Women issues - men might not want to read this, but if they do, they're welcome to

[persephone]

I would try not to stress yourself out about the appointment too much. My guess is that the doctor is just taking precautions and being sure it's not anything really really serious. From what you said, he sounds like the kind of doctor that would rather fit you in and get you an appointment early and confirm that it's nothing than wait to your annual and find out it's nothing. I'm sure if he thought it was something really really bad, he would have found space for you same day.

I'll be thinking about you and sending you good vibes. Keep us posted and I hope you feel better.

[Seshat]

Another way to tell if it's PCOS.

If you go on a diabetic-type diet, and increase your amount of exercise, and your condition improves (over three or six months, not overnight): then you have an insulin disorder.

And PCOS is an endocrine disorder involving insulin. And (slightly) less risky than diabetes. So at that point you hope it's PCOS, not diabetes.


On the plus side, though, you'll have proof that improving your condition is within your control!


Seriously, there are two ways to manage PCOS. By manipulating the insulin system (metformin, diet-and-exercise) and by manipulating the repro hormones (the pill, HRT).

Do whichever works for you: but the diet-and-exercise is the most generally helpful method of all of those, and has the fewest side effects. If you can get good results with that, go for it.

.... so sayeth the woman with both fibromyalgia and PCOS.
I can manage five minutes of intentional exercise a day without aggravating the fibro. BUT even five minutes of gentle exercise a day improves things. It doesn't have to be much to help!

[TTAZ]

Bring it up. It might not occur to him, and if he's not very knowledgeable about the condition, he would know to look it up, or he might be able to recommend someone who is knowledgeable about PCOS.

Like I said before, the first time I EVER heard of PCOS was when my doctor at the time knew about it only because she was tested for it. Prior to her problems, she had never heard of it either.

Good luck, keep us posted.

[AdminAssistant]

Depends on how much you trust your ob/gyn - but he's a doctor, we aren't. I wager he would have a better idea of what's going on with you than we would. You can always ask, "could it be x?"

[Sliceanddice]

I'd need to lose a lot of weight before I got pregnant again. I'm 272 - a plus-sized woman and then some.

Well, I'll keep everything in mind. My mom doesn't think I should bring up either the endometriosis or the PCOS, just listen to him, but I don't think that's right. What do y'all think about that?

you should mention your problems, listen to him then ask if it could be either of them and take the tests even if he doesnt think it is, just say you want to cover your bases, and you should always mention your worries.

i read a story where one women thought she might have PCOS but never brought it up until she meet one doctor who didnt do anything and then she went to another who said she was certain she did have PCOS ran a test and found out not only did she have PCOS but it had been untreated so long she had cervical and uterian cancer and she needed surgery right away.

[CaroPhoenix]

I'd need to lose a lot of weight before I got pregnant again. I'm 272 - a plus-sized woman and then some.

Well, I'll keep everything in mind. My mom doesn't think I should bring up either the endometriosis or the PCOS, just listen to him, but I don't think that's right. What do y'all think about that?

[Sliceanddice]

my doctor told me the problems where out weighted by the benifits but since my cramps got worst my blood suger went crazy i got extra teary from lack of energey and for some reason broke out i stopped witht he metformin and just took my bc i felt alot better right away.

though it is nice to know if my system can handle metformin i might beable to get pregnant.

[TTAZ]

Metoformin works very well for me, at first if I even ate a single grain of sugar I took off buzzing like a mosquito with a coke habit and ADHD, but after awhile I calmed down a lot. It isn't a miracle drug by any means, and of course you have your side effects. Slice, I am sorry it played such hell with you since it helped me such a great deal. Did you try Actos?

There is one more side effect of metformin to keep in mind though, IT WILL MAKE YOU FERTILE WHERE THERE WAS NO FERTILITY BEFORE. Gotta love it, man. Here I was, supposedly infertile, on birth control pills, and watching a stick turn blue. "Holy shit" was the least of what I said. Then the cherry on that sundae was when I was putting away my pill bottle later that week I noticed the good folks at Fry's put a new sticker on it "WARNING: MAY CAUSE AN INCREASE IN FERTILITY". Cheers, guys.

The other fun bit of that was going to renew my AHCCCS (medicaid) and the lady behind the desk asked me if I was there to renew my medical, and I said "Yeah, but between you and me (rub the huge belly), y'all should get the money back for those pills you paid for." Best laugh she'd had all day.

So, back on topic, Madam Rum, watch out if you do go on meds and don't want any more kids right now. Double wrap it, if you catch my drift, when you can stand to be touched again.

[Sliceanddice]

3. Go on metformin or actos. It will help. Yes you should watch what you eat, yes you should exercise regularly, but life sometimes gets in the way and a lot of that good for you stuff is more expensive than their less-nutritious counterparts. In these times, every penny is being pinched, especially regarding groceries.

unless your me, metformin made me sick as hell and screwed up my digestive system.
and TTAZ you forgot the increased risk for 'girl' cancers. Uterian, ovarian, filobian, and even breast due to the hormone problems.

[Dawnchaser]

Okay, here's my 2 cents as a fellow PCOS sufferer-
3. Go on metformin or actos. It will help. Yes you should watch what you eat, yes you should exercise regularly, but life sometimes gets in the way and a lot of that good for you stuff is more expensive than their less-nutritious counterparts. In these times, every penny is being pinched, especially regarding groceries.

Yes, definitely go on something like metformin. I personally have some side effects from it that I can't handle - so I don't take it even though I really should. Most people I know who have taken it do fine and/or have less severe side effects.

I also took something for the hair growth for awhile, maybe Spironolactone. It was a name similar to that in any case. That stuff interacted poorly with the birth control and make my periods go even wonkier. So I stopped taking it as well. So now I just deal as best I can, and get waxed when I can afford it


I'm lucky that my husband and I both come from families with huge medical backgrounds so our families "get it" for the most part, and my husband is pretty much unphased by any discussion or description of any medical issues. He is concerned about my weight, especially in relation to the PCOS and symptoms but I never feel like he's really giving me a hard time about it. He knows with PCOS and fibromyalgia it's harder for me to lose weight. The in-laws are disappointed about the fertility issues, but to be honest...my husband and I don't really mind that. Could change in the future and then we will look into options I suppose.

But yes, it does sound like Mr Rum is having some squeamishness or just general fear that something is seriously wrong. He needs to understand that PCOS is not fatal, it's just a BIG pain in the ass. Diabetes can be fatal of course, but with proper care you can live a long time happily.

[CaroPhoenix]

Thank you TTAZ for the information.

As for #4, not only am I taking Yaz, but I'm also taking BenicarHCT (which is a blood pressure medication). Blood pressure meds take away your potassium, so I'm either balanced with the potassium, or I need it. Is there a potassium test out there?

I have to go to the library anyway today as I have to return some videoes. I'll look up the book then.

I've also been very run down lately. And easily getting colds (or at least runny noses and sneezing all over the place).

I tried to talk to Mr. Rum again before bed. He was too interested in reading his Wizard Magazine that he had picked up at one of the local comic shops last night. I think he's avoiding talking about it as it makes him nervous? I have no clue. He wouldn't talk to me. Darn it! I need his support.

Ah well ... I hope things start getting better health wise for me soon.

[TTAZ]

Okay, here's my 2 cents as a fellow PCOS sufferer-

1. Regular ovulation can be as painful as a cyst, just because there is no cyst at the time of the sonogram, doesn't make the pain any less awful

2. You'll likely get a barrage of blood tests including thyroid checks, hormone levels (especially androgen levels), and possibly a glucose tolerance test. If you've never had a GTT, I'm sorry. If you have, then you already know the #1 rule is "don't puke".

3. Go on metformin or actos. It will help. Yes you should watch what you eat, yes you should exercise regularly, but life sometimes gets in the way and a lot of that good for you stuff is more expensive than their less-nutritious counterparts. In these times, every penny is being pinched, especially regarding groceries.

4. Watch your potassium intake on Yaz. It contains a potassium sparing diuretic (used to help flush out androgens) so if you're a big fan of bananas and potatoes, watch it.

5. PCOS is a metabolic disorder not a girly problem. Ob/Gyns get stuck with the cases because the way the disease is caught is when it manifests itself as girly problems. The problem with this is Ob/Gyns have enough to worry about without becoming experts in endocrinology, so they can be rather blase about the whole thing. Not their fault, but the best thing you can do is educate yourself as much as possible.

6. With so much still unknown about PCOS, the general basis for a diagnosis is (and this is a direct quote from my former Ob/Gyn) "If you have the symptoms, you have it, no matter what the blood tests might say".

7. Check your local library for Living With PCOS For Dummies. It's a good read.

I went undiagnosed for several years until by an off-chance I was assigned a GP that was once thought to have PCOS, and knew what to look for. It can drive you batshit out of your mind crazy. You are very very lucky to have so many folks IRL or on this board to talk to and send virtual hugs and sugar free cookies to.

PM me anytime, and good luck.

[CaroPhoenix]

Thanks everyone.

I told Mr. Rum about how I had an appointment with my gyno; a full 4 months before my yearly because of problems and all he said was 'uh huh' - not sure if he was distracted by work or whatever, but it did piss me off. I told him that Dr. Forrest might be ordering thyroid tests & a sonogram and maybe other things, and he just sat there staring at the TV ... still not sure if he heard me.

My mom was exasperated when I told her. Said I should have waited until my yearly.

Yeah ... seems the only support I'm getting is from this board.

(I do have an IRL support system, but 1. She's in Florida and 2. Her husband's in the ICU and I don't want to worry her about me while her husband's sick too).

[BookstoreEscapee]

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Good vibes and
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[Seshat]

Don't fret. If the doctor thought it was THAT dangerous, he'd get you in today-if-not-sooner.

The fact that he didn't means the things it might be are all just things he wants to deal with promptly, but they're not that urgent.