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Re: pcos and cushings, hairloss, enlarged liver/pancreasFrom: tera (anonymous@obgyn.net)Wed, 12 Dec 2001 11:15:01 -0600 (CST)
At Tue, 11 Dec 2001, Kate wrote: > >At Sat, 1 Dec 2001, Belle wrote: >> >>Avandia is metabolized by the liver. It may have liver toxicity >>effects. If you are on it, you should have a liver function test every >>2 - 4 months (depending on your other medications.) All of the drugs >>that we take for hairloss that I can think of are processed thorough the >>liver as well. There is always Rogaine with is not taken internally at >>all and has had some beneficial effects on some people. The one thing >>that I know is that if you can treat hairloss early, it is better. >> >>Have you considered taking milkweed thistle for your liver function? I >>think(?) that it is supposed to help. >> >>You are in a hard spot with the liver problems. I have not heard that >>enlarged liver and pancreas are definately related to PCOS. I wonder if >>it is simply related to excess weight. There are 50% of women with PCOS >>who are not obese. With all of the ultrasounds that we have been >>thorough, I would think that something like enlarged would have made >>themselves evident. I would also think that at least the women who have >>been taking Avandia and getting LFTs every couple of months would have >>heard something about it as well. Either way, related or not, you are >>right to be very careful about what you put into your body. >> >>The met may be the best for you if you build up very slowly. You should >>take as long as necessary to build up to a theraputic dosage. Many >>women have become sick when beginning metformin. Some doctors do not >>give adequate advice on how to begin taking it. You can start out with >>1/2 a pill a day for a week if necessary, then increase as your body >>allows. You should not be sick from taking this drug. It defeats the >>purpose of taking medication. None-the-less, even though met is >>processed through the kidneys, there is still liver interaction and I >>would ask my dr if this is in fact the right drug for you. >> >>At Sat, 1 Dec 2001, Sonnet wrote: >>> >>>When I was first diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago by my doctor in >>>Sydney, he told me that he ruled out Cushings because I did not have >>>tell tale stretch marks (despite my super large size, I don't have THAT >>>many, and they are pink or silver in color instead of purple;) I don't >>>bruise easily, and I don't have a hump on the back of my neck. I don't >>>know for sure if those are all definite signs of Cushings, but that is >>>what I was told! >>> >>>I believe Cushings stems from adrenal problems rather than insulin >>>resistance, but the end result is pretty much the same. They test for >>>it by testing your cortisol levels. >>> >>>Hope you find some answers soon. I *think* avandia and actos are >>>processed through the intestine rather than the liver, or kidneys or >>>something, but since I don't have any concrete information right at the >>>moment I'll leave that for someone who does. >>> >>>At Fri, 30 Nov 2001, tera wrote: >>>> >>>>Hi >>>> >>>>What is the difference between PCOS and Cushings? I've been diagnosed >>>>with PCOS and have all of the classic symptoms listed by many others on >>>>the boards. I also have an enlarged liver and pancreas and my liver >>>>function is off. A reproductive endo I was seeing for a while said that >>>>my liver and pancreas is definately related to PCOS. Has anyone else >>>>heard of this? She said many patients may have enlarged organs but may >>>>not know because of the excess weight many PCOS suffers carry. >>>> >>>>Also, I did try Metformin for about a month and was so weak and fatigued >>>>and overcome with nausea I could barely work and I stopped taking it. I >>>>did some research and discovered that many diabetic medications should >>>>not be taken if you have problems with your liver function. Does anyone >>>>know of a diabetic med that is easy on the liver? >>>> >>>>Also experiencing severe hairloss. I used to have THICK, STRAIGHT hair. >>>>It has been getting thinner slowly for the last year and is now CURLY >>>>and slightly lighter in color especially at the hairline and finer in >>>>texture. In the last month it has been falling out by the handfulls. >>>>The hairline is the worst. I can now see through my hair in the front. >>>>I started taking saw palmetto because of the anti androgenic properties >>>>I read about on the web and will be heading to my OBGYN in a few days >>>>for my annual exam. I was in there a few weeks ago for a cyst and >>>>showed her my thinning hair which she pretty much blew off saying that >>>>the breakage around my face was new growth. I should know - I'm a >>>>cosmotologist! I will try to get her to put me on another diabetic med - >>>>per anyone's advice which may be easier on my liver and some aldactone >>>>per the advice of the many postings on the message board. Sorry so >>>>long. I'd appreciate any advice! >>> >>>-- >>>Sonnet Fitzgerald, PCOS Association, Online Community Liaison. Email: sonnet@pcosupport.org >>> >>-- >>Hope this helps, >> >>Belle >> >-- >This is in response to the tera. Have you ever been tested for Hemachromatosis? Some of the symptoms of hemachromatosis are like PCOS. The biggest being the cause of diabetes. It also cause hair loss and a an enlarged liver. I do beleive that most organs especially your spleen can become enlarged with this disease. Your Hemoglobin will be elevated. YOU should check this out. Kate Hi Kate! I'm pretty sure that I do not have Hemachromatosis. My sleen and my hemoglobin are fine and I am a pretty classic PCOS sufferer with the anovulation, cysts, etc. I will ask my doctor about it though. I did do some more research after I got one of my first responses from Belle. N.A.S.H. or enlarged liver is not something that is considered to be a symptom of PCOS especially for women who are not overweight - that is true. But because of our PCOS we do have symptoms that may lead to such a condition in some. There is a difference between a normal fatty liver which is usually benign and N.A.S.H. (a condition where the liver is fatty plus has some fibrous tissue and may lead to complications). Doctors do not know why some people develop a uncomplicated fatty liver while some develop N.A.S.H. The factors leading up to both are the same - obesity (most people are overweight with fatty liver but not all), high triglycerides, hyperglycemia, type 2 diabetes. However I believe that the reason why my doctor linked enlarged liver to PCOS is because many of the symptoms of PCOS can lead to a enlarged liver in some people especially in those who are overweight. My doctor talked about fat metabolism. And according to my research fat accumulates in the liver when the liver is unable to change it into a form that can be eliminated.
After my research I did realize that my gastro had diagnosed me with
N.A.S.H. instead of benign fatty liver without doing a biopsy. Yes, my
liver is inflamed but benign fatty liver can also be inflamed. Yes, my
liver enzymes are slightly abnormal (normal is 40, mine are 46) but this
can also happen with a uncomplicated fatty liver. The only true way to
be sure of a N.A.S.H. diagnosis is to do a biopsy to see if fiberous
tissue is present. If it is then you know that you have N.A.S.H. I
will have to make an appt. with my gastro to discuss my findings.
Either way this again reminds me that we all need to get a hold of our
PCOS and have it treated. The same treatments for fatty liver are the
same for PCOS - treat insulin problems, keep weight down, eat a diet
lower in fat and in carbs to help your liver and your insulin levels and
if your lipids are high try to lower them. May your head hair grow long
and lovely and may your liver not be "chubby". God bless, Tera
>
-- Tera
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