by Snowdrop » Fri Jun 17, 2016 8:12 pm
Hi all, I'm new here, though have been reading posts on and off for a few years but this is my first post as I'd put off actually joining until I'd hit all the brick walls...
I'm 26, a healthy weight and BMI but have been suffering with irregular periods, heavy periods when I get them, excess hair, thinning hair on scalp, oily skin and acne since about 18 (all was perfectly normal prior to then).
I saw two GPs about this (a couple of years apart, in my late teens/early twenties) which is when PCOS was first mentioned and I of course read up on it and it made perfect sense to me (I read the connection to insulin - my Mum, Grandmother and Great Aunt are diabetic).
The first GP ran bloods which came back normal, the second GP ran bloods and an ultrasound, again all normal. One GP basically told me I was being oversensitive about my image and I couldn't have PCOS after all because I'm not overweight. She was actually very patronising suggesting I should try shaving or bleaching as if I was talking about peach fuzz, (like I hadn't already tried that!). I was prescribed antibiotics for the acne which did help but thick dark male-like hair continued to spread over my breasts, face and abdomen and my periods never returned regularly.
Then last year I changed GP surgery and brought this up again with my new GP who was extremely helpful and willing to investigate further (a little embarrassing but she was the first to actually ask to see the hair problem, she compared it with my arms which are fine and light, and agreed there was definitely an issue to be investigated - thank goodness). She ran more detailed bloods and an ultrasound. But again every result came back 'perfect' including the scan. She said she was puzzled but was sure there must be a hormone issue somewhere so referred me to an endocrinologist (at last!) who I saw in April this year. They took my history and ran even more detailed bloods (I don't fully understand them but included prolactin, TSH, SHBG, haemoglobin, kidney and liver function, corrected calcium, glucose, FSH, LH, testosterone, adrenal androgens, 17 OHP). I got the results recently and the letter says yet again levels are in normal range and I'm discharged back to my GP. They said if the results were normal, the only other explanation could be mediterranean heritage (but how does that explain irregular periods and thinning hair, not to mention I'm extremely pale and burn easily?!). Besides I know I have no mediterranean or asian heritage.
Now I'm just left feeling like a freak, confused and distressed all over again! I was so sure it was PCOS. Am I wrong to feel they're missing something? Surely all these physical symptoms are enough to warrant a diagnosis? Prior to the referral my new GP did discuss hair removal with me and I understand my best options are laser or electrolysis which is something I ultimately want to pursue but will have to save up for (I think I'm lucky in that I have hair only on the chin area of my face which I have to pluck twice a day and cover with concealer so at least I hope no one can see it but the most distressing for me is the chest hair which I now leave as plucking and shaving just makes my skin sore and spotty).
I've never been on contraceptives, the endocrinologist said they could cause more problems than they're worth and to be honest it's not something I'm comfortable with either. As for fertility (which is something that's crossed my mind in all this) I've never been in a relationship so have no idea if that will be a problem for me as well. I've read the helpful books by Colette Harris and Marilyn Glenville and I'm gradually switching to low sugar/low carb and higher protein/fibre, etc and noticed a particular difference in my skin when I decreased my dairy intake.
I'm not sure what other advice I'm asking for really, but is there any reason to go back to my GP about this, now I've had these final results? Is there anything else I should do after all this? Would I be wrong to go on self-treating this as if it is PCOS anyway? And how do you cope with stripping off for a laser/electrolysis therapist with such a humiliating problem (no one has seen me without clothes since I was about 11, so this in particular feels like an enormous leap of courage/confidence for a very shy person like me).
Thank you for reading! (Sorry it's quite long)