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PCOS or Hoshimotos?
My 16 year old daughter has recently been diagnosed with PCOS, however, I don't feel that is an accurate diagnosis.
Health History -- completely normal until she hit age 13 (she started her cycles at the age of 12 and they were very regular for the first year -- coming every 4 weeks)
9/2005: menstrual cycles became abnormal – went from every 4 weeks to every 2 weeks religiously. Gynecologist ran lab work – everything came back normal. She put her on birth control pills to regulate her cycle which worked for a few months but her cycles went back to every 2 weeks. Over the course of 3 years she was on 5 different birth control pills – all which would work for the first few months but always went back to being every 2 weeks. At the same time that her cycles starting coming every 2 weeks, she also had significant weight gain in a very short period of time -- over 25 pounds within a 3 month time period
July, 2008 -- decided to stop seeing gynecologist for her problems and took her to an endocrinologist
9/2008 – endocrinologist took her off bc pills. Found that insulin, testosterone, triglycerides and cholesterol were all high. Prescribed metformin – believes that this will bring those levels down, regulate cycle and help with weight loss
9/2008 – kidney stone and kidney infection in right kidney
11/2008 – kidney stone and kidney infection in left kidney
12/2008 -- testosterone and insulin levels are now within normal range, however, cycle is still coming every 2 weeks and weight gain is continuing
She has a follow up appt with the endo next week. I would like a cat scan done of her pituatary, thyroid and adrenal glands. Would you suggest any other tests to rule out PCOS and/or Hoshimotos?
Thank you!
Health History -- completely normal until she hit age 13 (she started her cycles at the age of 12 and they were very regular for the first year -- coming every 4 weeks)
9/2005: menstrual cycles became abnormal – went from every 4 weeks to every 2 weeks religiously. Gynecologist ran lab work – everything came back normal. She put her on birth control pills to regulate her cycle which worked for a few months but her cycles went back to every 2 weeks. Over the course of 3 years she was on 5 different birth control pills – all which would work for the first few months but always went back to being every 2 weeks. At the same time that her cycles starting coming every 2 weeks, she also had significant weight gain in a very short period of time -- over 25 pounds within a 3 month time period
July, 2008 -- decided to stop seeing gynecologist for her problems and took her to an endocrinologist
9/2008 – endocrinologist took her off bc pills. Found that insulin, testosterone, triglycerides and cholesterol were all high. Prescribed metformin – believes that this will bring those levels down, regulate cycle and help with weight loss
9/2008 – kidney stone and kidney infection in right kidney
11/2008 – kidney stone and kidney infection in left kidney
12/2008 -- testosterone and insulin levels are now within normal range, however, cycle is still coming every 2 weeks and weight gain is continuing
She has a follow up appt with the endo next week. I would like a cat scan done of her pituatary, thyroid and adrenal glands. Would you suggest any other tests to rule out PCOS and/or Hoshimotos?
Thank you!
My 16yr old daughter has also been dx PCOS and hypo. She is currently on 90mg Armour (this keeps her TSH level extremely low but that is where she functions best), 50mg sprinolactone and 1500mg Metformin. Metformin was just bumped up from 750 approx 1 mn ago. Has already seen around a 10lb weight loss (is extremely good about her diet and working out). Periods are still very irregular...going to address that on the next trip to Dr. Is the dose of Metformin your daughter is taking high enough??? We had to experiment and finally saw results.
I have been diagnosed with PCOS and Hoshimotos disease. I am 28 and I have two wonderful kids and had no issues getting pregnant and I never had issues with my cycles and I do not have cysts on my ovaries. I do have hirtusum (which is severe facial hair) and I have insulin resistance ring around my neck. All of my weight gain is in my middle. I am extremely fatigue and depressed. Just to let you know that you do not have all of the symptoms to have the disease.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The labs point towards PCOS but the frequent periods do not. The absence of cysts does not rule out PCOS. If the thyroid levels are normal, it's not likely a thyroid problem or Hashimoto's -- to cause these symptoms (even w/ hashi) would usually see abnormal TSH levels.
It takes 3-6 months for metformin to have an effect on periods -- may take more time.
Based on what you post, there is no indication for imaging of pituitary, neck or adrenals at this point -- if there were abnormal pituitary or adrenal labs (talk to your endo about this) then a scan may be in order.
It takes 3-6 months for metformin to have an effect on periods -- may take more time.
Based on what you post, there is no indication for imaging of pituitary, neck or adrenals at this point -- if there were abnormal pituitary or adrenal labs (talk to your endo about this) then a scan may be in order.
Hi,
Just wanted to add that you do not have to have polycystic ovaries to have PCOS. You can be dx with PCOS by other factors....it seems to be a collection of symptoms with not everyone having the same problems. A period every two weeks is not typical or regular (normal...but what the heck is normal these days) either. I haven't had a cycle since April...darn thyroid problems. I honestly hope she doesn't have PCOS but it seems to becoming more and more common these days. Good luck!
Some articles with criteria for dx PCOS
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/467811
http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/rapidpdf/jc.2005-2153v1
Google soulcysters.net to get more info and support!! It is a great site.
Just wanted to add that you do not have to have polycystic ovaries to have PCOS. You can be dx with PCOS by other factors....it seems to be a collection of symptoms with not everyone having the same problems. A period every two weeks is not typical or regular (normal...but what the heck is normal these days) either. I haven't had a cycle since April...darn thyroid problems. I honestly hope she doesn't have PCOS but it seems to becoming more and more common these days. Good luck!
Some articles with criteria for dx PCOS
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/467811
http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/rapidpdf/jc.2005-2153v1
Google soulcysters.net to get more info and support!! It is a great site.
Thanks again. It is so frustrating because I feel like she isn't being taken seriously because she is just 16 years old. I'm hoping that somewhere there's a blood test that hasn't been taken yet that will give us the answer we are looking for.............
Bless her heart...I really feel for you both. I would think for her to be diagnoised w/PCOS that she has cyst on her ovaries. That is what Poly means: many.
I read alot about people who find out they have a thyroid disorder after being told their levels were normal, so be sure you demand every test available where thyroid levels are concerned. I have also read that the thyroid level goes thru cycles, so maybe she was in between a cycle and made the test show normal. Her symtoms sure sound like a Thyroid disorder to me, but I am not a medical professional.
Her hormones are off balance somewhere to cause her to have periods so often. I really empathize with you, PCOS can cause infertiltiy and most of time does. It took me 10+ yrs. to get pregnant and my Drs were telling me it was virtually impossible, so I do hope for your daughters sake this is not her problem.
I read alot about people who find out they have a thyroid disorder after being told their levels were normal, so be sure you demand every test available where thyroid levels are concerned. I have also read that the thyroid level goes thru cycles, so maybe she was in between a cycle and made the test show normal. Her symtoms sure sound like a Thyroid disorder to me, but I am not a medical professional.
Her hormones are off balance somewhere to cause her to have periods so often. I really empathize with you, PCOS can cause infertiltiy and most of time does. It took me 10+ yrs. to get pregnant and my Drs were telling me it was virtually impossible, so I do hope for your daughters sake this is not her problem.
Her thyroid levels are always within normal limits. She has no cysts on her ovaries. That is what makes think that she does not have PCOS -- she gets her period every 2 weeks religiously and there are no cysts....... I thought that 2 of the tell tale signs of PCOS are cysts in the ovaries and not getting your period regularly. My daughter has the opposite problem. I just want to figure out exactly what is wrong now, while she is still young so when she's older and wants to start a family of her own, she'll know what she is or isn't up against.
Thanks!
Thanks!
I also have PCOS and Hypothyroidism. Has she been tested and diagnosed with cyst on her ovaries? I continously have cyst that rupture every month when my cycle starts, as well as very very heavy bleeding w/severe cramps. These are just a couple of the symtoms of PCOS.
Has her TSH levels been tested? I would think so seeing that she has went to a specialist, but they must have been normal since you did not mention that she was put on a thyroid medicine.
See, these 2 illnesses can mimick each other and have alot of the same symtoms, so I would say just make sure she is thoughly tested for both before settling on meds. Please follow up and let us know what turns up, as I am very interested in her diagnoises.
Has her TSH levels been tested? I would think so seeing that she has went to a specialist, but they must have been normal since you did not mention that she was put on a thyroid medicine.
See, these 2 illnesses can mimick each other and have alot of the same symtoms, so I would say just make sure she is thoughly tested for both before settling on meds. Please follow up and let us know what turns up, as I am very interested in her diagnoises.
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