islander81
04-15-2006, 06:32 AM
hi im 24 and 2 years ago i was told that I had pcos. when i asked the doc how she knew, she said that its a 'rule out' diagnosis. basically, they rule out any other problems and if everythings normal then its pcos. because of this, i dont trust her diagnosis. at the time, my fsh and lh levels were off (those were the only two things that were off) she did do a vaginal ultrasound where she showed me about 6 cysts on my left ovary and 3 on the right. i went to her because i was having continous spotting with no full on periods. anyway, about 6 months ago, i decided i wanted to come off my birth control and to test my hormones again and ALL the levels were normal including a 1:1 ratio with the lh and fsh. i went back on the pill and came off of it just this month. (i stopped mid pack, and got my period immediately after) well, wouldnt u know it.. i started spotting on the exact day that i was supposed to get my period this month and it hasnt stopped!!! its been 11 days so far. no full on period again. brownish/light red blood enough to use just one pad a day. how do i stop this?? i dont want to go back on birth control (ive tried many many brands and they all make me nauseous) ive also started breaking out. my boyfriend thinks its just my body getting used to the hormones. i dont know if the pcos is coming back or what. i feel like going to the doc is a waste since all they ever seem to want to do is put me on birth control. i asked for metformin from 2 different docs and they say theres no reason for me to take it unless im trying to conceive.
any opinions? is this really pcos? why are my levels normal if it is? could it just be that i was really skinny at the time they tested me years ago? does pcos ever 'go away'? my doc took one look at me and said i dont fit the profile (im thin with no other symptoms but the spotting) and she even said that just because my ultrasound showed cysts it doesnt mean its pcos. im confused. what tests will actually PROVE that i have it?
sorry so long i just have a lot of questions about this. if i really have it i wanna treat it. thanks =)
any opinions? is this really pcos? why are my levels normal if it is? could it just be that i was really skinny at the time they tested me years ago? does pcos ever 'go away'? my doc took one look at me and said i dont fit the profile (im thin with no other symptoms but the spotting) and she even said that just because my ultrasound showed cysts it doesnt mean its pcos. im confused. what tests will actually PROVE that i have it?
sorry so long i just have a lot of questions about this. if i really have it i wanna treat it. thanks =)
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ASPROUSEY05
04-15-2006, 11:32 AM
you could be like me and have some polycystic ovaries, but not the syndrome. that is what i was told. my periods are early sometimes but i ovulate, on my u/s i had 6 on one side and 9 on the other, they told me ppl with bad pcos can have up to like 40.. my hormones are normal, and i need to lose weight (but like 10lbs) did they test to make sure u are ovulating?? that is important.. just b/c ur bleeding a lil each month doesnt mean ur ovulating. did they test u for testosterone?? but trust me u dont want to take metformin.. u should also have a blood glucose test to test for insulin resistance, if u do have insulin resistance then u might consider metformin. it doesnt make u feel good, bad gi problems, nausea, diarrhea!! its not something u want to take if u dont have too... i hope i helped a lil!! good luck
islander81
04-16-2006, 03:16 AM
you could be like me and have some polycystic ovaries, but not the syndrome. that is what i was told. my periods are early sometimes but i ovulate, on my u/s i had 6 on one side and 9 on the other, they told me ppl with bad pcos can have up to like 40.. my hormones are normal, and i need to lose weight (but like 10lbs) did they test to make sure u are ovulating?? that is important.. just b/c ur bleeding a lil each month doesnt mean ur ovulating. did they test u for testosterone?? but trust me u dont want to take metformin.. u should also have a blood glucose test to test for insulin resistance, if u do have insulin resistance then u might consider metformin. it doesnt make u feel good, bad gi problems, nausea, diarrhea!! its not something u want to take if u dont have too... i hope i helped a lil!! good luck
what test is that to make sure you are ovulating? the only tests ive had done are the ultrasound and the lh,fsh, testosterone, dhea. the last time i tested they came out all normal. my glucose levels are all within normal range. i did a fasting insulin level and it came out LOW (which is opposite what it should be if i had insulin resistance right?) thats why my current doctor is so baffled.
it DOES make me feel better to know that my ovaries arent that bad if people have up to 40 cysts though! my sister has pcos but her hormone levels are all totally out of range (testosterone and dhea are both way high) and she used to only get her period once a year.
so if we dont have the actual syndrome, then whats the significance of the cysts in the ovaries? does that still lead to infertility? could this be the reason for my constant spotting (still going.. day 12 showing no signs of stopping) is there something i should be doing to monitor the cysts?
any input is much appreciated =) !!
what test is that to make sure you are ovulating? the only tests ive had done are the ultrasound and the lh,fsh, testosterone, dhea. the last time i tested they came out all normal. my glucose levels are all within normal range. i did a fasting insulin level and it came out LOW (which is opposite what it should be if i had insulin resistance right?) thats why my current doctor is so baffled.
it DOES make me feel better to know that my ovaries arent that bad if people have up to 40 cysts though! my sister has pcos but her hormone levels are all totally out of range (testosterone and dhea are both way high) and she used to only get her period once a year.
so if we dont have the actual syndrome, then whats the significance of the cysts in the ovaries? does that still lead to infertility? could this be the reason for my constant spotting (still going.. day 12 showing no signs of stopping) is there something i should be doing to monitor the cysts?
any input is much appreciated =) !!
ASPROUSEY05
04-16-2006, 10:49 AM
Wow, Ur Dr Is Pretty Thorough Then That He Did All Those Tests... I Was Told That The Significant Of The Cysts, Is That Even Tho I Ovulate Reguraly A "bad Egg" Can Still Makeits Way Out And Then If It Fertilizes The Chances Of Misscarraige Are Higher.. Or If The Cysts Get Worse Then They Just Might Not Come Out And I Will Stop Ovulating.. I Need Ivf Anyway Bc Of Male Factor Infertilty, But They Want Me On All These Meds To Try And Get My Eggs The Best They Can Be B4 We Do Ivf... Good Luck 2 U!!!
serafina
04-17-2006, 11:53 AM
I just wanted to jump in here because I can relate to the confusion about this syndrome and doubting the diagnosis. My only symptom was no period for 5 months after getting off the pill. I am very thin, never had a problem with hair or acne (although, I had been on the pill for many years - since I was 18). I too had all those tests and for me, my lh was 2x higher than fsh, but not outrageously high; my free testosterone, dhea and prolactin were all normal, but my total test. was slightly elevated, but "not like usually seen with pcos" as my doc put it. My fasting insulin was low and upon ultrasound, there were no cysts and my ovaries were not enlarged at all. Of course, this is all very confusing and I am constantly worrying that symptoms will suddenly appear. I keep thinking my hair is falling out now - but I don't know if it's just because I'm looking for it to fall out because I know that is a symptom. Every little blemish I get, I think, oh oh, maybe my testosterone is high today! I am back on the pill (Yasmin) per my doc's recommendation, and not a day goes by where I don't analyze my body for symptoms. I just wanted to give my support because I know first hand how confusing it is. I guess we can't make it out to be worse than it is though. I know people who do have pcos and just go about their lives without thinking about it. I sure wish I could do that!