Re: SUSAN Re: Tell me I'm not crazy.....
From: Susan (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu, 29 Jun 2000 16:36:55 -0500 (CDT)
Thank you to all you kind ladies who have responded to me. I really
appreciate all of your help and advice. I am going to call my GYN and
ask for my LH and FSH numbers so that I know what I am looking at....all
I was told was that they are "normal" BUT....I think the girl I talked
to didn't know what she was talking about since the first thing she said
to me was "Well, you're not menopausal and you're not pregnant"
I think the menopause thing threw me so much that I never realized until
today that if that's what she THOUGHT I was being tested for she
probably just saw that they were within normal limits and never realized
that she should be looking to see if the numbers were close or if one
was higher than the other.....DUH! :)
At Thu, 29 Jun 2000, Judy wrote:
>
>You most certainly are not crazy.
>
>You're not alone, either. First, congrats on your lovely daughter! So
>sorry that your health started to get hellish from there, though,
>sweetie.
>
>I'm in PA as well, and am absolutely convinced that PCOS problems are
>going on with me as well. (A doctor in NJ also diagnosed me with
>"probable PCOS" years ago, which I thought would make this clear cut.)
>Unfortunately, having it recognized here in PA has been impossible so
>far. Unless a case is blatant, it's nearly impossible to be taken
>seriously. But for your health's sake, don't give up.
>
>A reproductive endo is definitely the way to go. However, be prepared
>to do your research beforehand and have to speak up. I've seen 2 REs
>here in PA--one's whos the 'best' in Philly, and one who is a PCOS
>pro--and neither suggested an insulin test until I did. (!) This seemed
>like a no-brainer to me and my husband, so we don't know what to make of
>it. 'Philly pro' dismissed me in general, did no physical exam, and
>based on my "normal" levels from other doctors' blood tests, dismissed
>several of my symptoms as aging. (I'm 35). There seems to be a lack of
>curiosity in general about this if your blood levels appear normal.
>
>If it's not PCOS, I fully expected REs to discuss other possibilities.
>I've read that adrenal fatigue, for instance, can result in similar
>symptoms of exhaustion. Wrong again: At best, blood tests were ordered,
>but neither RE was able to vocalize with my husband and I what else it
>could be. You may have to do it yourself, Susan. I'd be happy to share
>my research with you, so that you can best see if anything matches how
>you feel.
>
>Wish I could say it will be easy (luckily, some women here did find it
>to be so!), but that hasn't been my personal experience. But I believe
>*nothing's impossible*, particularly with all of us networking, sharing
>our research and offering support.
>
>--
>Judy
>
>At Tue, 27 Jun 2000, Susan wrote:
>>
>>Hi- I have been looking for a solution or an explanation to all of my
>>problems for a while now and a very dear friend just sent me the link
>>for information on PCOS.
>>
>>I have always had irregular periods and would sometimes go for 6 months
>>or more without one. My husband and I tried to conceive for a year
>>before we went to the OB/GYN for help. They kept us there, wasting time
>>for another 7 months. We went through all kinds of
>>testing....post-coital, hysterosalpingogram and various ultrasounds and
>>sperm testing. At one point the doctor even had me taking Robatussin to
>>try and help.
>>
>>Finally we were referred to the reproductive endocrinologist. At that
>>point I had been on Clomid for 6 months. Within 2 months we were
>>pregnant after artificial insemination and I gave birth to my daughter
>>in July of 1998.
>>
>>I lost all of my pregnancy weight very quickly and nursed for the first
>>three months. As soon as I stopped nursing, I gained 30 pounds in about
>>3 months...all centered around my stomach. My periods were coming about
>>every 50 to 60 days...pretty regular compared to how they had been
>>before the baby. But, unfortunately, since February I haven't had a
>>period, so it seems I am reverting back to the old disruptive cycle.
>>
>>I was unhappy with the extra weight and tried and tried to lose it, but
>>it seems no matter how hard I try, it just will not come off....I lost
>>about 7 pounds, but it seems like that's my limit.
>>
>>I have other symptoms too...extra hair on my chin, inner thighs and from
>>my belly button to my pelvis, skin tags, tingling in my fingers and
>>toes, sometimes tremor in my left hand, decreased libido, acne, mood
>>swings...
>>
>>I also want to sleep all the time. I constantly feel exhausted. I
>>could sleep 9 hours and wake up tired, which is really bad with a two
>>year old....I need all the energy I can get!
>>
>>I went to my GYN last week and asked to be tested for PCOS. He agreed
>>and had them do some blood tests. They tested my FSH, LH and DHEA
>>levels and the nurse called me today and said all my levels were
>>"normal", but the doctor wants me to go back to see the reproductive
>>endocrinologist.
>>
>>What I need to know is this...could those levels be normal and I still
>>have PCOS??? If so, which of the recommended tests should I push to have
>>them do? The testosterone, Andro, prolactin levels and IR testing?
>>
>>I want to make sure I have all my bases covered because I was SO ready
>>to cry when they said everything was "normal" because I certainly don't
>>FEEL "normal". Then I did some more reading and think I may still have
>>PCOS...
>>
>>I just need to know that I am not a hypochondriac. My family thinks I
>>am crazy that I have all these things wrong with me, but I think they
>>are ALL related. Luckily my husband has been 100% supportive of me and
>>my battles. He KNOWS that I am not like I used to be and he wants to
>>help me find a way to get better and I thank God for that.
>>
>>Sorry to write such a novel, but I just wanted to get the opinions of
>>some of you knowledgeable ladies and see what you make of my
>>situation....THANK YOU! :)
>>
>>--
>>Susan Livingston
>>Allentown, PA
>>
--
Susan Livingston
Allentown, PA
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