Re: New to Forum: Intro & History
From: Sonnet (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sun, 2 Mar 2003 15:55:43 -0600 (CST)
The spiro is very good for lowering testosterone levels but one of the
side effects from it is irregular bleeding - including those "2 week"
periods. I know women on here who go on Spiro and find themselves with
constant bleeding, ugh! So, if your goal is a more regular cycle, I'd
say stopping the spiro is a good move.
Not sure what to tell you about the rest of everything but it sounds
like you've at least got a doctor who will try to help now. I hope he
can!
At Fri, 28 Feb 2003, GoldenEagle wrote:
>
>Greetings All,
>
>My name is Dawn GoldenEagle and I found this forum while researching PCOS. I
>was recently diagnosed (in January) after years of trying to find a doctor
>who would at least TRY to find out why I was having menstrual problems and
>offer me some kind of diagnosis. I am 29 years old and have been having
>problems with very infrequent periods since I was about 15.
>
>For a long time I gave up on doctors and just ignored the problem until
>November when I started a "period" and bled for over two weeks. Almost
>exactly a month later (from the start date of the last time) I started
>bleeding again and after bleeding for another 2 weeks I finally got up the
>courage to make an appointment with an OBGYN and get checked out. By the
>time I got in to see him, I had been bleeding for nearly a month.
>
>He examined me - all the usual: Pelvic exam, Papsmear, plus he also did an
>endometrial biopsy. He also sent me out for bloodwork - CBC's to make sure I
>wasn't becoming anemic, thyroid function, and estrogen and testosterone
>level tests. Before he even got any of the tests back he prescribed a birth
>control pill (Microgestin) and a diurrhetic (spironolactone) - to lower
>testosterone levels. All the tests did come back normal - except for
>"slightly" elevated testosterone levels. We expected this as I do have some
>of the symptoms, including the abnormal facial hair (chin and under chin).
>
>Prior to seeing the OB, I had felt fine except for the bleeding. Obviously
>this is disturbing in itself, but physically I felt ok. After seeing him and
>starting on the birth control and water pills, I started feeling really
>lousy. I did seem to have a period during that time, which lasted about 7
>days and then stopped for 2 - 2.5 weeks. A very welcome respite from the
>bleeding! I started bleeding again a little over a week ago and have been
>bleeding ever since (very lightly). On Wednesday I took myself off the
>Spiro. (water pill) because I realized that it was what was causing me to
>feel so yucky. I did this only because I am seeing a PCP next week and am
>hoping for a second oppinion and, hopefully, some alternatives that will not
>cause all those nasty side effects.
>
>The water pill was making feel bloated, and was most definitely causing me
>to be constipated. I felt achy and mildly crampy in my lower abdomen and
>lower back with pressure also present in both areas. I was also having LRQ
>pain in front and back. My bladder was also feeling over-stimulated or
>irritated like there was pressure on it. Since I stopped taking the water
>pill, my symptoms have subsided considerably. I've been feeling a little bit
>better every day.
>
>When I do see my PCP next week, I plan on asking for a couple more blood
>tests to rule out ovarian problems and adrenil (sp) gland problems. I will
>also be getting an abdominal sonogram here pretty soon. I need to see my PCP
>first so I can get the referal I need to fill that order from the OB or my
>insurance won't cover.
>
>I'm trying to connect with other women who may be able to relate to some of
>this. This bleeding is bothersome and my OB hasn't really given me any
>explanations for it. Am I having all this bleeding because my uterus just
>has way too much lining built up for going over 8 months without a period?
>Are my hormones just so out of whack that my uterus doesn't know what the
>heck it's doing or why? Or could this current bleeding simply be from the
>birth control pill messing with my hormones while everything is trying to
>get normalized? And on a final note, isn't it reasonable to assume that if a
>diurrhetic can lower testosterone levels, couldn't also mess with estrogine
>levels - especially if the birth control pill is a low dose?
>
>I'm sorry this is such a long message. I hope that there are a few out there
>who read it and can offer some insight. Any and all is appreciated at this
>time.
>
>Thanks for listening,
>
>Dawn G.
--
email always welcome: sonnet_fitz@hotmail.com
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