Re: My daughter
From: tera (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat, 23 Feb 2002 12:23:19 -0600 (CST)
Hi!
I agree with Sally on this. The onset of my PCOS started when I was
eighteen but the excess hair started at sixteen and I am now 27. If I
had known about PCOS then and if I had known about Glucophage I would
have started then!! (Glucophage treatment was not widely used at that
time) I agree with Sally that when most girls are sixteen many of them
are the size of an adult. Met may not be for "kids" but I don't know if
I would really consider your daughter to be a "kid".
I feel for your daughter and I know what it feels like to start getting
all of these symptoms -- weight gain, excess hair, irregular periods,
cysts, etc. It can be frustrating and confusing. Your daughter got her
diagnosis "early". That is great news! Yes, low carbing is the way to
go so good for her. I would look into studies on the net about
Metformin or Glucophage and PCOS. Many women if not most women with
PCOS are insulin resistant. The latest research is showing that this is
the probable source for PCOS. Met and Glucophage deal with this. Many
women on this forum have had great success with it including me! The
birth control pill and Aldactone or Spironolactone only deal with PCOS
SYMPTOMS -- not the SOURCE of PCOS which is insulin resistance. The
pill does not treat the SOURCE of PCOS and it not considered a TREATMENT
for insulin resistance. It does treat symptoms and it can help with
irregular periods and some hair difficulties. It does sound like your
doctor does have knowledge on the difference between treating symptoms
and the source because he recommended a low carb diet which will help
with the SOURCE -- insulin resistance. My advice would be the same as
Sally's. Do research on Met and PCOS and have her stay on the low carb
diet. Good for you for taking an active role in your child's health!
Also, check out the regular PCOS forum on this site and the diet forum.
There is a woman named "Belle" who posts on the regular forum almost
daily who I believe also has a daughter with PCOS who I believe is
taking Metformin or Glucophage. You may want to post questions to her
about this on the regular PCOS forum! Take care and God bless! Feel free
to e-mail me personally! Tera jasonandtera@att.net
At Fri, 22 Feb 2002, Sally wrote:
>
>Hi,
>
>I am no dr. But recently I read about a study that used Met with obese
>adolescent girls to help them with weight loss. It was sucessful. At
>16 your daughter is actually nearly fully grown and because of her
>symptoms it would be important to try to get things working better.
>Perhaps you could convince your dr. to let you daughter at least trial
>metformin for a few months and see if it makes a difference - after all
>it is the one drug known to treat the cause not just the symptoms (BCP
>only mask the symptoms) - remember to start slowly. Then if she has no
>major adverse effects she should continue with it. Whey wait till she
>is 18 or 20 to use something that can address the problems now. It
>important to treat PCOS as early and agressively as possible to avoid
>complications. BCP is not the only option. Many of us here wish we had
>been diagnosed and treated early. How much suffering (mental and
>physical) could have been avodied.
>
>Best wishes to you and your daugher.
>
>--
>Sally
>
>At Fri, 22 Feb 2002, Molly wrote:
>>
>>Hi Betsy, my heart is with you both. My daughter Rachel, now 18, had some
>>rough years with PCOS, getting a diagnosis and getting healthy. She is now
>>a senior in high school and is thriving. I also was hesitant about
>>glucophage (or "met" as we call it.) She started on it two and a half years
>>ago. It really regulated her body. She also take aldactone and Diane 35
>>birth control pills. I have nothing but positive things to say about met.
>>I realize it does not work for everyone but adolescents seem to tolerate it
>>well. Please feel free to email me privately with any questions!
>>
>>Good luck!
>>Molly
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: anonymous@obgyn.net [mailto:anonymous@obgyn.net
>>Behalf Of Betsy
>>Sent: Friday, February 22, 2002 12:56 PM
>>To: Multiple recipients of list PCOS-MEDICATION
>>Subject: My daughter
>>
>>My daughter Samantha is 16 and after 3 years of different doctors she
>>has finally got a diagnosis of PCOS. They tried to use Aldactone and
>>Orthotrycline - but neither worked. She is seeing a great Nutritionist
>>- who has finally got her on a low carb diet and she has lost 20 pounds
>>in about a month and a half - but she still has the most unbelievably
>>unregulated periods. She is a varsity athlete throwing both shot put,
>>disc, and weight and still bleeds about 3-4 weeks a month. She has
>>terrible mood swings and she is getting pretty depressed about the
>>entire situation. I have been doing a lot of reading about Glucophage -
>>but from what I am reading it is not recommended for pediatric patients.
>>Are most of you followed by an Endocrinologist or by a GYN and what
>>birth control pills have you tried that you have found to be successful
>>- or what other medications have worked for you. I can not tell you how
>>thrilled I am to find that there are places like this to ask these types
>>of questions. When I get home tonight I will have Sammy log onto her
>>computer and check out this page. I would like to thank anybody who
>>takes the time to answer this and I truly appreciate all of your
>>assistance.
>>
>>Betsy
>
--
Tera
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