OBGYN or ENDO or Both?

vamphile · 07-01-2004, 12:36 AM

Okay i have to admit i'm a little confused.

I was diagnosed with PCOS a long time ago by an OBGYN. But was told immediatly when i started to complain about hair loss and hair growth to see an endocrenologist.

now this particular ENDO was terrible he basicaly read off my disease to me as a death sentance, at the time i was also dealing with Intense panic attacks and serious self image issued (the facial hair had just started to become really heavy) i was 21.

I came home, cried, and didn't go back to an endo for well, for about 6 years.

in the mean time i shaved and took provera (metahydroxyprogesterone) for the fist ten days of the month so that i would have a period.

When i finally decided to bite the bullet and face the real issue i found an endo who was nicr and better and put me on 500 mg of met...and then i moved out of state.

A year later i found a decent endocrenologist who really knows what she's talking about when it comes to PCOS and works closely in conjunction with my OBGYN so that as a team we're working on the issues.

Here's the think i KNEW from day one that no obgyn could treat PCOS it's not a GYNO thing it's a hormonal endocrenological thing.

except now i'm on this board and getting more info from other women and finding they only see a gyno and can't get their dr. to take the issue seriously and

well....

Is an ENDO not neccessary for everyone, or just not nec. for some or is it an insurance thing where some insurance companies won't cover a specialist like that.

i'm not judging, i'm just wondering.

also, because i was prettymuch born with it i didn't know you could "Get it" later in life...

i thought you were eaither born with polycistic ovaries or you weren't.

man i thought i was old hat at this by now and since coming here i've got more and more questions (which is a good thing)

answers please.

Thanx.

oh and sorry my posts are so long, apparantly i just can't stop typing

amshum · 07-01-2004, 04:17 AM

Ok, here's my $0.02...

I think it totally depends on the doctor, your relationship with the doctor and if the doctor understands and is willing to treat you for PCOS. There are some GPs, Internists, and other doctors out there who are treating people for PCOS. You don't necessarily have to go to a Gyno or Endo. As long as you trust the doctor and he/she is doing right by you and treating you, it doesn't matter what specialty they are.

Having said that, I think that Endos, specifically Reproductive Endocrinologists, are the most knowledgeable regarding PCOS/IR and all that it entails. I go to an RE, after having gone to GPs, Internists, Gynos, etc who all *MISSED* the diagnosis of PCOS completely.

My Gyno got the closest because during the exam, she mashed on my left side, down low, and I cried out in pain. She thought I had a cyst, and sent me to the hospital for a vaginal ultrasound, which came back negative. My Gyno just put me on BCPs, and said that I'd have to take them the rest of my life, or I wouldn't have a period, and could possibly get cancer... Scare tactics... Thanks. Just what I needed...

So about a year later I went to my RE who did the ultrasound in the office, and I was able to see the classic string of pearls on each of my ovaries. That is when she changed my BCPs to Yasmin, put me on Metformin (recently changed to Glucophage XR), and Lipitor for my high cholesterol. I also take Synthroid because I have a hypo active thyroid, diagnosed at 16.

I don't know if you're born with PCOS or not, but I know that my symptoms began at puberty (age 12), and I started slowly losing hair, gained weight, and my periods have NEVER been regular.

My best advice to you about doctors is to just concentrate on finding a doctor you trust, you have a good report with, and is willing to acknowledge and treat PCOS with meds and is willing to run all your blood work (esp. liver functions).

I hope I helped. Welcome to SC!

cslove · 07-07-2004, 08:26 PM

Quick question. My Gyn has just put me on Yasmin. She has yet to decide if I have PCOS. In the mean time, she wants to get my delinquent cycle started again... :o

How long have you been on yasmin, and do you like it?

Any comments (from anyone) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

amshum · 07-07-2004, 08:48 PM

I have been on Yasmin for (I think) two years now.

Do I like it? Well... its another pill I have to take so not really.

It hasn't done much for my acne but I suppose its doing it job hormonally. I have periods (usually 11 a year which is great for me) and I guess my RE is satisifed with it. HTH.