Aa
I want to scream!
I just got home from the doctor and am extremely frustrated!
A little history, I had surgery a few years ago to remove bilateral ovarian cysts (4 cm on left, 7 cm on right and 5 smaller cysts on the right). At the time of the surgery the doctor also saw the beginnings of endometriosis. Ever since that surgery I have been plagued with problems. Pain, heavy bleeding, irregular cycles, fatigue, and on and on. I also have a history of mono in college and ebv in my late 20s. All regular blood work last spring came back normal (sugars, cholesterol, etc.)
My most recent ultrasound (done mid cycle) shows that I have a 2 cm fibroid, slightly enlarged uterus, and 11 small ovarian cysts (5 on right, 6 on left). Add to this my recent issues of weight gain (no matter what I do/don't do. I've gained 10 pounds in the last year), pelvic pain and tenderness(mostly stabbing on the left side), bloating, migraines, fatigue, eczema on my hands, psoriasis on my neck, cyclical diarrhea, very heavy periods, and extreme fatigue. My doctor's main focus at the appointment was weight loss (I'm trying and I don't eat a lot) and asking if I was depressed. He seems to be attributing this more to depression, weight (even when I was working out at the gym 5 days a week I could never lose the weight and weighed about 12 pounds less than now) and age (I just turned 37). I know what it feels like to be depressed and this is not it-yet it is depressing to feel this way physically for so long and never be taken seriously. I was actually relieved when the nurse first told me about the cysts because I thought for once they would take me seriously because there WAS something there...but the doctor just seemed to brush it off...
What could this be? What do I do next? How do I get my doctor to take me seriously and not blame these issues on past depression? Please help!
A little history, I had surgery a few years ago to remove bilateral ovarian cysts (4 cm on left, 7 cm on right and 5 smaller cysts on the right). At the time of the surgery the doctor also saw the beginnings of endometriosis. Ever since that surgery I have been plagued with problems. Pain, heavy bleeding, irregular cycles, fatigue, and on and on. I also have a history of mono in college and ebv in my late 20s. All regular blood work last spring came back normal (sugars, cholesterol, etc.)
My most recent ultrasound (done mid cycle) shows that I have a 2 cm fibroid, slightly enlarged uterus, and 11 small ovarian cysts (5 on right, 6 on left). Add to this my recent issues of weight gain (no matter what I do/don't do. I've gained 10 pounds in the last year), pelvic pain and tenderness(mostly stabbing on the left side), bloating, migraines, fatigue, eczema on my hands, psoriasis on my neck, cyclical diarrhea, very heavy periods, and extreme fatigue. My doctor's main focus at the appointment was weight loss (I'm trying and I don't eat a lot) and asking if I was depressed. He seems to be attributing this more to depression, weight (even when I was working out at the gym 5 days a week I could never lose the weight and weighed about 12 pounds less than now) and age (I just turned 37). I know what it feels like to be depressed and this is not it-yet it is depressing to feel this way physically for so long and never be taken seriously. I was actually relieved when the nurse first told me about the cysts because I thought for once they would take me seriously because there WAS something there...but the doctor just seemed to brush it off...
What could this be? What do I do next? How do I get my doctor to take me seriously and not blame these issues on past depression? Please help!
I'm not sure whether the eggs are viable since they are enclosed in that fluid sac (the cyst). Also, considering I had about 30 of those on my ovaries when I got the ultrasound, it seems they can stick there for a really long time (30 cysts = 30 months). I
Only by testing for hormonal levels (DHEA, testosterone, estrogen, prolactin, lutein, FSH and several others-- there are sex hormones) if you have PCOS most likely the androgens will be out of balance. However, if you are on the pill you have to stop the treatment for at least 3 months and then get tested, otherwise the tests will be inconclusive. For ex. before taking the BCP, my DHEA was double. Now, after 3 years of BCP, I got tested while still on the pill and I was within normal range (since the pill slows down the ovaries and they do not produce so much androgen). Plus, as I've said, an insulin test should also be done.
hey just a random question...but if you're not releasing eggs then are they still viable..I mean are they still good if you're ttc. Do the cysts affect the eggs in anyway?
hey there...if you have cysts on your ovaries it means that some of the eggs didn't make it out...they mean that you have not released those eggs; this happens one time or another to most of the women out there; having cysts is actually very common. Obviously a large number of cysts -- I had 15-16 on each ovary, so more than 30 overall, my doc just stopped counting-- will cause some concern as it means the woman has not released the eggs for a long time. Other than that having cysts is "normal" to a certain degree, whereas if you have the syndrome you have serious hormonal imbalances that make the situation permanent: your ovaries are usually overactive and they will not stop unless you use medication.
some women may have small cysts in their ovaries sometimes but will not have the hormonal disturbance like women with polycystic ovary symdrome has so they will not catagorised as PCOS just because of the cysts . to call it PCOS you will need to have other symptoms and hormonal changes
My dermatologist has told me that my psoriasis and eczema are definitely hormone related (they are both cyclical and flare right before my period) and when I told my gyn that his response was "really?". I do have an underactive thyroid and take meds for it daily.
I will look into seeing an endocrinologist and am looking for another gyn to get a second opinion. What the difference between polycystic ovaries and the syndrome?
I will look into seeing an endocrinologist and am looking for another gyn to get a second opinion. What the difference between polycystic ovaries and the syndrome?
I also think you should get a second opinion. There are polycystic ovaries without the syndrome - what you have to check is the hormones. And have a specialist look into this, an endocrinologist. I can tell you that before I was diagnosed I went to several doctors, gynecologysts for my irregular menstruation, dermatologist for my hair and so on. Everyone took the issues lightly without even guiding me towards an endocrinologist. I had no idea back then how things were. I was even checked for tyroid dysfunction but no one even mentioned or thought of PCOS. Unfortunately, there are doctors who are not very informed in this respect. The dermatologist for example only told me there was nothing I could do, that some of us were just born with "bad hair". So he mentioned genetics without telling me about the role of hormones! I was so grateful to the endo who finally diagnosed me, despite the bad news...At least I was able to do something about my hair and I was able to understand my body and my own needs! So, in your case, you should check the hormones if possible. As I said, both endometriosis and cysts can occur without PCOS. Best of luck from now on!
You may want to change your doctor. If you as the patient are concerned with something and they are just brushing you off then you should definitely get a second opinion.
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