Looking for a Big Cyster

BobbysMommie · 01-21-2007, 10:45 PM

Hello cysters! I'm so glad that I found this site! WOW it's so extensive.

I have been lurking for a week and feel like I haven't even seen 1/10th of everything here!
I pretty much have the same story as everyone else. No periods, acne yatta, yatta, yatta at almost 30 years old. I was on bcp's for 10 years before my dh and I decided to try for our 1st child and every mo. had a cycle. I never knew anything was wrong because the bcp's always gave my a cycle. When I first came off of them my periods were fairly regular. They weren't always 28 days but I didn't think much of it. Until about 6mo. later when I realized it had been awhile since I had one. I finally went to my NP after about 3 mo. of no period at all. She did blood work and told me that there were no real abnormalities but that I may have PCOS. (LH of 22 and FSH of 7). So to make a long story short we were TTC and were started on Clomid x 4 cycles before getting preg. (My dh has some male factor as well) (How the 2 of us managed to find each other I'll never know.

What with his deformed sperms and my lazy ovaries! LOL! ) But now we have our wonderful ds! He is 1 yr. old now and lo and behold it's back to the same thing again. No period in 3 mo. Went back to the doctor and he repeated the bloodwork since it's been so long since the last test. I'm waiting to hear from them for my results. My initial fasting insulin before we got preg. was fine. So I'm so confused and don't know the results of this times blood yet. I was wondering if any of you have been told that you have PCOS and not have insulin resistance? I'm confused and in need of a Big Cyster to help with some advice. Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

MommyJenny74 · 01-22-2007, 03:09 AM

Welcome cyster!

Congratulations on your sweet son!

I'm IR,so I'm not much help with your question there. I personally was started on met before my bloodtest results were back. (My doc felt my symptoms strongly indicated PCOS. And the met seemed to be helping by the time they got my results back

) I hope your results come back soon.

Hope this helps, please feel free to PM me or email me if I can help!
Hugs
Jenny

BobbysMommie · 01-23-2007, 08:40 PM

I was wondering what symptoms you had? My doctor I think, is great for most things, but seems not to be up on the latest and greatest where PCOS is concerned. My blood work was normal except the fasting insulin which isn't back yet. I guess he wants to wait and see what that shows. My guess is that he is going to tell me that if everything is fine bloodwork wise to just take some Provera once per month and call it a day. But, like I was telling my husband, I don't think I'm going to be very happy about that and want to find out what is going on. What do you think? I feel very strongly that I have PCOS even though my LH and FSH were WNL. I skip periods all the time. Right now it's been 3 mo. with AF. I'm so frustrated.

BobbysMommie · 01-30-2007, 04:23 PM

Okay, so I talk to my doctor this morning and told me my insulin was fine so that means that I don't have PCOS. (Don't get me wrong I love him to death and know him personally and have worked for him for a number of years, however...) I think he is WRONG. I went back and reviewed the 5 types of PCOS and think I am a type 1-classic PCOS. Anovulatory, increased androgens (acne), and non-insulin resistant! I need some other feedback from you guys. I'm considering going to a RE because I'm just not happy. He did tell me that if I lost weight that might solve my issue (I think it will help but not solve it). He said sometimes people don't ovulate on their own becasue of being overweight and in other cases we never know why. But because my LH to FSH ratio was 1:1 and my fasting insulin was 5 that everything was fine. So,the only treatment is provera. I just don't want to take a pill 10 days every month if there is nothing wrong.
Sorry for the marathon post, I just need to vent! What do you think?

lachicarubia · 01-30-2007, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobbysMommie

Okay, so I talk to my doctor this morning and told me my insulin was fine so that means that I don't have PCOS. (Don't get me wrong I love him to death and know him personally and have worked for him for a number of years, however...) I think he is WRONG. I went back and reviewed the 5 types of PCOS and think I am a type 1-classic PCOS. Anovulatory, increased androgens (acne), and non-insulin resistant! I need some other feedback from you guys. I'm considering going to a RE because I'm just not happy. He did tell me that if I lost weight that might solve my issue (I think it will help but not solve it). He said sometimes people don't ovulate on their own becasue of being overweight and in other cases we never know why. But because my LH to FSH ratio was 1:1 and my fasting insulin was 5 that everything was fine. So,the only treatment is provera. I just don't want to take a pill 10 days every month if there is nothing wrong.
Sorry for the marathon post, I just need to vent! What do you think?

Hi BobbysMommie,

to SC.

It is funny when they say , "Everything is FINE..." based on a few lab results, when clearly, everything is NOT fine, or you wouldn't be there.

Yes, many docs think that being over weight is the cause of a lot of things, and they think that since the weight has caused the problem (like not ovulating), that losing weight will "solve" the problem. This is one of those commonly accepted theories in traditional medicine that I don't agree with.
When weight loss doesn't work to solve the problem (gee I wonder why), then they start blaming genetics.

Don't get me wrong, I think that it is important to get your body to a healthy weight, but I think that it is even more important to find the REAL cause of the problem, and stop blaming being overweight. Only when we find the REAL cause, will we be able to effectively treat the problem.

I would definitely go to a doc who is very experienced with PCOS, ALL the types of PCOS. Someone who looks at the whole picture, not just base his decision of a Dx, or no Dx, on 1 lab result. Especially since lab results can be deceiving sometimes.

Since you know this doc pretty well, it might be helpful to go back to him, after seeing a PCOS expert, and do a little bit of teaching. Might help some of his future patients.

Eva37 · 01-30-2007, 06:26 PM

welcome to sc

drs always say losing weight will solve everything!! that's what mines said too
eva

MommyJenny74 · 01-30-2007, 07:32 PM

Hi cyster,
I'm so sorry about the frustrations you're having to go through with the PCOS diagnosis. I hope you can another opinion hun.

My symptoms: irregular heavy periods, dark skin patches (AN), type 2 diabetes, thinning hair, overweight (especially in the belly), depression, and having a hard time ttc. My doc diagnosed me the same day I had the labs drawn, and I hadn't had my ultrasound yet. (The ultrasound showed that I also have polycystic ovaries).

I will tell you that I've had good results taking cinnamon capsules (2 daily with food), my periods have really become quite regular since I started (28-30 day cycles!) Thought maybe that would help in the mean time while you're waiting to see another doc...

Hang in there hun, and please let us know how you're doing. And don't worry about venting, it's what we are here for.

Hugs
Jenny

Twinmommy2008 · 01-31-2007, 11:06 PM

Get a second opinion and fast-he is WRONG. Sounds like PCOS to me.

KatCarney · 02-01-2007, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobbysMommie

[color=blue]Okay, so I talk to my doctor this morning and told me my insulin was fine so that means that I don't have PCOS.

Time for a new doctor. No doctor should rule out PCOS because of the 'lack' of insulin resistance.

In fact, that's kind of scary that a doctor in active practice would say such a thing.

Seriously...get a new doctor - asap.

ETA

And send this to your old doctor when you fire him/her
PCOS: Get a Diagnosis

BobbysMommie · 02-01-2007, 11:22 PM

Whew! I'm glad to know that I'm not just throwing a fit for nothing.

I've just started on day 1 of provera for this month. He wants me to take it for 3 months on days 1-10 and then come back and see him if things don't "straighten out". Which, I'm sure they won't. They didn't last time right before I started clomid. Same thing had a cycle on provera but nadda off of it. I know it's a small thing but I'm also upset about having to pay for a medication to give me a regular cycle every month without knowing why.
MommyJenny~ Hummm, cinnamon. And that works huh. Maybe I'll give it a try. Can't hurt. I have never tried any herbal remedys. And I'm not quite sure why. I guess I'm always nervous about whether they work or not. Where did you hear about it?

Lachicarubia~ I agree with you. I think it's a load of bunk that doctors blame your weight for everything. There are plenty of overweight women in the world that have had normal periods all of their life and have never had any acne or hair growth. But, in an effort to do what ever it takes to not have to pay $10.00 every month to have AF...I'll do it. (Besides the fact that I need to anyway.)

I should start a poll asking how many doctors everybody had to see before they got a PCOS diagnosis! Because I know I'm not alone.

.

nicochick · 02-06-2007, 02:47 PM

Hi,

I just thought add my experiences to this one! I am in the UK, and was dx with pcos nearly 2 years ago, I was referred to the hospital where I saw a consultant who did not even discuss anything with me about methods I could try to gain regular cycles and to try and conceive (dh and I hadn't been using protection for 2 years at this point). Her only answer was lose weight and come back next year!!

Back then I didn't know as much as I did now about Metformin etc.. but that year I got so depressed about weight, ttc etc.. and the consultants attitude that I didn't go back coz I knew I hadn't lost hardly any weight, but did find out by going to my dr's that I had an underactive thyroid, which took most of that year to bring back to the correct level.

End of last year I saw a local dr who I asked about met for pcos and she looked at my fasting glucose/insulin results and said the tests were normal so wouldn't prescribe met or anything and that losing weight was all I could do!!

I find it so difficult to lose, since the new year I have put my heart and soul into it and seem to be making a bit of headway, but it's the dr's attitudes that really get me angry - blaming everything on the weight!! Why can't I be prescribed something to help me ovulate and have regular cycles - and lose weight?! Also what if I lose a lot of weight and still have problems!?

So, next week I have another appointment with a local dr and will ask him about this. If he has the same attitude I will ask to be referred to another consultant and hope I get someone who is a bit knowledgeable in this area! Wish me luck!

I really do sympathise with you and will let you know how I get on. Nicola x

bailey78 · 02-06-2007, 05:30 PM

Bobbysmommie-
Hi! I have PCOS and I am not IR. You don't have to be IR to be considered PCOS. I'd recommend going to a RE, that's what I will be doing soon, though I do have a pretty good Endo. Anyway, I am not IR and I am on Met. After stopping the pill, I gained 10-15 pounds in a matter of months. I was never "big/overweight" but that was a lot to gain! The doc was hesitant to prescribe Met right away because I was not wanting to get pregnant at the time (I wasn't ovulating and he didn't want the Met to make me ovulate then get pregnant, since I refuse to be on BC any more). Anyway, I am now on Met, at my request...it helped me to drop weight but I still don't have periods. It's very frustrating.
So yes, go to a RE who will most likely be more well versed on PCOS.
My DH and I will start TTC within the next couple of months. I think I have a progesterone deficiency so I am going to ask about a natural progesterone supplement and/or progesterone cream. I have taken Provera before but would like to stay away from the synthetic progresterons if I can. Are your progesterone levels low??

Mommyjenny- so where did you hear about the cinnamon supplement? Very interesting! What were your periods like before? Maybe I will try this...can't hurt!

LookingForHope16 · 02-08-2007, 04:35 AM

I wanted to chime in and say HELLO!! Welcome to SC!~!~

Now about the insulin levels and DR -- get a new one.

I didn't have high insulin levels and she still said that I had it.

Obviously the DR needs some info on PCOS. Maybe you should take him som information on PCOS and help someone else before you switch!!

GL and let us know how it goes!~

junior_j · 02-09-2007, 12:29 PM

Welcome to sc

I agree with eva docs will always say weight loss helps ...

Jess x

MommyJenny74 · 02-09-2007, 03:15 PM

Hi cysters,
I heard about cinnamon right here at Soulcysters.

I'm a newbie moderator and one of the newbies actually asked a question about cinnamon, so I decided to do some more research on it. (I love newbies, I think they teach me as much as I can teach them

)

Anyway, my periods were about 40-45 days, and generally heavy. (Not heavy like before my PCOS diagnosis, but heavy enough to really be a pain!) I started cinnamon capsules in September, and since then my period has settled into a 28-30 day cycle, every month, and what I would call a very normal flow (if I ever had a normal flow LOL). Also I've found that my carb cravings have decreased a lot, and at my last physical (November) my A1C and cholesterol were normal. (My previous cholesterol test had not been normal). I'm also working on diet and exercise, so that's part of it I'm sure, but the cinnamon is helping too I think.

BobbysMommie
Will you be able to get another opinion cyster? I don't blame you for not wanting to pay money for something you're not entirely comfortable with taking.

nicochick
I'm glad to hear you have another doctor appointment. Keep us posted on how it goes cyster!

Hugs to all
Jenny