Brownie_Earthquake
Full Member
Hey everyone!
New to the forum and so glad I found this section!
I know this is a super long random rambling about myself, but I wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience and can offer any thoughts:
I was diagnosed with PCOS 8 years ago, and again 5 years ago.
I have the symptoms which I thought were atypical of the condition - weight gain, excess hair, and acne.
Until my recent diet, it seemed impossible to shift even a couple of pounds, and, the weight loss, although fairly successful, has been very, very slow.
I've been told, more than once, by medical professionals here (and in the US) that I simply do not have the condition because I am not overweight enough and do not have enough excess hair!
I have terrible trouble discussing it with my GP, as he is apparently in denial that I have the condition. He has always been reluctant to offer any help or advice whatsoever.
According to my GP, as of last week, due to the symptoms I described (yet AGAIN) it 'sounds like I may have PCOS but, quote: 'do not look like the sort of person who has it so I probably don't'. When I reminded him it's been in my medical notes for years, he was, again in dismissive denial - even though it was on the screen in front of him!
He also told me that acne, quote: 'is in no way a symptom of PCOS, and PCOS sufferers do not have skin problems', just weight gain and excess facial hair only.
Bizarrely, at the insistence of my dermatologist a couple of years ago (who was outraged that my GP had not it a long time ago, due to the PCOS - confused much?) I was prescribed Dianette, but had problems breathing, so I couldn't continue taking it.
Over the past few months I have finally been referred to a gynaecologist (hooray?) over what is being considered an 'ovarian pain problem' and have been back to the hospital, again, for more internal ovarian scans, of which I am sure some of you are familiar with.
The last one, a couple of months ago showed 'both ovaries as non-polycystic in appearance' - apparently it can just 'appear to have disappeared' at certain times, even though you still have the condition, according to the gynae. - according to my GP, quote: 'that is not possible, you either have it or you don't'. Sense my confusion?!
The gynae. finally referred me for a PCOS blood test. I'm awaiting the results of those in the next few weeks. All he wants to do is put my back on the pill anyway, despite my reservations and past experience
I'd been reading, more recently, about the possibility of PCOS sufferers gaining weight due to the way the body stores insulin, and, according my my GP's Nurse (more helpful than the GP by a mile) she commented that in some circles PCOS sufferers are being successfully treated using diabetic-related drugs, and additionally, anti-androgens.
I know a lot of ladies with PCOS suffer far more from weight gain than I so far have, but, for me, my recent high-weight was massively signficant to what I had ever known. Again, I may not go out with 'excess facial hair' like apparently all other PCOS sufferers do (according to my GP, again) but that's only because I do my damndest to get rid of it every morning - and spend equally as long covering up my apparently 'irrelevant' acne!
Does anyone else here have as much difficulty with doctors and treatment and denial of the condition as I seem to? What do you do?!
I have yet another scan lined up for Friday!
New to the forum and so glad I found this section!
I know this is a super long random rambling about myself, but I wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience and can offer any thoughts:
I was diagnosed with PCOS 8 years ago, and again 5 years ago.
I have the symptoms which I thought were atypical of the condition - weight gain, excess hair, and acne.
Until my recent diet, it seemed impossible to shift even a couple of pounds, and, the weight loss, although fairly successful, has been very, very slow.
I've been told, more than once, by medical professionals here (and in the US) that I simply do not have the condition because I am not overweight enough and do not have enough excess hair!
I have terrible trouble discussing it with my GP, as he is apparently in denial that I have the condition. He has always been reluctant to offer any help or advice whatsoever.
According to my GP, as of last week, due to the symptoms I described (yet AGAIN) it 'sounds like I may have PCOS but, quote: 'do not look like the sort of person who has it so I probably don't'. When I reminded him it's been in my medical notes for years, he was, again in dismissive denial - even though it was on the screen in front of him!
He also told me that acne, quote: 'is in no way a symptom of PCOS, and PCOS sufferers do not have skin problems', just weight gain and excess facial hair only.
Bizarrely, at the insistence of my dermatologist a couple of years ago (who was outraged that my GP had not it a long time ago, due to the PCOS - confused much?) I was prescribed Dianette, but had problems breathing, so I couldn't continue taking it.
Over the past few months I have finally been referred to a gynaecologist (hooray?) over what is being considered an 'ovarian pain problem' and have been back to the hospital, again, for more internal ovarian scans, of which I am sure some of you are familiar with.
The last one, a couple of months ago showed 'both ovaries as non-polycystic in appearance' - apparently it can just 'appear to have disappeared' at certain times, even though you still have the condition, according to the gynae. - according to my GP, quote: 'that is not possible, you either have it or you don't'. Sense my confusion?!
The gynae. finally referred me for a PCOS blood test. I'm awaiting the results of those in the next few weeks. All he wants to do is put my back on the pill anyway, despite my reservations and past experience
I'd been reading, more recently, about the possibility of PCOS sufferers gaining weight due to the way the body stores insulin, and, according my my GP's Nurse (more helpful than the GP by a mile) she commented that in some circles PCOS sufferers are being successfully treated using diabetic-related drugs, and additionally, anti-androgens.
I know a lot of ladies with PCOS suffer far more from weight gain than I so far have, but, for me, my recent high-weight was massively signficant to what I had ever known. Again, I may not go out with 'excess facial hair' like apparently all other PCOS sufferers do (according to my GP, again) but that's only because I do my damndest to get rid of it every morning - and spend equally as long covering up my apparently 'irrelevant' acne!
Does anyone else here have as much difficulty with doctors and treatment and denial of the condition as I seem to? What do you do?!
I have yet another scan lined up for Friday!