Re: facial hair
From: tera (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 11 Dec 2001 15:10:12 -0600 (CST)
Hi!
With PCOS weight loss may at least help with some excess hair. It did
not help my cousin. She has PCOS and lost a lot of weight and she still
has hair troubles. Weight loss may help to lower androgens and our
excess body hair or head hair loss is caused by excess androgens. The
cause of PCOS is not excess weight. If you lose weight you will still
have PCOS AND its symptoms. Excess weight however does seem to
exacerbate PCOS symptoms. There are many women who have PCOS and the
outward symptoms (excess hair, hair loss, anovualtion, etc.) who are not
overweight.
If you have PCOS the latest research has shown that our root problem is
probably insulin resistance. Medications such as Metformin help to
improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Medications such as
Metformin can increase the effectiveness of insulin in the blood, reduce
hyperinsulinemia, and hyperandrogenemia (excess androgens) thus helping
to correct the potential source of the problems.
Have your doctor test to see if you are insulin resistant. Use caution
however. I have been tested by my regular OBGYN many times for insulin
resistance. Each time she said that my test showed everything to be
normal. I then started seeing a Reproductive Endocrinologist who has
lots of experience with PCOS and was tested by her. She said that the
scale that most doctors use to interpret test results is really high.
According to her interpretation of my test results she said that I would
be a prime candidate for Metformin. I know that your major beef right
now seems to be with excess hair and there is really not a magic pill.
Metformin helps many with PCOS correct the underlying problem which is
insulin resistance and then having effect on the symptoms.
Here are some helpful sites. While reading these sites keep a few
things in mind: Rezulin is now off the market and ovulation is different
from getting a period (you can get a period without ovulating)
http://www.infertilityphysician.com/androgen/pcos.html (got site from Belle)
http://www.inciid.org/pcos/hirsutism.html (PCOS, excess hair and other info)
http://www.inciid.org/thatchersthoughts/031901.html (Metformin studies info)
http://www.possa.surak.com.au/non-fert.htm (Metformin and PCOS info - brought
to my doc)
http://www.wdxcyber.com/napear02.htm (easy to understand PCOS site, Metformin)
Sorry so long. Hope this helps. Doing research and really
familiarizing myself with the syndrome did wonders when I made my
presentation to my doctor and guess what?! Just got a call from her
today. She's gonna let me give Met another try!! I was on it before but
started at such a high dose right away that it made me sick. Liver test
came out okay. Gonna start on a much lower dose and work my way up. (I
gave her this suggestion from my research - if I wouldn't have found it
out on my own I probably wouldn't be starting on it at all) Hope it all
works out! God bless, Tera
At Tue, 11 Dec 2001, anonymous wrote:
>
>Hey Tera
>
>Thank you for all your great information, It really helps to have
>someone that is going through the same thing. I really appreciate it.
>About Vaniqua, This is my third week and I feel like it is helping a
>little but I know it will take me a long time because my hair problem is
>really bad. So I cannot tell a major difference but they say it takes
>4-6 weeks to show any improvement. I am going to stick with it and see
>how it works out. I did call my doctor yesterday and told him that I
>want to go on Metaformin and he is telling me that he doesn't think that
>it will help and he thinks that the issue is weight loss and told me to
>come in so I could talk to him about it. Do you know of any website
>that proves that Metaformin helps PCOS (hair growth) so I can take a
>print out to show him? I would really appreciate it. I did start
>getting my periods regularly because of regular exercise and got a
>sonogram done and it seems I don't have any cysts. The only problem is
>the damn hair. It is very irritating and embarrasing and depressing.
>Thank you so much Tera and I will definately keep you posted on the
>Vaniqua.
>
>Minni Sweetstuff106719@aol.com
>
>At Mon, 10 Dec 2001, tera wrote:
>>
>>Hi Tami and Minnie!
>>
>>No, Tami you are not the only "freak" out there and Minnie, don't be
>>afraid to go out in the evenings - remember girls: "The 'freaks' come
>>out at night!" Tee hee. Sorry, I couldn't resist. I shouldn't make
>>light of such a terrible problem. I am also a bearded lady. It is
>>hideous. It used to be my most emotional problem. First the weight and
>>then I came to terms with that. Then the facial hair came and took the
>>place of the weight and now finally the hair loss which for me
>>personally is the worst. So Tami, you're not alone. There are many of
>>us just like you. I know that simply knowing that doesn't solve your
>>problem but sometimes it just helps to know that you're not alone. I
>>feel for you both. It IS really terrible.
>>
>>Minnie, please keep us posted with the Vaniqua. Please post your
>>results. I'm sure Tami would appreciate that also. My cousin (who also
>>has PCOS) said that she's on going in for laser treatments to help with
>>her facial hair. I know it's probably really expensive and it might not
>>last forever but wouldn't it be great to wake up with NO BEARD?! That
>>would be a dream! If she goes in and has it done I'll be sure to post
>>the results and the price. God bless! Tera
>>
>>At Sun, 9 Dec 2001, Minni wrote:
>>>
>>>Hi Tami
>>>
>>>I have the same problem, I have facial hair and have to shave it every
>>>day and if I don't, forget about it. If I want to go out at night, I
>>>have to shave again. I also have the same problem with body hair and
>>>have excessive body hair. I also have had this problem probably for 10
>>>years. I just started using Vaniqua, I have been using it for 2 weeks,
>>>They say it takes 4-8 weeks to see a difference. The only problem with
>>>that is, Your insurance probably won't cover it. I paid 48 dollars for
>>>a tube, You have to apply it twice a day. You apply it after you shave
>>>or wax or whatever other method you use for removing hair. You can go
>>>to http://www.vaniqua.com and if you decide to go with it, The cheapest place
>>>to purchase it is at drugstore.com. Other places cell it for 48 or 52
>>>dollars. I don't know what else to do either, It is very depressing for
>>>me. The problem with Aldacton and other types of medications are that,
>>>they will ONLY slow down new hair growth. They will not do anything for
>>>the existing hair that is already there. I am also searching for the
>>>same answers you are and if I come across anything, I will definately
>>>let you know. If you have any other questions, My e-mail is
>>>Sweetstuff106719@aol.com Take care.
>>>
>>>--
>>>Minni
>>>
>>>At Sun, 9 Dec 2001, tami wrote:
>>>>
>>>>i have been diagnosed with PCOS for 9yrs now, and have still not hit on
>>>>any combination that helps me totally. my main problem is the facial
>>>>hair. i dont mean a few hairs now and then , i mean if i didnt shave
>>>>for a week i would have a full beard like a man. it hurts so bad to
>>>>have this problem and it has really affected me mentally ie:severe
>>>>depression. i have tried everything, electolysis, shaving, tweezing,
>>>>spironolactone, ect. nothing helps and it is getting worse. does
>>>>anyone else have this severe a problem or am i the only 'freak' out
>>>>there? can anyone help?
>>>
>>--
>>Tera
>>
--
Tera
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