Re: I am new here-?'s about meds and bloodwork (long)
From: Cassandra (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 29 Dec 2000 10:58:15 -0600 (CST)
My endo told me that while 70 for testosterone is in the normal range,
most drs look at anything over 50 being abnormal.
Here's a website that talks about what the hormones should be:
http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/hormonelevels.html
According to this site, the LH and FSH ratio should be 1:1. If LH is
higher, it could indicate PCOS.
Do you have any other symptoms? Like irregular mestruation, etc.? Go to
pcosupport.org for a list of symptoms (look for their beginner's kit).
If not, I might ask some more questions...
Good luck!
Cassandra
At Thu, 28 Dec 2000, Carrie wrote:
>
>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
>>
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