High DHEA and beyond frustrated!!!

gysgt2000 · 12-27-2006, 04:00 PM

Hi, I'm new and going crazy. My G.P. says I'm perimenopausal, that's it...here's some hormones...have a nice day... But my labs are so outta whack. I've been doing nothing but researching and have run into this PCOS issue and think I may have found my answer. Over the last year I have gained 30 lbs (no change in prior routine,) have chin hairs (gross...I spend more time w/my tweezers than my family,) crazy peiods, moddiness, hot flashes (w/o the sweating) and heart palpitations and insomnia. I'm sure 25 of the 30 lbs is around my waist instead of at the hips as usual, and I can't begin to tell yu how tired I've been... etc etc etc. Here are my labs if it helps anyone who may know anything:

Day 3: Testosterone <0.02
FSH
8.0
Estradiol 43
DHEA 759
LH 5.21
Progesterone 0.9

Day 16: Testosterone 0.09
FSH 5.2
Estradiol 29 (it dropped!!!)
DHEA 1019
LH 5.01
Progesterone 3.2

Please, I am begging anyone for help. My primary refuses to give me a referral to a specialist and says I'm just fat and stressed and need to exercise more and eat less. I can't take the weight gain and I feel depresion really trying to kick in. I just want an answer so I know what best to do. Thanks so much.

Chas1975 · 12-27-2006, 04:09 PM

Do you have to have a referral for a GYN? Most insurances don't require a referral to see a GYN. I would research and see if you can find one in your area that treats PCOS and takes your insurance. I saw the same GYN for the last 10 years and just left him because he was unwilling to treat my PCOS with anything other than BCP.

gysgt2000 · 12-27-2006, 04:22 PM

I'm insured through TriCare which is the governments medical coverage for military retirees and they do require a referral if you see ANYONE besides your PCP.

cheech · 12-28-2006, 08:03 AM

Hi!

Number One: Go to a new Dr.!!!!!!!

My DHEA levels were 3x the norm (almost 3000), then I went on Yasmin and that brought it down. My best advice is to change your primary care physician from this jerk to a Dr. that specializes in internal medicine. I've had really good luck with internists (again drs. that practice internal medicine).

Good Luck!!!
~ Kim

gysgt2000 · 12-28-2006, 11:21 AM

Wow, you ladies are fantastic! Thanks so much for your replies. I've been on various message boards in the past (reagrding anything from legal issues to just fun) but usually I'm too busy to keep with it. I think I'll stay here for a while, no matter what I find out. I'm an LPN returning to school next month to complete my Bachelors in Nursing and getting my RN license. So it's not like I don't have at least a baseline understanding of endocrinology. Fascinating thing, and what most physicians fail to realize, is that WE KNOW WHEN SOMETHINGS NOT RIGHT WITH OUR OWN BODIES, with OR without formal training!

I've struggled with weight my entire life, but what cued me into this last year being different have been all the physical signs (and emotional) that I've never had. The memory issues and brain fog are so atypical for me and that's what has my husband concerned. And of course the obvious things like irregular periods, hot flashes, hair loss and facila hair growth just confirm the problem.
I have a friend who is a great doc and he is helping me get to the bottom of this. Fortunately we have access to everything we need to reach a dignosis and he hasn't hesitated. Matter of fact he's the one that got my labs done for me in the first place because my PCP just wanted to medicate me based on symptoms alone! I'll be getting a CT hopefully next week to take a close look at the adrenal glands and ovaries...hopefully we'll get confirmation one way or another. I will definitely keep you posted.
Thanks again everyone. I can't tell yu how nice it is to finally hear people tell me it's "not my fault." I excercise an hour a day on a treadmill (hills included) and watch what I eat VERY closely but to no evail. Again, something that used to get me awesome results in the past. Sorry about the long post, just happy to be here!