you and you find some good treatment options. its never fun feeling sick all the time.
welcome to sc!
I was just diagnosed two days ago with PCOS. I have acne, gain weight really quickly (I have just hit 200), I can't get the weight off no matter how much I diet and exercise, high blood pressure, cycles about every 45 days, but this time I haven't had one in about 3 months. That's what prompted me to go to the dr. I don't have the hair or patches of dark skin anywhere. I also don't have diabetes. He didn't do an u/s or anything. Just asked me about my symptoms and said that's what he thought I had. He didn't even do bloodwork (yet). I'm supposed to have that done Tuesday, but he's already put me on spironolactone and metformin which I took for the first time today. Is this normal? I asked him if the meds would influence my bloodwork, and he said they shouldn't that quickly. He wants me to take the meds for 6 weeks then come back and see him. He also put me on seasonique to get my periods started back, but my insurance company is having a field day with paying for it, so i haven't started it yet. These two medicines are making me really tired and I have a headache. Is this normal? I hope I don't have anything else too (like thyroid problems, tumors, something wrong with my adrenals, etc). I was a little worried about taking the Metformin since I don't have diabetes at all.
Oh, the weight around my middle drives me INSANE. I've also lost a lot of hair (I get it everywhere I DON'T want it, heh) and this has been worsened by ditching the BCP.
I'm eating a small but sensible amount, exercise every other day (and don't drive so walk everywhere) and the weight will not shift. I am going to make a concerted effort to follow a low GI plan to see if that helps.
Thanks for the support guys! It's so nice to know I'm not alone in my battle and I'm not the only one who's been through a handful of drs before somebody knew what was going on.
I completely understand everybody discussing their issues with weight that won't budge! I've struggled with my weight since puberty and have always had self esteem issues to go with it. Thankfully, my DH doesn't seem to mind! Since April, I've been trying a low GI diet in conjunction with a strenuous daily work out and I managed to drop 25 lbs, but I've been down this weight loss road before- I'm worried about a plateau at 190-200 lbs that it's impossible break through and maintain with out diet meds. Not to mention, bulking up like the Hulk from the high male androgens floating through my system. Yuck... I really hate being referred to as a 'big girl'!
I can say from experience that I know what it's like to have those "Aha!" moments when a doctor finally takes the time to explain the PCOS diagnoses and why your body does all the crazy things it does. I was diagnosed at around age 14 but was told that there was nothing to do until I wanted to start having kids (so far from the truth). Now, 15 years later I'm finally seeing a reproductive endocrinologist who has taken the time to explain everything. I have struggled with weight loss my entire life. It's been only recently that I've finally started seeing the weight come off (and feel better). I started Weight Watchers at the beginning of August and am down 19lbs. I've been prescribed Metformin before but only recently have started taking it on a regular basis (I'm bad about taking pills). I'm also just finishing reading "PCOS and Your Fertility" by Colette Harris. Even if you're not looking at trying to get pregnant yet - this book and her other "PCOS Diet Book" are good reads. Lots of good tips and advice about foods to avoid (and why) as well as the positive effects of exercise on PCOS (beyond just promoting weight loss) and the crazy ways that stress affects PCOS. I've learned a lot!
What is up with Docs that don't listen?! I am glad you finally got one to listen to you. I think I went for years knowing what was wrong with me but not having a dr who would listen. I had gone to one doctor shortly after the birth of my first child, but have had symptoms since elementary school...getting worse in high school. The doctor wouldn't even run tests saying that there was no possible way that I had PCOS because I had a child. I went to other doctors too who just ran one test but then when they didn't find anything that they considered abnormal decided to stop there...I guess I was just supposed to live with all the symptoms. I was getting my period about once a year at that point and the doctor told me that could give me something every so often to make me have one. I swear I felt like they just wanted to cover up the symptom but didn't care about what the source of the symptom was. About a month ago I FINALLY found one that listened. Not only did he listen, but he actually looked! He found things that I hadn't even paid much attention too...skin tags, hair on my arms, dark skin on the back of my neck. I just keep wondering why none of the other doctors looked?
Me too brbmom! Last week, I finally saw a doctor (for painmanagement of all things!! for my back) who listened and recommended me to a endocrinologist and a slew of other MDs to finally get to the root of the problem. I literally have every single sign, and have since high school, of PCOS minus the excess hair. Every symptom. Ugh. So frustrating.. But, tests on Friday... so we shall see.
Hi! I just wanted to let everyone know I was just diagnosed today by a wonderful doctor who just like your posts finally was ready to listen and diagnose the problem not the just the symptoms! Honestly I knew all along I had PCOS but could never get a confirmation and today was a great day to finally know what is wrong with me! I have been bleeding for two months and just couldnt take it anymore, so I decided to leave the regular OBGYN and found a fertility/endocrine/reprodutive doctor. He gave me megace to stop bleeding and then metformin, BCP and another medicine, spiro something or another to get these hormones back on tract. The BCP kind of scares me but he wants to get these levels back on target before we start to TTC again. I am so grateful for this blog site because now I have a place to talk and read other stories just like mine. Thank you Soulcysters!!!!!
Almost a relief to have a diagnosis! 
Finally diagnosed... 
