Im 20 years old and im new to SC. Ive had irregular periods since the beginning. I had my fist period at 11! I didn’t have another till age 12 and for the next 2 years people always told me “the first couple years can be irregular” so I just settled for that. Unfortunately they never became regular. Even to the point that in high school my mom made me take numerous pregnancy tests because she thought I was pregnant. It was pretty traumatizing. I was not sexually active and was a really ‘good’ girl and here was my mom thinking I was prego every few months because of weight gain and missed periods.
I knew something was up. I started getting other symptoms as I finished high school and began college. More weight gain, skin tags, dark hair, bad/no sleep….well pretty much every PCOS symptom except hair loss. Because of being on my parents insurance and being a student I was still going to a ‘pediatrician’ I went last summer and she ran some blood tests. When they came back she said really nothing. Just I was a little overweigh so that’s why all this was happening…..um well that didn’t sit well with me. I’m now sitting here almost a year later with my blood test results. I know no one on here is a doctor, nor am I expecting someone to be, but I’m just confused and seeking advice. I found on this site that while most of my blood results are in the ‘reference range’ they are still not normal. My LH level is twice my FSH…among other blood abnormalities. Also the blood test were taken at a time when I had not had a period for at least 7 months. So my pediatrician back home in CA says no big go on BCP and loose weight and my doctor and the student health center in Ut. said absolutely nothing. I asked all these questions and she just asked me questions back….ahhhh. What am I supposed to do? Anything? I’m not TTC but I want to be healthy so when I am TTC I’m okay. Thanks for listening to me rant and cry. If anyone has some advice it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much, I’m happy I have found this site…ive already found out so much about this syndrome that I may OR may not have! Thanks
First, Welcome
Secondly, Hugs from all your cysters!!!
I am glad you found SC. There are many articles and threads here about others experiences and also resources that you can look at as well. When you come to a place like this you soon realize that pcos is not the end of the road but only a journey of obstacles that the "great one" thought you were special enough to handle. All of your cysters will be here to help you through the way, even through the rants and tears. Give me a shout if you need anything, I will help best I can.
Carey(31) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Paul(43)
Married 7-25-02
PCOS Diagnosed Nov 02'
Bi Polar Diagnosed Feb 08'
Current meds~ Lithium&Celexa
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 4 furbabies To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
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First, let me say WELCOME to SC! Stick around and you will not only find tons of information, but you will also meets an amazing group of women.
Second, I wish I had better advice for you, but keep trying. Most of us have learned the hard way that PCOS is an uphill battle, not just in terms of health, but in terms of healthcare. Many doctors are uneducated about the disease, and others seem to just plain ignore it. Either way, it makes it very hard of us, the patients.
Here are some resources on this site that you should look through, http://www.soulcysters.com/do_have_pcos.html There are links at the top for different info, and it is very helpful.
Also, go to the Find A Doctor forum here, http://www.soulcysters.net/find-doctor/ and post a thread with your location in it, and hopefuly some other cysters can point you in the direction of a very PCOS friendly doctor.
I do want to mention that you should definitely be receiving some sort of help in inducing a period if you are not having them on your own (probably the medication Provera). Going w/o periods for a long time can raise the risk of endometrial cancer. I never had regular periods from the start (would skip 2-3 months between usually). They gradually got fewer and farther between, until I was having approximately one a year. My PCP told me that it was nothing to worry about unless I wanted to get PG. When I finally found an RE (reproductive endocrinologist) to help with my PCOS, she made it clear that it was not okay to go that long w/o periods, and gave me a Rx for Provera to use when I didn't have one on my own.
Good luck! I hope you find the help you need. Please look around the site, you will probably find tons of info that helps!
Stacie M
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I have an odd question for you. Why at 20 are you still seeing a pediatrician???? Even on your parents insurance you should no longer be seeing a pediatrician, what insurance do you have???? Secondly do other research (from books and the like) and take them to your Dr. explain to them that this isnt right. And they need to do something about it. Also if you take in reconmendations on medications to try and DEMAND to be put on something, then (if weight is an issue) try to control your weight.
I agree with StacieM above.. This is a great place with support from other cysters and TONS of information.. My personal favorite is on the 'research4PCOS' forum. its near the top, titled 'required reading'. I personally believe that the well educated patient is a good patient. Meaning: learn all that you can on PCOS. You'll then get an understanding of it's complexity, treatments, and management. Then you'll go from feeling confused and frustrated to being comfortable with your Dr. on your treatments.. or confident enough to realize that -based on your learning- if your Dr. isn't giving you the care you feel you need, and to find a new one. One thing that you already are learning, is that we have to be our own advocate in this.
Sorry about what you had to go through with your mom.. Hopefully you can find info, print out info from this site.. to help her understand this condition.
If alot of Dr.s have problems with understanding PCOS... I highly doubt a student health person would know about it.Unless she has PCOS.
Ask and post questions...
I want to start out by saying thanks to everyone for being so nice and welcoming me with such open arms!...This is the only place I’m receiving that kind of welcome regarding POCS....everyone keeps shooting me down. All you cysters are so great! Its nice we can life and help each other!
Also a little update on my situation....I’m looking for a new doc. I was going to wait 2 weeks until I move home to Cali for the rest of summer then I decided ill try to find a doc here, and squeeze myself in, for the off chance that he/she may acknowledge my PCOS better yet do something about it….or just talk to me about it.....
Well of course that would not be the case. I’m living in a small town here in Ut....very small...well for me at least....i grew up in north Los Angeles so this place is like a hole compared! Don’t get me wrong i love it but its just an old (beautiful) small town. I called the hospital...she told me the only doctor that i could see 'who’s taking new appointments/people is the doc I already saw 6 months ago...who, when i talked about PCOS, just tested me for STD's!!!! So here I am...in this tiny town with only a couple OB/GYNs and im fresh out of new GOOD ideas....grrrr well I guess ill have wait till sunny so cal i guess! Then the problem is that when...if...i do find a doc in cali I’m only in cali at Christmas time (after this summer). So what good will that do...i guess i don’t really need to see someone every couple months...but what if I want to start a Rx to get me going or the need tests or she wants to keep and eye on me....or something....ill be out here 12 freaking hours away!!!! I think I’m getting a bit to ahead of myself here..i need to take it one step at a time!
Well thanks for listening!
Hugs 2 all & baby dust to those TTC!
…and I hope everyone has a GREAT Friday!
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"Stick to a task,
'Til it sticks to you.
Beginners are many,
Finishers are few."
I just wanted to say I'm impressed as hell that at 20 you're taking control of your own health care. Set an appt with an OB/GYN asap and demand they look into it. They'll probably order an ultrasound to confirm the presence of cysts but they need to sit up and pay attention. Once you get your diagnosis, treatment options will be next.
I ignored my lifelong irregularity till 27, and only then cuz I was going to be making some drastic life changes with career/health insurance.
Kudos to you for being smarter than me and welcome!
Then the problem is that when...if...i do find a doc in cali I’m only in cali at Christmas time (after this summer). So what good will that do...i guess i don’t really need to see someone every couple months...but what if I want to start a Rx to get me going or the need tests or she wants to keep and eye on me....or something....ill be out here 12 freaking hours away!!!! I think I’m getting a bit to ahead of myself here..i need to take it one step at a time!
Hi, and welcome. I too am impressed as hell that you are taking charge - if I had only known at 20 what I know now!
You may be able to find a really good, PCOS knowledgable doc in Cali who would be willing to coordinate care with a local doc while you're in school. My sister had a similar situation (she had renal issues) and her kidney specialist at the University of Colorado (where we grew up) coordinated care with one of the docs close to the small upstate town where she went to college. It worked out great for her, and she got the kind of medical care she needed until she returned to live in Colorado full time after she graduated.
HTH,
Ann
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PCOS????? Im new & confused 
Thanks 
Friday! 
