Alesis
04-01-2007, 06:40 PM
Hello:
I was Dx'ed with PCOS in 2002. I first got my menses when I was 11, but they were never regular. I even went as long as two years without a cycle.
I have the classic symptoms: Facial hair, acne, obesity, high cholesterol, etc.
I tried BC pills and spirinolactanone (sp?) but they all aggravated my moods (made me extremely anxious and edgy).
What has thrown a monkey wrench in the whole thing is that I have taken psych drugs (ones that have side-effects that upset menstrual cycles) since I was 12. Even with the metformin I still got the occasional period, but not a whole cycle.
I was put on a different psych drug in early 2006 (one without the side-effect of abnormal menses). Later that year, I got a regular cycle for awhile, but it stopped again in Jan 2007.
In March 2007, I was put on Topamax and now I'm spotting every day (side effect of this drug) but no cycle yet.
I went to my endocrinologist a week and a half ago and he ran labs on me. He called me 3 days after he ran the labs to tell me that he thinks the PCOS is not causing the abnormal menstrual cycles, and that he really wants to see the report from my gyn.
My gyn examined me the same day that I was the endo, and asked me to come back in two weeks for an ultrasound to look at my ovaries. The reason behind it was because I was really worried that I might have ovarian cancer, and the gyn wanted to "relieve my worries". I have several of the S&S, including:
• Pain in lower abdomen (worse when I go to the bathroom)
• Diahrrea (5/7 days a week -- could be my IBS, but 5 out of 7 days a week???)
• Big belly (I've been losing weight thanks to the Topamax, but my pants still fit tight in the belly area)
• Occasional back pain (tends to come with the belly pain)
• Increased gas
• Indigestion
• Lack of appetite (could be the Topamax)
• Nausea
• Inability to ingest usual volumes of food (could be the Topamax)
• Bloating
• Increased urinary frequency or urgency
• Excessive hair growth
What's even stranger is that my previous PCP called me out of the blue upon receiving my labs and wanted me to come in for a physical (must be my endo didn't have my updated PCP info. I have since given it to them and my new PCP hasn't called.)
I don't know eactly where I'm going with this post; I just have a lot on my mind that I would like to get off my chest. I would like to see if any of this rings a bell so that if my doctors are missing anything, I can present it to them.
I go for the U/S Thursday. I'm hoping and praying it's not cancer. I don't think it is, since it's not common at my age (29), but I know it's not impossible. I sure hope it's PCOS and not something more serious. Has anyone else been told that their cycles are off for another reason, but they still have PCOS?
I've posted over at the Ovarian Cancer board but haven't gotten much response lately.
Thank you for reading this.
Best,
A.
I was Dx'ed with PCOS in 2002. I first got my menses when I was 11, but they were never regular. I even went as long as two years without a cycle.
I have the classic symptoms: Facial hair, acne, obesity, high cholesterol, etc.
I tried BC pills and spirinolactanone (sp?) but they all aggravated my moods (made me extremely anxious and edgy).
What has thrown a monkey wrench in the whole thing is that I have taken psych drugs (ones that have side-effects that upset menstrual cycles) since I was 12. Even with the metformin I still got the occasional period, but not a whole cycle.
I was put on a different psych drug in early 2006 (one without the side-effect of abnormal menses). Later that year, I got a regular cycle for awhile, but it stopped again in Jan 2007.
In March 2007, I was put on Topamax and now I'm spotting every day (side effect of this drug) but no cycle yet.
I went to my endocrinologist a week and a half ago and he ran labs on me. He called me 3 days after he ran the labs to tell me that he thinks the PCOS is not causing the abnormal menstrual cycles, and that he really wants to see the report from my gyn.
My gyn examined me the same day that I was the endo, and asked me to come back in two weeks for an ultrasound to look at my ovaries. The reason behind it was because I was really worried that I might have ovarian cancer, and the gyn wanted to "relieve my worries". I have several of the S&S, including:
• Pain in lower abdomen (worse when I go to the bathroom)
• Diahrrea (5/7 days a week -- could be my IBS, but 5 out of 7 days a week???)
• Big belly (I've been losing weight thanks to the Topamax, but my pants still fit tight in the belly area)
• Occasional back pain (tends to come with the belly pain)
• Increased gas
• Indigestion
• Lack of appetite (could be the Topamax)
• Nausea
• Inability to ingest usual volumes of food (could be the Topamax)
• Bloating
• Increased urinary frequency or urgency
• Excessive hair growth
What's even stranger is that my previous PCP called me out of the blue upon receiving my labs and wanted me to come in for a physical (must be my endo didn't have my updated PCP info. I have since given it to them and my new PCP hasn't called.)
I don't know eactly where I'm going with this post; I just have a lot on my mind that I would like to get off my chest. I would like to see if any of this rings a bell so that if my doctors are missing anything, I can present it to them.
I go for the U/S Thursday. I'm hoping and praying it's not cancer. I don't think it is, since it's not common at my age (29), but I know it's not impossible. I sure hope it's PCOS and not something more serious. Has anyone else been told that their cycles are off for another reason, but they still have PCOS?
I've posted over at the Ovarian Cancer board but haven't gotten much response lately.
Thank you for reading this.
Best,
A.
Sponsor
Alesis
04-03-2007, 05:12 PM
Update: Just to let you all know, I finally got my menses today. Hopefully I'll continue to get one.
Please pray the my pain goes away and that my ultrasound is normal. :)
A.
Please pray the my pain goes away and that my ultrasound is normal. :)
A.
stac8454
04-07-2007, 05:10 PM
Hi. I have PCOS too. I have always had irregular periods since I started at age 12. I get 2 periods a year, sometimes 3. Right now I am taking Metformin and it seems to be working, although I didn't have a cycle last month.
I hope your ultrasound comes back normal! Happy Easter!
stacie
I hope your ultrasound comes back normal! Happy Easter!
stacie
Alesis
04-08-2007, 09:07 PM
Thank you for your reply, Stac. Glad to hear the Metformin is working for you. Hope your Easter was a good one. :)
I had to reschedule my ultrasound due to my menses. The earliest they could get me in was three weeks from last Thursday...I'll keep you all posted. :)
A.
I had to reschedule my ultrasound due to my menses. The earliest they could get me in was three weeks from last Thursday...I'll keep you all posted. :)
A.