Need help

tammyembry70 · 10-13-2003, 05:32 PM

My goal is/was to get this pco under control and feel normal again, so I had a phone consultation w/ my new ob/gyn and he prescribed glucophage over the phone because of symptoms. I am taking 1500mg and last month I went back to review, and he gave me some info that I have been trying to sort out since then. I was hoping to get rid of bcp's and have gluc balance me out. But he tells me that I take synthroid for my thyroid, and gluc for insulin problem, and I should continue w/ bcp for my hormone problem.

So instead of getting rid of bcps for what I hoped as a better pill, now I'm taking even more pills than when I started and he doesn't want me to stop bcp's. He said if I stop bcp's then my symptoms will get worse because it is a hormone problem and bcps treats the "problem".

I am so confused and I hate pills, hate it, hate it, hate it. And here I am taking more and I feel no different, I see no improvement from any of these pills. I was switching insurance and had a lapse in my synthroid pills, I felt no different, same as if I was taking them. The gluc pills, there has been no change in my weight, or the way I feel with them, I thought I would at least feel better.

He has got me scared to get off the bcps because of my symptoms, I don't want it to get any worse!!!! We are not ttc (long story why) so I'm also scared to get off them for the actual birth control reason.

Sorry it's long, and maybe I should have put this in the rant area but does anyone else feel like they are at the end of their rope and no where to turn to? I feel so empty inside sometimes I don't care about anything.

I go back to dr. in Dec and I have no idea what to tell him.

thanks for listening
Tammy

MaLee · 10-15-2003, 03:33 AM

Have you considered going on the patch for BCP? It would at least be one less pill. I believe there is a shot you get every month or every three months. (Not the Depo Provera.)
How long have you been on the XR? I was on it for about 5 or 6 months befoer I began to feel better. I never lost weight with XR alone - there are any of us like that. How about trying Avandia? I had that added with the XR and that seemed to help emmensely. Also, your thyroid levels may have changed. When was the last time you had them checked? My Mom has to have hers checked every 3 months.

What hormones are the pills helping? Maybe they could check all the levels and see which ones are causing the problem. From this board - I feel BCP are more like Band-Aids. (Just covering up the problem.) A general "Cure-all". Good Luck - you may just have to find a better doctor. (Many women here went through quite a few doctors.) Also, since you are not TTC, maybe a endo would better suit you.

tammyembry70 · 10-15-2003, 11:34 AM

thanks for the reply, you have some really good suggestions.

I see my dr in december, so I guess i'll just stick it out until then and ask him more questions. I never thought to ask what hormones i need help with, they always just tell me to take these pills to make it better? Now I want to know!!!! Maybe there is a better way to do this.

I dont' want to sound stupid but what is an endo? for not ttc?

Thanks
Tammy

kimmikat · 10-15-2003, 12:55 PM

Very interesting that you should post this question now. I'm actually preparing my list of questions for my next appointment with my RE and stopping the bcp was one of my questions. I am under the belief that in most/some women, after taking the gluc/met for awhile, the gluc/met would actually take over some of the functions of bcps. I've been on bcp for years to prevent cysts, acne, severe cramping, to regulate my periods, etc. I've also been reading a few reports that lead you to believe that the bcp and gluc/met combo may actually hinder weight loss.
Yikes!

I will still ask my RE (he specializes in PCOS and that is his main focus), but your doctor's beliefs worry me about what I'll hear. If my gluc XR won't help with those symptoms, I'll have no choice but to stay on bcps because I can't live with the pain and blackouts that I go through without it. But, I sure hope that gluc is the answer.

kimmikat · 10-15-2003, 01:11 PM

I also wanted to answer your other question and forgot. An endocrinologist is a doctor that specializes in hormones or hormonal organs and issues (like thyroid, pancreas, liver, etc.). I actually am seeing (and prefer) a reproductive endo even though I am not ttc. I was not even diagnosed until I saw the RE (even though I have obvious classic symptoms) and like I stated earlier he does specialize in PCOS and believes in treating PCOS to get a handle on it before you are ttc. As far as he is concerned and as long as I am happy, he will continue to treat me for as long as I want. Many RE may only want to treat you if you are ttc, but PCOS so revolves around the reproductive organs that it only makes sense that an RE would be the best doctor for treatment. Of course, I'm speaking generally here. There have been reports on these boards of general practitioners and reg gynos that have given the best treatment.