I have a PCOS question for you ladies

[Laurelin]

I know this may be too open so if anyone wants to PM me instead of post here, either way I'd be grateful.

I'm really curious about what treatments you've used. Right now I'm on Loestrin Fe and I am not noticing any improvements either in symptoms or regularity. (I do not have periods at all) I was on yasmin a long time and it regulated my periods much better and right away. I've also been pretty sick on the loestrin.

I've had a glucose tolerance test and fasting insulin levels and both are normal. I am otherwise pretty classic PCOS and have all the other wonderful symptoms.

I haven't been to an endocrinologist yet. Is that something worth doing? Right now I am working mainly with my OBGYN and I'm honestly not totally satisfied with the amount of information she's giving me. I really got nothing at all other than 'well since you're not trying for kids right now, we'll try the BCP'

My general practitioner today (I was in for some sort of stomach virus) mentioned that if I'm not doing any better in 3-4 months that she would like to talk to me about metformin or another possible medication (it started with spir-something?). I've always wondered why they haven't tried met with me. I asked my OBGYN about it last time I was in and she said they don't really prescribe metformin much at all. So I'm a bit confused now since the doctors are saying two different things.

I have a check up with the OBGYN next month.

I don't know anyone in real life that has PCOS that I can really talk to.

 

[joce]

How long have you been on the loestrin?

The first couple months I was miserable as always. It just started to stabilize and now it is fine.

I have higher cholesterol with mine and the problem is when I started the bc it shot up from it So might have to go on another pill.

My bs has always been fairly low and still is thank god. But I drop real quick to so not so good.

My obgyn didn't even mention an endo though I did before. I though my thyroid was off for years because my previous dr said I did not have pcos.

 

[Miakoda]

I was first put on Ortho Tri-Cyclen. That really didn't do much. While on it, when I did have my period it would last from 14-20 days (I once had bleeding for 33 days and was quite anemic). So I was taken off of it. When I had gone over a year without a period, I was put on Provera to try and make my body resume the menstrual cycle. I would take it certain days of the month. That brought me to about having a period every 2-3 months or so.

I had loads of testing done when I was about to get married. I started fertility treatments the Monday after our wedding because we knew that it would be a long process if I could even get pregnant. I was on the Provera, Clomid, HCG injections, and another daily injection that I can't remember the name of.

Now that I'm older, my PCOS symptoms have increased as have the caused health effects. I was on Metformin for a bit, but the doc wasn't seeing the results she wanted to see so she pulled me off. Right now I'm not taking anything. I'm also insulin resistant and having problems lowing weight. Fatigue and headaches are the norm. And my period is beyond irregular.

One thing they was found out early on via ultrasound (while doing some basic tests and info gathering), is that my left ovary and Fallopian tube were worthless. Kinda like a gnarled tree trunk. So when I did ovulate, which was extremely rare because I rarely ovulated when I did have a period, only the right ovary was able to release the egg.

And I just found out I've got a large cyst on the right ovary. I see my OB/GYN when we get back from Disney to see what is going to be done. It was brought up that I might have to have the ovary removed. We shall see....

 

[Saeleofu]

I have no periods naturally. Apparently this is bad for you and predisposes you to cancer, so I take medroxyprogesterone for 10 days every 3 months, and 48 hours after my last pill I start a "period" (which is just withdrawal bleeding and not a period at all, since I don't ovulate).

I take metformin 500mg twice a day. I was not tested for insulin resistance, but since my dad is a type 2 diabetic and I have all the classic signs of PCOS with insulin resistance, my doctor (general practitioner) put me on it anyway. It helped some, but the low carb diet I've been trying for the last week or so has made me feel WAY better than anything else has.

I've thought about going to an endocrinologist. I still suspect I may be slightly hypothyroid. I have a dr appointment coming up in the next few weeks, so we'll see how bloodwork looks then.


ETA: My last doctor put me on birth control without any diagnostics or diagnosis. That was her fix for everything. When she put my mom on it it made her blood pressure shoot up and put her in the hospital for a week. I felt like crap on it, and very emotional. I will NEVER use birth control pills for any reason - my mom's doctor told her that no women in our family, with our family history of strokes and stuff, should have ever been on birth control. i was very happy that my doctor was willing to try something other than birth control.

 

[Jules]

I was diagnosed just a wee bit ago, so I'm still learning and new to it all. I am insulin resistant and my ob/gyn had me start Metformin. It messes with my stomach and if I "cheat" on my diet, I know I'll pay for it. Which is a good thing, lol. I lost 32lbs so far. Without met, even with diet and exercise, it was really difficult to shed some lbs for me. I am still going to see to switch to the extended version next month, since it's easier on the digestive system.

It definitely helps being able to talk here, I don't know who else I would talk to about this.

ETA: I was on tri-ortho before and it did regulate and help me overall.

 

[Laurelin]

I am just having a really hard time finding a doctor that will sit down and give me a lot of in depth information on the subject. I've done my own research of course but I still feel it's not being treated the way it should be.

Are ya'll using your general practitioners or OBGYNs primarily?

I have typical PCOS- overweight, acne excess hair, all that fun stuff. I have a long family history of type 2 diabetes as well. So to me, it makes sense to try the met.

When I was on Yasmine, I lost weight pretty fast- 45 lbs in about 6 months.

I'm just getting very frustrated lately.

Oh and I have zero sex drive and never really have had much of one. (tmi?) I think it's got to be related to the pcos.

 

[Miakoda]

I have a pretty non-existent sex drive.

 

[joce]

My obgyn is my general dr as well. Kinda can't stand her though.

I have started my own version of a low cholesterol diet after mine shot up with the pill. I do not eat much so its hard for me to eat right. I am mostly eating fish and where I lost 35lbs last year and kinda flat lined I lost ten lbs in the last two weeks.

Did you loose weight just from being on the bc? I had to still work out extra to avoid weight gain.

I do at least thirty minutes on the treadmill and then more outside with the critters and more still if I can.

Only thing that ever helped my acne was accutane. I told dr this. She gives me a script for roll on something and says the pill will help in two months use this till then. Ok lady.

 

[Bigpoodleperson]

I have it too, and its helpful to read others responses on the open forum. I cant be on birth control because Ive had two strokes. We think we have found the cause of the strokes, but Im sure no doctor is still going to put me on BC (because we cant say for 100% "this" is the cause of the strokes). I honestly with the stroke chase have not really done or seen anyone about the PCOS. I had a CT scan that found a few cysts, but I havnt chased it yet. Hopefully in a few months I will get it sorted out, but I feel my options are more limited.