Well where do I start? I've been reading posts on here for the past week and been going back and forth with myself on coming to grips with this diagnosis but it never fails, everytime I really sit back and think about it I can't do anything about it but cry. I fell pretty hopeless right now. I was diagnosed a couple weeks ago by my new PCP but my problems began far earlier than that.
I am 22 years old, 5'4, 205 lbs, have a horrible immune system....and now on top of that I have this really cool beard and mustache, oh I forgot the sideburns, that like to creep in on me seemingly overnight. My weight problems started when I was about 9. I started my period when I was 10 and didn't see it again for 9 months, the pattern was never constant but I had maybe 4 periods a year. While I was in high school I just ignored it and figured it would sort itself out in the next few years. I eventually started BCPs when I was 19 and tried a few different varieties and they never really worked. Some I would bleed all the time and others just made me really really mean. Over the years I would address my concerns to my doctors and well being young did nothing for me and they brushed me off and just said I ate too much. Since I was 18 I started having trouble with dairy so I just limited my intake knowing I would hate life later if I ate it. By the time I got into my 20's my stomach issues landed me in the hospital and there really began my battle with more doctors. I had my galbladder removed last year (galstones) and that was supposed to correct the problem, it didn't. I was still constantly having abdominal pain and dealing with GI issues...oh ya and my periods were lame and late or completely absent. In between all this I was maybe health for a couple weeks a month, I would get sick all the time and it would always turn into bronchitis, I would be so tired from just coughing all the time. So, finally I gave up and just stopped going to the doctor for a while. When a friend of mine finally convinced me to go to the doctor about my periods in early November I knew it wasn't going to be good news. After the labs losing my bloodwork and having to sneek away from work to go to the lab and have blood drawn...TWICE! I got a call from the nurse with the news on a Friday. "Black Friday" of all days. So my PCP refered me to the Gyno in their group....and WOW that was the most horrifying experience I could have ever asked for. Not only did I leave in tears but I left not knowing what he had even prescribed me. All he really asked was if I wanted to get pregnant or not. From my understanding he went with BCPs and didnt even bother telling me which ones (he sent it straight to the pharmacy). This man was a complete jerk! I had done my research and understand a pretty good deal about the condition and as soon as I got emotional he told me I needed to see a psychiatrist, not that he recommended it but he INSISTED. He insisted that I have an addiction to food and that I need to come to grips that I have a problem. I really wish I would have taken someone with me so they could have backed me up but I managed to make it through the appointment but remembered to ask him for a script for the cream to help with the facial hair and he just said no...lose weight and then maybe. I was so horrified I was in tears and still haven't really recovered. The second I left I called my PCP and asked for someone else but finally decided I just needed to change medical groups... so now I am diagnosed and not being treated...well i my attempt to get treatment I was treated like a liar and like I didn't know my own body. I have since changed PCPs and medical groups (since HMO insurance is rediculous) I have to wait until January to actually seek treatment from my new doctor. I'm bringing my mom with me this time. I'll be reading more posts to see what kinds of treatments people are responding best to, I know we're all different but thank you all for your kind words of inspiration and hope. We all need it.
Sorry that was so long... but if you read it thank you!
I understand how you feel. I am still upset about finding out about my PCOS. I cry when I think about it too much. I'm on YAZ and it has been working like mad for me. I had a weight problem until high school and then after that I started to gain weight again. I was up to 216 lbs. I'm 5'3" and felt that I was a fat ugly person with no self worth. I still feel like that sometimes. i have only been on YAZ for 1 month and so far I have lost close to 20lbs without changing my diet. I feel better than I have in years. I think the best thing to do is find a doctor you can trust. I prefer women doc, because they understand what we go through.
Just remember doctors are human as well and they don't have all the answers. Meet with a bunch and just see if you are comfortable with them before you make them your PCP.
Glad you found us. This board has helped me. At least I know everyone here understand what you are going through.
You also can report that doctor through the medical board. It might not help you with him but it might help another person down the road.
Mally
__________________ You're not from Raxacoricofallapatorius, are you?
i know exactly what u mean. i went to the doctor, who upon my first visit seemed like an awesome guy, he was funny and made me feel really comfortable. he sent me for lab work to have all kinds of tests, and also a thyroid ultrasound because i was choking more often than usual. when i came back 3 weeks later for my follow-up, he seemed to be in a bad mood. he came in, sat down, looked at my chart and said "high testosterone... insulin resistant... yep u have PCOS" he didnt say "polycystic ovarian syndrome". i really expected there to be something wrong with my thyroid because I have thyroid disease, so my mouth was just hanging open. my brain was whirling and i couldnt think of anything to ask him. so he says "im giving u metformin" and i was like uhhhhh okkkk... and he didnt tell me what it was for. all of the things i have found out have been from this site, books and other internet sites. its so AGGRAVATING when a doctor just expects u to know exactly what hes talking about. we arent doctors or pharmacists!
I have been there as well. I spent the last year dealing with doctors, trying to get things sorted out. I went to what seemed like a nice GP and he sent me to labs to get bloodwork done, but diagnosed me as "obese" and insurance wouldn't pay for anything after that. It was very upsetting. I have moved on from that and went to an RE and it was the best thing I could have done. No other gyno or anything was ever able to help me.
I just wanted to make a few suggestions that may help you..Gyn drs really dont know all that they should about PCOS ( trust me I work for a group of them )..when I was diagnosed by my GYN dr they immediately sent me to an endocrinologist who put me on metformin. Metformin alone didn't do anything for me. I had been on it for about 2 years when my endocrinologist and his whole practice decided to close the business. I had a slight GYN problem and had to get into see someone besides my normal GYN dr, and in talking I told her that my endocrinologist had left, and that I was looking for someone new. She referred me to an infertility endocrinologist, even though I was not ready at that time to have a baby, he helped my out, put me on birth control and continued me on metformin. You have to find the right pill, I have tried so many in the past that did terrible things to me. He put me on desogen, and I did spot like everyday for the 1st 3 months, but that is normal, and I have been on these 2 meds together for about 9 months now and the facial hair has gone away, I think my thinning hair has gotten better, and my testosterone level has dramatically decreased. These endocrinologists that deal with infertility probably see PCOS more than anything, and so they are more experienced in dealing with it, so I would definitely recommend seeing them if possible, and you could avoid seeing a gyn dr and an endocrinologist separately. Well hope this helps.
I had the opposite reaction to being diagnosed. For me, I thought I had a weight problem. I joined a gym, and my trainer would say, "Cut out soda," and I didn't drink soda. I was on 1,700 calories, 1,500, and down to 1,250, but I still gained weight. I thought all you had to do was count calories and exercise. I was told it was all about calories in and calories out. So, when that failed, I thought I was supposed to be fat. I didn't like being a size 22, but what could I do? The diagnosis was a relief. To have something real, diagnoseable, and CUREABLE, meant the world to me. I can actually treat this, cure it, and move on. I was, and am, thankful that it's an illness and not that I am doomed or cursed.
I read your story! I'm sorry that you had to go through this. Drs can be so terrible sometimes. But you have us now! I was diagnosed a year ago, still coming to terms with it. Just remember though, with a diagnoses you can move forward. You're in control again, as much as it might not feel like it right now, you are! Please feel free to message me if you want to chat. I deffinetly don't know a whole lote, but I'll listen.
Diagnosed 2 weeks ago... 
