Welcome! Let's see if I can help you explain some of the things you listed:
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Originally Posted by polleta
Yesterday I had my app with the endocrinologist... started badly when the nurse said I had very high blood pressure which I have never had before.
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This sometimes happens if you're nervous before the appointment or if you were in bad traffic trying to get to the appointment on time. It's happened to me and my blood pressure is elevated. I've learned to leave a chunk of time on my schedule when I go to doctor's appointments so I don't have to rush AND I try not to get mad that they always make me wait an hour before seeing me!
Quote:
Originally Posted by polleta
Then went in and was so confused. He told me my results didn't really show signs of IR like the other doctor said but combine them with the PCO it may show an insulin sensitivity.
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Insulin resistance/sensitivity is really just a progression of your reaction to glucose in your blood. It's very clear when you're a diabetic compared to a non-diabetic (blood sugar levels in diabetics don't return to "normal" as quickly as a it should). But insulin resistance/sensitivity is degrees of difference.
For example, in my case, just 4 or 5 years ago, my blood sugar levels in the morning were at 85 or less (low 80s). That's a great blood sugar reading for fasting-blood-sugar levels.
However, in the last few years, my IR has gotten worse. My blood sugar is now in the 90s (upper 90s) and I am eating healthier than I was back then! But that's my body saying that it's not producing the right about of insulin for my body. (And why I have to watch my diet and exercise!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by polleta
As I've been on the pill he said he couldn't run some tests he would like to.
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Right. PCOS is not only about IR, it's also about a imbalance in your hormones -- progesterone, estrogen, and other androgens including testosterone.
However, if you're taking birth control pills, you can measure your hormones correctly because the PILL is giving your hormones. And hormones act together to activate more or diminish that and the hormone tests they would take would show you what you look like on the pill -- which is not really what's going on with your body, independent of the Pill.
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Originally Posted by polleta
He's prescribed me metaformin to see if I can have a regular period with it and not have migraines and asked me to come back in a month.
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Metformin is a drug that helps you to improve your insulin sensitivity (in other words, improve the amount of insulin that your body creates). This case also be done through exercise and improving your diet.
He wants to see you in a month so he can ask how you feel on Metformin and if you are tolerating it. Depending on how much he's given you, you may need more or less than the dosage he has first prescribed. You need to figure out if it's enough or not... Some people can tolerate it well (no side- effects ) and others do not (gastrointestinal problems). If you can't tolerate, he'll either reduce your dosage or look at extended release options.
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Originally Posted by polleta
He also felt my glands on my neck and temple as well as looking at my back and chest.
I don't have hair loss, or excess hair(though to be fair I have two brothers and a dad who are all almost hair less chest wise).
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You're lucky!
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Originally Posted by polleta
Honestly I left really confused... couldn't understand how this will work(he did explain but really I felt so stupid listening). I am willing to give it a try... willing to give anything a try really but just don't understand at all.
Can anyone help me get it?
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It sounds like you're just now developing some symptoms of PCOS. Which is great, because the more you can treat it now, the better it will be for the long term. I think I waited too long.
Now, on to what is PCOS......
Quote:
Originally Posted by polleta
This is what I get so far: My body sometimes does not send the signal to release the egg fully so it kinda stays on the edge of my ovaries. A hormone causes this. This hormone may or may not be related to my insulin levels. My migraines are because my hormones get confused and have sudden changes which again may or may not be related to insulin and thus blood sugar. Is that it? or am I missing something obvious??
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Kind of. PCOS is a series of
symptoms, which only now doctors and scientists are beginning to piece together.
There are different types of PCOS patients and while the general consensus is that you should watch what you eat and exercise and maintain your weight at a healthy level, there are other things that will vary and be very specific to an individual.
The new research indicates that our entire endocrine system is really the source of PCOS. For a long time, many people through it was related to the ovaries, since the ultrasounds of ovaries would show a string of pearls (eggs that never matured and were released). However, the research is showing that this is more of a disorder of all glands that we have in our body which comprise the endocrine system -- that means that you can have PCOS and a problem with your thyroid. Or PCOS and a problem with your pancreas (which would be Insulin resistance). Both the thyroid and pancreas are part of the endocrine system. So are our ovaries, but PCOS isn't a disease of the ovaries, it's just a symptom, although some PCOS patients will handle issues with their reproductive systems and find relief.
The biggest problem is that PCOS isn't black and white. It's not on one blood test, not one pill can fix you, and it's a condition that you just have to manage for the rest of your life.
With enough changes, you can be one of those lucky PCOS patients where the symptoms are hidden and doctors would never think you ever had anything wrong with you. Others are not so lucky and the signs remain, even as they work on it.
Does this information help?
There's tons of information on this site and on the rest of the internet, so feel free to do research when you don't feel so overwhelmed. It takes a while to absorb and you'll have to play around to figure out what works for you.
And welcome again!