Re: What is wrong with me??!!!
From: Kimberly (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 26 Jan 2001 13:39:42 -0600 (CST)
Zowie,
I'm glad you got in to see an Endo..unfortunetly you need to see a
Reproductive Endo, or even a gyno that is familiar with PCOS & willing
to treat. I understand your frustration with the doctors. Some of
these people are insanely insensitive. I had a gyno tell me one time
that "all your problems & complaints are due to nothing more than poor
lifestyle choices". You know I ran out of there in tears & madder than
hell. I've heard the 'lose weight' mantra from several too. What a
bunch of knotheads! As I explained in previous message, our bodies arent
working correctly--how do they expect us to lose weight if insulin is
being dumped in huge amounts? I finally found a doctor who explained the
way all this works & said PCOS'ers have to get the insulin in control in
order to start losing weight. The dr's you are seeing are focusing on
the wrong aspect (glucose), instead of testing your INSULIN levels. Of
course your sugar level dropped after eating a huge carb loaded
meal---your body reacted to the increase in sugar by freaking out &
dumping loads of insulin out--which drops your blood sugar. In the
future, glucose tests need to have the insulin levels also!!! So,
technically, NO it is not weird to see your blood sugar low after a huge
meal if your insulin isnt being metabolized effectively. You will
experience a "hypoglycemic" type effect when your INSULIN IS HIGH. Is
this making sense? Sweetie, do some research,find a support group in
your area, talk to other ladies---this can help you find the right
doctor. It may take some time, hell, it took me 6 months to find the
doctor I'm seeing now. In the mean time, take care of yourself & your
body. Dont worry so much about the caloric intake of food---but
concentrate on eating less sugar and carbs. Honey, do you understand
about Carbohydrates? Carbs are sugar basically. Breads, pastas,& tons
of products are loaded with them. If you just lower the amount of these
products, you can drop the sugar levels that are spiking your insulin.
Dont consider it a diet, but just being aware of what you are eating.
Try to keep your carb intake to less than 10% of your diet. If you are
eating 1200 calories a day---that is 120 grams of carbs--which is alot.
But in the big picture is probably a tremendous reduction in your daily
diet. Your body will respond naturally to decreased carbs--it will then
resort to burning stored fat for energy. And wahlah---you lose weight!
For the last 6 weeks, I have been reducing my daily carb intake, nothing
else, and have lost 28lbs. I did start on Actos at the same time, but
by changing my eating patterns--which was a big change--I am starting to
feel better. No more ups/downs in blood sugar, no more
dizziness/headaches, no more huge cravings & I actually have some
energy. I'm not starving myself either or limiting calories, just
passing on the breads w/ dinner, eating more natural foods vs.
processed/fast food, no sugar/candy/treats, limiting pasta, no
pastries/cakes, more veggies,whole grains & protein. It's a big
adjustment at first, it takes a strong will to pass a bag of chips, but
there are other things to sub for them that wont add sugar to my system.
Stay on the Met, it will help your body in metabolizing the insulin. You
shouldnt have to ever chose what "symptom" to treat and a doctor that
has that mindset is one you need to not see again.(just wanna slap dr's
like that!) All your symptoms are related and feed from the root problem
of Insulin Resistance. It has a chain reaction of problems in our
bodies. Dont lose hope darlin...you can do this. There are lots of
great ladies out here--reading & posting that can help & support you.
You are not alone & DO NOT SUBMIT TO THIS! NONE of us should. I feel
like a warrior rallying the troops but we can fight back --take charge
and talk to people. Get after those doctors & let them know you are
active in your mission for treatment. OK? Stay in touch and feel free
to email. God Bless You. Kimberly.
At Fri, 26 Jan 2001, Zowie wrote:
>
>Hi Kimberly,
>Thanks for responding. I did have my appt. but it was with the wrong
>type of Endo. They gave me a Metabolic Endo, not an RE. This woman was
>so quacked with my weight I wanted to slap her. She was so accusatory,
>even asking "What kind of those frozen foods are you eating daily?"
>Stunned and shocked, I replied "the only frozen food we buy is
>vegetables". She asked if I had seen a nutritionist, which I have and
>we found I was only eating 1300 calories a day, and was within my carb
>and sugar limits. The nutritionist actually told me there is nothing
>more she can do, and considered my mandatory referral to her closed.
>This Endo I saw actually told me to cut back ANOTHER 200 calories a day,
>making my consumption 1100. Is this HEALTHY???? She also gave me a
>blood glucose monitor, and was assuming that my glucose shoots up after
>eating (referencing diabetes, but not actually saying it). My levels
>have been 83-108. I've been eating the same, so that I would see true
>results. I'm obviously not diabetic, but there still is talk of me
>being hypoglycemic, or at least having episodes. The Endo also ordered
>a wealth of blood work which I must do in one shot. She's also checking
>for cushings. My body can't handle all the blood work. I HATE needles,
>and my veins shift all the time. Usually, they can't draw blood with
>the first needle. I'm just so stressed right now. I'm sick and tired
>of people throwing my weight back in my face, as if the weight caused my
>PCOS. I still have no energy to do anything and am tired all the time.
>I do get the shakes frequently, as I did when my glucose was 83, which
>was about 1 hr. and 45 mins. after eating a meat pizza, breadsticks
>and a 20 oz. bottle of tea (57 g of sugar). Weird huh? If I was
>diabetic, I'm sure my level would have been at least 150. My father is
>diabetic, so I know how it all works. So after taking 1 step forward
>from the GYN specialist I saw, I took another back as there is all this
>new testing and weight issues. That's all this Endo is concerned
>about--my weight. She actually wanted to take me OFF the Met! I need to
>find a better Dr. Then again, the Endo actually told me she knows
>NOTHING about GYN issues----then why was I referred to her?? I keep
>doing circles with this military HMO type "care". I'm about ready to
>just give up and live my life as is so I can avoid all of these
>frustrations and slaps in the face. I just can't take anymore of this
>stupidity and incompetence, not to mention the guilt they force upon me.
>I'm run down and just want some peace finally. I'd rather deal with all
>of the symptoms without treatment than to have to keep going in circles
>and crying after every visit with a Dr. The Endo actually told me I
>need to DECIDE WHICH symptoms I wanted treated. How unprofessional and
>irresponsible is that?? She doesn't have to suffer with all my symptoms,
>and that's ok for her, but why should I have to DECIDE on WHICH ONES I
>want treated? How ridiculous. Like I said, she was stuck on the weight
>issue. That's all she cared about. Well ladies, again, I apologise for
>venting. I'm just sick and tired of this BS. I've been broken down
>into submission at this point. Sorry for venting so much.
>
>At Tue, 23 Jan 2001, Kimberly wrote:
>
>Hi Zowie & Krystyna,
>
>Sorry to interject in the messages, but some of the information y'all
>have is incorrect. Met/Gluco/Actos/Avandia are all insulin sensitizing
>medications. They are not designed to control your blood sugar but
>rather your insulin. PCOS is related to INSULIN RESISTANCE, meaning
>your body does not effectively metabolize the insulin it produces.
>Therefore, the glucose in your system does not get converted to energy.
>Since it doesnt get converted it gets stored as fat. The pancreas
>reacts by dumping more insulin into our bodies at times when our glucose
>levels are high. (like when you load on all those carbohydrates &
>sugar). The excess insulin gives us the effect of "hypoglycemia" hence
>the hunger, shakes, cold/headache, fatigue. Understand though, it's not
>all about our blood sugar--it's our INSULIN that is out of whack. Excess
>insulin can wreak havoc on our bodies. The excess glucose effects our
>triglycerides, the excess fat affects our cholesterol. All of this adds
>to the hypertension we already have. The other part of Diabetes that
>you are forgetting is the most basic. Diabetes in general is a disease
>that does not allow a body to convert glucose--sugar.It CANT break down
>CARBS. So you have to limit the intake of sugar. THIS MEANS CARBS.
>Give your body a chance to do what it is suppose to, lower the
>carb/sugar intake and dont give it a chance to work. I'm not advocating
>Atkins, but an overall understanding of what it is exactly that causes
>the glucose/insulin reaction. If you load up on sugar/carbs, the body
>is going to react by dumping insulin to convert. BUT, since we are
>resistant to our own insulin & its not being used correctly it dumps
>even more. See the circle? You can control some of the highs/lows just
>by spreading your meals out during the day & reducing or limiting the
>carbs. And until you get your insulin regulated you should NOT be
>having carbs at every meal but rather a balanced meal of protein &
>veggies with limited carbs. You will feel better too and with decreased
>carb/sugar it can lead to weight loss. I hope this clears some things
>up. Do some research though. There is all kinds of info on the
>internet and tons of books that can go into specifics. Information is
>your best tool in treatment. Good luck ladies. God Bless. Kimberly.
>
>--
>-- Zowie :)
>
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