 New & un-dx as yet
Hi, This is my first post but I have been lurking for a couple of weeks. I am as yet undiagnosed but I suspect I have PCOS. I had some pelvic pain a few weeks back and when I did some searching on the net I came across this syndrome and I have a lot of the symptoms.
I went to my GYN recently and just got back the results of blood work - all normal. I am really let down by this because PCOS seems like it would be the answer to all my medical conditions. I have a pelvic sonogram tomorrow (day 8 of my cycle) and see an endocrinologist who specializes in PCOS next week (my choice).
In 1999 I had a case of really bad acne on my face (at age 26). Went to the dermatologist, was eventually given Accutane (before they knew it could make you suicidal). Accutane cleared it up for the most part, although it had horrible side effects and God knows what it does long term. I still get zits especially at that time of the month.
I've always had fairly regular cycles, although now and then I miss one or get it 2 weeks early. I have always had very bad PMS which would make me suicidal once a month, and my periods have always been very heavy and my cycles averaged more like 33 days. I would get horrible cramps.
I've had weight issues most of my life, and so does my family. I am always trying to lose weight but it seems almost impossible compared to other people, even when I sincerely try. I am overweight, apple shape, and have in the past couple of years been having late-afternoon dizzy spells (cold sweat, feeling faint) which I attribute to low blood sugar. I do get some crazy rabid cravings for sugar sometimes. My sisters and cousins and I have discussed this and it seems to run in the family. One sister was recently put on a diet similar to a diabetic diet by a nutritionist. The nutritionist told her that because we have the alcoholism gene in our family that we process carbs differently. We also have diabetes in the family (my grandmother, and mother's aunts & cousins). My other sister had a condition that was very close to gestational diabetes (like a prediabetes) and 3 of their 4 children were born over 9 lbs., which the nutritionist says is a sign of insulin resistance. I tried the Atkins diet one year but could barely make it past the first 2 weeks with horrible nausea and headaches.
In 2001 I had an ovarian cyst burst. It woke me up right out of a sleep and felt like I'd been stabbed. The GYN did a vaginal sonogram and confirmed it. She put me on BCP (Ortho-Tri-Cyclen) which seemed to help with the PMS cramps and heavy bleeding, which I have been on since. I am historically bad at taking it (don't need it for birth control), and in January this year I stopped taking it (after 4 years) mostly because of news and family saying that to be on it long-term can have adverse effects. I also take meds for depression, asthma, and allergies, so I admit I am averse to taking more pills.
I've had depression pretty much since puberty. I also get migraines, which also run in the family. My grandmother and mother also had thyroid problems. Clearly I need to see an endocrinologist and I don't know why I've waited so long. Probably because my GYN and PCP have in the past taken blood and always tell me everything is normal. I've never had a fasting glucose test.
I also have been getting very dark thick hairs on my chin and upper lip in the past few years. I'd been plucking or shaving them, figuring it was part of "getting older" (I'm 33). I also recently noticed a skin tag forming under my eye, which I dreaded because my mom has them and my grandmother had them and again I attributed this to "getting older". Now I've learned they're a sign of insulin resistance.
What I don't understand is how my blood work can keep coming back "normal" and if I am simply not getting tested under the right circumstances (time of day, fasting, day of cycle) or getting the full workup done. Can you seem to have "normal" blood results and still have PCOS? From what I understand it can be a difficult diagnosis to make.
I am single and have no idea if I actually ovulate, as I have never tried to conceive. I do feel pain sometimes at that time of month, so I assume I do but who knows for sure.
Also, my GYN was kind of "mad" at me for stopping the Pill voluntarily, she thinks this is why the cysts may have come back (the pelvic pain) and she insists the treatment for PCOS anyway is to put you back on the Pill. But from what I've read here, the Pill can actually mask the symptoms, and it is better to take a nutritional approach to fighting it. After the normal bloodwork she says she doesn't think I have PCOS but will wait to see the sonogram results. I myself will wait to talk to the endo next week too.
Anyway was just wondering if others have had "normal" bloodwork or at least it seemed so at first.
Thanks,
Kathryn (another Kat!)
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Kat, 33, single, no kids
2 Furbabies/kitties: Samwise, 10 yrs.; Nine, 7 mos.
Dx w/ PCOS & IR: 8/24/06
SBD as of 10/16, Metformin 1000mg
**LOVE** Doctor Who & Torchwood!!
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