Re: PCOS and more
From: anonymous@obgyn.net
Mon, 12 Aug 2002 05:02:12 -0500 (CDT)
Dear Lauren,
Thank you for your post. It is so good and encouraging to hear that
people are managing to get treated appropriately when they are young -
and in your case that it was sorted out about the adrenal involvement.
You sound very mature and well articulated - it is good to have people
like you to advocate for other women. I think it is wonderful that you
are considering starting a support group. It is so important that women
get told about / find out about this (PCOS and the related endocrine
problems, adrenal and thyroid involvement are very common) and how to be
assertive in their treatment. And it can make a dramatic difference to
our lives. Appropriate treatment that works is like being born again.
Literally the world looks different and life looks different!
Congratulations and All power to you.
Sally
At Sun, 11 Aug 2002, anonymous wrote:
>
>Hi my name is Lauren and I am 16 years old I was diagnosed with PCOS at
>the age of 15.I suffered from weight gain, acne, bad mood swings, and a
>dark discoloration on my knees, elbows, and neck. I told my
>pediatrician and she told me oh it is normal to have these symptoms at
>my age. But I knew something was wrong. I hardly ate anything and
>watched my friends eat whatever and not gain any weight. So I started
>missing my periods, which I have, been getting since I have been 10
>years old. I told my pediatrician again and she suggested I might have
>PCOS. My mom who has been there for me this whole process I don't know
>what I would do with out her took me to a gynecologist. The doctor told
>me 1 out of three women have this disorder and put me on the pill. I
>got my period but I was not feeling better. The pill is just a quick
>solution. I feel that it could cause damage later when I want to have a
>baby and it would not repair anything. So I saw an endocrinologist she
>diagnosed me with PCOS and hyper insulin. My physician's assistant had
>the same disorder as me and gave me hope because she was fine and was
>able to have children. They scheduled me for an adrenal stimulation
>test and found my problem was coming from my adrenal gland. My adrenal
>gland was all messed up and not communicating properly with my other
>endocrine organs. I felt so relived that I was sick I know it sounds
>weird but it is a relief to know when your body is not working right and
>doctors tell you it is normal. I felt like I had hormones of a teenager
>a pregnant women and a women going threw menopause. Finding out that I
>was sick and there was a treatment really gave me hope. I take 5 mg of
>predisone a day for the rest of my life. It bothered me first having to
>take medication for the rest of my life so young but the results were
>amazing I have energy, I am losing weight, my hair growth in weird
>places is decreasing, my skin is clearing, and I feel so much better
>like my brain is clear, I am getting better grades cause I am enthused
>to do activities I am more outgoing. The predison is taking place of my
>adrenal gland so my levels are normal and my cysts in my ovaries are
>breaking down I get normal periods and it is a wonderful feeling.
>Looking back I realized my symptoms as young as 12. I feel very blessed
>that this was detected when I am still young and with all the new
>medical technology coming out I feel that there will be a cure one day.
>Though I have side effects from my medicine it is just bruising is the
>worst I can bruise more easily but that is pretty much it. But I
>learned medicine is not the only thing that will help my disorder
>expressing what I am feeling with supported friends and loved ones,
>exercising, eating right, and not drinking regular pop. It has been a
>year since I have had a sprite or Pepsi I miss them but I feel allot
>better not drinking pop. Sorry this is long but this has been a long
>process but I am glad I know what is wrong and I hope if there is anyone
>out there who experienced what I did to respond to my message or take my
>advice. I look at girls in my school or on the street that have the
>symptoms and I wonder do they know that they could be sick. So I am
>starting a support group soon for PCOS in my community.
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