Angry and frustrated

AngelD · 08-16-2007, 02:42 AM

I was diagnosed just 3 days ago with PCOS though I've been researching my symptoms and was pretty sure I had it long before my doctor diagnosed me. So three days ago he put me on Metformin and took some blood tests.

So today, the doctor's office calls back with the results of the test and tells me that since my blood sugar was slightly elevated when it was a fasting test, that the doctor wants me to stop taking the metformin and go have a GTT test done and an insulin level test done. That makes no sense to me. Shouldn't he have expected my blood sugar levels to be slightly high if I'm IR and PCOS? That shouldn't have come as a surprise, so why take me off the metformin which could help that to have me take a longer test that's just going to tell him what would be expected for someone with PCOS? Now I have to go off the met for at least a week until I get the test done and the results get back. I was so looking forward to getting on met and hopefully seeing a difference in time, now it's been put off another week at least. I know, it's just a week, what's another week when I've been dealing with this thing for years, but it's just frustrating. I want to get on it NOW. I want to start treating this thing NOW.

I don't know what else this guy wants. I have all the classic symptoms save one...I don't get skin tags or dark patches of skin. Otherwise, I have them all. I even let the hair grow on my chin and neck and on my abdomen so he could see it at my appointment Monday. I showed him a chart of my periods where they were sometimes 14 days apart, sometimes 46. Sometimes I'd have 2 in a month, and once my period lasted for 2 weeks. I just don't see how this GTT and insulin test is going to tell him anything different than he already knows. I've had GTT done with both of my kids and it always came out the same and he had the records I had transferred....it would be too high on the first draw, and then be normal on the last 2.

I'm just frustrated and upset because I have been trying so hard for so long to lose weight....I walk/jog 2 miles a day, I lift weights 3-4 days a week, I eat a healthy diet, I even grow my own veggies and yet I've gained 7 pounds since my last doctor's visit before Monday. I feel like unless I want to live on the South Beach diet Phase 1 the rest of my life, metformin may be my best and only hope not just for weight loss, but for another baby. I've been trying for a year now and I'm not getting any younger. My husband is 12 years older than me and is 43 and he wants another one too...maybe two more....but he doesn't want to be an old man when they're old enough to play and do things with either.

The only time I've ever been able to lose weight on my own was when I was on SB diet Phase 1...which is super restrictive and drove me nuts. I felt like I was literally eating rabbit food for 2 weeks. The minute I went on phase 2 which introduces just a few more carbs, I stopped losing and actually gained some back, which isn't supposed to happen. I stayed on phase 1 for months which you're not supposed to do but it was the only way the weight would come off. I just can't imagine having to eat that way forever just to get to a healthy weight and maintain it. I feel what I eat now is a good healthy balanced diet and I shouldn't be gaining weight at all. A normal person eating what I eat and doing what I do would probably be losing weight by the ton.

I'm sorry to vent, but I'm just so frustrated. I just want to get on the met and get going with this thing. I feel like I'm losing precious time.

happyOCgirl · 08-16-2007, 03:22 AM

I just wanted to wish you luck getting through the tests. I have been dealing with *the tests* for two weeks and will hopefully find out tomorrow if I can go on met. The whole process is so hard for most of us, yet other medical issues are easy detected and treated in the same visit!!
My thoughts are with you!
Carrie

tina_d · 08-16-2007, 09:12 AM

Good luck with the test. I'm currently waiting for results on my hormone levels, as well as some others the dr order for me. But I have been on the Met since October, starting at 500mg per day. In May, I requested to up the dosage to 1000mg per day because my body started to act like it did before I started taking the Met. I was getting so sick and weak after eating.

I'm thinking that the GTT test is being ordered to rule out Diabetes, which would probably require some other med to go with the Met. The results of a GTT during pregnancy isn't going to help your dr now. It's not uncommon for gestational diabetes to only affect women during pregnancy, and it can be a precursor to Diabetes II and your child is at higher risk of childhood and adult obesity and/or developing Diabetes. So both the child and mother need to be monitored after the birth.

dmsth · 08-16-2007, 11:39 AM

The doctor is probably doing those additional tests to rule out type II diabetes. diabetes and PCOS often occur together and Diabetes can cause significant problems if left untreated.

I think he is just being thorough. I know it's frustrating though.

LoveMJ · 08-16-2007, 03:34 PM

Hello AngelD,

I know how you are feeling. I was just tested for Type II diabetes and went through a series of blood tests myself. Having PCOS itself can be very frustrating, you get mad, upset, sad, scared, all these emotions run through your body and it makes you feel really helpless and alone.

Most importantly, take care of yourself, do not stress. Go through the tests you need and even get a second opinion, I did and it worked wonders.

Also, you are not alone, there are so many women on this site that has gone through the same or similar issues.

Lastly, as for the weight loss issue. Stick to your workouts becasue at least right now, excercise will help you keep insulin levels down and keep your heart healthy. Get your tests done, get on the proper meds, then you can look at the weight issue. Right now you are frustrated, your have thoughts running though your mind and you feel like your running out of time.

Trust me, I know how you feel and understand completely. Taking it step by step will help you relax a bit, remember stress can take a toll on your body. When you need to vent - come on here and vent, let it out, make yourself feel better, talk to someone who understands exactly what you go through.

Good luck with everything and remember it is never too late to get get healthy.

Moonshoot · 08-16-2007, 09:09 PM

I agree with PPs. He has to make sure you do not have diabetes.

AngelD · 08-17-2007, 01:39 AM

I understand that, the thing is, I guess I'm just frustrated that he put me on met and then took me off 3 days later. I don't understand why he would put me on it before he got the test results back and why he didn't just order a GGT and insulin level test in the first place. He knew my blood sugar was very slightly high at my last appointment when I had blood taken and said it was 101 which isn't even considered pre-diabetic from what I've been reading...just on the high side of normal. He put me on met and got my hopes up because I was hoping that was what he would do, and then did it without me even having to ask about it, only to rescind it, when I was so looking forward to getting on it and seeing if it helped.

Besides, I have a couple relatives who were diabetic, but they didn't become so until they were in their 60's and I know all the symptoms and I don't have any of them. I don't have frequent urination, excessive thirst, excessive hunger, unusual weight loss (hehe...I wish!), irriitability (at least not until now LOL), blurry vision, cuts or sores that don't heal (I heal relatively fast), itchy skin, leg pain, faintness or dizzyness...the only symptom I have on the long list of them I've read is fatigue, but I've had that for years and I think that's from the PCOS. If I had even a couple of these symptoms other than fatigue which can be caused by a million things, I'd understand it more, but I don't.

I know I'm just being impatient and I'm frustrated from getting an answer and getting treatment and then having it put on hold, but I've been dealing with this crap for years and I feel like I'm a foot from the finish line in a race and someone is holding me back from it.

It's also hard because I have to find someone to watch my son while I go in for this 4 hour or so long test and that's difficult because my husband can't take off of work next week because school's starting and he works at a college and everyone else I know works days and can't watch him. So the soonest I may be able to take the test is on Monday and that's if my one possible babysitting option is free but she's a student herself and may be back in class and I have to be at the hospital first thing in the morning on the day I have it done. I can just go in any day and have it done without having to have it prescheduled since they called in open orders, but it has to be first thing in the morning.

It's just like fate or something keeps setting these road blocks in front of me. I had my gallbladder out two years ago and when I went to the doctor, he had me in for an ultrasound the next day, then the very day after that had me scheduled for surgery a week later. Why can't this go that smoothly and quickly??

tina_d · 08-17-2007, 10:46 AM

Welcome to the world of PCOS. For some drs, there is no rhyme nor reason to what they do. After I got my dx, my dr transfered to another clinic. In comes the new dr, who agrees with the dx, but isn't as aggressive as I wanted her to be. From October of last year to April, I stayed on 500 mg of Met. After lurking in PCOS forums, and finding out more info, I felt that was too low. And I was having the same problems as before I started taking the Met. She reluctantly agreed to up it. Now after months of suggestions, she is at her limits with me. Which really sucks, because now instead of 5 miles to the clinic, I have to drive 50 to a gyno.

First visit with the gyno, she sets up about 20 blood tests and orders an US. Before leaving, she mentioned that a hysterectomy might be my only option. US is scheduled for Monday, as well as an appointment to go over all my blood test results.

To add to my frustrations, I got a call last Monday from the clinic saying that I need to have another CBC because my WBC were elevated, possibly meaning an infection. If you've read any of my previous posts, you know that I'm dealing with a swollen abdomen. So on top of stressing on the US results, she wanted to put off the CBC until my appointment. I told her no Thank you. I've stressing enough over the possibility of the hysterectomy, and that I WOULD go to the local clinic on Friday for the CBC, so I can have those results with my other tests.

For a while, I had the attitude 'Why the .... me?' But after talking to my mom in November, my half sister had been in the psyche ward, and the drs there are stumped as to what is going on with her. I talked to mom about my dx, and she said that my half sister had a lot of the same issues, and that her daughter is dealing with a mysterious weight problem which has the drs stumped as well. Now they are trying to get a dr to test both for PCOS, and that has proven to be a struggle.

After that, I realized that there are others who are in worse shape then me. So I've directed my anger toward being aggressive. I still have days of frustration, but those are days when I just don't want to be in pain any more, or I get a miagraine on top of my constant cramping.

LoveMJ · 08-17-2007, 01:20 PM

Believe me, I understand when you say why can't it go quickly and smoothly. I went through a heck of a time before I was told I had PCOS and it was one thing after another. tests, and try this medicine and then get off that one, try another .... blah blah blah.... it sucked!

Once you get everything squared away it will settle down and your life will run smoother.

Keep you head up and do not give up, we are all here for you!