bogglebox

Hi, this is my first post at this board.

I got diagnosed with PCOS and although I have acne and I struggle with my weight, both are far more controllable and frustate me much less than my excessive hair growth.

I'm really at my wit's end with it. I have coarse hair on my face actually to the point where I'm shaving my face every morning and am getting stubble at night (but no one seems to notice that I do, luckily), dark hair on my upper back and shoulders, all over my abdomen, and even some on my breasts, though it isn't really too bad except for the middle of my chest. In fact, pretty much my entire body is covered in dark hair.

It makes me feel very self-conscious and even wearing a T-shirt requires hair removal. I just went on spironolactone, but I've heard that it takes a very long time to work, and for some people it doesn't at all.

What kind of luck have you guys had with it? Is your hirsutism as severe as mine, or am I really freaky? And will the hair go away forever as long as you stay on it?

I mainly just want to get rid of the hair on my face, back, and chest, because it makes me feel disgusting and ugly.

sweetkimmy

I've been on met for a year and a half and spiro since May. I haven't noticed any change except the hairs on my arms seem lighter, but I'm afraid that is from the sun. I'll know better this winter. I've also tried Vaniqa and had no luck with it.

I shave my chin every day and sometimes have stubble by mid afternoon. I am very self conscious about it, but I've also been told it isn't noticable. I find that hard to believe sometimes.

Sorry I can't help. I'm still looking also.

__________________
Kim
Age 39

Diagnosed PCOS w/ IR 6/02.
1700mg Metformin daily.
100mg Spiro daily

ela

I have hair on my body too and when i see myself naked i go crazy! i am lucky that i don"t have hair on my face.And for this i have an explication: i was diagnosticated with PCOS a few years ago and since then my doctor put me in Spiro.So i think that the tretment with Spiro help me not to have problems with the hair on the face.I think it actually stopped the hair from growing.I think that the treatment with spiro is good.Altough my testosteron level is still high its not like at the begining of the treatment with spiro.And also the echography was better than the one i took last year.I hope spiro will help you

Maureen77

Welcome Bogglebox
What dosage of spiro are you on?
Is your insulin under control?
High insulin is what generally causes high testosterone levels.

__________________

• Maureen 36, DH is 35
  
• Momma to Declan Christopher, born 9/2/03
  
• STILL happily and proudly breastfeeding my big boy!
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• Before pregnancy, went from 175 to 136 thanks to
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  , exercise and low glycemic index foods. Polycystic appearing ovaries are gone; ovulated regularly; bloodwork normal.
  Improvement in hirsuitism and androgenic alopecia is greatly improved. AN and cystic acne are gone!
  
• Improvements in skin and hair due to
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  , standardized, 160mg 2x day. (no longer on it due to PG and BFing).
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bogglebox

I'm on 100 mg of Spiro.

I have insulin resistance, but I think that my levels are under control.

I was also told that my testosterone levels were not abnormally high, but instead the problem was that my body didn't bind testosterone correctly. I was told that I had normal testosterone levels, but I was also producing too much estrogen. Does that make sense to you?

Maureen77

Dr. Redmond of www.hormonehelpny.com recommends that severe cases be on 200mg. of Aldactone (the brand name of spiro). Perhaps you can try to change and increase your dosage.

Do you know your testing numbers yourself? Check them against the normal values here: http://www.inciid.org/faq/pcos.html
Sadly we have seen a lot of reports where doctors/nurses have told their patients they were normal when the numbers were clearly not normal.

However, it's true that your active testosterone (the most important number) could be in the normal range and that your skin and hair follicles could be senstive to it due to heredity. Or as you mention, a deficiency in SHBG, sex hormone binding globulin. Another side effect of ovaries that are effected by PCOS.

Have you been fully tested for Cushing's Syndrome or Late Onset Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia? I think you should try again to find a doctor who supports you and helps you with this.

High estrogen is common in overweight women because the extra fat stores it. but generally estrogen has the opposite effect on skin/hair that testosterone does. However, everyone's estrogen level goes up and down depending on the point in your cycle you are on. I think that Dr. Lee's book on natural progesterone states that your estrogen stays high if you are not ovulating and producing progesterone in the second half of your cycle. Are you getting AF regularly? That's a good indicator that your insulin is indeed under control

__________________

• Maureen 36, DH is 35
  
• Momma to Declan Christopher, born 9/2/03
  
• STILL happily and proudly breastfeeding my big boy!
  To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
  
  
• Before pregnancy, went from 175 to 136 thanks to
  To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
  , exercise and low glycemic index foods. Polycystic appearing ovaries are gone; ovulated regularly; bloodwork normal.
  Improvement in hirsuitism and androgenic alopecia is greatly improved. AN and cystic acne are gone!
  
• Improvements in skin and hair due to
  To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
  , standardized, 160mg 2x day. (no longer on it due to PG and BFing).
  To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
  

bogglebox

What's AF?

Ms_Peaches_01

I've been on spiro for almost a year now and I've seen great results. Combined with the BCPs and Met, it really clears up my acne and helps with the chin and upper lip hairs. I used to shave like twice a day but now I'm down to maybe three times a week. It takes time for your body to adjust to it. Diet and exercise also help.

__________________
Hyponidd
Vitex

sweetkimmy

AF=Aunt Flow.

__________________
Kim
Age 39

Diagnosed PCOS w/ IR 6/02.
1700mg Metformin daily.
100mg Spiro daily

hvacwife

ducky

I tried the Spiro and after a month an a half of having my period every other week I had to stop taking it. I don't know what else to do and I couldn't get in to my Dr. for a couple of months so I said to heck with it all and started laser treatments on the face. If that doesn't work I don't know what I will do.

Maureen77

hvacwife and ducky:

have you had comprehensive blood tests done?

are you diagnosed w/ PCOS? it could be something else like Cushing's or LOCAH which would require different medication.

how's your insulin control?

I have heard that spiro messes with your periods, I don't know the reason why.

__________________

• Maureen 36, DH is 35
  
• Momma to Declan Christopher, born 9/2/03
  
• STILL happily and proudly breastfeeding my big boy!
  To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
  
  
• Before pregnancy, went from 175 to 136 thanks to
  To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
  , exercise and low glycemic index foods. Polycystic appearing ovaries are gone; ovulated regularly; bloodwork normal.
  Improvement in hirsuitism and androgenic alopecia is greatly improved. AN and cystic acne are gone!
  
• Improvements in skin and hair due to
  To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
  , standardized, 160mg 2x day. (no longer on it due to PG and BFing).
  To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
  

RachelMeyers

I have also been taking spiro I see there is a lot of mixed reactions to it, I've only been taking it for a few weeks now though so I haven't noticed anything of course. But, I completly understand the pain of excess hair. Mine started when I was 12 years old. When I finally got up the courage to go to her about it at 15 the doctor wouldn't even look in to it because of my age. Because, by that time I had hair growing on my breats, stomache, chin, peach fuzz pretty much all over. Now, I shave my face everyday and just hope no one sees it. My dhea leves are VERY high. People have never said anything but I know how it feels to have it and to look at yourself and it's all you see is this hairy woman. I'm new to this sight today and I'm sorry we all have this problem but it makes me so happy to know there are other people out there who understand the pain of growing up this way. I mean I have a beautiful boyfriend who acts as though he doesn't see or feel it hopefully he doesn't but mine is terrible even on my breasts I pluck and shave ALL the time

Citrine

Hi, I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. I too have excessive body and facial hair (even on my breasts which really is upsetting). My hair is very dark and I have very light skin, so it is quite obvious. My twin sister jokes around with me and calls me a human porcupine, but it is far too close to the truth! I was on Spiro for about a year but felt like it didn't really do anything for me. I have tried electrolysis and laser. Both helped, but are expensive and were not completely permanent. I think that without electrolysis and laser my facial hair would be much worse. I am still looking for ways to deal with this awful aspect of PCOS. Maybe I always will be. Jean

BROOKLYNMISS

I have hair on my stomach, chest and breast. I just started the same meds alongside birth control. I hope they work. This hair even prevents me from going on vacation, to top that i have folliculitis which causes ingrown hairs. The bumps and hair are a scary combo. I'm still waiting for a miracle, but until then im on the meds patiently waiting.