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Post by JackMcFarland on Apr 17, 2008 22:04:15 GMT -5
ive traveled for this dr...so this time he is testing hormones and thyroid.... im sure hes going to want me to come back down to other blood tests. we'll see tomorow
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Post by hellsbells on Dec 4, 2010 8:40:53 GMT -5
I've recently been given a 'diagnosis' of suspected PCOS. Started taking Metformin, while it has some unpleasant side effects (gastric in nature), my last period was milder and not so heavy. Still doing a lot of research, came across this really helpful site: www.ivf-et.com/tlc/fact_pcos.html
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Post by ouchy2 on Feb 13, 2011 21:00:12 GMT -5
Hey. Thought you might be interested in this. I was put on 500mg of Metformin a day to induce ovulation. It worked, and made me ovulate on day 16 (on-time, relatively) for the first time ever. That got me to start researching, and I came across the insulin resistance diet, and it also made me O on day 16. Here is a chart to show some different cycles, including anovulatory, late ovulation (typical PCOS), Metformin cycle, and then on the diet. Pretty cool!
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Post by ovarianmutiny on Jun 2, 2011 6:15:59 GMT -5
Thought I'd dredge this thread up as I'm currently looking to get a yea/nay on an endo diagnosis, and already have a PCOS diagnosis.
Basically, I have these things contributing to a PCOS diagnosis: 1. Irregular cycles since their beginning, tapering to totally absent cycles for 3yrs. 2. Increased male pattern hair growth and acne/oily skin 3. "String of pearls" appearance of tiny follicles on ovaries (actually, that's kind - it was more like a tangle of pearls, since they were EVERYWHERE in the ovary!) on ultrasound. Ovaries slightly enlarged as a result. 4. High total and free testosterone on blood work (about 50% higher than norms) 5. Menses regulated by 500mg/day Metformin dose
My DHEA, estrogen, and progesterone were within normal limits, although it was impossible to know what cycle day I was on since I had been bleeding for 8 months straight.
Things that make me suspect endometriosis: 1. When I had natural cycles, they were very heavy on top of being irregular. It was considered "normal" in my family (other women also have menstrual issues) to need a day or two "off" when you got your period - and to load up on Motrin and walk around with a heating pad. 2. At roughly the same time I started having periods, my digestive system started acting up. I would get horrible gas cramps and constipation finally ending in diarrhea. This escalated to its worst when I was not having ANY cycles at all. It got somewhat better once I went on BCPs but has never fully gone away. I often have trouble with "incomplete" bowel movements as well. 3. After coming off BCPs to get an IUD, I bled for 8 months straight. It is normal to have some irregularity/spotting with an IUD, but I had actual flow (filling up about 2 normal tampons/work day) EVERY day continuously, which is not normal. It also alternated with severe cramps over my left ovary on occasion, which I now know were.... 4. Ovarian cysts. So far I've had one officially diagnosed. It was about 4cm and on my left ovary. They couldn't determine on ultrasound if it was an endometrioma or a hemorrhagic cyst, but it did burst after about 2 months, with disastrous pain. :-( Given how familiar I got with how that one felt (it prevented me from exercising, interfered greatly with sex, and took me to the ER twice!) I'm 90% sure I have another one right now. Ultrasound will tell if it looks like another hemorrhagic/endometrioma deal, but I bet it will, since it's in almost the exact same spot/pain pattern. 5. Since my menses have been regulated by Metformin (3 cycles) I've had absolutely horrific cramping with them. I was used to having to take some ibuprofen and/or lay low, but these cramps have put me in bed with pain, and I've had to use Tylenol 3 prescribed for the cyst pain to manage them. Even still, if they get going before I take any medication, it may be up to 2hrs after taking a dose that the pain finally subsides to a manageable level. This is "new" for me, and is much worse on my left side (where the cyst was) than my right.
Ok: All that long sob story to ask this question! Did those of you with PCOS and Endo have any times where you weren't cycling at all? I only ask because I know usually endo is associated with longer, heavier flow than normal, but I wonder if PCOS might account for them being gone for a while even in the presence of endo? Also - anyone else have cysts that were ambiguous if they were endometriomas or hemorrhagic?
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Post by hellsbells on Jun 3, 2011 16:53:55 GMT -5
I have a tentative PCOS diagnosis, based on clinical symptoms (acne, hair loss, body hair, weight gain among others). Scans have never shown cysts. Periods always regular. Cycle lengths can differ a lot but I think I've only ever skipped one period my whole life. Only other time I've not had a cycle was last year when on Provera post diagnosis and lap. I was on the pill for the most part between the age of 17 and 30. Fairly light, moderate pain while on the pill but once I came off it boy did they get heavier and more painful.
I guess it's a little odd in some ways to have endo when there haven't been many cycles, but it depends on why you're not having cycles. I don't fully understand why periods don't happen with PCOS. I know some, but I can't suggest any answers on that one.
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Post by samiam on Nov 12, 2011 19:07:43 GMT -5
Hello everyone- I just had to share the recent interesting info I found regarding PCOS, high white cell count and high C-Reactive protein. For 2 years now, I have had both come back high on my blood work, and no one seems to know why. I know the high C-RP level could be from low vitamin d, (which I suffer from) or even could be a precursor for heart disease. Everytime I asked questions to my GP or gyn, I just got a shrug of the shoulders, or was told it probably had something to do with my family history of heart disease, or the inflammation from the endometriosis. Anyway, I decided to change gyn's recently and actually have someone who has the time to care now. And, after reading this article while doing research.... jcem.endojournals.org/content/90/1/2.full.pdf...I began to tell my new gyn about my symptoms from my past blood work. He did an ultrasound right after ovulation and there it was....the classic 'string of pearls' cysts around one of my ovaries. I have never had any classic symptoms of pcos, no excess facial hair, no missed periods, no acne. And I cannot tell you how many stupid ultrasounds I have had and NO ONE ever saw this. (But, I did have the weight gain and try as I might, it will not go down.) Also, my new gyn informed me if your cycles tend to run over 32 days from time to time, it can be an indication of pcos, even if no other symptoms are present. So, don't give up ladies. Even if it takes a while to get a diagnosis. Hope everyone finds the article as informative as I did. Granted it's in medical jargon, but still interesting, even if you have to read it with a Webster's dictionary lol. But we're all used to that by now huh?
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Post by 1234 on Nov 13, 2011 9:49:28 GMT -5
Thanks, SamIam. This is something that is really interesting to me, because I've had several people tell me that I probably have PCOS, but then dismiss it since I've been able to get pregnant.
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Post by samiam on Nov 13, 2011 18:57:35 GMT -5
You're welcome rustmyrtle ;D Yeah, it can be very frustrating when you know in your heart something else is wrong and doctors put you in a sorta of mold that they think you should fit into with regards to a diagnosis. To me, this is not more true than with PCOS. Sometimes if you don't exhibit signs, like infertility in your case, they automatically think it's not possible to suffer from it. The ultrasound tech who I saw the other day was extremely knowledgable about PCOS, because the gyn I go to is no longer a practicing obstetrician. So, all she sees all day long is people with PCOS and endo, fibroids, etc. She is actually the one who got the doctor interested in a PCOS diagnosis, by making notes in my chart. She says sometimes, if you know what you're looking for, there are other distinct traits that the ovaries can have, besides the classic type signs that can indicate PCOS. She showed me where I had a healthy follicle that did release an egg, but still had the tiny cyst around the ovary. I didn't know they could tell all that from an ultrasound! In addition, as far as this month goes anyway, only one of my ovaries was effected with the PCOS. So that could be what's going on in your case. Maybe just one ovary is effected and the other is still releasing eggs the way it should. I think PCOS is alot like endometriosis. I think some of us have it worse than others. But, just because some of us don't have it as bad, doesn't mean we don't have it at all. It would be nice if doctors would treat the patient that's in their exam room as an individual and not as some clone of everyone else that has the disease.
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Post by Karen on Aug 26, 2012 12:47:03 GMT -5
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Post by Karen on May 7, 2013 17:06:11 GMT -5
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