Re: I am new here-?'s about meds and bloodwork (long)
From: Celeste (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu, 28 Dec 2000 12:09:03 -0600 (CST)
At Thu, 28 Dec 2000, Chris wrote:
>
The LH and FSH are supposed to be roughly equal, or 1:1. When LH is
higher, like maybe only twice as high, 2:1, then they call it
anovulation, but once it's triple, 3:1 or even higher, that means PCOS.
My endo said that they used to consider a testosterone reading of higher
than 44 in a woman high, but he has been reading papers that say it
should not exceed 25--they are learning more about women's levels of it
all the time. Be glad yours is not 180 like mine; your case may respond
better to therapy. Also you have caught it at a somewhat younger age,
that has to help. If you think you can handle it, try to lower the
carbs in your diet while on Met. It seems to make Met more effective
for lots of us. Get a carb counter book ($6 paperback) and try to get
to or under 60 grams of carbs a day. I have to stay under 20 grams to
see good results, but noticed some improvements when I cut back from a
zillion to under 100. Good luck to you!!!!! Maybe this will be enough
to restore your hormonal balance.
>Dear Carrie,
>I know that with two of the hormones measured, LH and FSH, their values may
>be normal in themselves, but the ratio can be out of whackThe ratio is meant
>to be under 1:3 I think. Not much help, sorry!!
>Love Emma
>
>>----- Original Message -----
>From: Carrie <anonymous@obgyn.net>
>To: Multiple recipients of list PCOS <anonymous@obgyn.net>
>Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2000 6:10 PM
>Subject: I am new here-?'s about meds and bloodwork (long)
>
>> Hi, I am new here-just diagnosed a week ago. I have some questions that
>> I hope some of you can help me understand. I am counting my blessing's
>> that I was seen by an endocrinologist and haven't had to endure some of
>> the pain you all have. I am 27 and am overweight-all my life-but in the
>> past year put on 40lbs., very lethargic, moody, can't lose weight on
>> diets. So I went to my dr. for a thyroid workup...those tests were
>> normal so he ordered a LOT of hormone bloodwork and he interpreted it as
>> not normal. I know I am not a dr. but the lab printout shows the
>> normal range and what your results are and I was in range on everything
>> except C-peptide, and my testosterone was 78 and the range for a woman
>> on b.c is 20-71. can anyone explain how he came to this decision. I
>> feel he is correct, it all finally fits-I just don't see the abnormal
>> hormones like a lot of you talk about. He put me on met and I see him
>> again in 6 wks-rough the first few days (gastro) but getting better. I
>> would GREATLY appreciate any info/advice anyone wants to give me...feel
>> free to email me with it. sorry this is sooo long! thanks
>>
>> At Wed, 27 Dec 2000, Sonnet wrote:
>> >
>> >Hi Shawna :)
>> >
>> >Yes, it is quite normal for IR PCOS'ers to have normal glucose (or even
>> >sometimes low glucose) and high insulin. It's actually probably really
>> >good that you have that test, because perhaps now your doctor wqill be
>> >more likely to prescribe insulin drugs like Met or Avandia that really
>> >help. (Of course you say you've already been on Met, so maybe this is a
>> >moot point, what do I know!) :)
>> >
>> >I don't know as much about Avandia as I've not been on it, but from what
>> >I hear it works great. There are a few posts about it from a week or so
>> >ago, they should be easy to find! I hope you get it and it works wonders
>> >for you.
>> >
>> >I also don't have much info for you about your last question, but I
>> >wanted to tell you I'm doing the same thing.. I am currently about 330
>> >(5'11") and we've been trying to get pregnant for 15 months or so. From
>> >everything I've read, the weight makes SOME things (like ultrasounds and
>> >blood pressure stuff in hospital) a little more of a challenge, but
>> >plenty of "supersize" women give birth with no problems every day. I'm
>> >wishing you luck!
>> >
>> >--
>> >Sonnet
>> >
>> >At Fri, 22 Dec 2000, Shawna wrote:
>> >>
>> >>Hey folks-
>> >>
>> >>I'm a lurker here.. I've been seeing a local RE on and off since last
>June.
>> >>More on these days- especially as I'm smack dab in the middle of a 9-
>week
>> >>period (bleh...)
>> >>Anyway. I don't have another appointment with him until January, so I
>> >>thought I'd ask my questions here for now.
>> >>
>> >>1. My last blood work showed a normal glucose level but high insulin
>level.
>> >>This was just a fasting test, but not a glucose tolerance test. Does
>this
>> >>seem indicative of insulin resistance? I've never been specifically
>tested
>> >>for that, however.
>> >>
>> >>2. I'm hoping that I can go on Avandia or one of the other new IR drugs
>> >>soon. I was on Metformin a few years ago, but couldn't tolerate the
>nausea.
>> >>I understand that Avandia has far fewer side effects, but how chemically
>> >>similar is it to Met? Does it have the same effect? I ask because I've
>heard
>> >>of both drugs being used at once, and I'm not sure how they are
>> >>complementary to each other. I also would like more information about
>how
>> >>commonly Avandia is being used for PCO patients, just in case I
>encounter
>> >>some skepticism from my Dr. when we talk about it. His original plan was
>for
>> >>me to go lowish-carb and see if I lost weight before we discussed other
>> >>options. I did change my diet, and haven't gained any weight in the last
>6
>> >>months, which is a good sign, but I'm midly perturbed that so much of
>this
>> >>responsibility is being placed on me, when it seems as if there's a
>> >>perfectly good drug out there that would make this process seem far less
>> >>like punishment for eating jelly donuts 5 years ago. I would certainly
>love
>> >>to be able to lose more weight on my own, but I'm fighting my body the
>whole
>> >>way, (especially with fatigue, depression and joint problems) and it
>seems
>> >>silly to not help it along.
>> >>
>> >>..but I rant... :)
>> >>
>> >>3. I'm seriously considering getting pregnant next summer, and then just
>> >>yanking everything, or otherwise making my reproductive system a moot
>point.
>> >>I'm almost 30, and wish I could wait a few more years, but I'm tired of
>the
>> >>problems with my midsection so I just want to make use of them and then
>make
>> >>them go away. I'll have about 7 months to ramp up to being physically
>ready
>> >>for it. I'm hoping that I can talk the doc into trying the other
>treatment
>> >>options for me in that time before I start taking the clomid, etc. I'm
>> >>hoping to be in far better health by the time I get pregnant. My
>question
>> >>related to that is that either way, it's doubtful that I'm going to be
>100%
>> >>by the time I'm ready to try to put a bun in the oven. Have any women
>here
>> >>gone through a pregnancy while fairly seriously overweight (I'm ~300 lbs
>> >>right now) and still IR- (plus all the other stuff- back pain, joint
>pain,
>> >>etc)? Is it a truly horrendous experience? How much more weight did you
>gain
>> >>while pregnant? Any delivery problems? Problems with miscarriage? And
>how
>> >>did your body change after the pregnancy? Did your PCO symptoms or
>insulin
>> >>levels change?
>> >>
>> >>Anyway... if anyone has info on these things, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!
>> >>
>> >>-Shawna
>> >
>> >--
>> >Email always welcome to: sonnet_fitz@hotmail.com
>> >
>>
--
Celeste
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