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Re: PCOS, normal insulin levels, infertility & I'm frustrated!From: Sydney (anonymous@obgyn.net)Sat, 27 Sep 2003 10:31:06 -0500 (CDT)
>>I have been told that I have PCOS. I have very irregular periods, cycts >>on my ovaries, fertility problems, male hair growth and acne. I, >>however, am not overweight and my glucose levels came back normal. My >>doctor said the only thing to help would be to go on the pill, but I >>want to get pregnant, so this does me no good. So as for now, I just >>live it. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank You This is my story, retold! I was diagnosed 3 years ago based on the hair growning under my chin (!) and an ultrasound, and went to a gyno who put me on some form of the pill. I am pill intolerant, meaning I bleed continuously on the pill, among other things. I also don't particularly like the side effects, so I told him to stuff it after 2 months and did some research. The fact is that with all the advancements in PCO knowledge in the last few years, most docs and gynos haven't a clue. The old school was to put you on the pill, since it would mask the symptoms. This is akin to prescribing morphine for a brain tumor, rather than treating the tumor. PCO carries with it serious risks of heart disease, adult onset diabetes, and other great things! The pill does nothing to combat these, but finding the cause and treating the CAUSE would. In my case, when I fired the gyno, I went on a mission to find out what's up, and discovered the link between insulin and PCO. I have had episodes of illness (dizzy, loss of conciousness, sick to stomach, weakness, confusion) associated with not eating regularly, or especially eating a lot of sugar without any protein or fat. These started in my mid teens, and didn't surprise anyone on my father's side, where everyone had the same thing, and everyone develops adult onset diabetes later in life. We called this hypoglycemia, and recently (about 10 years ago) first my father, then many other people in the family began restricted carbo diets to combat this, with great success! I am so in love with jelly beans, bread and cake, that I find it impossible to adhere to a strict diet, hence my problem with PCOS. Long story made a bit shorter, I scheduled an appt. with a reproductive endocrinologist who specializes in PCO. My insulin and glucose came back normal on the short glucose tolerance test. My testosterone is very high. I didn't understand how my gtt could be normal with my years of illness associated with low glucose, but she explained that what I described wouldn't show on that test. At my request, she put me on metformin, and after six months, I am pleased. I have had 0 incidents of hypoglycemia (down from 2-3 per week, more when tired) in six months. The hair on my head has grown back. I don't know about my testosterone or cysts, I am due to be checked. My body hair is still ridiculous, but I think it will take years to de-masculinize the follicles, since it took at least 10 to masculinize them. I strongly reccomend that you be very proactive in your treatment. Doctors are only people, some of whom actually know what they are talking about. Research, research and more research. And trust your instinct...you know more than you think you know, especially about your own body. Don't be afraid to act as if you, not the doctor, are in charge of your healthcare decisions. Best of luck!
-- Sydney from nearlynecessary.com
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