Re: more about prednisone
From: anonymous (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat, 22 Sep 2001 08:19:32 -0500 (CDT)
Sam-
I have been on the gluco for almost 2yrs now. It never did anything for
my symptoms. The only relief I've gotten was post-BCP (Diane 35) which
has helped a lot.
About the prednisone -- I was under the impression that when
hyperandrogenism was noted, a "dex test" should be done in order to see
if it's the ovaries or the adrenals that are overproducing the
androgens. If the androgens are implicated, glucocorticoids are a good
course of treatment (prednisone being one) and if the ovaries are
implicated the glucocorticoids won't really address the excess
androgens.
But my endo seemed to think that there is NO reason to take prednisone.
I'm looking for a new doctor someone who can help me. She said that I
was wrong about the prednisone slowing the adrenals down and stopping
the overproduction of androgens (or in my case, DHEA).
Every time I leave the doctor I have more questions than before I went.
Thanks
At Thu, 20 Sep 2001, =?iso-8859-2?q?Zalányi wrote:
>
>Hi,
>
>More than 90% of women with hyperandrogenism have PCOS, therefore most gynecologists do not perform dexamethasone test, but start with other therapies (for better of worse). Besides high LH levels in PCOS can also stimulate the adrenals, so it is difficult to differentiate.
>How long have you taken glucophage to pronounce it hasn"t helped? It takes several months, while prednisone may act in weeks.
>For your info
>
>Sam
>
>> I was never given a "dex test" but suspect my adrenals to
>> be responsible for part of my hormone imbalance. Original
>> blood work showed high DHEA levels and my doctor had put
>> me on dexamethasone at that point. I didn't really give that
>> too much of a chance before stopping it and seeing another
>> doctor. She never addressed this. I was put on glucophage by
>> her. It hasn't helped with the symptoms.
>>
>> I asked her about the prednisone on my last appt as I understand
>> some women take that who have PCOS and it helps with symptoms.
>> She was startled by the request and seemed to think it was a
>> very very dangerous idea.
>>
>> She said if I wanted to re-test blood work I could stop taking my
>> meds (gluco and Diane - BCP) for 3 months and then re-test.
>>
>> I CAN'T JUST STOP MY MEDS FOR 3 MONTHS!!! It took such a long
>> time to get some relief (probably due to the Diane).
>>
>> Is that the only way to know if you need to take something for
>> the adrenal aspect of this disease?
>>
>> What if you take prednisone without the re-test, can't you tell
>> whether it's working or not?
>>
>> Anyone?
>>
>> Thanks for listening.
>>
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