At what point will my doc try something new?

[Geena]

I was diagnosed with PCOS in November of last year. My obgyn changed my birth control to Yasmin, and said it should help with my obvious symptoms (the most bothersome for me being the excess hair). She also recommended I try laser treatment. Problem is that I already did that 3 years ago (5 treatments), and it is back and probably worse than ever.
My doc also says that I am within the normal range for my weight (132# at 5'3"), but I cannot seem to get her to understand that this is not normal for me and it keeps getting higher and higher....and is seriously gathering around my midsection.
I had my annual yesterday with her, and told her that my symptoms have not improved and even worsened a bit. She changed my birth control again and said that should help. I mentioned that I had read a bit about glucophage, metformin, spino??, and she said, that they would likely have little effect on me and that the birth control and laser treatment was all I could do.
Well, I am moody as heck, getting chubbier and chubbier each week even with exercise, and I could very well grow a lovely goatee if desired! :) Should I see an endo, or try a different doc? Anyone else ran into this? It just feels so helpless, and it is getting so terribly depressing now.

[CtMT]

Geena, Your story sounds so similar to my own. I went undiagnosed for years;my doctors were only treating the symptoms of PCOS with birth control pills. I didn't tolerate them very well and stopped. Every few months I went to the doctor for Provera and kept gaining weight (went from 103 to 139 at 5' 4" in one year). Every doctor I went to wanted to put me back on birth control pills, but because I was within the "normal range" for weight, no one actually diagnosed me with PCOS. They kept telling me that my body needed that weight, that I was too small before, but that still did not explain the amenorrhea, excess body hair and all the other symptoms that go along with PCOS. Not to mention that I am very small boned and comfortable at a lower weight. I had absolutely no energy (if I sat for a moment, I could fall asleep) and later found out that I was having hypoglycemic reactions, but no one put 2 and 2 together because, again, my weight was "normal" in their eyes.

I found these boards and did my own research and found a new doc. I insisted blood work be done, which came back borderline so again, no treatment was recommended. I made my three-month f/u appt. and insisted we go about this another way. I was sick of visits every three months for Provera (a lot of times I would go much longer) and sick of the weight gain (no matter what I did I would continue to gain), excess hair growth (blonde, so can't even do laser), etc. So I was finally put on metformin and sent for a referral to an endocrinologist who is wonderful.

If I could do this over again, with the knowledge I have now, I would find a doctor (whether it be a GYN or endo) who is very familiar with this syndrome and recognizes that you do not have to be severely overweight to have it and is willing to treat the underlying cause, not just the symptoms.

Good luck!

[slightly]

I too was given BC and told that was the only treatment. This is not uncommon, it is very unfortunate. I don't know why more docs aren't aware of PCOS and the proper treatment, since it is supposedly the most common cause of infertility issues in women, but here we are! Most agree now that the underlying cause of PCOS is insulin resistance (IR) and its important to get that under control as people with it have a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease than the general population. It was this discovery by my mom's research that led me to get an appointment with an endocrinologist, get a definitive diagnosis (my gyno had been telling me for years i might have it but that there was nothing to do for it but BC till I wanted to have kids, that then i might need a little "help") and start getting treated. I would find a doc that is knowegable about PCOS and also start educating yourself. One thing I've learned after getting the "brush off" from docs for years and being made to feel like a hypocondriac, is that we are our own best advocates, we gotta make someone listen.

Best of luck to you!!

[Geena]

Wow, great to hear your stories. I really have begun to feel like a hypochondriac lately! Today, I have been fishing around on the web quite a bit today and found a lot of great info especially on this site.
It really is dissapointing that there are obgyn's out there that do not seem to be all that familiar with it.
When mine told me that this could be the cause of all of the issues, and when my blood test came back showing my hormones out of whack, I felt so relieved and thought that it would finally be taken care of. She made it sound like the pill would fix it all, and when it did not, she just kind of gave up.
I know it sounds vain, but the facial hair and weight gain are the worst for me. Again, I am not "overweight" according to the numbers, but for me I really am and that is just soo frustrating. I also love how the doc just thinks it is so easy to get laser hair removal again. My goodness that cost me 5000.00 total!!! There is no way I can have my husband agree to that again.
One thing I am considering purchasing is the No! No! hair remover system. Sephora sells it, and it is like 250.00 and the effects are suppossed to be similar to laser without heat and burning or issues with hair color, tan, hair thickness etc. If and when I get it, I will definately let you guys know if it helps at all.
One quick question for you...how about cinnamon? I read a bit about it on here, but do either of you have thoughts on it actually helping a bit?

[slightly]

I take cinnamon along with my met and everything else. I don't know if it works better or at all for me since i started taking it at the same time as met. There are some ladies on here that have reported that it has helped them. My endo didn't seem to give it a lot of credence, but she said I could take it. So, I don't think it can hurt to give it a try.

HTH!!

[wannabeathlete]

I don't know what I would do without being able to read these posts sometimes. They give me hope!

I made the decision to talk to my gyno. this week about putting me on Metformin. I have resisted before now just because I feel like I have to present a legal case just to get them to understand that I'm not crazy nor am I lazy. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 13 and the only treatment they even think of is BC and telling me to lose weight. Well, I did lose the weight. I lost almost 70 lbs. and kept it off for two or three years. But, in the last two years I have gained back almost 50 lbs. I still had all the same problems when I was 70lbs. lighter, but that doesn't seem to matter. I had so many problems with BC pills and the side effects that I just gave up with them for a while. I eventually started using the Nuva Ring which I really like, but its taking a while to get my periods on it.

It would make sense that I could be IR, based on my family medical history. My Grandmother (Dad's side) was diabetic, My Dad was diabetic (passed away after his third stroke) and my mom had Gestational diabetes when she was pregnant with me. But, never once has my Doctor ever asked for my family medical history. It kills me that I try to be proactive with my health and my Doctors put up road blocks. I can't tell you how many Doctors have told me that I just need to eat less and exercise more which I find hillarious considering I could out run and out lift most of them. If dieting full time were a job, then I would be rich!!!

Anyway, my doctor wants me to come in for another visit to "talk" (code for I'm going to tell you why I won't prescribe it) about it. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make my case for being put on Metformin?

Thanks!

[jenghig]

I also had several issues that no doctor would touch I went through 4 obgyns and 1 general partictioner and no one did anything to help me it was all my fault and bc, and one other med. Until I talked to my natural family planner who told me she was sure it was pcos. I went to a doctor and she put me on met. Honestly I've never sued a doctor before, but I gained 100 pounds in 3 years and no one did anything. I tried everying these doctors told me and they only made it worse and they just didn't care. Has anyone here ever sued?