PCOS Messages for August, 2002: Re: Newly diagnosed...and very confused by all that I'm reading

Re: Newly diagnosed...and very confused by all that I'm reading

From: anonymous@obgyn.net
Sat, 31 Aug 2002 01:31:32 -0500 (CDT)

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Hi Liz,

since you are doing everything else right and working really hard at it, I can only suggest that you ask your doctor to let you trial metformin (an insulin sensitising drug). This can be effective even when there is no 'obvious' insulin resistance.

I would go first to your regular dr. (after having done research to show him/her) and request to trial metformin. It sounds like your endocrinologist is not into Metformin - so he / she may not listen to your request - but it is worth a try. Also, was your thyroid checked? Low thyroid can make weight loss nearly impossible. Your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) should be less than 2.0. Laboratories often say that up to 5 is normal, but actually it is not.

I did not have 'detectable' insulin resistance, but my doctor said that she considers all women with PCOS should at least trial metformin because in many cases insulin resistance (even undetectable) is at the root of PCOS. I also had 'normal' TSH according to the labs - but not according to my endo and she alo based the diagnosis on my having an enlarged thryoid and other symptoms of low thryoid. With meds, it is still very difficult to lose weight, but it is not impossible - like before.

Hope this helps.

Sally

At Fri, 30 Aug 2002, Liz wrote: >
>Hi everyone:
>
>I recently went to an endocrinologist at the advice of my Dr. who was
>confused (as was I)about why I was dieting (Atkins diet, to the letter)
>and exercising (5 days a week, 2 with a trainer) for months and not
>losing weight. The endo determined that I had high testosterone levels
>and coupled with some other symptoms (cystic ovaries, facial hair,
>spiked cholesterol, and very recent irregular periods) decided I have
>PCOS. I don't, however, show any insulin resistance and have always
>(until a few months ago) had regular periods. I can also feel when I
>ovulate every month.
>
>Her response to this is to put me on the pill, indicating that it will
>eventually level out my hormone levels. I guess my real concern now is
>that I'm trying so hard to lose weight and can't...and now I know why,
>but all the advise I read tells me to do exactly what I'm doing....go on
>a low carb diet and exercise...and that wasn't working.
>
>SO, has anyone had a similar situation to mine, i.e. PCOS without
>insulin resistance, and has the pill worked for them? Or if not, what
>HAS worked?
>
>Thanks...would really appreciate some guidance from someone else's
>experiences...
>
>--
>Liz
>

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