Not really a newbie, but getting frustrated about treatment...

Gweth · 06-19-2005, 07:11 PM

Well, I was going to make this a reply to another post... but it got long, so I guess I have my own issues and need help/advice from my cysters!

About me: I was diagnosed with PCOS two years ago, when I went to the doctor to complain about not having my period in four months. She asked if that had happened before and I told her that it had: several years ago I didn't get my period for a year. I was also irritated about being so darn hairy in all the wrong places, which had started to happen to me while in my 20s (kicking in when I first went over 200 pounds). I was 220 pounds at the time I was diagnosed.

First, I was put on BCP (some random lose-dose thing -- I had never taken a BCP before), and spiro. I was sent to an endocrinologist who dismissed me because I was not diabetic. I went through a ton of tests, but I have never had an ultrasound of my ovaries -- should I be asking for this?

So, I was merely on a BCP and Spiro for a year. I did Weight Watchers and lost 30 pounds (I am now at 188). I was (still am) still having hair issues. I was feeling pretty good otherwise, though.

This year, a new doctor gave me another bunch of tests. I am not hyperthyroid. I am not diabetic. I have a healthy liver. My testosterone is slightly elevated. The BCP I was on had started to give me AF every three weeks, and I was upset... so this new doctor put me on Yasmin (which I hated at first, but have now gotten used to) and my AF is regular. My new doctor also pushed me to try Metformin. I started with 500mg a day, and have gotten up to 1000mg. She wants me to go to 1500mg, but this stuff makes me so sick and so MENTAL, I can't bear it.

After getting muscle cramps/pain, I was taken off the Spiro and began taking GNC's Woman's Ultra Mega. It helped (yay!). I am now on only Yasmin (since May) and Metformin (since April). I am not TTC (although I may want to in another year or two -- I'm 33 now).

However, in the last few months, I have been feeling SO miserable, emotional (could cry at anything instantly), moody, sick... headaches, digestive issues, and am extremely tired all the time... why won't this go away? I've been taking the Yasmin and Met for a few months now.

I eat healthy foods (I can't even eat fast food and packaged food because I am allergic to MSG and nitrates... so you'd think I'd have an edge there) much of the time. I have switched to the IR diet (I've had the book and have been managing linking for all meals but dinner -- my husband wrecks that with his love for rice and pasta)... but I have GAINED six pounds since starting this med combination. I also began doing Pilates two months ago. And I've gained?! Grr. What's most annoying is that I'm rounder around the middle now and my favorite pants don't fit. Just the middle. I am getting so frustrated.

I had felt so awful (depressed, tired, sick) the last couple of days that I was about to call my doctor and give up, but the more I read this forum, the more I want to hold on like my other cysters. I'm just so worried that I'm making my health (physical and mental) worse sometimes.

I guess that's more of a rant than anything useful, but I needed to share it with you... my husband doesn't seem to listen these days.

Please feel free to send me a private message. New friends are always nice.

Hugs to all,

Gweth

choirmissy · 06-19-2005, 07:26 PM

The met will cause headaches, digestive troubles, and fatigue. The Yasmin could be what is making you feel so emotional (I've never been on Yasmin, but I had similar problems when I was on BC). It may be that this is not the right combination of medicines for you. I am sure other people here will have more advice, but if your doctor isn't willing to listen, you may want to try yet another one.

lil lizzie · 06-19-2005, 08:55 PM

((((hugs)))) I'm sorry you're feeling like this. But I'm glad you've decided to keep trying. Like the previous poster said, if you feel like your doctor isn't listening or helping you, you may want to try someone else. A lot of us have gone through a long list of docs before finding the right one. My DH is a saboteur as well, so I've just started cooking everything separately. Then, if he wants the pasta or whatever, he can have it. But I don't have to. It's a pain sometimes, but it works. As for the ranting, rant away! That's why we're here, to listen and to give you suggestions if you ask for them.

bcylab · 06-19-2005, 10:15 PM

If you feel that this is never going to improve I would suggest going back to the docotrs and see if there is another type of drug combination you can go through. The Yasmin might be to strong of a hormone for you. Maybe there is something out there that will not affect you in this way. Good luck to you. I am glad you are here to talk about it. We are always here to listen.

someone should be able to help you.

amshum · 06-22-2005, 02:14 AM

I would say go back to your doctor and ask for different meds and/or different strengths. If your doctor isn't willing to work with you, find another.

Best wishes.

ladioffaith · 06-27-2005, 02:04 AM

I was diagnosed about 2 years ago after having disappearing AF. My gyno had me on provera to induce AF and as soon as the doctor put me on Met, the first question I asked was whether I could now stop the Provera. So on Met alone, I have had a period every month since, although they really only got normal after I changed doctors and bumped my dose up from 500 mg to 2000 mg. (slowly, of course.) That's it. I never took BCPs of any kind and still don't. While it's helped AF it has not helped me grow my hair. No major side effects, except for the digestive ones, which really aren't that bad.

Perhaps the BCPs and Met are counter-reacting somehow? I have never heard of emotional side effects . . . but then again, I've never combined them with BCP's.