PCOS-MEDICATION Messages for October, 2001: Re: confused about my treatment

Re: confused about my treatment

From: Sonnet (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 19 Oct 2001 16:20:44 -0500 (CDT)

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In reply to: kim: "confused about my treatment"
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Hi Kim -

Welcome to the wonderful world of PCOS!

80, although reduced from your previous testosterone levels, is still very high. Most labs consider <50 a "normal" testosterone level for women and I have heard many physicians say that they like to see it closer to <30. That's probably the culprit behind your facial hair, acne and hair loss.

As you have discovered, certain birth control pills can be very bad for PCOS and can set off certain symptoms. Any pill that's triphasic (it will have 3 different colors of pills instead of 2) can not only make our screwy hormone swings worse, but can adversely affect how your body uses insulin.

The major theory behind PCOS these days is that ALL PCOS stems from insulin resistance. Sometimes this is a slight case of insulin resistance that doesn't show up on tests, or sometimes what is considered 'normal' by a lab is high for your body. Most of us with PCOS have normal or low blood sugar. Insulin levels are often high but sometimes are normal as well. The only way to get a good picture of how your body is using your insulin is a test called an insulin glucose tolerance test. It takes several hours and they test both your blood sugar and insulin every half hour. It's the ratio of those two numbers that shows how well your body is using the insulin you have.

Also be aware that more than one medical study has shown that Metformin (and therefore presumabley other insulin sensitizers) work well in treating PCOS *even in women who did not test as insulin resistant.* This backs up the theory that all women with PCOS have some level of IR, even if it's not showing up. Treating your PCOS this way is definitely something to consider. Hopefully it will help to bring your testosterone levels down.

If you need more information, you can read through http://www.pcosupport.org or email me personally, I'd be glad to help.

At Thu, 11 Oct 2001, kim wrote: >
>I have a question about my current treatment, I was hoping somebody can
>help me with.
>
>I was diagnosed with pcos last fall. I've been totally confused though,
>since it doesn't seem to fall in line with a textbook case.
>
>My only complaint before last fall were some whiskers I had to pluck
>daily and some acne right before my period. In fact, when I got tested
>5 yrs ago my levels came back normal.
>
>So imagine my suprise when last spring I take a bcp (ortho tri) for the
>first time in my life and my hair starts to shed. I then switched to a
>new one (levlite) and the problem with my whiskers and shedding head
>hair increases about 10 -fold!
>
>I switched to Mircette and then went on Spiro in Dec. Decided that the
>bcp had to go in May and am still on Spiro(200mgs) right now. No
>change.
>
>Here's the thing. My weight is relatively normal (have gained about 8
>pounds in the last 6 months) putting me at about 125 lbs at 5'2". My
>testostorone tested high right after going off of levlite (102) it went
>down to 82 on Mircette and Aldactone and down to 80 off of mircette and
>on Spiro (i know they're the same thing).
>
>My insulin tested normal in all tests. Maybe borderline hypoglycemic if
>anything. So my obgyn refuses to give me met or any insulin sensatizing
>drug.
>
>So where's all these androgens coming from? Am I doing the right thing
>here?
>
>I was okay with out any medication before. I can deal with plucking but
>I'm not sure I can deal with wearing a wig for the rest of my life.
>
>Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Thanks! - Kim

--
Sonnet Fitzgerald, PCOS Association Online Community Liason. Email: sonnet@pcosuppor.org

Next message: anonymous@obgyn.net: "Re: What are my chances of conceiving on Clomid again?"
Previous message: JC: "Re: Anyone know a good Dr. for PCOS in the Boston/Massachusetts region?"
In reply to: kim: "confused about my treatment"
Next in thread: Dona: "Re: confused about my treatment"
Reply: Dona: "Re: confused about my treatment"

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