Re: I was diagnosed on Friday and I am SO depressed...
From: Sonnet (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu, 10 Apr 2003 16:31:14 -0500 (CDT)
Most doctors and researchers think that insulin resistance is the cause
of PCOS. Sometimes it is too slight to show up as outside 'normal' lab
values in some women, but the theory goes that it is present, all the
same.
Treating the symptoms individually is what happens when you take
medications like birth control, spironalactone, provera,
anti-depressants, vaniqa; or you shave, use topical acne solutions, hair
growth treatments, etc etc. Not that this is a BAD thing, you
understand - all of these treatments can be very useful!
There are ways of treating the actual IR though too, which removes the
problem, makes you an overall healthier person, and then you see a
reduction in symptoms as there's nothing to cause them any more. This
is done with insulin sensitizing medications, low carb dieting,
excercise, etc. The benefit to managing your PCOS this way is that you
can cut down your treatments to one or two, and you get a more complete
health benefit from them. Reducing IR can also reduce your risk of
further complications like diabetes / heart disease / etc.
There is no cure you're right, it's just a difference in how you manage
it!
At Wed, 9 Apr 2003, Tracey wrote:
>
>Now I am confused - you made a comment about only treating symptoms
>(suggesting that this wasn't adequate). I thought all we could do was
>treat symptoms - there is no cure. So what should I be doing other than
>trying to get my period (since I am not IR)?
>Thanks!
>At Tue, 8 Apr 2003, tera wrote:
>>
>>WOW!!
>>
>>Bella, this was an excellent post by Sonnet!! Great job Sonnet! Bella,
>>Sonnet knows what she's talking about. Read this post over about three
>>times!! LOL!
>>
>>I have never heard the bcp explanation made quite so well! Yes, there is
>>hope and there are things that you can do. Bella, most research done on
>>PCOS has been done since the early 90s - that was not long ago and much
>>research is still needed. So, many doctors do still not even know what
>>PCOS is let alone how to treat it - but that is now starting to change.
>>As I'm sure you'll read, many women on this board have had to go to a
>>few different doctors before finding one who will treat their PCOS
>>correctly. Bottom line - if a doctor does not address the insulin issue
>>in some way, then your doctor is probably not up on the latest PCOS
>>research and you might want to find another doctor (even women who do
>>not test positive for insulin resistance have seen improvements with
>>either Metformin and/or a low carb diet and exercize). Sonnet is right
>>- the pill will only treat PCOS symptoms. Some women only want to treat
>>symptoms. But don't you want to treat the source? You are not alone.
>>God bless, Tera
>>
>>At Tue, 8 Apr 2003, Sonnet wrote:
>>>
>>>You need to find yourself a new doctor! Possibly an endocrinologist to
>>>treat the PCOS but at the very least a better, more knowledgeable gyn.
>>>Birth control pills and vitamin E aren't doing a darn thing to treat
>>>your PCOS. They might make you have a period every month, but that's
>>>it, and it likely wouldn't even be an ovulatory period anyway. This
>>>PCOS thing is an endocrine disorder, thought to be caused by insulin
>>>problems. There are good medications for it, there are diet changes you
>>>can make, there are options!! You can control the symptoms, even
>>>fertility stuff. But that will be easier if you have a doctor who can
>>>help you.
>>>
>>>Triphasic birth control pills, like OrthoTriCycline, are NOT good for
>>>PCOS. The hormone levels are not high enough in the early phases to
>>>limit cyst formation / override the hormonal imbalance as it happens in
>>>the ovaries; and then they add a changing hormone level as well which we
>>>have enough of as it is! There is also some evidence that they can make
>>>glucose intolerance (hence insulin isues and thus, PCOS) worse.
>>>Certainly the women here, in general, report a marked increase in their
>>>symptoms after being on triphasic birth control. If you absolutely want
>>>to be on birth control pills (like for contraception) choose one that is
>>>monophasic.
>>>
>>>You're not alone!! Many of us have felt this way... it's so
>>>overwhelming and isolating, especially at first. Remember you're in
>>>very good company (an estimated 10% of all women) and that there are
>>>positive things you can do to fight PCOS. Good luck and welcome!
>>>
>>>At Tue, 8 Apr 2003, Bella wrote:
>>>>
>>>>I was elated to discover this forumn!
>>>>It has been less than a week since my physician diagnosed me with PCOS
>>>>and I am very depressed. My partner and I spent the last year trying to
>>>>become pregnant without success. I noticed a lump in my left underarm
>>>>area and it got larger over the course of a few months..This prompted me
>>>>to see the doctor!
>>>>
>>>>She diagnosed the PCOS and also wants me to get a mammogram for the
>>>>lump. I am in my early 30's and it scares me alot! (I have only heard
>>>>of women in their 40's and beyond having a mammogram.)
>>>>
>>>>My doctor put me on a low dose of Ortho-Tricycline and recommended that
>>>>I take 400IU of Vitamin E daily.
>>>>
>>>>I have many questions.
>>>>*What does the Vitamin E do?
>>>>*Will the birth control pill make me gain more weight?
>>>>*What can I expect in terms of symptoms..Do they generally get better or
>>>>worse over time?
>>>>
>>>>Although I have a very caring partner, I guess I feel alone right now.
>>>>The possibility of being infertile really bothers me and I suppose it's
>>>>silly, but it makes me feel less of a woman. Has ANYONE felt this way?
>>>>
>>>>Sorry to go on so much, I just had to get it out.
>>>>
>>>>Any advice is welcomed.
>>>>Thanks.
>>>
>>>--
>>>email always welcome: sonnet_fitz@hotmail.com
>>>
>>--
>>Tera
>>
--
email always welcome: sonnet_fitz@hotmail.com
![[ PCOS Discussion Forums ]](../../images/pcos_at_obgyn.gif)