Re: Need Help/Advice Please
From: Donna (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu, 30 Aug 2001 23:37:51 -0600
Jessy:
You may want to check out http://www.pcosupport.org. It's the support site for the
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association (PCOSA). They have good information
there.
In a nutshell, you are insulin resistant, possibly hypothyroid, and have possibly
turned the corner from insulin resistant to diabetic (with being thirsty and
hungry all the time). When was the last time you had a glucose tolerance test?
As far as feeling better, I would suggest you get the books The Carbohydrate
Addict's Lifespan Plan by Drs. Richard and Rachel Heller, and the book "The
Schwarzbein Principal" by Dr. Diana Schwarzbein. They are good books to learn how
to carb CONTROL (NOT low-carb) and how to lessen the impact of insulin on your
health. That plus regular, vigorous exercise on a daily basis or at least 5 times
a week will make you feel much better.
Please feel free to email me personally at:
dmirabile@att.net
Donna in Utah
Jessy wrote:
> Hello everyone,
>
> I just found the message board today, after looking up information for
> my sister. It's actually kind of strange, I've been going to doctors
> for several years now, trying to figure out what's wrong with
> me...usually they just look at me like I'm nuts, or blow me off, or just
> treat the most bothersome symptom for the moment and send me packing.
> The most recent doctor did bloodwork to check my thyroid, but it came
> out normal, and so he blew me off. *sigh*
>
> Well, yesterday my younger sister went to the doctor (she's 21, has 2
> children ages 3 and 1, - has had no menstral cycle for almost 3 months
> now, and for the past two weeks her stomach has swollen to the size it
> was when she was 6 months pregnant - doctors did 4 pregnancy tests, all
> negative, then sent her to her OB/GYN), today the OB/GYN found a 6cm
> cyst/tumor on her left ovary - for now he wants to give her medication
> to start her menstral cycle, so that the lining and swelling will go
> down, then he wants to see her again in 12 days, and he said they will
> do another exam, and may talk about surgery at that time. He also
> briefly told her about all the things/complications that this could be
> or lead to, so she is scared to death now. At this point they don't
> know if it's just a benign cyst or cancer (our great-grandmother died of
> ovarian cancer, so that brings in frightening memories/thoughts).
> Anyway, my sister called and asked if I'd go online and see what I could
> find out about ovarian cysts/tumors, and try to give her a little more
> information. (Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!).
>
> Imagine my suprise when while reading the information I was printing for
> my sister, I realized that the signs/symptoms for PCOS sounds more like
> me than my sister. Although, it could be both. Is PCOS or ovarian
> cysts hereditary? My sister is 21, has had two children, she is slender
> (5'4", 125 lbs.), and besides the recent absence of menstral cycles and
> the swelling caused by the cyst/tumor on her ovary, has had no other
> symptoms.
>
> I am 25; have no children; have very irregular/infrequent menstral
> cycles (usually 3-4 per year, moderately heavy); have gained over 100
> lbs in the past 2 yrs (most of it being right around my waist); have low
> body temperature, but am always hot and frequenlty flushed/sweating; my
> previously amazingly thick healthy hair is now much thinner and
> frequently falls out and is turning gray and is dry on the ends but my
> scalp is oily and I fight dandruff constantly; my once nice complexion
> has become very oily in places and breaks out frequently; the skin under
> my arms, breasts, groin, has turned darker; frequently fight those
> annoying black facial hairs that tend to pop up out of nowhere; have
> been told that I'm borderline diabetic; have been told twice before
> after seeing a GYN about my absent menstral cycles, that my hormone
> levels look like someone who has had a hysterectomy or is in menopause,
> but they usually just put me on birthcontrol for 2-3 months until my
> levels get up just enough to have a period, then they blow me off and I
> go back to no periods for months on end; am always fighting through each
> day to stay awake (getting worse lately), even catching myself dozing
> off at work, in the car, etc., even after making sure I get extra sleep,
> etc, it doesn't seem to help; fight depression (take Effexor currently);
> have frequent sinus and ear infections that are almost impossible to get
> rid of; skin heals very poorly and scars easily; can't concentrate or
> remember anything anymore (how am I ever going to finish my
> education...uugghh); excessively thirsty, have to constantly have
> something to drink with me; often feel like I'm starving, especially
> shortly after I've finished eating; frquently get headaches,
> occassionaly migraines. Geez, I sound like a mess....well, I am a
> mess...unfortunately, I can't get anyone (doctors) to listen to me.
>
> We have a long history in our family of cancer (ovarian, breast, bone,
> leukemia), diabetes (TypeII), bone disease, and hypertension. This past
> year alone, three of my aunts (on my mother's side) have discovered
> lumps in their breasts (so far thankfully, all have been benign cysts),
> two of my 1st cousins (both daughters of the aunts mentioned) have found
> lumps in their breasts as well, both are currently being tested. I
> guess heredity must play some role in this, there are too many of us in
> our family, for there not to be. Anyway...
>
> Any advice/suggestions that anyone could give me for my sister and I,
> would be very much appreciated.
>
> --
> Thank you!,
> TxJessy
> txjessy@aol.com
>
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