More Newbie Questions
Question:
Michelle, I would recommend seeing a reproductive endocrinologist (or whatever the equivalent is in Australia). PCOS has been tied in with insulin resistance and the ironic thing about bcp is that they lower glucose tolerance in some women. PCO is more than just a gynelogical problem, it is an endocrine disorder. You are at risk for diabetes, hypertenstion, elevated cholesterol and tryglycerides, etc. Many PCO women in the states have sought treatment with insulin sensitizing drugs like Glucophage (metformin hydrocloride) and Rezulin (troglitazone). I don’t what kind of drugs you may have available in Australia, but I hope you can find what works for you. Keep doing research on the Internet. There are many resources out there. Good luck to you. <html><P ALIGN=CENTER>Cathy (to email, delete spamslam) <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Cottage/8060/index.html">My Web </A> <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Cottage/8060/PCOS.html">PCO page </a></P></html>
Response:
Hi all – I’m 25 and live in Australia. In mid-1994, I was diagnosed with PCOS after consulting a doctor about infrequent to non-existent periods. At that time I had a blood test, which apparently showed I had "twice the normal level of testosterone", and an ultrasound which confirmed the presence of ovarian cysts. It did seem to make sense, since I was considerably overweight and have had acne since my very early teens. I also have mild hirsutism, with extra hair growth just in a few areas. The doctor’s recommendations at the time were to start taking birth control pills (Brevinor, the cheapest at the time, since I was still a student) and that I should start trying to lose weight. I’ve been taking the Pill ever since, even trying Diane for a number of months but going off it when I wasn’t seeing results and couldn’t justify the expense. As for losing weight, I’ve really only just begun to make a serious effort in that direction. I’m trying to eat less and eat better food and have also started exercising several times a week when possible. To cut a long story short, I’ve seen some improvement in the acne but am not sure whether that’s related to the Pill or just the passing of time. Until recently, I didn’t weigh myself but when I started the exercise program I discovered I am ten kilograms more than I was when I was diagnosed. Over the last month, I have slowly started to decrease on my weekly weighings but still have a long way to go. Now the questions – I am due to get a new prescription for Brevinor in a few weeks and wonder if there are any questions I should be asking the doctor during the visit. I’ve read a fair bit on PCO but am certainly not up on the latest research. I’ve also been pondering whether to ask for Roaccutane for the acne – I’ve always been a bit wary since I believe it would prevent me being a blood donor. I certainly have no plans to have children, so I’m not so concerned about that aspect. Can anyone throw some light on all this for me? I’d be particularly interested in hearing from Australians with PCO about whether I should be asking for a referral to a specialist and whether any treatments are likely to be covered by Medicare. I’m not a student any more but we’re still far from well off! Cheers, Michelle ———–== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==———- http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
Response:
Filed under: Endocrine disorder
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