I had a doctor appt yesterday to review labs, and you know, the normal pcos checkup. While I was there I asked for my first set of labs that were used in the dx of pcos. Before that lab work was done in December he had done a vag u/s to check for cysts and there were some but not the classic string of pearls, which I know you can have PCOS even with out cysts.
I mentioned my concern about the ever increasing hair problem.
During my last visit in December I was officially dx'd with Pcos with IR. I am now wondering what led him to believe that.
Anyway, while I was reviewing them I noticed first off he didn't test for testosterone at all, he had tested for DHEA which he said was a general androgen test and that he doesn't do the testosterone by itself, this showed right in the middle of the normal range ( I don't remember what the ranges were at the moment). And all my other hormones came back as normal as well, except for my fasting glucose which was just right above normal (100 with a lab range up to 99 being normal), my fasting insulin level was also in the "normal range" at 19 (lab range of 3-28).
So how could I be IR if my insulin was well within normal? Just because the glucose was right above normal?
I have all the clasic outward symptoms of PCOS but it doesn't seem to me that the lab work really backs that up. How can everything be in the normal ranges but yet I have all the symptoms?
__________________
Shirley (34) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Eric (35)
Shirley - to diagnose you with IR they take you glucose level and divide it by your insulin level. If that value is 5 or less they class you as being IR. So for example say your glucose level was 100 divided by 19 (your insulin level) = 5.2, therefore you are IR.
I have PCOS and my levels/blood work test normal. I thought it was strange too, but I have all the symtoms. If you are not sure your doctor knows, I would get a second opinion. But if he is putting you on medication that makes you better, then that might be good too.
Good luck.
__________________ Levoxyl 100 mcg daily To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Aciduphilus (milk free) 2 pills a day for IBS Was on Ovcon 35 (didn't help) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
ME = 27, Husband = 25 (I robbed the craddle To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ) Live each day as though it was your last
Shirley - to diagnose you with IR they take you glucose level and divide it by your insulin level. If that value is 5 or less they class you as being IR. So for example say your glucose level was 100 divided by 19 (your insulin level) = 5.2, therefore you are IR.
Hope this helps.
Ah, ok, that makes much more sense. So I suppose the Met has helped at least in that regard because my most recent levels were glucose 100 and insulin 10. So I guess since my insulin lowered and that calculation would now be a 10, it has done some good.
Now I am just wondering why my glucose is still at 100 fasting, that is just over the normal range.
Thanks for the info!
__________________
Shirley (34) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Eric (35)
I have PCOS and my levels/blood work test normal. I thought it was strange too, but I have all the symtoms. If you are not sure your doctor knows, I would get a second opinion. But if he is putting you on medication that makes you better, then that might be good too.
Good luck.
I have much faith in him, just confused by all this stuff (not so hard really), he really is a great doctor and specializes in infertility and is quite versed on pcos it seems. I am just not a patient person and think that after 6 months there should be much more imporvement while he says, just give it more time. UGH!
And I guess the met is working (see previous post) just not in the areas I would most like to see it, you know, the outside as well as the inside. lol
__________________
Shirley (34) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Eric (35)
You cannot go by "normal" lab values in the diagnosis of PCOS. My opinion of why this is true is because it is a syndrome - not a disease, and it takes a combination of symptoms to come up with a PCOS diagnosis.
I've never heard of the glucose / insulin method to determine IR. That's interesting. My glucose runs about 85 and my fasting insulin was 13 the only time I've had it measured, so I'm a 6.5. That implies that I am not IR, but I have acanthosis nigracans under my arms, excess hair issues, and hypoglycemic episodes, so my doctor said I am definitely IR.
Fasting insulin above 9 or 10 generally means you are IR. With your fasting insulin of 19, I would say you are IR. Since you are IR, your body is having a difficult time keeping your glucose low. Even though it was fasting bloodwork, I've found glucose levels depend on what you had to eat in the last 24 - 48 hours. I'm guessing your doctor will keep an eye on your fasting glucose. Once you get a reading over 120, they start suspecting you have Type II diabetes. Eat fewer carbs, especially sugars, exercise, and lose weight if you need too. I'm preaching to me too, because I know those things will bring glucose down and help with the IR, but I am a lazy bum when it comes to exercise.
Many doctors say that the testosterone measure isn't important, but that the free testosterone measurement is.
A little confused, re: doctor's appt 
