need encouragment and direction please help

sprklngsaphire · 04-10-2006, 03:54 PM

HI all, posted this today on another part of the site- not realizing that it belongs under this section for newbies.. so here it goes ( its rather long)
I am very new to this site- today infact. kinda stumbled my way on here. But I am not new at all to the suffering of PCOS. My tale began about 10 years ago. at the age of 20. though my symptoms started way before that about 15 years old or 16 at my best guess. at the age of 20, i had many female problems- at that time i was diagnosed with cervical cancer, had a leep procedure done to remove the cancer parts and was told at the same time that i also had a massive hormonal imbalance ( my body weight was not an issue at that time though saying that- to keep at a normal weight i would go days not eating and constantly exercising). i produced plenty of estrogen but not enough progesterone.(sorry for spelling) anyways, I was engaged to be married at the time and told to move up my wedding day if i wanted to try and concieve because for me, unfortunately, after going through the procedure to remove the cancer and having hormone problems that i may never have a baby. needless to say, i had always had irregular periods from the age of about 16 on. and so my battle began- had to have a pill to start my period- another pill to help fertility- (was on clomide) and had to do two tests per month- one to check to make sure i wasnt pregnant and another to see if i was - not to mention countless doctors visits inbetween. it was a battle in the least to concieve a baby, and one that i nearly gave up on. happy to say it was all worth it in the end because i had and was blessed with a baby boy!! i was so happy that i cried for days to put it mildly. but as time marches on, so went my condition. after having my son, my peiods were none existant . it was nothing and still is nothing for me to go a year or longer without a period- so they stuck me on birth control pills to help regualte it. which didnot go over well the pills made my so nausiated and dizzy that i was constantly sick- tried lower doses and they too gave me problems. then one doctor said that he felt as though i had a condition called PCOS and that the only way for it to get better was to lose weight- I cant begin to tell you how much i dred hearing those words!! thats all i ever hear is everything will get better if you lose weight!! every symptom, everything wrong with me is ALWAYS blamed on my weight!! and is so frustrating. I try to lose weight, but it is so hard to do. even when i am doing well on a diet the weight doesnt seem to get better. also on top of that i have been having facial hair problems- been dealing with that now for about 4 years- its so bad i am starting to feel like i am turning into a man. my hair is thinning on top of my head. the hair that i want to keep is going away while the rest of me is sprouting it like crazy- i lose chunks of hair in the shower. and i have unslightly dark patches on my kneck and underarm areas.. some times i feel so bad about it that i feel like someone sucked out all my beauty i once had and left me like this. Now after searching on the web, i am reading that there are ways to treat pcos besides birth control pills- and one being glucopahge or metaformin. and although i am happy about this i am also angry that no one has ever once tested me to see if i am insulin resistant! that i was left to suffer like this in silence- and i still am suffering. i have been to countless doctors and the only thing told to me is if i cant handle the b.c. pills is just to lose weight! so now that i am reading more and learning more.. what should i do? and where should i go from here? should i go to a gyn and ask to be tested for insulin resistance? and if that comes back that i do have it.. should i be scared to take the pills? i dont react very well on medications most time and as such i am scared to try new meds. it comes from years having problems when ever i take a pill. i read up on metaformin and read that you can die from taking it beacuse of that condition called lactid acidosis- (spelling) so what should i do?? its been years now that i was told i have this- but have never been treated for it. any help and ideas greatly appreciated. really need some guidence on tis from those who know what its like to walk in my shoes so to speak. sometimes it really does feel like you are all alone when you have this condition. thanks for reading this i know it was long.

AmyNicole78 · 04-10-2006, 07:25 PM

I personally think you should go to an Endocronologist or a doctor that specializes with PCOS. I happened to pick a doctor that knew exactly what was wrong with me after going to numerous doctors that didn't know what to say to me. Anyway, I started Met last month. I was scared to take it too because when I was diagnosed with my Thyroid medication I got really sick off of it, but now I take it and I am fine, in fact it makes me feel better. The Metformin though I was scared to take it because just like you I hate taking medication. I hate pills, but I want a baby really bad, so I decided it was best for me to take the medication and I started it last week and it was bad the first day, but after that I was fine. I recommend taking the medication or starting it on a day that you aren't at work and that you know you will be home all day. Not that my experience will happen to you, but I was running to the bathroom a lot to use it. Nothing bad...just having to go all the time. I started it on a Saturday so it was ok, but if I was at work, they might get upset at me for leaving my desk all day long. Anyway, I just want to tell you that we are all on the same boat and we are here for you. Read the other message boards and keep researching because you will find other solutions and find out if there are people in your town that can recommend a doctor to you. I live in Houston, TX and I have a GREAT doctor! She has PCOS too. Good luck to you.