asked doc yesterday for met

tammyinwv · 02-16-2005, 02:30 PM

I talked with his nurse and left message i wanted to try met.Havent heard back yet tho.I briefly talked with him about the possibility of pcos and IR,but i dont think he is so sure. When I showed him the neck discoloration ( acanthosis nigricans) he did a cortisol level couple of weeks ago.He just checked the 8 AM level and said if it was ok he couldnt see doing the afternoon one.It did come back normal.I also have fibromyalgia and read somewhere that IR is common with it.I am not trying to get pregnany,long past that. I had partial hysterectomy about 14 yrs ago for pelvic pain, that was diagnosed as venous congestion in the uterus.I have had ruptured ovarian cyst before, and just before hyster. my estrogen level checked higher than normal.I also have infrequent hypogylcemia(mainly because now that I dont work due to the fibro, i peice freq due to sugar cravings,and carbs), I also have increasing facial hair,skin discoloration on neck and under arms,hairloss on scalp,increasing oiliness on scalp also.High tryglycerides and cholesterol,and B/P. My B/P is another thing.It has taken spikes for several yrs(since the fibro) but never got above 140 something over around 90.But in the past couple of months it started spiking around 2-3 pm to over 220/110.He put me on med, but I have noticed that even if i go off for a week or so it will be normal, then suddenly one day i will spike again.I tend to feel this may be more hormonal due to the afternoon spike and wonder if the cortisol level was maybe spiking at this time instead of the normal AM high.
After reading here, and searching, I still think It may be IR and PCOS, even tho I havent had pelvic pain (except for 1 day) for a couple of years.I think I also read that pcos doesnt always have enlarged ovaries or cysts.Oh, i forgot my father and his brother have a history of early heart attacks and my father is also diabetic.i am not,yet. My fasting is usually around 91-94.
Tammy

nobimbo · 02-16-2005, 10:58 PM

Hi Tammy,

It sure sounds like you have many symptoms of PCOS. The best test for insulin resistance is a fasting insulin test, so I suggest you try to get your doc to run one for you (anything over 10 is indicative of IR, even though the lab range may say differently). Also, I think it would be wise to ask your doc to run a full thyroid workup on you (not just TSH and total T4, the usual tests, but also free T4 and free T3). If any of your results are in the bottom half of the lab range, then your doc should also run a TPO antibodies test to see if you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Hashis is an autoimmune thyroid disorder, and it is very common with PCOS. Fibromylagia is also an autoimmune illness, and usually if you have one other ones begin to pop up as well. Insulin resistance can weaken thyroid function, and vice versa. Also, both insulin resistance and hypothyroidism can result in high triglycerides and cholesterol, as well as high blood pressure. So it would be best to get both of these things evaluated since you are at high risk for both.

There are some docs who won't prescribe Met without a formal PCOS or insulin resistance diagnosis, and others who will based on symptoms. If your doc is unwilling to investigate your problems further, it might be time to find a more knowledgable doc.

Good luck,
Linda