confused-- Please read

  • I have been hearing alot about PCOS. I dont have a period but about once a year. It has been this way since I was 15. So I went to the docter and requested some blood tests.
    I got the results in today. They said everything was normal but I was insulin resistant. What is that- how can I be insulin resistant and normal?
    I dont understand. When I asked the nurse, she kept saying all was fine. That the "insulin resistant" meant that if I tried to get pregnant, (which i'm not trying) then I would have to take glucophage. I have seen on this site and others where people with pcos take glucophage. So does this mean I have pcos? or not?
    Does that mean I have it and they wont recognize the problem until I try to get pregnant?
    I have a HARD time with weight. I have been on diets since I was 15. It sucks. I was hoping that the tests would explan why I have such a hard time with this. Would being insulin resistant have to do with my wieght problems?
  • Yes yes yes!! Insulin resistance is a big reason you have a hard time with your weight. The body can't process all the insulin it makes so it stores it instead. Where does it store it? In the fat cells. So, if you have too much insulin, you have to have fat to store it in. A low glycemic or restricted carb diet would help that a lot. Glucophage helps also, did they offer to write you a prescription? Also, PCOS is a little different from IR, but it too can be diagnosed by blood tests. Which ones did they do?
  • What blood tests did they do? Did they do a full hormone panel, or just a few? If you aren't sure, I would call them and ask, or make another appointment to see. My sister's first doctor only checked a couple of things, and told her that she did not have PCOS. She read my PCOS: The Hidden Epidemic book and wasn't convinced, so she went to an Endo and found out that she was not only PCOS, but also Diabetic. Did they do an ultrasound or feel your ovaries?

    Read this page linked below, and it will tell you the tests needed to diagnose PCOS, and what levels the results should be. I would call my doctor back!

    http://www.inciid.org/faq/pcos2.html#2.9

    The Gluc is a very good idea. You need it to get everything in line and help hold off diabetes. My sister went to a diabetic workshop at the hospital and they told her that insulin resistant blood was like syrup and it made the heart work harder to pump. That is an excellent reason for taking your medication and eating right. Here is some info on diabetes and insulin resistance. I know you are not diabetic, but it is important to see what CAN happen if the insulin resistance progresses.
    http://www.howstuffworks.com/diabetes3.htm

    Hope this helps!