DHES...and dexamethasone. Need help cysters!

[Searchingforhope]

Hello sisters...I need some help. I have been waiting for a call back about upping my dosage of Met for the past 2!!! weeks. I finally called them back today and now they are doing something about it. (My midwife left the office and instead of transfering my chart to the doctor I asked 2 weeks ago they put it in the midwifes old box and its been sitting there!!) The new doctor is seeing me THIS thursday (soon for their office, I think they're trying to butter me up now) The office manager said she did want to up my dosage of Metformin but also said that my DHES level was 340 and they like it to be under 250. She said they will be treating me with dexamethasone. I can't find any information about DHES ANYWHERE. Has anyone had this, what is it, any links for me. And also, doesn't dexamethasone make you gain weight?? Exactly what I DONT need!
Thanks girls! Love you all!
Ash

X-posted in fertility as well!

[hlh5f9]

This probably isn't a help, but I just started taking dexamethasone 3 days ago. The side effects listed really scared me, but so far I haven't noticed any difference. We'll see how long it lasts...

[Searchingforhope]

This probably isn't a help, but I just started taking dexamethasone 3 days ago. The side effects listed really scared me, but so far I haven't noticed any difference. We'll see how long it lasts...

What scares me is that PCOSers are know to hoard the calories and gain weight very easily...and one of the biggest symptoms of dexamethasone is weight gain....I don't want to gain any more!!!!!!!

[hlh5f9]

I have been noticing lately that I've been eating more. I haven't gained weight, but I definitly have been hungry more often. I geuss we'll see what happens...

[slong007]

Sorry I'm no help. All I can find is that DHES stands for Dehydroestrone sulfate. And it seems to be involved with a lot of drug testing.

[csrgirl]

I just read an article about dexamethasone yesterday on the soul cysters web site in their discussion forums. I've tried to find it again but had no luck. From what I read, dexamethasone is a steriod that blocks the androgen production, thus stopping/slowing the male pattern hair growth. It's only used for PCOSers in small doses to affect the hair growth. I don't think the typical side effects apply in this case because the dose is so low. I remembered all of this because I was going to speak with my doc about starting it, thought it was interesting.

[Searchingforhope]

Thank you so much! I did go today, she said levels should be under 200 and mine was 340. She upped my dosage of met to 1500 (but will be steppin up slowly) and she also wants to start me on clomid next cycle. She said from my cycles (they are around 37-39 days) that she can tell (also from OPK and temping) that I'm not ovulating. I told her I was suprised that she was starting clomid so early (we've only been trying for a month). She said that had I been having 28 day cycles she would have told me to come back in a year but she can tell I'm not ovulating so...next cycle (in about a month) I will start clomid and on day 12 go in for an ultrasound! Sorry...kind of off topic but I just had to share...I'm excited!! She did also start me on the dex...at night.

[csrgirl]

You might want to talk to your doc about taking this while you are trying to get pg. I read in that article that you weren't supposed to take it if you're trying to get pg because it can cause severe genital developmental problems if you conceive a male child, because of the androgen blocking agents in the drug.

[Searchingforhope]

My doctor is aware that I'm trying to get pregnant, the only reason shes putting me on it is because I'm trying to get pregnant. She said the male dominant hormones that I'm secreting are blocking me from ovualting. She said to ovulate and have a baby, that my levels need to be below 200 and my levels are at 340. She said once I conceive that I will stop the medication as soon as I know. Thank you for the suggestion though! :) :lol:

[slong007]

Searching - I think the article one of the other girls is referring to is this one (see link). Its really long, but informative. You may wish to discuss how your doc plans on removing you from the dexamethasone b/c you can't suddenly stop taking it. It must be stepped down gradually. I think he says it is given to help suppress androgen production so you can ovulate, but I would personally want to know how you go off of it once you're pg. I liked the article because it explained the whole ovary function is a way I finally understood. :) Good luck! Hope you get pg soon. :)

http://www.soulcysters.net/pcos-required-reading-65636/

[Searchingforhope]

That article was...brilliant! That had everything imaginable about PCOS in it. I'm actually thinking about printing it out and giving it to my doctors office...I'm not sure they'd like that though! :? THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!! You're the best!

[slong007]

Thanks, but I can't take the credit. I found the article in another post.

I admit that it was some article though. I've never read anything like it. Good luck giving it to your docs. I'm don't know if mine would even read it. :)

[csrgirl]

THANK YOU! I looked and looked and could not find that thing again. It is very long, but it is very informative and something we shoudl all print and keep for future reference.

[peggy]

Just for comparison, I thought I'd give you my DHEA sulfate level when I was first diagnosed: 543. Doctor said that was "very high". At that point, too, my weight was pretty good due to lots and lots of exercise. Wonder what levels were like when I was younger and not eating very well and much heavier...

My most recent level was 3,3 umol/l. But it uses a different measurement (metric) , can anyone tell me how to convert so I can compare then and now?