spyder

Hi! I'm new here. I was just very recently "diagnosed" with PCOS. I found out in the most marvelous way: I phoned my OB to see if he had done a thyroid test during my last blood work up. He said no, he hadn't. But...it looks like I have PCOS. Just like that. The blood work, however, had been done months ago, and I had already been in to see him for the results, which he claimed at that point were completely normal. Looks like he never bothered to look at the LH:FSH ratio.

It made sense, though. My cycles have always been irregular and are currently up to 50 days (though I still ovulate, just really late). I could grow a beard if I wanted and my legs and inner thighs are as hairy as any man's. I have hair on my feet and around my nipples. And a few under my bellybutton. I carry my weight around my middle and no amount of exercise and healthy eating will get rid of it. My blood sugar levels are totally out of whack and have been since I was a teenager.

I kicked the OB to the curb, but yesterday I had to deal with my new GP. She checked the blood work and said that yes, my LH to FSH ratio is 2:1. We have no blood sugar results though (doing the test today--ugh), no ultrasound yet (next month), and she then told me that my testosterone level was within the normal range (2.9, I believe), beard notwithstanding. My cholesterol rate is excellent (but this I can understand; for the past 3 years I've only eaten all-natural peanut butter every day for breakfast and lunch--it's the only thing that keeps my sugar levels somewhat stable--and peanut oil is fantastic for lowering your cholesterol. Not this helped my case any, though). And then, the kicker: I'm too thin (though I am right at the top of the healthy range of my BMI).

And now I'm afraid that the results of the glucose test and ultrasound will be NEGATIVE. I've realized that I actually WANT positive results. What's with that? I was devastated to hear that I possibly have this syndrome, and now I want test results to confirm it simply because the new GP declared my testosterone rate normal. Is this a pride issue? I don't want to look like a hypochondrical fool? Maybe I AM a hypochondriac? Anyone gone through this?

Two other questions. What is the normal range for testosterone, and when, exactly, is one officially dx'd with this syndrome? What does it take?

By the way, I've found this to be an extremely helpful and informative site!

Tummy

The normal testosterone range depends on your lab. I think your Canadian units must be different from what we measure here in the states. But even if normal, a lot of times it's the relationship between testosterone and estrogen that causes hirsutism (hair growth). For a lot of us thin cysters we don't have enough fat to produce a lot of estrogen, so the testosterone becomes sort of dominant. And then there are people like me who have slightly elevated testosterone levels (and very low estrogen), and yet have no hair growth at all. Go figure. The whole syndrome is a bit of a mystery.

As for when you could officially be diagnosed, there are proposed major and minor criteria that seem to be constantly changing, but essentially if you have a reversed LH:FSH, hirsutism, and irregular ovulation it seems pretty clear, as long as an androgenizing ovarian tumor and LOCAH (late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia) have been ruled out. An ultrasound showing "string of pearls" signs on your ovaries is another criterion, which is diagnosed with a trans-vaginal ultrasound. And if you have blood sugar issues, that's another good one on the check list. Are you blood sugars high or low? How about your insulin? Regardless, I think you have enough going on to lead the doctors to diagnose you, as long as they are familiar enough with PCOS.

Here is a good article discussing how to diagnose PCOS:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/466018

__________________
Whitney, 32
TTC #1 since 7/07
Diagnosed in 2002
Symptoms: no ovulation/AF
One fur baby, standard poodle "Major"
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After soy, Femara, Follistim, an ectopic pregnancy, and IVF, FINALLY BFP 7/08 -- TWINS!


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Tummy

And here's the link to normal lab values:
http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/hormonelevels.html

__________________
Whitney, 32
TTC #1 since 7/07
Diagnosed in 2002
Symptoms: no ovulation/AF
One fur baby, standard poodle "Major"
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

After soy, Femara, Follistim, an ectopic pregnancy, and IVF, FINALLY BFP 7/08 -- TWINS!


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cupcakegrl

I was diagnosed when I was 20, I'm 25 now. I have very little of the "typical" symptoms of PCOS, but I've definately been living with it... I don't get my period at all, I've had ultrasounds that show cysts, and my mood and weight dramatically changes with my everchanging hormone levels....every year has been a rollercoaster.... My blood tests were all relatively normal too, so symptoms vary....Even a few symptoms can be enough to deal with!