TO BELLE: Re: Prednisone/Pregnancy Caused PCOS
From: anonymous (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat, 23 Mar 2002 22:07:09 -0600 (CST)
Belle,
The RE that told me this was Richard Legro, an expert in the field of
PCOS research. He never asked me the questions you did. Is he still
wrong?
To answer your questions: Everyone in my family has heart disease and my
maternal grandfather had diabetes. My mother lost 9 babies in 6
pregnancies to miscarriage. All of my family gains weight around the
middle. I know that I qualify for a diagnosis of PCOS. Dr. Legro said
he didn't know.
Thanks for your insight.
At Sat, 23 Mar 2002, Belle wrote:
>
>You were born with PCOS. It is genetic. You may have seen evidence of
>this disorder but sis not recognize it. Do you have a parent or
>grandparent with heart disease or diabetes. Do you have any men or
>women in your family who are balding or have weight gain around the
>middle? Any women who suffered from miscarriages (miscarriages are
>common with PCOS as well as lupus) or who were unable to conceive?
>
>According to your post, you only had 7 to 8 periods a year *before* your
>pregnancy. This is a symptom of PCOS. Having geststional diabetes is
>common with PCOS because of the insulin problem which seems to be the
>cause of PCOS.
>
>Blood sugars alone do not really mean much with us, you need to know
>what your insulin is in comparison with the blood sugar levels. It is
>worth noting that the prednisone did cause your blood sugar to go up and
>stopping it may be the reason that your sugar level is now lower.
>
>Your RE is not using the research that is available in the area of PCOS.
>If you are depending on this person to help you achieve good health
>and/or another pregnancy, you may be spinning your wheels.
>
>PCOS needs to be treated. It leads to diabetes, heart disease and
>possibly endometrial cancer. A couple of the symtoms of PCOS is fatigue
>and hairloss, by treating your PCOS, you may be helping the symptoms of
>lupus.
>
>http://www.pcosupport.org may be of help to identify the symptoms of
>PCOS.
>
>Bottom line, neither the baby nor the meds did this to you.
>
>P.S. Does it really matter what caused you to have PCOS? With what you
>have stated here in this small post, (1. 8 or fewer periods a year, 2.
>hx of gestational diabetes, 3. elevated insulin, 4. polycystic
>ovaries) you have enough history to indicate that you do have PCOS. You
>have to deal with it from here on out. It is up to you to take care of
>your health in the best way that is possible. Your son deserves to have
>a mom who is able to be there for him. This comes from a mom of two
>with PCOS and 2 other auto-immune diseases.
>
>At Sat, 23 Mar 2002, anonymous wrote:
>>
>>I have Lupus and took prednisone throughout my pregancy (my son is 18
>>months old) and after it for about a year. During pregnancy I had GD
>>that had to be controlled with insulin, but my blood sugars returned to
>>normal after pregnancy. I have been completely off prednisone for 5
>>months and a 2 hr gtt showed elevated insulin levels and I have
>>polycystic ovaries and have only o'd once on my own since my pregancy.
>>When I asked my RE whether or not I had PCOS, he said "I think you just
>>have Lupus" but my Rheumatologist said plainly that LUPUS DOES NOT CAUSE
>>ANOVULATION. Before I got pregnant I had mostly normal cycles
>>(7-8)/year, but since then nothing. Could the prednisone have done
>>permenant damage to my endocrine system? Could it have made turned a
>>little anovulation into PCOS? Or could the pregnancy itself caused my
>>PCOS or chronic anovulation? What do you all think?
>
>--
>Hope this helps,
>
>Belle
>
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