How were you diagnosed?

[Miss Phode]

What symptoms did you have? How many doctors did you see before you were given a diagnosis?

I'm starting to wonder if I have PCOS that has gone un-diagnosed.

[2big4mysize]

Re: How were you diagnosed?

there are blood tests that can say you got it but it is many tests adn your physical symptoms too. it isn't like say having strep throat where they can look at your red pussy throat and grow and idnetify your bacteria in a lab.

there are many different symptoms from the actual painful cysts to abnormal periods to secondary male sex characteristics. you can have one or all and get a different treatment too based on your symptoms.

[vmckelvie]

Re: How were you diagnosed?

What symptoms did you have? How many doctors did you see before you were given a diagnosis?

I was very lucky in as much as I have a very thorough Doctor. My diagnosis is recent (just last Friday in fact) and I had gone to my Dr for a check up and blood tests.

My symptoms were very heavy periods sometimes, extreme stomach cramps, bloating... sometimes very light periods too! Actually TOM seemed to be all over the place! I do have a slight discolouration under my armpits as well as skin tags, but these could be explained away by age for one, and using aluminum deodorants (which I didnt actually.. but still had in the past)

The bloating in my stomach, hands and feet as well as my tummy cramps were the main reason I went - at times the pain was so bad, I would keel over until it passed. Also the other thing that made me go was the bloating... when I was 15kg heavier, my wedding rings fitted me fine, but I had already dropped 15kg, and couldnt even get them over my first knuckle.

I explained my syptoms to her, and went through a variety of tests. I was checked for prolapses - both front and rear (no, it wasnt very nice!) and I went through a variety of blood tests too.

My first blood test result showed that I was insulin resistant, and not ovulating.

Second test (hormones) came back I was ovulating but there were certain things that didnt add up.

Third and final blood test, which was to check the male hormone levels, confirmed to her and myself that I had PCOS.

I have been prescribed Metformin and am on day 3 of taking the tablets. My Dr advised me to take only 1 for one week, then up it to 2 a day for another... and then I go back for a Dr's appointment to discuss dosage levels. She advised me doing it this way, so that hopefully the sideaffects from the tablets wouldnt be severe.

So far so good. A little nauseous, which is nothing bad to deal with, and from today, very loose BM - but again nothing uncontrollable - meaning I didnt have to stay at home to make sure I was near the bathroom

What I have noticed in just the three days is; my blood glucose levels have already dropped .08 in just three days. Today I was finally able to put my wedding ring on, (yes its still a little tight!) after nearly 6 months. I have absolutely no appetite when taking these meds, but I have unquenchable thirst and am noticing the fact that even my lips feel dry.

Its all good from me, there is nothing happening that is not uncontrolable you know? and I am just relieved to finally get a prognosis that explained what I was going through too.

From what my Dr told me - was that basically if she couldnt confirm the PCOS diagnosis through blood tests, then the next thing would have been to go to a specialist, and have a camera inserted to have a look at my ovaries. This would have been costly, but in my opinion, still worth it, if the blood tests didnt come back with confirmation.

It does help to have a Dr that you are comfortable with too. Mine is wonderful!, and she is completely supportive of Atkins as well.