I'm new, and I'm quickly learning to hate doctors!

Nikki022103 · 09-24-2009, 10:57 PM

Hi, I was just dx'ed with PCOS this week. I just went off BC in January, and my AF's have been pretty regular until July (when I stopped having them). Well at first my doc just thought I missed for no reason, and after 2 months I had to request an US to rule out possible complications.... PCOS. Well my doc pretty much blew it off. I asked him if I should f/u with more tests or monitor my condition over time, and he said "Nope... it's just mild, and you don't have any other symptoms." Well I asked him what the other symptoms were, and he didn't even go into half of it. I go home to research (which he told my not to do since I was just so mild) and I see acne (check) difficulty losing weight (check), and now no more AF! I have been able to manage my weight, but it took me years to find a diet that works and I can't stray at all (that was before I knew I had PCOS). Then I see the possible long term complications if left uncontrolled, and I decide I want to go back and dropkick my doc!!! I really think he just thinks I'm hysterical or an idiot... I can't tell which. He also said I should have no problems TTC whatsoever (and only women with severe PCOS have problems), and when I do conceive it won't be high risk or anything. Come to find out we have increased risk of MC, preterm labor, preeclampsia (?spelling?), and gestation diabetes!!! And one more little problem, no AF for 2 months means no O! duh What an idiot! Anyway, my question is: Is it common practice to ignore PCOS if it's mild (which I don't really even trust my doc's suggestion that mine is)? BTW, hubby and I just decided to start TTC (we were going to wait a year), but I don't want to wait a year to find out it will take years to conceive! I think I'm going to try to get a referral to an ER, but I was just wondering about everyone's experience with getting Tx started. Thanks!!!

trustinggod · 09-25-2009, 02:12 AM

from my experience when i went in to see my Dr. was because I was trying to conceive for a year in half so she did an ultrasound then simply wrote on a tiny little paper PCOS. She shows it to me and asks me "do you know what this is?" I was like "no" And all she told me was that many of my syptoms such as infertility, unwanted hair, losing hair (alapacia) was from this condition. that is it.....nothing else. gave me a prescription for metformin and left. After I went home and researched pcos I cried...and cried, then like you I got mad. why wouldn't she explain to me in detail and not down play it as if it was the common cold.

I'm sorry for your experience. sometimes we have to take a very active role in our treatment. look up medications and treatments and look for a good RE that specializes in Pcos or atleast takes it serious.

Good Luck!

GSDDiver · 09-25-2009, 03:40 AM

I guess I was lucky. I was diagnosed when I was 14 and my Dr has been great since. He put me on Metformin and wanted to do BC but my mom thought I was to young to be taking it. LOL. If you're TTC I would def. look into a Dr that can help with that and is willing to take your PCOS seriously. No matter how "minor" it is. You're health is way to serious to worry about a bad Dr. You can check on the board for members from your area and Dr. they recommend. Maybe your Dr. is right (not likely) but it can't hurt to get a second opinion from a more PCOS friendly Dr.

ardentglow · 09-25-2009, 04:49 AM

When I was 16 my periods began to get fewer and farther apart. My doctor at the time put me on Alesse BC and that was it. He said that in a couple months it would straighten itself out. I bled for three straight weeks. After that I decided that this was just my body, nothing was wrong and I didnt go back to the doctor.

In 2007 I had to see a doctor when I moved from home to go to school. He brought up the term PCOS and said that he was 99% sure that I had it...but wouldnt follow up anymore with it. He told me to research it, and to lose weight (I am 25 pounds over weight). Because I was going to nursing school at the time I went to my nursing instructor for information and advice. She laughed at me and literally said, "good luck with that." I was crushed.

After school (2008) I moved to a new province and found a great doctor who immediately schedualled bl tests and US. It was conclusive that I have PCOS.

Nikki022103 · 09-26-2009, 10:04 PM

Thanks for the input. I guess I am just one a many who is disappointed with the system. God forbid we treat the problem before the secondary issues arise right? Oh well... when he dx'ed me, my doc said he hates even telling women they have it because it's no big deal, so thank God for the laws that require them to tell me right? I made an appnt with a gen practitioner this week. I will see what he knows about it, and ask for a referral to an ER. I'm really thankful for this website... it's reassuring to hear from people that have been there.

pzsept06mama · 09-26-2009, 10:49 PM

I am VERY disappointed with the system. I totally feel like Im brushed off, even though this is a medical condition, it sucks. Im now done having children (thank god) and I feel even more let down by the system for sure!

madmudbug · 09-26-2009, 11:56 PM

I can relate to your experiences too. I was diagnosed two months ago. We were TTC for a couple of years, and my first doctor just wanted to start Clomid right away since I was irregular. He just did one hormone blood test, said it was normanl, and didn't really check for much of anything. Clomid wasn't what I wanted to do, so we put off TTC for awhile. Then, when we wanted to start again, I did a lot of research before choosing a new doctor at a local women's clinic which specializes in fertility treatments. This doctor immediately suspected PCOS, and was concerned about treating that before starting fertility treatments. After two months on metformin, my doctor is happy with my insulin levels, and we are waiting to see if I ovulate on my own, or if I really need to start Clomid. My advice to you is to find a doctor who listens to you, and will take the time to address your concerns. Keep trying, and talk to others you trust. I was surprised once I started talking to my friends, how many women have had problems with fertility and could suggest good doctors.

XxRaeRaeXx · 09-27-2009, 03:02 PM

Welcome..unfortently some doctors are very unknowlegable when it comes to PCOS. I have heard of a mild case, for example they thought my older sister had a mild case because she had 13-16 follicles on each ovary instead of 10-12 and increased testosterone. BUT she ovulated every month and one try boom she is 16 weeks pregnant now with her first baby. I would say that maybe there are "mild" cases but the doctor should not write you off because you do not have every symptom in the book. In my opnion GET ANOTHER DOCTOR, if you are having problems you need them to be taken care of. Its only fair to you to recieve the help you need.

Rachel.

jazzibee · 10-07-2009, 07:17 AM

Hi all i had no end of problems with my doctors - In the end i had to demand that i got the treatment i needed - a little bit of asertiveness went a long way. I had been tring for a baby for 2 years and not had an AF for 10 years. Eventually i got diagnosed with PCOS in July 09 although i had know i'd got it for about 8 years as my whole family seem to have it. I am still trying to get pregnant and am taking 1500mg metformin, clomid 50mg, evening primrose oil 1000mg, zinc 15mg and vitamin b complex.

trucarol · 10-11-2009, 02:21 PM

I have had the same problems with my doctor. I am learning it is rather common which is horrible. I saw a woman doctor because I thought she would understand more the impact of losing my hair and excess hair were having on my self esteem. Her treatment plan for the last 15 years consisted of blowing me off and antidepressants. Finally I told her the therapist she sent me to said I needed to talk to her about labs for possible PCOS and she finally ordered some. My cortisol level came back elevated out of range and she told me I have cushings. Even tho I told her for years that I have PCOS and a surgeon who saw my ovaries when I was 18 said I they were covered in cysts, she did not want to treat me for it. Then the endo she sent me to for my 'cushings' said it was pcos and recommended met and spiro. She hestitated to script anything out to me and would only after persistant nagging write the met. I had to see a derm w/o a referral so I had to pay for it to get the spiro. I have now switch doctors and I have not yet met my new one. It's terribly difficult to find information on doctors that are knowledgable about pcos. It's very frustrating and can really be discouraging. Alas my belief has come to be that I just have to keep searching and stay positive. I am very grateful to have found the website as I truly felt all alone.

zigzag · 10-12-2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikki022103

Thanks for the input. I guess I am just one a many who is disappointed with the system. God forbid we treat the problem before the secondary issues arise right? Oh well... when he dx'ed me, my doc said he hates even telling women they have it because it's no big deal, so thank God for the laws that require them to tell me right? I made an appnt with a gen practitioner this week. I will see what he knows about it, and ask for a referral to an ER. I'm really thankful for this website... it's reassuring to hear from people that have been there.

I'm sorry to hear about the issues you've had with doctors. I had similar issues, but I won't go into it, it's pretty much the same as yours and others' bad experiences.

Is there any chance that you can referred to a Endocrinologist? My current Gyno who diagnosed me and started me on treatment is one, and for me anyway, it really made a difference. Before her, I had seen, let me see, 3 different gynos and they didn't give me a full overview of my PCOS nor did they advise any treatment, or pick up on my IR. My insurance recommended my current doctor who really put me at ease and went through all my hormone issues, pcos symptoms etc. I just wanted to share with you what helped me, others probably also have some suggestions.

All the very best.

nykki21 · 10-13-2009, 12:33 AM

I know how you feel. All my doc did was put me on BCP and test for diabetes. I went off my last BCP pills last october and my periods just now became regular before he put me back on the pill. I was pretty dissappointed because I feel like I should be TTC now that I found this out and that it could take us so much longer than the average couple to concieve. He did say one thing to me that confused me. He sd that its not so much that im not ovulating, but that my lining is so thick that any fertilized egg falls straight through. Does anyone know anything about this and what can be done to cure it so-to-say?