Help please smart chicks!

[goodforme]

You all know my troubles with my cycles, I have certainly moaned about them enough here lately. I am confused as to what is causing the problem, and hoping you all could help.

I was going along just fine on NO medication eating a low-carb diet. I wasn't losing much weight, but my periods were normal as they could be. Then, in January of this year, they stopped. The diet was unchanged, so I don't know what made it stop. So, until June I had nothing. Then, on June 18 it came back. This is August 27 and it still has not gone away.

I have had success with Provera (progesterone) but that causes a chemical d&c, so after a few days I have a flood. The gyno put me on a 50 milligram BCP, and I bleed every day. He told me to double the dose, and voila! No bleeding. Drop back down to the normal dose, here comes the flood again.

Do you think that I need more estrogen, or more progesterone? All of one and none of the other? The doctor is just saying "ride this out for 3 months and we'll discuss the options after that." I'm afraid my only options are surgical in nature, and I really really really want to avoid that. I can't afford the time off work to recover!

Anyway, thanks for any advice you can offer!

[Jennifer 3FC]

Gee Sherrie, I wish I could help! I honestly don't know what to advise. Is your doc telling you to ride out 3 months of a non-stop period - or lack of? I hope it is a lack of, because 3 months of bleeding and you'll be going back in for transfusions! Does he do bloodwork each time you go in?

[goodforme]

Sorry! Clarification needed. He wants me to keep taking the BCP at the normal dose and let myself bleed until it stops. If it gets bad again it's definitely D&C time. It's not heavy and he doesn't think there's any danger of my hemoglobin dropping much if I keep taking all this iron. The thing is, its painful and messy and irritating! Ever wear a pad for 3 solid months? :lol: Anyway, that was probably too much information, huh? It's past my bedtime, can't you tell! Thanks, Jennifer!

[frapilu]

In response to your question "Ever wear a pad for 3 solid months?" -- yes, I wore one for 6. At an ultrasound last year, we found I had a fibroid tumour. I was hopeful I could get a hysterectomy since I'd had bad periods all my life, but they've been getting progressively worse (flow & pain). By the way, at the ultrasound, my ovaries were fine so I guess I don't suffer from PCOS. Unfortunately, the gyn I was referred to told me I was too fat to operate so I had live with it until I lost weight. B-itch!! I went back to my doctor in tears. My doctor recommended that I try Depo-Provera shots (you get them every 3 months). I went through 3 months of bleeding during the first shots. Ended up anemic. I took iron and had the second shot, continued to bleed the next 3 months. Just had my 3rd shot lately and I've finally stopped bleeding! My doctor said this was normal. Perhaps that's what your doctor means to ride it out? Sure, it was messy, but no pain (sigh of relief). Since hubby won't touch me when I'm bleeding, it mean our love life definitely went on hold (oh joy, it's wonderful making up for it *smile & blush*).

Hang in there. Hope it gets better soon.
France

[Pooky]

Sherrie, I feel so bad for you! I had the same thing except I would go sometimes 3 weeks with bleeding and then months without it! Very, very irritating. All I can say is if you can tough it out for the 3 months and hopefully your doc will come up with a better solution. All this blood loss is definitely not healthy. :grouphug:

[Jenniffer]

You poor thing! The only thing I can really say is...

Start looking for a new doctor now. Are you seeing an endo or a gyn now?

[Georgette]

Isn't it amazing how little some docs seem to know? I know they are just folks, but there seems to be so little info out there, even withing GYN community. I had constant bleeding numerous times. I went on the pill to stop it once, went off the pill to stop it the next time. I feel like we are living in the stone ages!!!

[HopefulSpirits]

Sounds like you could also have Endo. This is also common in PCOSers. PCOSers either dont bleed on time or bleed too much but the later is usually caused by endo.

I agree, find a new doc.

Also, its important to remember that as you age, so does the PCOS. As PCOS ages, it gets worse. So what might have worked a while ago, may not now. This is why its SOOO important to try the gluc. This will TREAT the PCOS and keep it from aging.

GL!

[princessdurr]

Sherrie,

I surely do feel for you! I have PCOS and kind of had that problem. I am trying to get pregnant so obviously had to get off of bc pills, but, the problem with that is when I am not taking them, I do not get a period, so in turn, had to take progesterone. Anyway, in the process of all of that, my period decided to come and not stop for 3 months straight!! I sympathize!! My doctor put me on estrogen pills(Premarin) for a month and it didn't stop at all. My doctor then told me that I had to get on bc pills to get the bleeding under control before we did anything(not what I wanted to hear). He put me on something called Mircette for 2 months. I am presently on my last month of them and they have worked wonderfully in regards to stopping the bleeding. Also, the reason that he put me on those specific pills was because he felt that I needed more estrogen to stop the bleeding and it has worked!!! I hope that this helps you. Please keep me informed about what happens and good luck!!!

[debyj]

HeyGirls----You might want to see a reproductive endocrinologist. They tend to be able to figure out this stuff---pcos and the hormone thing---debyj

[princessdurr]

Sherrie, just wanted to let you know that I added you to my buddy list so that I can keep up with how everything works out. If I don't add you, I will forget because I have not been able to get on line as often as I usually do since we just moved. We are also in the middle of getting a new isp. Talk to you soon.

[HopefulSpirits]

Princess, I agree with deb. I think you should find another doc. Sounds like he isnt trying to help you at all but only look at a small portion of PCOS. Has he discussed with you about glucophage? Or maybe a d&c too? Lap?

[goodforme]

Thanks everyone! I am going to my PCP this week to TRY to get a referral to an endo, she's also a metabolic specialist (and the only endo in my town who takes my insurance) so I think she could help me figure this out. Neither my gyno nor my gp wants to do the blood hormone tests it would take to find out what's deficient, they just keep pushing pills at me and threatening surgery. It's sickening because they're men and have no idea the misery of excessive bleeding and low hemoglobin and breast tenderness and ovary tenderness, not to mention chafing!! That's worse than all the rest put together for me!

Anyway, I will keep you posted, but I really do think I don't have enough estrogen either. Thanks for all the replies!

[Jennifer 3FC]

Sherrie, I am keeping my fingers crossed that you get that referral! If not, can you find a new GP and try for a referral that way? Maybe your insurance can step in and ask for the referral, as well.

France, they said you were too fat to operate? How much do you weigh? You don't have to answer that, I have a problem with always giving too much info, so modesty isn't a problem with me!
Equally appalling is that they think you weigh too much, but they want to give you Depo, which is notorious for weight gain! How big is your tumor? Mine was the size of a honeydew, and it had a stalk growing out of it with another growing the size of a potato. Fibroids tend to feed off estrogen, which make them grow, and they tend to collect blood in the area of the tumor to help feed them. See below for more fun stories!

Sherrie, you can't give me too much information! I am bad about talking about whatever, whenever. It usually only causes problems when I do it at the dinner table! :o
I bled for about 2 months once, but that was all. I had a large fibroid in my uterus that was growing at twice the speed of a baby. (Uterus size that is). I took Lupron shots and that held off the growth, but I walked around looking literally 5.5 months pregnant, bleeding like a stuck pig waiting for surgery. I even had a woman ask me with a huge smile when the baby was due. Boy was she moritified. They couldn't get the tumor to shrink, so they went ahead and scheduled surgery. I bled right up until the day of surgery. He hoped the tumor would shrink so there would be less cutting. He had to cut me about a foot long because of the size of it, and because of the nature of the bleeding. The Lupron starved my body of estrogen, I went into menopause and the fibroid essentially starved to death. The blood flow slowed down everywhere except the cervix. Each time he cut into it, I would spew blood, so he left the cervix behind and just took the uterus.
Fun, eh? I felt so much better once it was over.
Haven't had a period in 4 years!

Like everyone else has said, if your doctor can't find the answer, keep looking! If anybody is remotely near East Tennessee, I can give you the number of my repo-endo, PCOS is their specialty.

[frapilu]

Jennifer,

I'm 253 on a small-framed 5'3" body. The ultrasound was just a pelvis one and it didn't exactly find a fibroid but rather "The uterus is bulky measuring 133 x 68 x 85 mm. It is of inhomogeneous echogenicity consistent with fibromatous infiltration. No well defined fibroids could be seen. The endometrium measures 6 mm and is unremarkable. The ovaries, adnexa, and bladder are unremarkable as well". So my doctor referred me to a gyn.

The gyn decided I was too fat because she said it would be dangerous to operate me. I could stop breathing and stuff like that. She mentioned depo but refused to give it to me because "getting fatter is the last thing you need". She wanted to send me for a transverse ultrasound to get a better idea of whether there was really was a fibroid and how big, but I didn't go for it and never went back.

I went back crying to my doctor. I had read up on depo and had read that women who are already overweight don't usually have the weight gain issue so my doctor & I agreed to give it a try. Now I'm really wondering since although the bleeding had stopped, it has once again started. So other than 2 little 3-week breaks, I've been bleening since February. Unfortunately, the alternative, for me, is still bleeding almost constantly but with agonizing cramps. So I don't have much choice.

On Aug 2, I was diagnosed with Insulin Resistance and started low dose Metformin. When I told my doctor that the bleeding had re-started, she mentioned that she believed the Metformin might help that. I'm seeing her again Sept 20 so she will hopefully increase my Metformin dose.

By the way, Jennifer, I thank you and your sisters for having set up this wonderful site. I used to hang out just for the Weight Watchers. Now I can consult this part too. You guys have got it covered!! Thanks for having been there.

frapilu

[goodforme]

Well, the gp didn't give me encouraging news today. No endo in my future, he says he's deferring to the gyno for now. He wants me to have a hysteroscope and ultrasound DRUM ROLL PLEASE. . . . because he's positive I have PCOS! I fell out! I have been telling him this for 9 years and he never believed me. Anyway, all my hormones are within normal levels, thyroid is normal, everything is normal. So why am I bleeding so much? He said, "That's a damn good question!" Hence the tests needed at the gyno. He says there has to be something physically wrong with my uterus because it just can't be hormonal. I'm confused! At any rate, the gyno visit is next week. Anyone ever had a hysteroscope? Is it painful? I'll keep you posted.

[HopefulSpirits]

Sherrie, DUMP his arse!!! PLEASE find a new doctor! He is worthless in my opinion. Your health is MUCH too important to allow his slow butt to come around.

As for the "physically wront with your uterus" is a BUNCH OF BULL HOCKEY! If he were a doc of an endo patient, they'd be in stage 4 before they'd get help!

Please find a new family doctor or DEMAND an RE! Remember, YOU PAY HIM! YOU can make the demands! He is a lousy doctor to not really want to help you.

[Jennifer 3FC]

France, sorry I didn't reply sooner. My e-mail notification isn't working! You should not be too overweight for surgery. I weighed your weight at 3 inches taller and it was never even mentioned to me as a risk when I had my hysterectomy. Do you have heart disease or pulmonary problems? I would get a consultation with an anasthesiologist and ask for a second opinion.

Sherrie, I am sorry you didn't get the referral you wanted. Can your gyno refer you to an RE or do you still have to go back to your GP for that? I've never had that scope done. Hope it goes well! What day do you go to the doctor?

[frapilu]

Jennifer,

I think that my weight on someone 3 inches taller is less of an issue than my weight at my height. But you're right. Other women fatter than I am get hysterectomies. I just managed to get a fat-phobic gyn.

I had borderline high blood pressure but it's been completely under control with diuretics for years. No other problems except the gyn being an idiot. For now, I've finally stopped bleeding (again!!!) with depo-provera and I'm taking Metformin for the insulin resistance. If my periods continue to be stopped by depo, then I really don't care whether I get a hysterectomy or not since the symptoms of terrible periods will be resolved. I'm seeing my gp for my annual physical on Friday (Sep 20) so we'll see what happens.

You know, it's about the second time my life that I consult a gyn, different gyns each time. Each time for problems with my periods. This time was around last Christmas. Last time was about 15 years ago. This time the gyn told me I was too fat to operate. Last time, after running a bunch of tests like testosterone level and stuff like that that all turned up normal, the gyn told me to get off my fat a-ss and move it exercise-wise so I'd lose weight.

I really don't think much of gyns. Or rather, gyns really don't think much of me.

France
259/254/under 200

[HopefulSpirits]

I dont know how big you are but Im 5'6" and weight 250 pounds. Im a size 22. I had surgery...an Ovarian Drilling that also removed the endo. My doc that did this was a cautious one but was not worried about my weight. I dont know if this helps but there it is.

[frapilu]

I'm 5'3" and 254 lbs. I guess I've just been unluck with gyns.

France
259/254/under 200

[Jennifer 3FC]

I think I would consult with an anasthesiologist and discuss it with him/her. They are the ones that have to keep you breathing. I was about 245 and 5'6 when I had surgery and they had planned on a 5-6 hours surgery, which wound up as 7 and I was fine and nobody was concerned once I had the chest x-ray. So many people heavier than you get gastric bypass and other more complicated surgeries. I would keep looking for another gyno. You will find a good doctor, they are out there!

[goodforme]

Back from the gyn. This is the last resort before surgery. He doesn't want to put me through a d&c yet, he thinks this will work better.

The shot.

I was in shock. People bleed freely on the shot. Weight gain, hair loss, mood swings, etc. He told me that it is all reversible, and that this will actually shut down the ovaries and stop the endometrium from thickening. There is no cancer (thank God, I never even thought of that one!) so there is no reason to do a hysterectomy until I pass my childbearing years. That I just have a benign condition that makes my endometrium thick.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?????????????

Any ideas? Any stories from those of you who have had the shot?

[frapilu]

Sherrie,

I'm sorry, what's "the shot"?

France

[goodforme]

Sorry! The depo-provera shot. Supposed to take once every 3 months to prevent pregnancy and it causes the period to stop while you're on it.

[frapilu]

Sherrie,

I thought that was it. I started Depo-Provera in February. I more or less bled from February until a few weeks after my next shot in May. It stopped for 3-4 weeks, then I bled again until a few weeks after the next shot in August (I think it was Aug 7). It stopped until I had a little bleeding episode Sept 2 to 12 and has been stopped since. Will it start again? I don't know. My doctor thinks we're over the hump, but we'll see. Do I need to mention I've been treated for anemia since May *smile*?

As to weight, in February, before Depo-Provera, I weighed 257. My weight has been stuck in the 250's for the past 3 or 4 years. When I was diagnosed with Insulin Resistance on Aug 2, I weighed 259. I don't consider that a weight gain since I bounce up and down between 255 and 259 normally. I didn't lose my hair. I didn't have mood swings. Nothing else.

Despite all the bleeding, it was still much better than before. I used to have just horrible periods -- super heavy and super painful. I've had pretty heavy bleeding at times on Depo (I call them flash floods because that's what I had a few episodes of) but hardly any cramps. For me, that makes it worthwhile (assuming I really am finished bleeding now).

If you'd like to discuss this via email, feel free to email me at frapilu@magma.ca. Of course everyone is different, but for me my feeling with Depo Provera so far is that I'm hopeful. I would have preferred to stop the bleeding sooner, but such is life.

Good luck to you on Depo Provera. If you go for it, I hope you're one of the lucky ones who stop immediately, or soon afterwards.

Frapilu

[princessdurr]

hey, hopeful, sorry that it took so long to respond, but, finally!! anyway, i have thought about switching doctors but i am not quite sure if i am. i know that it sounds kind of lame, but, it really gets kind of annoying. he did put me on glucophage, but, eventually took me off cause he really wanted me to be on 2 pills a day instead of one, but, when i tried taking 2, i started getting dizzy so he kept me on the one. he basically told me that if i lost the weight, it would enable me to ovulate, which in turn, get pregnant. He also said that losing the weight would basically correct everything. He is a fertility doctor. You know how that goes. We will see what happens; to be honest with you, the thing that gets me the most upset is trying to get pregnant and it not happening as a result from the PCOS. Talk to you guys soon

[HopefulSpirits]

Dizziness is common. But, if you get on the GlucXR (1-a-day dosing) and take it at night just before bed, no more dizziness because it happens while asleep. I know this for a fact because I too react this way when I missed my night pills and had to take them for about 4 days during wake hours until I worked my way back up to my night hours. HUGE difference at night.

Just a thought!