Has anyone ever heard of this?? Very upsetting!!

lovegoddess1977 · 04-21-2005, 06:35 PM

About 8 years ago when I was in college, I went to go see a gyn regarding my missed periods, facial hair, and weight. This doctor ran a few test and told me that I was an internal hermaphrodite. I WAS FLOORED!!! I said, "What is that??" He said that my testosteron level was so high that my body thought that I was a man and not a woman and therefore was running as if I was a man. I told him that I only have female parts!!! Of course, he knew cause of the pelvic exam. But he said internally, my body was running as a man!!! I WAS TERRIFIED!! I felt like such a freak!!

Well, he said NOTHING about PCOS!!! He was going to put me on all these hormones to stabilize me. He also told me that I would have to consider a hysterectomy!! And he said that I could never have kids.

Well, I was so scared, that I never went back to him. I thought he was a crackie!!!

Now, I have seen many doctors since then and not one of them have ever told me that. I finally got the PCOS diagnosis last month. Which exhibits high testosterone levels, usually. I know that I am not what he said I was. He just missed the PCOS all together. What a jerk. He scared the heck out of me!!

Has anyone else been misdiagnosed with something else besides our PCOS??

GabrielsMom · 04-21-2005, 06:39 PM

Oh... my... goodness. WHAT A QUACK!

I can't BELIEVE the flakiness of some doctors out there. What a horrible thing to be told. I'm glad you got a REAL diagnosis.

Jashobeam · 04-21-2005, 07:39 PM

It seems when docs don't know what is wrong with us they will go so far as to make thigns up. Yes, we have the hormones and other problems that usually occur in men (baldness, hairyness, etc.) but why do they have to go so far as to say hermaphrodite???!!!! I hope someone gives him a nice lesson on PCOS and explains that it is a very common problem in women. Some stats I've seen say it may be as much as 6 to 10% of all women have PCOS.

joanne23 · 04-21-2005, 07:42 PM

That's a terrible thing to say! Yeah our bodies may have some extra "male" hormones running through them, but that does not make us hermaphrodites! I would have been highly offended by that too. This doc. should not be treating women if he doesn't know what the heck he's talking about!

jennybean · 04-21-2005, 07:48 PM

What an a-hole! Hi I am an "internal hermaphrodite" um, yeah...... I bet he thought he was being very clever in calling it that, but geewhiz! We are still women! I don't see a weenie down below! Lovegoddess, sorry you had to go through such an utterly insipid diagnosis. I would have been sooooo upset if that were me!
I am glad you now know the truth...you are 100% woman with a few crazy hormones, that's all. I swear Doctors don't think before they spout out a dx.

GabrielsMom · 04-21-2005, 08:34 PM

Quote:

I know that thats horrible to be told but in a way he was right.

No, he was NOT right. There is no such thing as an "internal hermaphrodite." Period. He was nothing more than another jerk doctor. Unless we are growing testicles and penises, hermaphrodite is the wrong word for it. Please, don't defend the idiot.

lovegoddess1977 · 04-22-2005, 02:41 AM

From that one experience that I had, it made me not want to go back to the doctor at all. And that's exactly what I did, I didnt go back to the doctor for a couple of years. When I finally got up the courage to go back, I saw an endocrinologist. He ran a bunch of blood test and told me that I was a borderline diabetic and that he wanted to start me on Met. He also put me on spiro but did not explain what it was for. HE NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT PCOS. But looking at what he prescribed to me it seems that he knew that that was what I had. However, he did not explain anything to me. He also told me that when I wanted to have children, he could put me on meds. I never went back to him because he was so confusing to me. He never explained anything. But he surely knew how to send a bill. In fact, I know that he over billed me.

Anyways, I was watching dateline a long time ago. At least I think it was dateline. They had a special on PCOS and I knew that I had it. Everything that they said on there was about me!! I went back to a different doctor this time and this doc swore that I didnt have it!! WHATEVER!!

So, I never went back!! It's been 5 years since then. Now I am finally getting treated!! I have a good doc and he explains everything!! It may have taken a long time but its finally here!!

pooker · 04-22-2005, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennybean

I don't see a weenie down below!

ROFLMAO!!!

But seriously, I am SO SO SO sorry you had to go through that! As if this isn't hard enough on us, an idiot has to go and say that. What a moron...

Glad you got the RIGHT diagnosis...doctors like that give us the heebie jeebies, and keep us from getting the medical attention we need.

MaddyCake · 04-22-2005, 11:09 AM

A doctor told me I had diabetes a few years before being diagnosed with PCOS. But thats ok cause I do have insulin resistance but internal hermaphrodite? Thats just...weird. I'm glad you finally found a real doctor

LadyAirlie · 04-23-2005, 12:49 AM

I had a doctor tell me that I was normal physically and that I most likely had a psychological disorder...please...it is called hormonal woman that needs chocolate. He really made me feel like I was a mental case for years...oh yea years...I was young and impresionable and it sucked. Getting diagnosed was so awesome...finally I was justified at not making up my body aches and pains or irregular periods...so sorry that we have to go throguht things like that...sigh...

LaurAnnHere · 04-23-2005, 01:06 AM

My family doctor tends to label everything that is ever wrong with me psychosymatic. My mother is bi-polar and is in and out of the mental hospitals. She just seems to want to lump me with her. In every instance that she has insinuated or stated that my medical problems were "all in my head" they ended up being real. Now, she's got me afraid to go to the doctor for problems I am having because I'm afraid of being told I'm crazy. I have been a suspect of Lupus for the past ten years. I have an autoimmune disorder of unknown origin. What disorder it is, they haven't confirmed. I went to a specialist to check on this disorder and he said that he thought it was Lupus, but that I needed one more symptom to positively diagnose it. Apparently Lupus is really difficult to diagnose. He wanted to start me on steroids and I wouldn't let him. That was 10 years ago. When I went to a follow up with my family physician, despite what he said and the positive bloodwork, she went back to her psychosymatic diagnosis. After Jamie was born I began having pains in my abdomen that were really painful. I put a call into my doctor after a few days of suffering with this. She suggested that it was probably indigestion. I had pancreantitis when I was 15 and I asked her if that could be what it was and she said no. I finally went to the emergency romm when I couldn't stand it anymore. It was pancreantitis. I followed up with her and she gave me some pain pills and did nothing more about it. I had several more bouts of it and have no explaination why. Everyone tells me that I need to find a new doctor, but the truth is I don't know where to go and I'm afraid of what she has put in my chart. I'm afraid another doctor will look into my medical history and think I'm crazy, too.

lovegoddess1977 · 04-23-2005, 03:00 AM

Laurann, I am so sorry that you had to go through that. How ridiculous. It seems to me that when a doctor has no idea what is wrong with you, they label it as all mental!!

When I had to find a new doctor, I had no idea where to begin. Finally I just found a doctor who was in my insurance plan. (By checking out my coverage list) and then I called and made an appointment. I got lucky!!

If you are scared of what this doc will say, just go in and say ...Listen, I am not crazy and I am tired of being called crazy! There is something wrong with me and I need you to find out what it is!!

But seriously, be open, honest, and forthright! If you dont like the new doc....find another one. I have had to do that many a times. I dont stay with a doc unless I feel comfortable. I hope this helps somewhat. GOOD LUCK!!!

Little_Lady · 04-24-2005, 09:16 AM

how do these idiots become doctors?!! I'm so sorry u had to go through this. I'm shocked that a doctor could be so wrong and completely stupid! I would be so upset. I'm glad u finally got dx with pcos and have a good doctor.

Laura, you definately need to get a new doc. I'm in the position where i'm not getting the help i need from my doc. I need to look for a new one but dont really know where to go. The only way i can search for a new one is by luck. I don't know many ppl in my area. Hope u manage to find someone who will listen and take u seriously. t/c x

lisa1964 · 04-25-2005, 01:05 AM

OH MY GOSH, I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THAT DOCTOR TOLD YOU THAT!!! I agree what a QUACK!!! I suppose this doctor was a man?

avalanche · 04-25-2005, 01:35 AM

yes i was misdiagnosed 7 years ago
the doctor did not tell me what i had just that testosteron level was real high. so he gave me med and said that it would help me
well it did not help me the only thing it did --- well it made my breasts go from a D cup to a K cup about 10 sizes bigger
it also made me sick all the time
i told him everytime that i went to see him but he said it will stop
a year later a friend of mind said go and try this doctor so i did that when i was diagnosed with pcos but he did not know alot about it. for years i look for help about three years ago i found a doctor that know pcos. that only thing that i do not like aobut it that i have to drive 2 hours each way to go and see her
where i am from it seem that i am the only person that have pcos i feel better that i have a doctor that treats pcos so i know what you went through
i have to deal with pcos and with my big size breasts
i hope you have found the help you need
kathy