Waiting to be diagnosed...

Artistic_Froggy · 08-12-2006, 10:33 AM

Hello, Everyone,

I am still waiting to be diagnosed with PCOS. I have had irregular periods, since I was 19 yrs. old, or so. My PCOS-like symptoms have only gotten worse, and more numerous, over the years. The last time I was tested for PCOS, was in 2003. I had the vaginal ultrasound, and bloodwork done. They said I had polycystic ovaries, but not PCOS. ? Well, the symptoms are getting worse, so I am going back to my family doctor (Family Practice), on August 23rd., to ask her to refer me to an endocrinologist, or a reproductive endocrinologist, to be tested for PCOS, again.

My symptoms include: Hirsutism (face & body), hair loss on my scalp, weight gain, especially around my mid-section, difficulty losing weight, irregular periods, no period for a month or a few months, then a prolonged, very, very heavy period, painful periods, some acne, oily skin, high cholesterol, occassional migraines, occassional pain in abdomen, polycystic ovaries...

I also have hypothyroidism, but I am on a good dose of Synthroid. So, I shouldn't be having as much trouble losing weight, because of that. I was diagnosed with inappropriate sinus tachycardia, last year, which means that my heart beats too fast, for no apparant reason. I am on a good dose of Atenolol, for that. I'm not sure if either of these two things can go along with PCOS, or not, but I'm guessing they might?

I am getting very frustrated with my symptoms, and not having an answer for them! I think I would feel so much better, if I just had a reason as to why I have these symptoms, in the first place! It also worries me, about the link between PCOS and diabetes! My mother was, at last word, borderline-diabetic. My girlfriend was just diagnosed diabetic, a few months ago. I really don't want to be diagnosed diabetic, either, if I can help it! So, if I have PCOS, and if there is some medication out there, that could prevent me from developing diabetes, I'd like to be diagnosed, and put on the correct medication, instead of letting things go on like this, any further. I am very frustrated with my kind, but PCOS-ignorant family doctor. I love her, she has been my doctor since I was 17 yrs. old, but she often asks me, what I think is wrong with me! I tell her "You're the doctor! You tell me!".

So, please, if you don't mind, would you all please pray for me, that I get the correct diagnosis, and the correct medication and treatment, whatever the case may be? I just want to know what is going on, period! Please, please pray that I am referred to and seen by the appropriate, knowledgeable doctors, and that I am given the tests that I need, and that I am diagnosed with a correct diagnosis, and then given the appropriate treatment. Thank you so very much, for all your prayers and support!

It's hard to watch my symptoms increase, without a reason why!

Thanks, again, for your support!

MiracleMom · 08-12-2006, 03:06 PM

WELCOME!
My prayers are with you!

R0xyg4l · 08-12-2006, 05:24 PM

I think the increased heart rate may be related to high cholesterol. I too am ALWAYS above 100 for my pulse and the average is 60-100. I would be interested in knowing if there are a lot of cysters with a high pulse. Good luck getting your dx, I will keep my fingers crossed for you!

one-hit_wonder · 08-12-2006, 06:41 PM

Welcome here! I definitely prayed for you.

MommyJenny74 · 08-14-2006, 10:37 PM

Welcome to SC!

I don't have a high heart rate but my friend who has PCOS definitely does.

I feel for you, knowing what is probably wrong and needing a PCOS-friendly dr. to help you. I would bet that metformin will help you, but until then you might want to consider a good reduced-carb diet? I've had good success with keeping blood sugars normal that way. Just a suggestion..

Best wishes and you will be in our prayers
Pm me or email me if you need to talk!
Jenny

Artistic_Froggy · 08-15-2006, 05:55 AM

Thank you very much, to everyone who welcomed me here, sent well wishes & to those who are praying for me!

That means so much to me! I will take all the prayers & well wishes, I can get!

They are all very much appreciated!

I will keep you all posted...

Hugs...

Peggotty · 08-15-2006, 06:54 PM

Please do keep us posted. I'm a newbie also and am finding lots of support here. Part of my struggle also is finding a PCOS friendly doctor who will know the best way to treat me. I went to a gyno (for the first time in my life) thinking they would know more, but it turns out she doesn't know much.

MommyJenny74 · 08-15-2006, 10:36 PM

Hugs to both of you newbies!

I hope you both find a good doctor soon.

And of course all us cysters will be here for you too.

Best wishes
Jenny

Peggotty · 08-17-2006, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MommyJenny74

Hugs to both of you newbies!

I hope you both find a good doctor soon.

And of course all us cysters will be here for you too.

Best wishes
Jenny

Thanks.

MommyJenny74 · 08-20-2006, 06:50 AM

How are things going in the "doctor hunt"?

Hope you are both doing OK.

Hugs
Jenny

Peggotty · 08-21-2006, 07:52 PM

At least for me, I'm still a-hunting. I have a gyno who thinks the only thing I need for treatment right now is BCPs. So I'm still looking for a gyno with at least more PCOS knowledge or an endo with PCOS/hirtuism knowledge. Thanks.

Mandimarie · 08-21-2006, 09:14 PM

Hello! I am new here too, and understand how you feel. I have been fighting all the same symptoms for years, and kept hearing "well, it couldn't be PCOS, your blood tests don't show it" or "just lose some weight, you'll feel better" from various doctors. I was ready to scream! Finally, I fould a good OB/GYN who understands, and knows what he's talking about. I am just starting on a real plan to handle this, and have a LOT of weight to lose, but at least I know what's going on and for the first time feel like there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. Hang in there...it's gotta get better!

thinking of all of you...Mandimarie

Artistic_Froggy · 08-25-2006, 10:19 AM

Hello, Friends,

I was diagnosed with PCOS a couple days ago, by my family doctor. I was diagnosed on 8/23/06. I also found out that my cholesterol is very, very high! My triglycerides are the worst! I found out that I am anemic, again, also. My TSH (thyroid hormone) is off, again, too, so she increased my level of Synthroid, again.

So, my doctor said that I need to come back in 6 weeks, to have my TSH re-checked, see how the anemia & high cholesterol are doing, and to check my sugar level. Once my thyroid is at a good level, on the current dose of Synthroid (hopefully), my anemia gets a little bit better, and so on, she will then refer me to see an endocrinologist. So, I was diagnosed, but I still have to wait to see the endocrinologist, to see what they say, and/or what they will do. So, I'm still waiting...

She didn't prescribe any cholesterol medicine, or anything for the PCOS. She just wants to wait to see how it goes with the cholesterol. Well, my triglycerides are 430! It has never been that high before! That scares me, since she said that if the triglycerides get to 500, I could have a heart attack, stroke, or develop pancreatitis! I don't want those! It worries me that she didn't prescribe any medication for that, since she told me that!

I don't hardly eat that much at all, but I can't seem to lose weight, and my cholesterol is high. The TSH explains the thyroid stuff. But, I don't eat junk, I eat pretty decently! So, either I have crappy genes, related to cholesterol, which I do, since my mother and grandmother have high cholesterol, or it's high for some other reason, too.

I let all the unsightly extra body hair (hirsutism) grow out, except for the hair on my face, I just had to shave that, and I showed my doctor how much worse my hairiness had become. That was embarrassing! I told her my symptoms again, and that they were getting worse. So, she listened to me, looked at the hirsutism, and said "Yeah, PCOS.", like 3 times. I still had to ask her like 3 times, just to be sure I heard her correctly, just to make sure she was really saying I had PCOS. Yep, she said I have it. I am in shock!

I am in shock, because I have had these symptoms for years, and she would never agree to diagnose me, before. I had symptoms since I was a teen. I'm 35 now! I'm also in shock, just trying to accept that I have it. Kinda like it doesn't seem real. I mean I know I heard her. I guess part of me just expected her to say I didn't have it, since that is what she had been saying for years. It's just so overwhelming, being diagnosed and like now I have a lot of reading and learning to do about PCOS! Plus, I really, really want children someday, when I go back to school, get a better job, and can afford to have them, hoping to God that I won't be too old by then, to have them, and now having PCOS will probably make it difficult for me to have children. That is hard, too. I'm very overwhelmed about all this.

Knowing the increased risk for women with PCOS, to develop diabetes, worries me. Knowing that my thyroid is off again, my cholesterol is very high, and I'm anemic again, also worry me.

So, I will keep you all posted about this! Now, I just have to wait to be referred to an endocrinologist, and hope that the other stuff improves soon!

Thank you all, for your support, hugs, kind words, and prayers! They are all very much appreciated, and welcomed any time!

God bless you all!

Take Care,

Artistic_Froggy

MommyJenny74 · 08-26-2006, 06:15 AM

Hi froggy,
Just wanted you to know I'm still thinking about you and will say prayers for you. I know you're overwhelmed right now, and you will probably mourn for a little while after your diagnosis (I certainly did!) But know that we are all here for you! That can make such a big difference!

How frustrating that you've had these symptoms for years and they are just now diagnosing it. Many doctors need to be much better educated about PCOS.

I hope that you will be able to get some help from the endo. Personally, met really helped me. I have not taken any cholesterol meds so I have no experience there, but I'm really surprised they didn't give you something for that. If I remember correctly my dr. told me once that women who are planning to ttc, shouldn't use cholesterol meds. (But then again, it may have been another type of med he was talking about, I have PCOS brain fog so I don't always remember very well!)

Feel better soon,
Hugs
Jenny