Sasa0000

Hi...I live in Pittsburgh and I desperately need a great RE. We don't have too many here but the doc I am seeing now isn't very optimistic. He is treating me w/ 200mg Aldactone and BCPs. I am still experiencing acne but he says that the treatment plan I am on is the only treatment plan available. Also, I would like to conceive in the next 1-2 yrs. and will be left without treatment once off the meds currently prescribed. Any suggestions?

thanks! sasa

DiannD122

Sasa,

I live in Pittsburgh, PA also. I was diagnosed by Dr. Elisabeth Calvo Bergman of North Hills Endocrine Associates. Her address is Wexford Professional Building #1, 11676 Perry Highway, Suite 1308, Wexford, PA 15090 : Phone: 724/933-0155

Also, Dr. Bergman works closely with a gynecologist by the name of Dr. Susan Floyd who is researching PCOS. I will be seeing her in October. Her phone number is 724/940-1990. She is located in Wexford Professional Building #3. She is affiliated with Sewickley Hospital.

Hope this is of some help to you.

Diann

Sasa0000

Hi Diann!
Thanks for replying! Also, I noticed you are new to the forum...it's graet to have you! I think you will like it-it's a great place!
You gave me the info (thank you) but do you REALLY LOVE your doctor? Lol! Is she open with you, have different treatment plans other than the one I'm on, optimistic, ect...
How is she treating your PCOS?
Thanks!

sasa

DiannD122

Hi, Sasa ...

Yes, I have found this site to be a great information resource so far.

I have only been to Dr. Bergman's office once so far and have consulted with her via phone.
The physician assistant at my neurologist's office recommended her to me and my neurologist told me that his experience is that everyone that goes to her eventually gets better or improves. On my first visit, she took a lot of time to listen to me - about 1 1/2 hrs. I was afraid that she would think I was crazy when she heard all my symptoms and instead it appeared that a light bulb went on and she just looked at me like I have heard this before.

I had to have a ton of bloodwork done on Day 1 of my cycle. In fact, when I went to the hospital to get my blood drawn, they said to me "You are having a lot of unusual bloodwork drawn." Well, she was the first one to look at these things that could be wrong with me. She knew right away!

She wants me to start on metformin (I am a little afraid as I hear it can make you really sick and I have to work each day). But, she did tell me that if I had problems there were other options.

I think once I get to see the gynecologist she works with that will be an added bonus because they might be able to bounce ideas off one another.

I really did like her - she believed me and I truly think she wants to help me and has an interest in this problem.

What part of Pittsburgh are you from?

Take care, glad to know you Sasa.

Diann


P. S. - Years ago when I first became symptomatic I went to the reproductive endocrinology group at Magee. I would stay clear even though I am sure they help some people. The doctor I saw treated me like I was nuts - seemed she was one who felt all female problems stemmed from a psychological problem. Maybe I should send her all my test results now, huh?

Sasa0000

Your letter was a God sent!
It's FUNNY that you mention to stay clear of Reproductive Endo's @ Magee because I am being treated by Dr. Gabriella Gosman there. Who did you see? I hope it wasn't Gabriella! I really liked her though. She spent alot of time with me and when I mentioned that I had mood swings in the past (as a symptom) she didn't even say anything. It was like I never said anything. So it probably wasn't her but I am definately interested in who you saw. I am definately going to take your advice and call your endo. She sounds awesome. My doc takes about 15 mins me and doesn't really want to hear my concerns...b/c after all there isn't any other way to treat me than what he is already doing for me!
I hope you adjust well to the Metfor...most people get used to it or don't experience what you described at all. I hope you're one of them!
I am from the Squirrel Hill/Shadyside area of Pgh. I recently moved to Churchill though.
Thanks for the advice...keep in touch and let me know how you adjust to the meds. I will drop you a note and let you know what I thought about your dr. Hopefully the wait time to schedule a new patient isn't too long!
Nice chatting with you!

sasa

DiannD122

Sasa,

My next appointment with Dr. Bergman is at the end of September because beginning August 3rd she will be on vacation for 3 weeks. So, I would imagine that you would get an appointment either in September or early October - either way I think it would be worth the wait because you will get the appropriate help I honestly do not think she would try one thing and tell you that is all there is. In the meantime, it also might be worth trying Dr. Floyd, the gynecologist, because if you see one of them they have a good working relationship with the other.

I saw Dr. Sara Berga at Magee - not impressed even though I know she is highly educated and does lots of research - but, she mostly had me see a resident who was rude to me. I think my problems baffled her and she was one of those who didn't like not having the answers and she was the doctor type of attitude.

I lived in the eastern suburbs all my life up until the past couple years (Monroeville, East Pittsburgh) - now I live in Moon Twp.

Lots of luck to you, Sasa, I know how frustrating it is because I go through it, too!

Diann

kloc12

I was supposed to see Dr. Sarah Berga but she moved to a different practice, so I saw Dr. Brinda Kalro. Is that who you saw? Because she was SOooooo adamant about not lettin me try MEtformin b/c I was not IR. I went to a Endo, Dr. Patricia Bononi and she prescribed it for me. I just have no periods, cystic ovaries, elevated androgens and bloating. I needed to lose 20 lbs and regulate my periods. I started Met in February and got 3 periods, but for some reason I am at a hault. I saw Dr. Bononi and she was impressed, I lost weight, was feeling good, but told me to go to my gynecologist to talk about what is best to induce a period. She just wants me to have at least 3-4 periods a year. So I made an appt with Dr. Gosman. So we'll see what she says.

I am just curious to see if u saw Dr. Kalro. I did that Research study for PCOS at Magee for Dr. Berga. And i was VERY disappointed after it. They were so inconsiderate, didn't provide me any info and treated me like a lab rat. I almost reported them to the Clinical Lab boards. I dont know. Just some info.

bbro

I just wanted to post my 2 cents in here. I just went to see a doctor at the recommendation of another woman with PCOS. Her name is Kim Pierce and she is located at Magee. She isn't part of the Reproductive Endocronology department though. She is actually my PCP now. I actually liked her a lot. She listened to me and even though I was already diagnosed, I only had two blood tests done from my Gyno. She ordered about 12 for me.
Although it was only my first visit, I feel very comfortable with her so far. (I wouldn't recommend going to Magee to get blood drawn though. I didn't like the tesh there. she wasn't mean, but she wasn't very nice either)
Just thought I would give you guys another name and experience for Pittsburgh

RunnerDuck

This is an old thread but oh well.

I saw a regular endocrinologist in Pgh named Camille Buonocore - she is with Mercy. I loved her.

I also had a bad experience with Magee's reproductive endo. center... I saw a Dr. Elizabeth McKee and she was not helpful at all.

My old gyno was also with Magee and she knew NOTHING about PCOS... blew my mind that these docs with a women's hospital could know so little about PCOS.

__________________
DS b. 11/16/03
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DDs b. 3/28/08
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X2

"We've tried to wash our hands of all of this
We never talk of our lacking relationships
And how we're guilt-stricken, sobbing, with our heads on the floor
We fell through the ice when we tried not to slip..."
- the verve pipe

Molli

I saw Dr. Gabriella Gosman at Magee for part of the PPCOS study. She was the doctor in charge of the study, which was all about getting pregnant with PCOS. I was very impressed by her knowledge and her beside manner. I really liked her, but the first time I met her I was shocked by how young she was. We have not one single RE in Southeastern Ohio, so I drove two hours to Magee!

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Stephanie-30 DH-31
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DS born 11/27/2004 (our anniversary)
DD born 12/7/2005

jdburk2

Now I too saw Dr. Elizabeth McKee and I loved her. I found her very knowledgable and caring. She took a long time to talk to me and dh and finally made the diagnosis. I was started on met on feb 5th of 2003 and got pregnant on the 12th of Feb. I had not o'd on my own in over a year. I know have beautiful 11 month old little girl. I guess everyones experience is different.

__________________
Jessica (32) Chris (35)
DX 02/03/03
DS Emmanuel 11/23/00
DD Gabrielle 10/16/03
DD Cassidy 04/17/06
DS Zachary 03/09/07


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sparkbark

I know this is an old thread (VERY OLD!!) but I thought I would bump it because I too am looking for a new RE in Pittsburgh (unfortunately I really can't get outside the city proper.) I have been seeing Dr. Gosman. She is very nice, and takes time with patients, but I don't feel like she knows what she is talking about. She has told me some things about my condition that make no sense! Like how I shouldn't shave or I will stimulate hair growth, and that my excessive hair growth is untreatable with spiro and not caused by my PCOS simply because the hair is "fine" (even though it progressively gets longer, darker and thicker.) I just feel like I need a new endo and that she doesn't know what she is doing. Are there any good endos in the city proper that don't work at Magee?

loro

I don't know if this is helpful, but I go to someone at UPMC Presbyterian. I see a woman named Michelle Roberts and she has been very helpful with my PCOS which I was diagnosed last year after repeat failed attempts with doctors who refused to believe that there was an issue. I would look into her. ~loro

sparkbark

Thanks loro. I looked her up and she is under my insurance. Do you have any problems with excess hair growth, and if so does she address them well? That's my main symptom and I hope to find a doctor who is competent in that area. I am worried that because she has a specialty in diabetes that she would focus too much on the IR aspect of PCOS (I don't yet know if I am IR because my current doc didn't even bother to test my insulin) and not my excess hair problem.

loro

I don't have a problem with excessive hair growth, however, she does address it and its funny because I had an appointment with her yesterday and she is very worried about my weight and more. I'm getting some testing to see if something is up. I think that she is very compassionate and thorough AND she listens to you. Nothing is too bizarre. The only "weird" hair that I have noticed is the nape of my back is fuzzy, but my roommate thinks that its cute...so I'll go with it.


My symptoms/signs:
26 year old black athletic (muscled up!) woman
No history of physical issues
Began symptoms in August 2004 after traumatic experience
Doctors: because I had a history of depression diagnosed it as stress
and sent me to a psych ward when I had a panic attack
Original weight in 2004: 105 lbs, 5'2"
Weight in 2005: 115 lbs
Weight in Spring 2006: 115 lbs
Weight in summer of 2006: 140 lbs
Weight in 2007: 150 lbs
Weight in 2008: 177 lbs

Doctor's Diagnosis: PCOS, Irregular Menstruation, Acanthosis Nigricans, Malaise and Fatigue, Abnormal Weight Gain
loro's Diagnosis: all above including, depression, anxiety, abnormal stretch marks, hip, knee, bone pain, and bloated.


sorry so long, just hope that this helps someone

~loro