My name is Meg, I'm 18, and I just joined the board. I read an article on PCOS a few months ago, and it really hit home with me...as I identified with several of the symptoms. However, when I went to a PCOS site that had a quiz to "determine" if I may have it, I didn't score in the very high range...so I dismissed it, and since forgot. However, I have been showing some new symptoms related to this condition, and decided to check it out once again. I'm going to list some of my symptoms, and would really appreciate if you all would give me your opinions. I have a problem with being shy about the doctor, and don't want to bring it up unless I'm fairly sure. I greatly appreciate all your help!
Here goes...
I skip my period for months at a time...the longest has been 6 months. After the 6 month period, I started getting what I thought was my period, but would only last a day. Sometimes I get very light bleeding every few days.
I have skin tags. The first one I noticed was on my upper chest, fairly close to my collar bone. Now I've noticed, through touch, that I have 6 or 7 tags on my neck and upper back.
Whenever I wash, brush, or run my fingers through my hair, several strands come out in my hand.
I have a gut. I've always wondered why I looked a bit different than other girls that were slightly overweight, but I think I've figured it out. Most of them are about the same width all the way down...but my weight is just around my middle. When you look at me from the front, I appear fairly thin...but from the side you can tell I have a bit of a belly.
I get pelvic pain frequently...and always have the urge to urinate. There have been occassions when I had to urinate three seperate times in a matter of 15 minutes!
Anyway, those are most of the symptoms I can think of. I am on Iron supplements because I am very pale, dark circles around my eyes, and used to get dizzy spells quite frequently. I don't know if any of that is related to PCOS, I just assumed I was anemic from Iron defficiency.
You should go and discuss your symptoms with your doctor. Keep in mind that there are a lot of doctors that brush off our syptoms and tell us to loose weight and we'll be better. So you may need to search out a good doctor. You can also ask on the board here if there is anyone that can recommend a doctor in your area.
I hate going to the doctor too but it's worth it if you can figure out what is going on with your body and get things under control.
Do you go to the doctor when you haven't had AF for more than 3 months? It's not healthy for you to go too long without it and you can get medication that should bring it on.
Have you been tested for a UTI lately? (Urninary Tract Infection) That can cause you to have to go to the bathroom frequently.
Are you self medicating with iron or have you discussed this with your doctor? If you haven't talked to your doctor you should especially since you are gettin dizzy spells.
In the newbies area there is a sticky post at the top of the page for newbies to read.
Hope that helps a bit anyway. If you have any more questions fire away.
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I agree with the above post, go see your doctor. It is great that you think yu have caught it early. The sooner you are diagnosed and start taking measures to prevent the effects of PCOS the better off you will be in the long run and when you want to have a baby.
Hang in there, it is scary but this board, along with your doctor's care, should help tremendously!
Hi,
The only way you will actually know if you have PCOS for sure is if you go to the doctor, and talk to he/she about it. They determine through blood test, and/or ultrasound. You don't have to show signs of all the symptoms to have PCOS.
At least you are young, and have a chance to find out and treat it early. I never even heard of it, until my doctor tested for it a couple of years ago. That is good you have already done some research on it. Makes you one step ahead if you do have it.
Go to the doctor,
Take care and good luck,
Ericka
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Ericka(29) Tony(33) Married 9 years Sepember 4, 2006 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
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No Smilie...even at age 18, I'm still very uncomfortable with talking about AF with my doctor, or anyone really. (that is, face to face). My mom and I don't have an open, close relationship...so i can't talk to her. Plus, she thinks I'm a hypochondriac because I research different illnesses online. (Reason being, I'd like to know what's wrong with me, lol) My doctor is already in the mind set that I am overweight, and all my ailments will go away as soon as I lose weight, so I'm not very confident that she will take me seriously. I weighed 140 lbs. in 9th grade, which is the ideal weight for my height (im 5'4). However, having just graduated, I weigh 214 lbs! That's over 70 lbs. on 4 years...and I started putting the weight on around the same time I started skipping periods. Beforehand, my period was always VERY heavy...from the time I got it at 12, until I was 14. Then I just started skipping it for months at a time, and then it would come back.
Do you have any suggestions on how I can convince my doctor to test me for PCOS? I can't really go to another doctor, because I'm on my mothers insurance, and our doctor is one of the only ones that accept her insurance.
clayslilangel...welcome and this is going to sound rough...BUT
U must go to your dr with your feelings... having a good relationship with your dr is key here...i know that this is not the easiest subject matter to cover with your dr but u have to do it...and not worry about being shy or embarressed...this is for your benefit not the dr's...do u want to keep suffering or do u wanna get better? keep researching go to the dr with your questions and your concerns this is your body that we are talking about not the dr's not your mother's...u'll be ok... u r stronger than u think
and support is here!!
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PCOS DX 6.7.04
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I totally understand about not wanting to talk about AF! I've been there and still don't like to do it but you need to find out what is going on. You really need to talk to your doctor when you're skipping for many months at a time because the lining builds up in your uterus and it can lead to cancer. I don't want to scare you but you need to know this. I hope you're regularily getting a pap done.
Is the doctor your seeing a GP or an OB? Is there any way can you get into an OB? Have you ever discussed your irregular AF with your doctor? If not than maybe that's why she hasn't thought to look at PCOS. Just a thought.
Can I recommend a book for you? It's called PCOS The Hidden Epidemic by Samuel S. Thatcher M.D., Ph.D. It goes into great detail about the syndrome and also goes over the tests that should be done and why.
You don't want to ignore this if you have it because it can lead to other health problems.
I guess what you need to do before you go in is do a lot of research so you know what to ask for and reasons for it. Take a lot of research information with you when you talk to your doctor to back up what you are saying. If she's a good doctor she will be open to hearing what you have to say. When you book your appointment make sure to tell them that it's to discuss health concerns and maybe you'll get a bit more time for it. If you find it too hard to talk about what about writing it out like a research paper for when you go in? Or write notes for yourself so you don't have to worry if you'll forget to mention anything.
You know what I put on weight when I was 18/19. In my 20's I started getting hairs on my chin. As you get older the symptoms like to rear their ugly head.
I know it's tough having to talk about all this with your doctor but you need to do it as soon as possible. I am the queen of shy so I totally understand where you're coming from.
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Thanks everyone. I don't think any of your advice is rough...it's the truth, and I need to hear it. I think I'm going to look into it a bit more...(besides the message board, do you have good links for information?), and possibly see my doctor next week. She is a GP and and OB, however, for my first and only OB appointment, I didn't have her, I went to an OB at our local hospital. (This was about three years ago. I was molested, and it turned out the man that molested me had an STD, so I had to get tested.) I am not sexually active, aside from that particular encounter several years ago...so, no, i don't go in for regular pap's.
Thanks for all the advice!
Have you been to the main part of the site? There are links to info from there... soulcyster.com
Also, at the top of this page there are links to Research Articles, books, resources, etc.
Here's one bookmark...
"Since 1996, Medifocus.com has been dedicated to empowering patients and their families to make informed health-care decisions by producing the most comprehensive, up-to-date, self-help medical Guidebooks available anywhere online.
Our Guidebook on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, will arm you with the vital information you need, to help you take control of your condition and your treatment." http://www.medifocus.com/guide2.php?gid=ND014&a=a
I have found the book that I mentioned before (Hidden Epidemic) to be a great source of info.
You will probably start to feel overwhelmed at the amount of information that you have to go through but it's worth it. You can always come her and ask questions too.
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Some of it has to do with infertility due to PCOS, but there is a lot of general PCOS information too. It helped answer quite a few of the questions I had when I was diagnosed.
I agree with the others about talking to your doctor. It sucks sometimes, but it's better to risk a little embarrasment and start managing your disorder than let it go and wait for your symptoms to worsen.
Also, you don't need to be sexually active to get a pap (and I'm SO sorry to hear you were molested - no one should ever have to endure something like that). After age 18, most doctors recommend getting a pap yearly to check for cervical cancer.
Good luck!
Claire
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Mommy to:
David Alexander, 5 (12/8/04)
Grayson Christopher, 2 1/2 (5/19/07)
Ella Jane, brand new (8/29/09)
I would like your opinions 
