I'm so confused...PCOS or hypothyroid?

Guinevere · 03-10-2008, 09:08 PM

Hello everyone,

I joined your wonderful board after spending the afternoon reading some very helpful posts and articles posted here. I'm hoping with the wealth of knowledge among the posters here that someone can help me.

I went to see my PCP earlier today b/c I wanted to be tested for low thyroid function, since I have many of the classic symptoms -- extreme fatigue, inability to lose weight, irritability and depression, dry skin and hair, short menstrual cycles with long, heavy periods.

However, after listening to my list of what's been going on with me, the dr. thinks I may have PCOS instead. I had a bunch of labs drawn today and hopefully they will shed some light on what's going on with me.

In the meantime, though, I'm terribly confused. After spending much of this afternoon reading over the lists and descriptions of PCOS symptoms here, I DO have some of them, but I'm missing some of the most important ones, so where does this leave me?

1. I have gained 40 lbs. over the past year and have not been able to lose a single ounce despite nursing a baby, diet, and exercise. Almost all the weight is abdominal fat.

2. I have very high blood pressure, 160/100, which I just found out today, and will need to go on meds.

3. I had gestational diabetes in 3 of my previous pregnancies, although it was mild and easily diet-controlled. I have not checked my blood sugars since the birth of my last child.

4. I have no excess facial or body hair.

5. I have always had extremely regular periods. After the birth of my last child, however, the length of my cycles has changed and they are now quite short (24-25 days) and my periods have gotten quite heavy and long (9 days last cycle.) I do not know if I am currently ovulating.

6. I have never had any fertility issues in the past. I have had a number of pregnancy complications (pre-eclampisa, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, kidney stones), but I have been fortunate to have five beautiful children ranging in age from 9 to 22 mos., and have conceived all of them quite easily. We are TTC baby #6 right now, in fact, but I am quite unsure how fertile I am given all that is going on with me at present.

7. My skin and hair, which have been oily through most of my life, have become quite dry and coarse over the past year.

I now know from reading here that it is theoretically possible to have PCOS and still menstruate, even still ovulate regularly. But what about the lack of excess hair, lack of oily skin? Is it still possible to have PCOS without that?

Any input you could give me would be really appreciated! It's quite depressing knowing that something is wrong, but still having no clear idea what it might be. I just want to start feeling better (and I'd love to get pg, too!)

Thanks!
Guin
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Trying to see where I fit on the PCOS journey...do I have it or not?

kitkat278 · 03-18-2008, 12:10 AM

Well I think your doc should check your T4, T3, and TSH just in case. I mean most of your symptoms does sound like hypothyroidism...and from what I have been reading over the net PCOS and hypothyroidism can come hand and hand.

With me and my PCOS I do not have all the symptoms (just some extra hair and irregular periods) but my blood work came back saying I do in fact have it. So you do not have to have all the symptoms to have PCOS.

TryingtoConceive7 · 03-19-2008, 10:13 AM

Well I am definitely no expert, because I was just DX with PCOS in April 2007, however I was DX with an hypothryoidism about three years ago. I used to weigh 130 pounds all my life. My periods were irregular sometimes, except when I was on birth control, but after being DX with the underactive thryoid, I have gained a total of 70 pounds. I thought all the excess weight was due to the thyroid. However when my husband and I began TTC, we realized there was something else wrong. I could not become pregnant for about 6 months, that's when I went to see my Doc. Long story short I was also DX with PCOS. Many of the symptoms you are describing sound a lot like both thyroid and PCOS.

With my underactive thyroid, I experienced extreme fatigue, 70 pounds weight gain in three years (also contributed from PCOS I have been told) and also would get either really extememly cold to the point where I was freezing no matter what the temperature, or sometimes even have hot flashes.

With PCOS of course I have experienced infertility, I don't ovulate all the time. However when I do I usually can feel the little pinch on right or left hand side. I have noticed a little bit of hair on my chin and my lip. I seem to have this dark patch on the back of my neck, but not sure if that contributes to this problem or not. Also, my ovaries are enlarged slightly which causes a lot of lower abdominal pain on both right and left hand sides. Most of my weight goes right to my stomach, which has given me the dreaded apple shaped figure! I am extremely moody and hormonal, and in the past dealt with terrible bursts of anger. The fertility med Clomid only made the s/e ten times worse, and hot flashes like crazy.

So, it's possible to have both problems, I'm proof of that. If your doctor is doing the right bloodwork, they should be able to spot the underactive thyroid. My doctor didn't automatically check for PCOS, so you might want to mention it, if he/she hasn't already.

I know I'm not a lot of help, and like I said I'm not an expert at all, because I am new to this as well. I hope you can get all the help you need and start feeling better.

Lisa11 · 03-29-2008, 05:52 AM

In my personal experience, autoimmune disorders seem to travel in packs. Most likely if you have one you might have another. PCOS/insulin resistance is chalked up as an autoimmune problem much of the time (says my endo). So, I have PCOS, insulin resist and thyroid antibodies (though I'm not hypothyroid yet). My endo is not surprised that I have more than one autoimmune problem, he said it's common.

CelticSpirit · 03-29-2008, 03:50 PM

This isn't a matter of one or the other, but can be both.

I have BOTH. My thyroid went south during puberty and then I developed PCOS later (probably from all the weight gain thanks to my untreated thyroid disease).

Make sure you get tested for EVERYTHING and make sure your endo is willing to accept that you can have BOTH. There's some stupid ones out there (I keep finding them).

Good luck.