It's not PCOS! What is it?!

[kel0329]

So, the doctor's office called me today and said my cholesterol is a little high and my sugar levels are normal so she's leaning more towards "no" with PCOS. So, I am going to the Doctor tomorrow to talk things over with her to see what my next step is going to be. I really want to lose weight and am not sure how. I will tell you all my symptoms and if you have any advice please let me know! Thanks!

1.) Very few periods since I was 16. I am 22 now.
2.) Overweight. Have been overweight all my life but in the past year or so it's been really tough too lose weight. I lose it slow and I gain easily it seems.
3.) I have excess hair on my abdomen and a little under my chin. (I think this is the worst part! I hate it!)
4.) Have had unprotected sex with the same person for a LONG time and no signs of pregnancy. (I don't have any kids.)

I can't think of much more. Those are the main things. I would just really like to know what is wrong with me. If I lose weight could my periods become normal? I am 5'6 and 265 lbs. Grr..Help!

Thanks,
-Kel

[Stacie M]

What hormones did they test? Have you had an ultrasound?

You can have normal tests and still have PCOS. The important part is, they need to figure out WHY you have these problems, whether it is PCOS or something else. PCOS is probably one of the most common reasons for irregular periods with weight issues and excess hair. They need to test your LH and FSH, as well as your testosterone, and progesterone.

Are you seeing a GYN or an endo?

[kel0329]

I have only been to my doctor's office and seen the doctor's PA.

No OBGYN. They just took blood and said they are checking for pcos, sugar and cholesterol. She didn't get specific. I just want to know! I didn't question her. I am going back tomorrow and will go from there.

[Stacie M]

If they do think it's PCOS, I would ask for a referral to an endocrinologist or reproductive endocrinologist. They are specialists for hormones. After all, if you had heart problems you would see a cardiologist, etc.

Either way, it might be best to see a specialist so that hopefully you won't develop worsening symptoms down the road! GOOD LUCK tomorrow!

[hoping4miracles]

Cannot diagnose PCOS from a blood test. It is a syndrome which means there a many facets of PCOS. You would need a transverse ultrasound of your ovaries and that will give you proof positive. When I was 22 I had the same symptoms as you, by 30 the problems were 10-fold. Just because you are not "textbook" doesn't mean you do not have it.

I say see what the Doc says and follow-up with an endocrinologist and an Gyn, and for your sake, I hope you don't have it.

[Stacie M]

Cannot diagnose PCOS from a blood test. It is a syndrome which means there a many facets of PCOS. You would need a transverse ultrasound of your ovaries and that will give you proof positive.

Not really... you do NOT need cysts to have PCOS. So an ultrasound showing no cysts cannot confirm or deny a diagnosis (and you can have cysts without having PCOS).

[kel0329]

Well, I have noticed whenever I do start dieting even though it takes forever to lose weight I always have a period. I stop dieting and I stop having a period. I don't know what that means but I do have a doc's appt today and will update you all on how it goes.

[RunnerDuck]

Not really... you do NOT need cysts to have PCOS. So an ultrasound showing no cysts cannot confirm or deny a diagnosis (and you can have cysts without having PCOS).

This is true. You can have cysts and not have PCOS. You can also have PCOS and not have cysts.

I think now they want you to have 2 of 3 signs to have PCOS - a positive hormonal panel, signs of it that you can see such as hair or lack of periods, or cystic ovaries. You would need to know more about what blood work was run to know if you do or don't have it. Blood sugar doesn't tell you anything - most women with PCOS have normal blood sugar. But INSULIN may be way too high.

The other hormones they should check include testosterone, LH, and FSH. LH and FSH should be about the same on day 3 of your cycle but with PCOS LH tends to be two or three (or more) times higher than FSH.

The fact that dieting restores periods in you points to PCOS, IMO. It also points to your having the ability to do something about this even if the doctors give you the run around.


I agree with getting an endocrinologist in the picture - regular if you are not TTC, reproductive endo if you are. There are REs who will treat you if you aren't TTC but I find they make me feel kind of marginalized when I am not TTC... like yeah, we'll help you, but you're really not all that interesting to us...

[BekTens]

Woah, I definitely agree with the PP's - normal blood sugar does not rule out PCOS whatsoever. PCOS itself has very little to do with blood sugar. Insulin Resistance can cause PCOS, but not everyone with PCOS has IR. Even so, a simple glucose level won't tell you anything - it's the fasting glucose to insulin ratio, and c-peptide levels that can indicate insulin resistance.

PCOS is a very complex syndrome and IMHO, should really be handled by a specialist. I agree with the others' suggestions to see an endocrinologist. They're much better qualified to handle this.

Good luck!

[janthony]

All of my lab work came back fine. My hormone levels, cholestorol, sugar and everything else was completely normal. My ultrasound shows other. I would request an ultrasound to see for sure. They can diagnose pcos with other symptoms such as overweight, excess hair, abornal periods, and an ultrasound. It all is not by blood work.

[PryncessBecky]

Just wanted to post real quick.

It seems a lot of the PP's are really harsh about testing the blood sugar. While I agree, this does not confirm one way or the other about PCOS, I don't think we should sound like we're coming down so hard on the docs testing for it.
Since most PCOS'ers are overweight with other problems anyways, it's ALWAYS a good idea to at least rule out an issue with the blood sugar. And if you're anything like me...you VERY much dislike having your blood taken. Anytime I DO have to do it, I tell the docs to test for everything under the sun. As long as they're taking my blood and I'm having to get stuck...might as well make sure everything else is good too! lol

I'm sure you didn't mean to make it sound like an attack...and I don't mean for my post to sound like one either.

Just wanted to throw my two cents in about it b/c I was worried some new posters might get the wrong idea and think their docs were totally off-base for ordering the tests.

[RunnerDuck]

I don't think anyone has a problem with the sugar being tested - just the conclusion drawn from it. Any time a new docs orders blood work they are going to order a basic chem panel just to see if you're in good health generally. Nothing wrong with that, especially since, as you say, you're already getting stuck. But checking the glucose will tell you about hypoglycemia or diabetes - that's what the doctor should look at for that test. Not assume there is no PCOS because the blood sugar is normal.

If a women presented with PCOS it would be a good idea to check blood sugar to make sure she hasn't developed diabetes - but it shouldn't be used to rule out PCOS.

[kel0329]

Well, I went back to the doc yesterday cause she said she was leaning more towards no with PCOS. I asked what her I do from here and she gave me diet pills and said if I lose 10-15 lbs within the next month then we're going down the right track. If I haven't lost that much then we will look more into it. She also scheduled a vaginal ultrasound for me which I will get in a month or so. All of my levels of everything are normal except for a couple that are a couple points too high in her opinion but nothing that diet and exercise can't fix. Per doc..

So, I'm just going to wait it out and see how these pills work. I already eat healthy and work out. So, I will keep everyone posted and go from there! Thanks for all your help. If you have any questions I will answer them if I can. I am not very "smart" with the abbr. of words etc. LOL

[Stacie M]

Well, I went back to the doc yesterday cause she said she was leaning more towards no with PCOS. I asked what her I do from here and she gave me diet pills and said if I lose 10-15 lbs within the next month then we're going down the right track. If I haven't lost that much then we will look more into it. She also scheduled a vaginal ultrasound for me which I will get in a month or so. All of my levels of everything are normal except for a couple that are a couple points too high in her opinion but nothing that diet and exercise can't fix. Per doc..

So, I'm just going to wait it out and see how these pills work. I already eat healthy and work out. So, I will keep everyone posted and go from there! Thanks for all your help. If you have any questions I will answer them if I can. I am not very "smart" with the abbr. of words etc. LOL

I would recommend a new doctor. Honestly, giving a young woman with a good diet and exercise plan diet pills is IMHO, a very bad idea. Also, which tests were out of the normal range. What was the ratio of LH:FSH?

[Angela S]

I would recommend a new doctor. Honestly, giving a young woman with a good diet and exercise plan diet pills is IMHO, a very bad idea. Also, which tests were out of the normal range. What was the ratio of LH:FSH?

I agree! It seems like your doctor took the easy way out and send you packing with diet pills. I would get a second opinion if I were you.