Undiagnosed and Unsure

Charlie · 11-30-2005, 04:00 PM

Hiya all,

First things first, I’d like to say a thank you to all the people on this site who have made it the resource it is, I have spent the past day reading through a lot of topics and seen some wonderful support being offered and accepted aswell as some very sad stories which have only made me more determined to get to the bottom of what is going on with me!

Ok so, I’m Charlotte and I’m now 20, my story essentially starts at nearly 11 when my periods began, for the first 12 months they were sparse and irregular as was to be expected. From the age of 12 onwards I had reasonably regular and predictable cycles which were nothing to write home about and caused me no trouble really, they were quite heavy but that’s all.

About 6 months prior to my 16^th birthday, my period didn’t show up one month, so I worried and thought it was very strange and finally after a 3 month gap it showed up with a vengeance! I was in a lot of pain with really severe cramps, clotting and continual heavy bleeding for three weeks!!! Until finally I went to my doctor who prescribed me meds to stop my period, she insisted it was all just my age and nothing to worry about (when in my eyes having had regular periods for 3.5 years already was more relevant than my age alone).

Unfortunately this occurred twice more, a gap of 3-4 months and then a non-stop bleed which was only ended with medication. I never had spotting or pelvic pain outside of my period. But anyway, my doctor then decided to do something about it, she still insisted that it was merely my age and it was nothing to worry about, but she sent me for a blood test for anaemia (Which of course I had but then I had been bleeding for 3 weeks!!!) She was not interested in finding any possible cause, more just pointing out the obvious results of the problem and dismissing it all as just my age. She then put me onto the combined Estrogen/Progestrogen pill (Microgynon30) in order to control the irregularity and make my periods when they did arrive much lighter and less painful.

**** caution this bit is a bit gory and horrid ****
When my first period on the pill arrived things went horribly wrong. I was in just as much pain as I had been previously and was bleeding terribly, on the second day of my period I spent about 14 hours in agony as I had increasing abdominal cramps and waves of pain. In the middle of the night while knelt on my hands and knees in the bathroom for the pain I passed what I can only describe as a grey, flaccid, flattish, about half the size of your palm, lump of flesh. Of course, I was petrified and incredibly traumatized by this, so dashed back to my doctor to ask what the hell had happened to me. She looked at me as if I was a complete fool and told me that I must have had a miscarriage. I looked at her like she was a complete fool and told her that I had never had sex or any kind of activity which could have “accidentally” caused that.

Since then I have continued to take the pill for ~five years, certain that there is something still wrong but it is merely concealed, I’ve lived in fear of ever coming off the pill incase my problem comes back. While I’ve been on the pill I have had relatively uneventful periods with no real problems to speak of.

I began to feel depressed at the age of 18, when my parents planned to separate and I stayed at home and commuted to university where I made no friends, many other things happened in the ensuing months and I only got worse. I often feel complete despair and lack the motivation to leave my room or deal with anything. In January of this year I finally sought the advice of an alternative doctor at my surgery, who was appalled that my doctor had failed to see what was happening to me and offer any support, he offered me medication which I refused and he was fine with my choice, I did request that he place me on waiting lists for CBT counselling (which I’ve now had 3 sessions of and it is fantastic!) Unfortunately that doctor then left the surgery to go to a fulltime position (he was young and not hardened to peoples troubles yet!) So I returned to my own doctor in May of this year for my annual pill checkup.

Well! What an event this was… My own doctor was dismissive even contemptuous of my problems and supposed depression. She immediately offered a prescription of Prozac which I again refused for personal reasons, and virtually said that if I didn’t accept the medication I shouldn’t bother telling her about my depression anymore because she’d done all she could do and I was refusing help!!! She then went on to weigh me and take my blood pressure. My blood pressure was perfect much to her disappointment. My weight however gives me a BMI of 30.1, I had never considered myself fat or unhealthy, I had a very positive self image and had never been one to say “does my bum look big in this!” The things she said to me following that announcement crushed my self esteem badly, She basically made out that I was in massive danger and I was going to have a heart attack in like three seconds and all my problems were because I was fat. As usual for doctors, she said that all and every problem I have would be fixed if I wasn’t such a whale. (I’m 5’9” and a 42” 32” 42” figure, I don’t think I am fat, I think my build and frame carry what weight I do have) But after that point I developed a real problem with eating and guilt, I have altered my diet entirely and exercise plenty, and if anything I have continued to put on weight.

So here I am at 20, suspicious of a hidden problem with my health, rather overweight, spotty and greasy skinned (on my face, back, shoulders and chest

) relatively hairy (although I’m lucky as it’s all very fair!) depressed, suffering from recurring yeast infections. I just want to find out what is really going on with me.

What leads me to believe my problems are more likely to be androgen based than anything else? My mother although she has 5 children has always shown some classic symptoms too, she’s of a lighter build than me, but has suffered from bipolar and depression for 20 years (part of my reason for not being interested in numbing medications when they have done nothing to ease her) she certainly has hirsuitism (sorry mum!) greasy skin and acne (she is 45 now) I’m no doctor, I have no idea what she really has, but it seems likely to me that she and I have some form of hormonal disorder… More to the point, I will never know unless I push to find out!

So I have begun tracking down some WellWoman clinics in my area, I intend to seek the help of specialist people who are impartial and helpful and maybe just maybe I’ll find out what’s hiding in me

Sorry to have rambled on!
I just know I will find the support and advice I may need on this site
Charlie***

PrincessJay · 11-30-2005, 04:36 PM

Wow! What a story! *hugz* I know how you are feeling, I'm 21 and my story started almost like yours I was about 16 when I got my first AF and they were NEVER EVER right 3-4 month gaps then 6-9 month gaps, weight gain,really bad pains and acne then a year went by. My DR put me on BC pills but that didn't help I still didn't have AF's like I should but she said not to worry! I picked a local college but 100bls later, with really bad acne, no self-esteem, or energy to care to meet people anymore, I sank into depression my DR FINALLY ran some more tests and told me this month that I have PCOS. But she isn't being very helpful at all, she wants to put me BACK on BC pills and "I have no worries" from what she said so I let it go thinking this wasn't that bad and it'll all change. I was told by a girl at work who just had been through TTC issues while having PCOS and she opened my eyes to this site and how important it really is to keep in under control. I called today to switch to a OBGYN and I went out to walgreens and got the BYE BYE BLEMISH teartment that was talked about in the acne part. It's help so far and it's only been two days! I feel better already knowing there are people on here and that I'm not alone! My parents split up 3 months ago and I moved in with my boyfriend, my mom doesn't speak to me because of it though and I have no other females in my life to talk with, this has been a real eye opener for me. So i wish you GOOD LUCK and you're not alone! if you need anything let me know (even though I'm new to this too and am just learning for myself) *hugz*
~jamie~

*Shellie_Star* · 11-30-2005, 05:57 PM

Welcome to Soul Cysters.

I noticed you're from the UK too and I just wanted to share your frustration at your doctors being so unhelpful and dismissive of your problems and worries. It's an awful way to be treated and sadly I know it all too well

Our American Cysters seem to get much more support from various specialists and doctors but we have to fight so hard for ours unless your lucky enough to have a very good doctor. Through my experience, if you go to your doctor with 'womens problems' you pretty much get made to feel stupid, like it's unimportant and they have much more important things to be doing

My periods started when I was nearly 16 but were never "regular", I would have a couple and then go 6 months or more without one. I went to the doctors on/off for this problem since I was about 18 until I was 23. They always said I would 'grow into it and get a regular cycle when I get older'. Well, that is he biggest load of bollox I had ever heard quite frankly a woman of 18 should be ovulating every month and if you're not then there is a problem. I kept going back, it made no difference. They told me I was too fat and I saw the practise nurse who assumed I over-eat and eat junk and take no exercise. This couldn't be further from the truth but they didn't believe me, I was going to the gym a few times a week and on an even healthier eating plan and was still putting on weight. I put on alot of weight very quickly, about 3 stone within a short space of time and developed really bad acne, by the time I was 21, my face looked like it belonged to a 14 year old (still does lol)

The only thing the doctor would do after all this was put me onto BCP, she said it was the only option. I wasn't keen as I had read about it 'masking symptoms' but I was desperate by this time. So, I was put on Dianette to help with my AF cycles and to help with the acne. After a few months I was taken off it due to it causing severe depression and violent mood swings.

This was when I finally got the help I needed and am furious I was never given the option before. I was referred to a PCOS specialist at the hospital where they did many scans, blood tests, put me on a low carb diet and prescribed Metformin as I was also diagnosed at the hospital as being 'Pre-Diabetic' and an at risk cholestrol level. If my doctor had left me on BCP without researching all my symtoms, I would never have known I was pre-diabetic or any of the other associated risks. Now I have lost weight, my AF is very regular. I still get acne but I try to treat that naturally.

Every women with these problems should have the right to be treated and helped with respect not made to feel like you're wasting doctors time. Also to mention, I changed doctors so many times until I found this one who would even listen to me without rolling their eyes. I found the best way, is to do lots of research yourself and know what you're talking about, don't be scared to make suggestions to the doctor to see what they think, they might look into it for you. If it sounds like you know your stuff then they're less likely to fobb you off.

Sorry this is so long, good luck and let us know how it goes. x

CathyWood · 11-30-2005, 10:52 PM

Hi Welcome to SC. Glad you found us. I hope we will be able to chat someday.