pcos doctors recommendations in california

[kimothy78]

Hello, I need to get checked out by a doctor who knows what they are doing and who are open minded. I think I might have PCOS.. I have dark bristly under my chin, I have a very hard time losing weight and I'm very sensitive to blood sugar fluctuations. I need to get checked out by a doctor who will really consider the possibility and help me. Do you know of any doctors in the Central Coast of California or in Southern California?

[Black Lilly]

I know there is a PCOS Support Group of doctors at UCSF on Sutter Street in San Francisco. I have not used them yet, but plan to in the coming year. Will post again later if I have successful results with them.

[MandaLee]

Well if you are close to the central coast this may be too far, but their is a center for androgen related disorders at Cedars Sinai hospital in the Los Angeles area, (West hollywood right next to Beverly Hills). Most, if not all, of the doctors there specialize in PCOS. Its referred to as "a center for fertillity and reproductive health," but they see people with PCOS whether they are trying to get pregnant or not. So far I have received a lot of help even though I am not trying to get pregnant. I saw doctor Carolyn Alexander and she seems to listen well and is very caring and concerned. All diagnostic tests (ultrasounds, lab work, glucose tolerance tests etc) are done right in the office, so that was very convenient. I hear that Dr. Ricardo Azziz, who is also at the center, is very good and is well known for all his work with PCOS but its harder to get an appointment with him.

Here is the center's website http://www.cshs.org/5523.html
For some reason Dr. Alexander is not listed with the other doctors on this page, (maybe because she is new to the center), but here is the page about her:
http://www.csmc.edu/12928.html

[isenephthys]

i wasn't very impressed with the ucsf pcos clinic. i've posted about it in a few other threads.

i would be willing to drive to los angeles a couple times/year to see someone good. how aggressive are the doctors in your treatment? what kind of labs do they do, what meds (if any) have they prescribed for you.

my concern is worsening facial hair, hair loss, weight gain and ir- none of which were really addressed by the clinic. i was told to diet and exercise. (if it hasn't worked in the past 4 years, i doubt it is going to work now!)

[MandaLee]

When I went my biggest concerns were no periods, insulin resistance, acne, and some weight gain. When we went over my concerns I felt she listened very well. Since I hadn't had periods for two years her first course of action was to start me on progesterone to start my periods. She also had a nurse take some lab work to see if my androgens were up and to see if my missed periods could be due to chemotherapy I had before. Then she did an ultrasound that day to check my ovaries and everything else. I came back two weeks later for a glucose tolerance test, (its a long test and you have to be fasting), to check for insulin resistance and again in another two weeks to discuss the results as well as my progress on the progesterone. The glucose test showed a possibility for insulin resistance. She gave me the option to start Metformin since my tests were borderline, and reviewed the pros and cons. We decided to try the Met. The progesterone wasn't working so we tried a combination of progesterone and a estrogen to start me period, (which worked this time). I made a new appointment for three months later. Right now I am waiting to see if the Met helps control some of my symptoms (acne and weight).

Your concerns are a little bit different than mine, but I am sure the doctors there would address your biggest concerns first, like they did for me. If you decide to go, keep me updated as to how it all works out for you. Take care!

[kimothy78]

Thank you to everyone who has responded. I'm just starting to look into PCOS. I haven't been diagnosed.. I've been studying in London for the last three years and I didn't take the time to explore things out there. I've had significant hair growth under my chin since I turned 18. Even after I shave, you can still see a dark patch like you would on a guy. Before I moved to London, I was living in LA and seeing a female doctor who was a general practitioner/gyn. I asked her about the possibility and she tested my hormone levels. They showed that I had higher than average levels of testosterone but they weren't so high that she thought we should do anything about it b/c otherwise I'm healthy. I also had an ultrasound done and they found nothing so then I thought it was all in my head. But after reading some stuff online, the hair growth, the inability to lose weight and the irregular periods (I can skip anywhere from 1.5 to 3 months) I'm starting to think that my first doctor should have tested me for other things like insulin resistance. But it's hard b/c I feel like maybe it's me and I just eat too much or don't excercise enough... but even when I was excercising for 1.5 hours/5 days a week while doing weight watchers, I hardly lost any weight. But more than anything, the hair under my chin just isn't right. Have any of you had a similar feeling or experience?

[MandaLee]

Kimothy, I think whats so hard about PCOS is that everyone's symptoms are so different. My blood work has always been completely normal. Plus, when I was younger, an ultrasound showed lots of cysts but I had less symptoms than now. Now I have virtually no cysts but more symptoms. So, I wouldn't assume that you don't have PCOS based on you ultrasound and lab work. I used to wonder if I had PCOS too, just a few months ago, in fact, when my lab work came back completely normal. But my specialist told me that you don't need to have all the symptoms. It seems like doctors who are not as familiar with PCOS don't always realize that. So I think it might be best to see somebody who has a lot of experience with PCOS and they might help you find out whats really going on.

[isenephthys]

kim- everyone does have different symptoms and you only need to have a few of them to be dx'ed with it. it sounds as if you might be a candidate. can you see an endo? that would be my reccommendation. they know more about the hormones and current treatments than some of the other md's.

[kimothy78]

from the suggestions that everyone has given me, I'm thinking about going to Cedar Sinai and checking out the doctors there. Do you know of any good endo? or would the people at Cedar Sinai be able to refer me?

[MandaLee]

Your Welcome Kimothy. I believe the two doctors I mentioned above at Cedars are both endos but if you want a closer one to where you live the probably could reccomend you to one.

[HairyFatNpissed]

Hi,
I want a good doc familiar with pcos.
Looking into Insulite and other forms of alternative medicine.
I am hoping to find a doc that is not perscription happy.
Just someone to Diagnose me and well do doctor dutites. LOL

Thanks in advance for any tips.
I live near Los Angeles, but honestly I will drive anywhere even 10 hours away.

[mchambers]

Thank you to everyone that has posted here. I have found this info very valuable. I am going to contact Cedars to see if they can help me because I'm only 2o years old and already suffer from PCOS.

thank you!!

[AvarraClover]

Hello, I need to get checked out by a doctor who knows what they are doing and who are open minded. I think I might have PCOS.. I have dark bristly under my chin, I have a very hard time losing weight and I'm very sensitive to blood sugar fluctuations. I need to get checked out by a doctor who will really consider the possibility and help me. Do you know of any doctors in the Central Coast of California or in Southern California?

I have a good Dr here in San Diego.... PM me if you want info.

[kimothy78]

Hi Everyone... here's an update.. I've been to Cedars Sinai and Dr. Marita Pall has started testing me for their research study. After doing an internal sonogram and look at the hair under my chin, she says I definately have at least a mild form of PCOS.. they have taken a blood sample to see if I will qualify... I had been on birth control for about 8 months straight which is unusal for me so I think it's taking a while for it to clear out of my system... my periods are still fairly regular which is unusual for me... but I think I'm insulin resistant and I'm thinking about asking to be given glucophage or something to help with that... it really affects my moods and how I feel when I eat things with a high glycemic index... and it affects my periods as well... does anyone have symptoms like this and has anyone tried medication to deal with it? I've battled with my weight all my life.. been on just about every diet known to man... and have always been physically active... anyone out there with a similar experience?

[Lizzy_Ehrmann]

Does anyone know of a good PCOS doctor along the central coast (Monterey/Salinas). My health insurance cards are finally supposed to come in the mail within the next few days and I am really excited about finally getting my PCOS under control. Any and all recommendations anyone has would be greatly appreciated.

Oh yeah, and if I desperately need to I would be willing to go all the way up to San Jose.

Thanks ladies!