Unable to take BCPs

Yikes · 03-01-2008, 08:40 AM

I haven't had my endo appointment yet (it's next Wednesday) and I'll definintely be asking her about it, but in the meantime I thought I'd ask here.

I've been on three different prescriptions of BCPs in the past (Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Low-Estra and some other kind, can't remember the name); each one gave me wicked migraines, shortness of breath and really bad chest pains - all symptoms stopped when I went off the BCPs. At this point, I'm pretty much unwilling to try and go back on BCPs to help with my PCOS, especially when I found out that my cousin landed herself in the hospital with a blood clot in her lung which was attributed to her BCPs.

I've been reading the threads here, it seems like pretty much everyone is on some kind of BCP to help regulate their hormones. Are there any other options besides the BCPs? Does anyone else have this problem with the BCPs?
Just trying to gather as much information as possible before I go in to discuss this with the Dr.

KatCarney · 03-01-2008, 09:02 AM

Your choice of medication will not be determined simply by a diagnosis of PCOS.

The choice should be guided by your current symptoms, and your short and long term health goals.

There are plenty of cysts who don't take bcp's...some for the reasons you've listed, and others...

Fortunately, you're in the Philly area and near some of the top docs in PCOS research and treatment...

Also take a look around the boards (especially Diet & Exercise and Alternative Remedies) for treatment ideas you may want to consider.

Eva37 · 03-01-2008, 09:59 AM

i cant take bcp either. It makes my bp /weight go wayyyy up. I have the meds in my siggie

eva

scapoodle · 03-01-2008, 10:30 AM

I can't take bcp's because it also attributed to me having a clot a few years ago. After the clot, I changed my eating habits and began exercising and until this day I have a cycle every month. Even though I'm a thick cyster with beautiful curves, I know it's because of my lifestyle that I'm regular.

Yikes · 03-05-2008, 03:06 PM

So far, I'm am 100% unimpressed with my endo. I wrote out a whole bunch of information before my appointment (symptoms, etc), to be sure that I had all my ducks in a row before I went in there.

She seemed entirely uninterested in what I had written or what I had to say about it. Seemed to brush off my concern over my hair falling out. Last month I went to my PCP to have all of the major tests done (the bloodwork, glucose tolerance test, pelvic ultrasound). She glanced through the paperwork and said that I didn't appear to be insulin resistant, but that my testosterone was very high (171).

I showed her the sheet I had with all of the different medications and supplements that I had researched. She immediately began drawing lines through 90% of the stuff I had written (thanks a lot, lady, for now making all of my notes unreadable), and basically said the best treatment was BCPs.
I told her about my history of problems with BCPs, how I tried at least 3 different brands and how my chest pains/migraines got worse, and that I was not comfortable taking any more. Also mentioned how my cousin was recently hospitalized with a blood clot in her lung due to her BCPs.

She seemed to become pretty pissy when I refused the BCPs. Told me that she'd give me a prescription for Metformin. I found that a little odd, since she had already told me that I didn't appear to be insulin resistant, but she said that I may be slightly, and that it should help lower my testosterone (what??). Then she told me that the only real way to get my hormones under control would be BCPs, but "we're unwilling to try that at this point in time".

She also gave me a script for 50mg Spiro, to be taken twice a day. This was for the facial hair growth. I asked her if it would help with my hair loss (sadly, the hair loss is my MAIN concern right now). She said it might, but if I was that worried about it, I could use Rogaine. I paused, then said "Isn't it true that any hair growth that I get from using Rogaine will fall out again if I stop using it?" She said yes, but that I could use it twice a week and be ok.
I'm 27 years old. I do not want to have to use Rogaine twice a week for the rest of my friggen life, lady.

So basically, I left her office feeling FAR less confident that I did when I walked in. If it weren't for this site and a few others, I'd have virtually no knowledge about what PCOS is, since she really didn't do a good job explaining it. And it REALLY upsets me that she pretty much tried to force BCPs on me, even after I told her the problems that they gave me.
I waited almost 3 months for this appointment, and now I feel like I need to try and find a new endo, which could take another 3 or 4 months.

What a total waste of time. This is the kind of crap that drives people to drink.

KatCarney · 03-05-2008, 03:09 PM

Since you're in philly, you have access to the some of the best pcos care in the country. Many of the philly cysters are VERY happy with their docs... (check the philly threads in FIND A DOCTOR)

Yikes · 03-05-2008, 03:25 PM

I checked the threads, was very excited to try and get an appointment with Dr. Minassian, since he's highly recommended, but then read that he moved his office to Reading.

I'll have to keep shopping around.

KatCarney · 03-05-2008, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yikes

I checked the threads, was very excited to try and get an appointment with Dr. Minassian, since he's highly recommended, but then read that he moved his office to Reading.

I'll have to keep shopping around.

What about Dr Katherine Sheriff? (sp)

Paola · 03-05-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yikes

So basically, I left her office feeling FAR less confident that I did when I walked in. If it weren't for this site and a few others, I'd have virtually no knowledge about what PCOS is, since she really didn't do a good job explaining it. And it REALLY upsets me that she pretty much tried to force BCPs on me, even after I told her the problems that they gave me.
I waited almost 3 months for this appointment, and now I feel like I need to try and find a new endo, which could take another 3 or 4 months.

What a total waste of time. This is the kind of crap that drives people to drink.

Man do I understand you. My most recent visit with my gynocologist I explained to her that I had a cat scan done at the hospital and they said I do have a cyst almost the size of a golfball on my left ovary and I wanted to get it checked further to make sure it's benign and she said, "Oh yes, I'm sure it's fine, just a cyst."
Then she told me that I HAVE TO TAKE BCP.......I looked at her and said, excuse me ? I don't have to take anything actually.

She seemed all pissed off and then said she would call if the other bloodwork and pap revealed anything........haven't heard from her since.

My doctor is a doorknob, so I am actively searching for someone else, or deciding whether I should march back into my doctor's office and demand that he send me to an endo, to another gynocologist, to more specialists.......but he just DOES NOT LISTEN TO ME, so what's the point !?!

I could use a few.......hundred......drinks right now !

Yikes · 03-06-2008, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KatCarney

What about Dr Katherine Sheriff? (sp)

I made an appointment with her on the 27th of June. It's a little longer to wait than I was hoping, but my follow up appointment with The Evil Endo of Doom wasn't until June anyway, so I figure I'll just take these meds that were given to me in the meantime. Yay!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paola

My doctor is a doorknob

That made me lol.
What's wrong with these doctors? What the heck makes them think that it's ok to just ignore what we have to say?
Boooo.

Anyway, thanks for the advice, everyone. This site rocks.

scapoodle · 03-06-2008, 01:40 PM

That would really piss me off too. I can't stand a doctor that doesn't listen. If they tell you that you have to take bcp, get it in writing and have them sign it. God forbid something happen, sue their ass!

Remember they are medical doctors. It is hard to find a medical doctor that is going to support natural cures. They of course are going to send you to the pharmacy. In you twos case, your doctors were a**holes.

Buckwheat · 03-06-2008, 02:40 PM

Sorry for your grief!
Have your read Dr. Redmonds books "it's your hormones." and Good news about Womens Hormones?
The metformin/ spiro and hair regrowth is all explained in there.
Estrogen is vital for feeding the hair- there is bio identical estrogens out there.
Sorry your Dr. did not explain any of these connections!

Please get the above mentioned books- then you can go in and "tell" your Dr.'s what to prescribe! Ha!
That's what I do!
Although lately I seem to have found a good Dr. in Silverton Oregon. He seems to get it!!!!

I am very frightened by certain meds so I can totally appreciate your nervousness about bcps since your body doesn't seem to get along with them.
There are alternatives, but you will have to self educate a bit.
Dr. Vliets book on pcos choices of treatment has been awesome too.

Amazon.com to the rescue!!!

Yikes · 04-08-2008, 10:13 AM

Just a small update - I found another doctor who would be able to see me sooner than Dr. Sheriff. (I didn't want to wait till June

)

My new doctor's name is Dr. Kelly, she is BEYOND awesome. Very sympathetic, listened carefully to everything I had to say, asked a lot of questions about my issues and thoroughly discussed the options available to me and made sure I understood everything.

She definitely didn't want me on the BCPs when I told her about the previous problems that I had with them. She also looked at my test results and said that I was definitely insulin resistant, which is the driving force behind all of these issues. Starting next week, my Metformin dose is going to be increased (much to the displeasure of my GI tract). She's also sending me to a dietitian who specializes in diets for PCOS people.

I highly recommend her to anyone in the Philly area, she's wonderful.