Question:
GYN says I may have PCOS??
I am almost 1 year out (apr 27th) and been having some problems since around Thanksgiving. I was having sharp abdominal pain so my WLS surgeon did an exploratory to rule out a hernia. Afterwards, he told me to see a GYN 'cause my ovaries had cysts and my uterus was red. I went to my mom's since I don't have one and did his tests; he said he found nothing. But, when he got a hold of the pictures from the exploratory he said I *probably* have PCO, but it's nothing to worry about until I want children. Is it just me or does that sound off? PCOS would explain a lot, but he doesn't want to do anything about it! Not even blood tests. I made an apointment with my PCP next week, but I'm not sure what else to do. — HeidiMc (posted on April 13, 2006)
April 13, 2006
Heidi,
My wife was "diagnosed" with PCOS 4 years ago. It seems that
there is no real definitive way to diagnose this. She was put on
Glucophage and later had to go to a fertility clinic to help her along with
her pregnancy. There's a problem conceiving and a higher chance of
miscarriage with PCOS. Thankfully, after one early miscarriage, we had a
healthy baby girl 19 months ago. PCOS isn't worth worrying too much
about.
Good Luck
-A.J.
— [Deactivated Member]
April 13, 2006
Notice that AJ was talking about his wife when he said PCOS was nothing to
worry about! I'm sure that he is not very worried...but his wife probably
has a few concerns. Like the seriousness (and expense) of infertility and
miscarriage; adult acne; heavy menstrual bleeding and passing huge,
disgusting clots; dark patches on her chest, neck, and face; soaring weight
and the inability to lose weight. PCOS is a serious, and I think,
underdiagnosed disease that effects every part of a woman's life. After
years of infertility and finally adopting our beautiful daughter, we
recieved a diagnosis of "suspected" PCOS because there does not
seem to be a definitive test for this. Even after learning this much, I
have had very little support in dealing with all of this. Many doctors,
and most people seem to think that it is not a real condition.
Good luck to you in your quest to deal with this. It is in fact, something
to "worry about." However, it is important to learn to accept
some of the effects and live your life to the fullest!
— KimP
April 13, 2006
Don't let men (who can't possibly understand) especially a doctor tell you
it's nothing to worry about. I could chew nails when I hear this. I started
my period when I was 12 and my weight shot up to 200 pounds. I had, and
still have the most painful, heavy periods. In between when I ovulate and
my eggs implode, the cysts kill me. I have bled for months at a time where
the only thing to stop it was surgery. I have had pre-cancerous growths
taken from my uterus several times. I have never had children, even with
help. My sister has 4. I am 44 and still have horrible acne. I have high
blood pressure. I was told I would become diabetic and I have. I could go
on forever.
I simply can't tell you in words how PCOS has completely ruined my life.
I'm not a drama queen but I am very passionate about this. It's from years
of suffering with this so-called harmless disorder.
Right now I am in need badly of a hysterectomy and the doctors refuse to
give me one due to my weight. I plan on bypass surgery and as soon as I hit
250 pounds I will be knocking on the Gyno's door. Believe me! Having to
stay in bed on pain killers for a solid week each month is really old.
I'm still angry about you being told it's nothing to worry about. I bet my
husband could straighten up a few people that say it's nothing to worry
about. He has had to watch me cry and suffer with physical pain and also go
through the heartbreak of never bearing his children. Please do research on
your own and educate yourself. I went from "maybe" having PCOS to
surgeries and chronic pain withing a few years. Some of my PCOS friends
already went into cancer and had to go through horrible things. I wish I
knew YEARS ago what I know now.
— Sandy~Diamond
April 13, 2006
Heidi, I also suffer from PCOS and have since I was 16. My gyn didn't
bother telling me until after I got married at 20 and only after I asked
her when I should start preparing to have a baby (I could have killed her).
She put me on birth control and that started to regulate my periods, she
also gave me another medication to breakup the cysts. Ask your doctor if
this might work in your case. Fortunately I was able to conceive (by dumb
luck) and after I had my son my periods returned or rather stopped coming
like before. And all my PCOS symptons have gotten so much worse I doubt
that without WLS I will be able to conceive again. Good Luck! Take care.
— wildcat
April 13, 2006
I was diagnosed with PCOS about 3 years ago.. I got my first period at the
age of 13 and then not another until I was 16. The doctors were not
concerned and so nothing happended with it. When I was 17 I went on the
pill and finally at the age of 25 I was told I have PCOS. I have excessive
hair, no periods, aniexty and I am overwieght. I have just started looking
into the WLS and cannot wait to get the ball rolling. I know that I own
every book that concerns PCOS. My best advice is too read all you can...
understand it and do what you can to get a handle on it... b/c it is very
serious and can lead to many complications in life. Good luck!
Christie
— precouzgurl
April 14, 2006
I have had PCOS for 20 years. Your doctor should have done blood work.
PCOS generally is indicated by an increased hormone levels and sugar
levels. You probably wouldn't be classified as a diabetic, but some of the
side effects are the same. You didn't indicate your age. . .but I would
definitely get a different opinion. I have went to endocrynologiest and
ob-gyns for this problem. . .without doing blood work it would be difficult
to tell if you have it at all. Also, you will want to track your period. .
.with PCOS you will have an inconsistent period. One of the things that
helps is metformin/gloucaphage and the pill. But, I would definitely talk
with your pcp about it and if it is possible, get a copy of the report from
the ob-gyn and take it with you or have their office fax it to your pcp.
— cdavison
April 14, 2006
I too have PCOS. I found out when I was 14 yrs old. Started menses at age
10-11. This disease is definatly misguided by others. It is terrible to
have these problems associated with PCOS. The cramps, pain and blood clots
would make me pass out and because of that I missed a lot of school. The
problems with hirutism (excess hair growth) is depressing.
I was told that having PCOS these are the symptoms:
1.heavy periods
2. started at a young age
3. inverted nipples
4. hair growth on chin, stomach and breasts
5.obesity
6. diabetes type II
7. infertility
8.high hormone levels of testosterone
9.large pitute
I remember when I was 14 I went to tons of Doctors and had alot of tests
done. I had to collect my urine for 24 hours and then they tested it. I
also was in a medication trial at the hospital for glucophlase. I am having
my surgery in May but don't have a positve date yet. I am really looking
forward to my new life and doing the things I cannot do now. I am excited.
— Kathleen Robinson
April 14, 2006
I just wanted to say that not everyone with PCOS is rendered infertile. I
was diagnosed at 18 , started periods at 12. My periods only got regular
after haivng my first child, but they did get alot heavier after having the
fourth, so there is hope and I would definitely get to an Ob/Gyn that cares
ASAP!
Hugs
Peggy
— Peggy G.
April 14, 2006
I also was told at 15 that I have PCOS started my period when I was 12 and
since then has never been normal I went through High School with may be two
a year. I am now 33 never have been pregnant. Back then they didn't know
what to do with people like us. They just said you will be over weight,
never have children and diabetic. The most hardest part is falling in love
and getting married and wanting to have a baby, but also fighting the
facial hair, heavy periods, cramps, weight gain and not being able to lose
it no matter what you eat and how much I worked out it didn't help. They
tell me that I have to lose weight to help get pregnant. I have been trying
for 7 years to get pregnant. So I didn't know what else to do and on March
21st 2006 I had Gastric Bypass almost 1 month Post op. So far I have lost
21 pounds. So it is something you should talk to your Dr. about they can
send you to a specialist. They check your hormone levels and they can tell
you if you have PCOS. It seems that these days they put you on birth
control to help regulate your periods and then put you on
Metformin(Glucophage) which I hated because it isn't USDA approved and it
gave me diarrhea and there are other side effects. I didn't feel that it
really helped me. Maybe they can catch yours early enough it might help
you. There is a PCOS Support Community on line just do your research and
ask your Dr. lots of question. Good luck! Tina
— sweetpookie
April 14, 2006
I'm not sure who your doctor is and what sort of training he/she has had,
but PCOS is a precursor to diabetes. Please carefully read what the others
above have said and take this seriously. If your doctor doesn't take it
seriously, it's time for a new doctor - and you can take THAT to the bank,
sister.
— sweetmana
April 15, 2006
I have PCOS, was diagnosed 5 years ago. I haven't read the other replies
because I often find that some peoples views on this bother me...so this is
just my opinion in response to your question.
There is no "cure" for PCOS, you can treat the symptoms with
birth control pills but that's usually the bes you can do. Many women who
have it are also insulin resistant (which is, in a way, a precursor to
diabetes..but doesn't aways lead there)...those women, and even many with
PCOS without IR, usually benefit from a drug called metformin. It's worth
mentioning to your PCP.
But in general the response you got is a pretty common one because it can
cause fertiflity problems (though I have a son I conceived with no medical
help so not everyone has issues).
Trying to find a doctor who is knowledgable about PCOS can be difficult
since it's still sorta "new" to the medical world and many
doctors haven't bothered to educate themselves yet.
www.soulcysters.com is a GREAT source of information regarding PCOS...check
it out. :)
— leanner977
April 15, 2006
MAKE AN APPT WITH AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST IMMEDIATELY! call them all in your
local phone book, and ask if they have alot of experience with patients who
have PCOS. This is VERY important, you need treatment, you need to know and
understand what is going on with YOUR body. This disease is a serious
disease. It effects every aspect of your body, it affects your hormones,
Your ability to loose weight, It affects your ability to use the insulin in
your body. If effects your fertility as the others have said. And many
other things. Go see a endocrinologist as soon as possible.
— dt82689
April 19, 2006
I am 36 years old and was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 23. I am a
walking text book of symptoms (hair growth problems, cysts covering my
ovaries, over weight, insulin resistant, no ovulation, etc.) This disease
is not a gynocoligical problem - the doctor you need to see is an
endocronologist. I tried for over 7 years to conceive and was told time
after time...LOSE WEIGHT! At the time I was 245 and the pressure, the
depression caused me to gain...not lose!
HERE IS THE PAINFUL TRUTH...EVERY patient that has PCOS must admit to
themselves that although the weight is a symptom it is also the cause! Any
PCOS patient who wants to have a baby MUST LOSE WEIGHT... IT IS AN ABSOLUTE
FACT IN ORDER TO CONCIEVE! The insulin resistance makes us gain more than
normal, but with a low sugar diet (similar to a type II diabetic and
excercise to help your insulin levels) the weight does go! I ended up
losing 60 pounds and instantly got pregnant with no help of fertility
treatments! I did develop gestational diabetes and I gained a tremendous
amount of weight during my pregnancy. I have a very happy, healthy son (21
months old) but now after the pregnancy I weigh a wopping 275, hence the
need for WLS.
For anyone looking to conceive, the majority of PCOS woman (over 90%) can
get pregnant with either weightloss or a combination that also includes
fertility assistance from doctors.
Best of luck to you!
— teammatty
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