Re: 18 with pcos? needing some info...
From: Belle (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 19 Dec 2001 15:22:10 -0600 (CST)
My daughter is 15 and she has PCOS. I took her to an endocrinologist
because I knew how serious PCOS could be. An endo will probably be a
better choice for a doctor. I have had great experiences in the past
from gynecologists but that seems to be the exception rather than the
rule.
PCOS *causes* weight gain in 1/2 of the women. Losing weight is
difficult because so many of us have insulin problems.
Your track record of starting your period then not getting them
regularly sounds like PCOS, as does the facial hair and the other
unwanted hair.
The fact that you do not have cysts showing up on the ultrasound is of
little or no consequence. You do not have to have cysts in order to
have PCOS. The name was determined before this little fact was
determined. Also, you can have cysts and the reader does not see them.
I had over 100 cysts on each ovary that did not show up on the ultrasond
but the doctor thought something must be wrong and found them while
doing an exploratory surgery 2 weeks later.
TSH is thyroid stimulating hormone, it checks to make sure your thyroid
is not causing your problems. FSH is follicle stimulating hormone and
LH is lutenizing hormone, these two, when compared can help give a
picture of what your overies are doing. They should be very close to
the same for most of the month. Before you go, you should call and ask
if you can also have an IGTT. This is a Glucose Tolerance Test with
insulin levels. In this test, have a fasting level drawn, then you
drink a sugary drink and then they test your blood to see how your body
reacts to the sugar.
Go to http://www.pcosupport.org There is a test there that will help you
determine if you have PCOS. Look under the different options, it is
just above PCOS 101 (or something, I have to go to the dr myself, now.)
At Wed, 19 Dec 2001, jessica wrote:
>
>I went to a NP a few weeks ago because I hadn't had my period since
>july. My mother had mentioned to her that she had read an article about
>PCOS and asked if that could be whats wrong with me. The NP agreed that
>I did seem to have some of the symptoms, but doubted that could be whats
>wrong with me and said my symptoms are probably just due to my weight.
>
>I first got my period at 12. The first few year or two I would get
>horrible cramps, then it turned into being really light and barely
>there. The past three years, my period has been really light but not
>regular. It would skip anywhere to a week to a few months.
>
>Two years ago, I noticed I was starting to grow facial hair. Luckily,
>most of it is a really light blonde and not that noticible, but I do
>have a few really thick red hairs that bother me alot. It feels just
>like the stubble of a beard. I have also started getting really long
>blonde hairs on my chest. I also have black hairs that are starting to
>grow on my lower abdomin. What bothers me about those, is that even
>though I am a strawberry blonde, those hairs are black. Just the hair
>right between my belly button and pubic hair.
>
>I am also overweight. The NP would "like to see me lose 60-70lbs." How
>easy for her to say. I have noticed alot that in my younger pictures, I
>look thin and health. Most of my weight did seem to come on during my
>middle school years.
>
>Some of the other symptoms seem harder for me to tell if I have or not,
>such as acne and infertility. Is it usual teenage acne? I haven't been
>pregnant, but then again I haven't been practicing or trying either.
>
>I do have high blood pressure. I have had it for a while but I have
>been told its because of my weight. Both of my grandmothers have high
>blood pressure and diabetes also.
>
>I had an ultrasound last night. I don't have any cysts. I still need
>to go sometime this week and get blood work done. The NP wanted all of
>these things to get tested: Bun/Creat, TSH, CBC DIFF & Platelet,
>Glucose, Liver Function, T/D Bile, FSH/LH, testosterone, DHEA, and
>something else in her handwriting I can't read. What are all of these?
>I know about glucose and testosterone, but what is TSH, FSH/LH? How do
>they factor in to PCOS?
>
>The last time I got my period was in July. It decided to show up the
>morning of my ultrasound 5months later. Doesn't it figure? It seems to
>be the heaviest I have ever had and I have horrible cramps.
>
>ugh. It sucks being a girl.
>
>-jess
--
Hope this helps,
Belle
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