Please Read - Mood Probs Helped by Ovary Drilling/Removal?
Hey!
I'm new here, and I was wondering if anyone with severe depression/anxiety from PCOS who hasn't been helped by antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications has found any relief from ovarian drilling or a complete hysterectomy with ovary removal?
I've been dealing with cyclical and now random and long lasting (usually from stress or changes) bouts of severe depression, anxiety, loss of mental cognition/memory since I was 12 because my ovaries just won't stay suppressed. I am 27 now and single. I've tried all the possible hormonal things Dr. Vliet can prescribe, and I'm even on Lupron now with addback estrodial.
I'm trying to get my life back together to finish my law degree (already withdrawn 2 semesters).
I'm ready to try a surgical approach. I have been talking to one of my doctor's patients who had a complete hysterectomy and her life is great now. We have so much in common regarding our medical histories, symptoms, and personalities. I have hope that the surgery with added back hormones will alleviate my problems, but I don't have any kids so I'm a bit hesitant (though not much, it's been so bad). I probably won't be ready to have kids for at least 8 years, if ever.
Has anyone's mood problems been helped by either of these surgical approaches?
Please don't tell me to try any psychiatric drugs or some new medication. My body is so sensitive my ovaries JUST WON"T STAY SUPPRESSED! I don't have a mood disorder.
thanks so much and God bless!
(I am also posting this in the General forum to try to get some responses!)
I had a hysterectomy in May with my ovaries removed but wasn't officially diagnosed with PCOS until about August because I was still having issues with my testosterone and DHEA-S and then the weight issues etc. Anyway I had been diagnosed with depression in the past a tried quite a few medications but nothing seemed to work, at least not for long. When I had the opportunity to have my ovaries removed with the hysterectomy I thought it would be great, really I thought it would cure me. It didn't. Having no ovaries causes it's own set of problems. I need to take estrogen and progesterone to feel fairly normal and I'm still not really sure I have them balanced. My biggest problem right now is the anxiety which I really didn't know was such a problem until I was on an adrenal suppression test for a week and I just felt so very good. I figure that the drug for this test would have suppresed my cortisol as well and that that's probably why my anxiety was suppressed also. I have an appointment with a Rheumatologist next month and then see my Endocrinologist in May and am hoping to get this sorted out somehow. I'm telling you this to point out that having your ovaries removed may not help with the anxiety you deal with. On the other hand I had terrible PMS and I'm really glad to be rid of those fluctuations so I'm glad I had it done but there are a lot of women who really regret having their ovaries removed because they never feel "right" aferwards. If you go to the hystersisters.com web site you should be able to find a lot of women's experiences with having their ovaries removed so you can make a more informed decision. Of course everybody's so different. I know eight years sounds like a long time but that time will be here before you know it. I don't know your situation but I would keep searching for another option if I were you to not close the door on the possibility of kids. Unless you can really come to terms with a decision like that it is something that could cause you a whole different experience with depression later in life. Occasionally I wish I had been diagnosed with PCOS before I had my surgery so that I could have tried different options. I would have liked to try to supplement and balance my own hormones before I had to go on medication. Of course lack of those hormones can cause other health problems and supplementing them can cause other health issues so your medical history would be a factor in a decision like that too. Sorry I rambled here. I am exhausted but not that I've done all this typing I am just going to post it and go to bed. I really wish you all the best in making your decision. If you want to talk anymore feel free to PM me.
i have issues w/depression and anxiety but have recently been dx'ed bipolar, so i know that throws an additional kink into things.
i haven't come across much information about pcos and the mental connection; many of my doctors even DENY that it is connected. there is some research in the area, but not enough (in my opinion).
best wishes whatever you choose! and if i come across some research, i'll post it here for you.
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Pam 770 - what kind of estrogen and progesterone are you on? It definitely sounds like you have extremely active adrenal glands to have high DHEA-S and testosterone with no ovaries. Elevated androgens with insufficient estrodial cause the same excited effects on the brain as taking amphetamines - no wonder you are anxious! I have felt that way many times when my bloodtests showed DHEA through the roof!
You probably need more estrogen - make sure it is estrodial (E2) like in the Vivelle or Climara patches or Estrace pill. If you are on Premarin or Prempro, those are awful and you'll feel awful on them because are made with horse urine estrogens that don't match human estrogen. Plus - WHY on earth are you on progesterone? You don't need it after a hysterectomy and it has depressive effects and increases cholesterol levels.
Your blood (serum) estrodial levels should be above 80 for you to feel good emotionally, cognitively, and to protect your heart and bones.
I go to arguably the top women's hormone expert in the country, Dr. Elizabeth Vliet. She is the author of Screaming to Be Heard: Hormonal Connections Women Suspectand Doctors Ignore; It's My Ovaries Stupid; Women Weight and Hormones; and a forthcoming book about PCOS. You can find such good info to help yourself via an understanding doctor in there.
As for me, I am having a complete hysterectomy at the end of the month. I know this will smooth things out and Dr. Vliet will see to it that I get enough estrodial to keep my brain functioning well. She has had many patients like me. I am not that maternal, and I'd rather finish my law degree and have mental health than have kids right now, so I'll adopt if I want them someday. I have been put in touch with another patient of Dr. Vliets whose medical history and life story are basically identical to mine. She had a hysterectomy with ovary removal last summer feels amazing now for the first time since puberty. Dr. Vliet is managing her hormones.
isenephthys - I have had feelings that mimic bipolar disorder that emerged ONLY AFTER I went on antidepressants. The surging highs that feel like mania are often related to elevated androgens with insufficient estrodial. I think you should read the Dr. Vliet books too - she has the latest and best info on hormonal connections to the brain - they ARE related! So many PCOSers are diagnosed as having mood disorders or bipolar disorder, and all they really need are their hormones balanced out!!!
lilywind, thanks for the information. i'll defintely check out dr. vliet's books. i've had symptoms of mood disorders as far back as i can remember, but it is certainly exacerbated by my hormonal fluctuations. i'd like to study this thing as much as i can.
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oh, that's cool... didn't realize our b-days were so close! i was always a "moody" kid, but i first had the depressive symptoms in high school and looking back at things, i've had periods of hypomania/mild mania on and off antidepressants since college.
pcos-wise, i'm on diane-35/metformin 500 mg/aldactone 200 mg
mood-wise i'm on klonopin 0.5 bid/prozac 20 mg/zonegran 300 mg daily with prn xanax that i rarely take.
i also take a slew of prn's for backache, stomach woes and allergies, but i'm trying to back off from medications as much as possible. i take a daily multivitamin, protonix 40 mg, pherntermine 37.5 mg for weight loss and i *think* that's it right now. (geez, i feel like such a druggie sometimes! i just want to get better and hopefully get off some of this garbage!)
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I have a history of both endometriosis, and PCOS. In November, during a surgery for the endometriosis, they had to do a wedge resection of my right ovary due to cysts, removing half of the ovary. The wedge resection is the procedure that ovarian drilling replaced to help with the PCOS. I have not really noticed any differance in my moods since having that done. I also deal with depression and anxiety and have had difficulties with meds. In fact, shortly after surgery I had felt worse than ever with my anxiety and since have gone through another suicidal bout. The surgery was great for pain relief with both of the diseases, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it for lifting mood problems.
isenephthys - you are certainly on a lot of meds. It's crazy what SSRIs and other psychiatric drugs can do to some people (like me). They flip a switch in the brain, so to speak, and cause hypomania or even mania. I doubt your hormones are under control. I'm sure Dr. Vliet's books will teach you so much about your conditions.
Have you ever been on Glucophage XR, an insulin sensitizer? My blood tests do not show insulin resistance, but I felt so up and down between meals. Once I went on Glucophage, I felt so much more even and my anxiety decreased greatly. You might want to give it a shot.
Have you ever charted your symptoms to see if they get worse around your period? Her books will show you what to look for.
If you can afford it, becoming a patient of Dr. Vliet would probably help you a lot. www.herplace.com
She is the top doc in the country for people with hormonal/mood problems.
alyn7803 - things sure have been rough - were they able to get all the endometriosis removed? Dr. Vliet told me that ovarian drilling will not be a long term solution to my mood problems. Having my ovaries removed will give me a baseline so I'm not so up and down while trying to keep them suppressed. I hope you can get some good help. I'm sure your hormones are crazy too, but with endo, things are even more complicated...
i'm sure my hormones aren't under control. i know i need another thyroid panel. my last workup was 2 years ago when i was dx'ed and they really didn't do a lot of the hormone levels. i did go on glucophage, but it's not the xr form and it's the lowest dose you can be on.
thank you for the link; i'm going to look into it. does she take insurance and how much does a consultation cost?
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Yes, it is pricey, which is annoying. My parents have to pay my medical bills (hopefully once I have my surgery my medical bills will be much much much more manageable). I think her fee includes the bloodwork. She doesn't take insurance - you have to file it on your own. I have gotten reimbursed for some of the amounts. It is worth it though if you are not finding good help.
Good luck and let me know if you need to know anything else!!!
thank you so much for reccommending her. i'm going to research her site and check out her books first. i'm about to go out on a job assignment to california for a few months. depending on how i feel after all of that, then i'll make the decision.
if labs/workup are included in the consult fee, i will most likely go in a heartbeat. you do get what you pay for and she is good at what she does. and it will be worth it to have a comprehensive set of labs done.
what was your visit with her like, if you don't mind my asking? (i just like doing my research!) how much time does she spend w/you, what sorts of meds does she like to prescribe, etc...
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I have seen Dr. Vliet 5 times in person. My first appt was with her former clinical nurse, but that woman is no longer there. They will spend several hours with you at your first appointment, then you can do phone consults so you won't have to travel to Dallas or Tucson. I have had many phone consults with her. Her labs are VERY comprehensive so she can pinpoint EXACTLY what is wrong with you - you may have underlying thyroid antibodies or other problems.
She has a wonderful personality and is very kind and patient.
She will prescribe the mainstream PCOS medications such as glucophage, birth control pills, estrodial patches/pills/creams, testosterone (any hormones basically that are made to match a human woman - Premarin and Prempro are made with horse estrogen PREgnant MARe urINe - and don't match and are BAD).
She is a psychiatrist by initial training so she can handle any of your mood problems and she knows how hormones AND psychiatric meds affect the brain. She's been working with women and their hormones since the early 80s so she knows what to do.
She will also coach you on getting eating the right foods.
If you have a nice doctor who is willing to work with you, you can get him/her to order subsequent hormone tests for you that Dr. Vliet wants after your initial appointment (then your insurance should pay more).
Please Read - Mood Probs Helped by Ovary Drilling/Removal? 
