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Re: confused about my treatment
From: Dona (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 19 Oct 2001 21:14:07 -0500 (CDT)
Hi Sonnet!
You said what I was trying to say...mut much more eloquently!Thanks!
Dona
>
>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
>
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