a little lost...mostly frustrated

jayemmie · 03-27-2006, 08:28 PM

I am new to this forum and was just diagnosed with PCOS in 2005. It certainly explains a lot of past and present symptoms. I am hoping someone can listen to my story and give me some guidance.

I am 32 years old. I had a bra by 9 and a period by 10. I was fully developed early, am only 5’2” and am just over where I should be on the BMI. I had my first child in ‘96 and was diagnosed gestational diabetic, but they didn’t know as much then as they do now, so they just told me to cut out sugar. I had a healthy boy and then in ’98 got pregnant again…and again was mildly gestational. I was fortunate enough to have a healthy girl. Over the last few years, I was developing hair on my face, lower abdomen and breasts and also my hair on my head was thinning. It was embarrassing and I didn’t know why so I did nothing. I was also slowly gaining weight around my middle and just attributed it to a lazy diet and being shorter then average women.
Then in September 2005 I got pregnant again. This time I was in a new city and told my new ob/gyn. my past history and she got my b. sugars tested and sent me to an endocrinologist right away. During my pregnancy, I was watching my sugars and was temporarily on insulin to counteract the amount the baby was using. The endocrinologist at this point, diagnosed me with PCOS and Insulin Resistance. Near the end of my pregnancy, she ordered a test checking triglycerides and prescribed Avandia for IR. Unfortunately, due to the timing of my baby’s birth, the results went to my regular GP.
Being in Canada, we have universal Medicare which is great sometimes, but also means you can’t just change doctors…and unfortunately, my GP just wants you in and out…no time for chit chat! It feels like he just treats symptoms, not diseases as a whole. When I was in his office, I didn’t even get a chance to confirm if he was aware of the diagnosis of PCOS, he just put me on Crestor for slightly elevated triglycerides. In fact, years ago I went to him when my period was 3 months late and he said “I have seen lots of women who haven’t had their period in over 6 months. This is normal. Don’t worry about it.” I knew that couldn’t be true! My miracle son is 11 months old now and this is where I am at in this point of my pcos.
Can anyone explain why when I was pregnant I was dropping lbs. like crazy and now I am eating the same foods and exercising more than 30 minutes every day – but I can’t lose the weight? My research has shown that Metphormin is having better success in controlling IR and helping with weight loss, so I am debating switching. Also, should I be on something to try to balance my hormones? My GP seems ignorant of my pcos as I was diagnosed when pregnant and all records went from the specialist to my ob/gyn.
I am sorry this is so long, but I think it is because I felt so alone and had no one to ask. Please help me get my life back and weight down. I am tired of feeling low about myself.

SuzanneStar · 03-28-2006, 01:22 AM

I just wanted to say hun welcome to SC!

There are lots of lovely people here who can guide you and help you more then I can, you have certainly come to the right place.

jayemmie · 03-28-2006, 01:43 AM

Thanks, Suzanne. I hope so. My story is a little long-winded, but at least some of what I am experiencing others are too! People who don't deal with what we do can try to understand, but really can't.

serenity1981 · 03-28-2006, 03:16 AM

welcome to sc jayemmie, i hope you find the answers your looking for, i am also on the short side 5ft (on a good day), i started my periods when i was 8years old, by the time i went to highschool i was competly developed.
i was told i was short because my hormoses kicked in so early. i suffered with all the normal symptoms of pcos untill two years ago when i was dx, the only things i dont suffer with is absent periods (mine are every month,some times twice a month and last anywere upto 14days, then i spot the rest of the month), i also dont suffer with hair loss on my head (so i guess i am one on the lucky ones.

jayemmie · 03-28-2006, 05:09 PM

Thanks for the welcom, Serenity. I guess we don't all suffer from the same symptoms. My cycles are relatively regular now, but I have a lot of the other symptoms. I seem to have some of them under control, but now it is the losing excess weight that seems to be stagnating. Hubby says that I have to remember Eyan was only born less then 11 months ago and to give it time, but to my mind, I only have about 30-40 lbs. to put myself in a really healthy body weight as I am just over the BMI. Maybe someone has some good ideas about how to help with that end of pcos and weight loss.
I wonder if many sufferers were early bloomers? Or maybe on the shorter side which makes my shape turn into an apple instead of a pear? (I personally like apples!

)

Japan · 03-28-2006, 07:01 PM

Welcome to SoulCysters!!! I can't answer your question regarding gaining/losing weight, but I was wondering if there was any way you could go back to your OB/GYN for treatment? I have all but given up on GPs. The only docs who ever were willing to even listen were OBs. I am lucky that the OB/GYN doctors who delivered my second son know a few things about PCOS and were willing to continue my Metformin prescription after I had delivered. I don't even bother with GPs anymore unless it's time for my annual bloodwork. And even then I only go in, tell them what tests I need and a week later go back to get my results - which I am able to interpret just fine by myself at home, thank you. My OB/GYNs live three hours away (well, really, it's more like I moved three hours away) and I can call in prescription renewals. I hope you'll find a way out of this frustrating situation soon.
If you have to continue seeing this ignorant quack, print out some information and articles from the Research Articles section here and take them with you next time. Educate him, maybe he'll learn something. And then be very straightforward and firm with him. Tell him what testing you need and what treatment option you want to try. Just put your foot down and make him take the time to listen to you.
Good luck!

Eva37 · 03-28-2006, 07:22 PM

welcome to sc
Eva

thirteen · 03-28-2006, 07:48 PM

I'm also short (5'1") and developed early. My first bra was in 5th grade and I got my period a week after my 12th birthday. I don't know if that has anything to do w/pcos, but it's an interesting question.

I just wanted to tell you that you're not alone on the weight issue. A friend of mine was always a little fluffy (not much) but when she got pg she lost all of it and was the leanest she'd ever been. Not sure why that happens!

As for controlling the hormones, you can sometimes do that by controlling the IR. I'm not taking any meds, just controlling my symptoms through an IR-type diet and it's definitely affected my hormone levels. It took me a month to start noticing a change and within six mos I was feeling normal. It didn't do anything about the excess hair growth though. That has to be treated separately with meds/laser/waxing/shaving/etc.

I don't know much about Canada's healthcare system, but I think the most important part of pcos is having a good dr. Is it possible to get a different GP?

Good Luck!

- A

Wings · 03-29-2006, 01:32 AM

Add another shorty and early developer to the list. I am just over 4'10 and started my period by the time I was 11 (5th grade) and wore a bra even earlier. I stopped growing shortly after that. Although both my parents are relatively short my brother is almost 6', so it does post an interesting question on size and early development.

I find the most frustrating part of PCOS is the facial hair -- Yikes! Over the past two or three years the hair on my chin has increased and the hair on my head, although not thinning or anything like that, has gone from thin and bone straight to VERY coarse, frizzy, and wavy to curly. I'd like to know if that is an issue anyone else has!

jayemmie · 03-29-2006, 05:40 PM

It is certainly an interesting concept regarding height and early development being a factor. I wonder if it starts a hormone issue?

As for a new GP, one of the ways Universal Medicare works in Canada is that you don't have to pay your GP or hospital care...your taxes pay for it. But the down side is that in many cities, once you have a GP, you can't just go to another. The only time your care changes is if you have a referral from your GP to go to a specialist such as ob/gyn, or if your GP is not practicing anymore. In my city alone there are over 3000 people with no regular GP due to a shortage of them; they have to go to a medical clinic for their care. So, you can see, my choices are limited. When I go in next for a prescription refill, I will confirm (as you say "firmly") if he is aware of the DX. Then I will request to switch to met instead of avandia. With avandia, weight loss doesn't happen...in fact, one side effect can be bloating...pretty sure bloating doesn't help my jelly belly and boobs hitting my knees!
And as you say, Japan...I will come prepared to explain this to him. I know this sounds a teensy bit bitter, but he is the one who took over 10 years of med. school...you'd think he could look this stuff up himself! My previous GP in my last place I lived was awesome! He really listened, so if this dx had come up, he would have been all over it!

Japan · 03-29-2006, 05:52 PM

Spending ten years in med school doesn't necessarily mean you're still going to want learn new stuff once you get out, sadly. I don't take anything for granted with doctors anymore, nor do I trust their knowledge. If I had, I would still be undiagnosed wondering why my period went missing and I'm growing hair in places I'm not supposed to. If I hadn't taken things into my own hands and stood up for myself with that first idiot quack of a doctor (military doctor, to boot), I wouldn't know what is wrong with me or how to fix it. I get all riled up just thinking about that idiot, lol, so I better stop.

Good luck with your plan of action. Maybe you can update this thread to let us know the outcome.