Newbie and away from home

unlimited_juice · 03-08-2009, 04:05 PM

Hi everyone!
completely new to this whole pcos thing, actually haven't been officially diagnosed or even been to a doctor about any of my symptoms. problem is, i'm an exchange student and have been here in belgium since august. so i've had to deal with the possibility of having pcos all on my own (that is til i found you guys!).
i finally did some research after realizing i hadn't had my period since june, although it had always been irregular before, i always had at least 3 a year. i was placed in an absolutely horrible host family that ate only potatoes for almost every meal. gained weight like crazy, but i thought it was just stress from living in another country and not knowing the language. that's what led me to believe i have pcos, cause high-carb diets are supposed to make it worse, right?
i'm with a different family now, but haven't been with them long enough to feel comfortable talking to them about it, and i don't want to worry my family back home until i'm sure, so i'm pretty much alone (i almost cried when my mother jokingly said i must have pms because i was grumpy while talking to her on the phone)
anyway, any advice you guys have about finding a doctor, what tests to ask for (if you know the french words offhand then i

u), what i should do in the meantime for my symptoms (very oily acne prone skin, facial hair, weight, and the subsequent flat but dark scars resulting from my acne...not really a symptom but they really suck) and any general support would be much appreciated by lonely little me.
thanks cysters!

~Danna~ · 03-08-2009, 04:10 PM

Hello,

I just read your post... I'd say tell your parents about the posibility of it being PCOS and then try to contact the American Embassy or someone at your college that knows of clinics and a possible doctor that speaks English. I'd also print out some info on PCOS and take the print out with you. Show the Doc the paperwork, ask for complete bloodwork, make sure they check your Thyroid, your testosterone and estrogen levels and of coarse test your cholesteral and blood pressure. Then take it from there...

Good luck!

birdseye · 03-10-2009, 02:33 AM

Hang in there!! We are far away from family (although not around the world, like you), and it can be hard, but we are getting through it. Sometimes a simple phone call to family can be a lifesaver.