Whats going on with me??

[FranciscaU]

Hi, I went to the doctor suspecting Endometriosis about 1.5 years ago. My mom thinks she has it, but the pain subsided post having 2 kids back to back (which would allow time for her endo lesions to shrink). Anyway, we did a complete metabolic blood, CBC, T3/T4 levels, FSH/LH levels and everything came back normal. I had an ab ultrasound, pelvic ultrasound, and a trans-vaginal ultrasound. Everything was great with my ab ultrasound. My pelvic ultrasound showed some subcentimeter Nabothian cysts and minimal amount of free fluid in in the pelvis (which was considered an insignificant abnorm). My transvaginal ultrasound showed a few subcentimeter follicular cysts in the right and left ovaries, but they were insagnificant as well. All in all, everything was looking to be good and so we were really considering endometriosis (this happened about 6 months ago). I was sent to a gyno who put me on a 3-month birth control cycle as well as prescribed me to take ibprofen (600 mg) to prevent my uterus from contracting if my pain was simply a result of a tilted uterus, and my period pain escalated rather rapidly. Another visit to the doctor and they gave me a stronger form of ibuprofen (i forgot the name but I do remember it was used more commonly to treat arthritis). Pain was even more excruciating. Frustrated at how rude my gyno was, I went back to my doctor. I also was begining to show new symptoms. Abdominal pain that was not only lined to the week before and during my periods as well as extremely tender breasts and extreme fatigue. So we did another round of blood work to check and see what could be causing the new pain. Results come back and I have elevated levels of prolactin and DHEA. My estrogen levels had decreased to barely below the normal range (even with me taking birth control). We did an MRI and I do not have a pituitary gland tumor. So now we are thinking it might be an adrenal gland tumor that secretes DHEA. But Im only 17 years old and adrenal gland tumors typically occur in much older people. Is there anything else that can cause the symptoms I have described? Could my endometriosis like symptoms (extrememly painful periods so much that I can't even get up, prolonged menstruation (5-7 days with BC), painful bowel movements) be related to my DHEA/prolactin levels increase as well as estrogen level decrease? I still find it odd that my estrogen levels were normal and now they are a little low. Thank you!

[silverfox67]

    I understand - yeah, mixing too many meds with supplements can mess up the blood/lab work.
     I took some Vit. C once just before a UA 'cause I had a bladder infection - guess what?  The infection didn't show up until a week later!  The Vit. C  ALMOST cured it... LOL   (It didn't, of course, but it messed with the lab work).
        Let me know how you fare!

[FranciscaU]

Perhaps I'll look into natural remedies once again after a confirmed diagnosis, but currently I don't want to take anything I don't usually take as it may mess with my blood work analysis. Thank you tho!:]

[silverfox67]

     Did you try Sepia?  I understand it really helps with hormone unbalance.
       So sorry that nothing works on DHEA - my DHEA is low and I have to supplement... :/

[FranciscaU]

I don't have PCOS. Just temporary like symptoms because of my having an elevated amount of DHEA from an unknown cause:[ A year ago they checked for PCOS and my levels didn't match for it. But thank you!
And I've tried many herbal remedies. Nothing can effectively lower DHEA permanently, unless the source is removed.

[silverfox67]

     I am so sorry that you are having so many problems.  I am not a doctor - but I believe very much in natural remedies.
    Dr. Spengler (natural physician)  recommends taking Saw Palmetto for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.  
    "Higher than normal levels of the hormones DHEA ... Herbalists theorize that saw palmetto may be helpful because it blocks the effects of these hormones..."

     I hope this information was helpful.  Sepia is also recommended for scanty periods and other female problems.  But I think  Saw Palmetto is the better choice for you at this time.
     If you don't believe in natural remedies, ask your doctor if he thinks it would be okay for you to try.

      wishing you all the best

[FranciscaU]

Also, one more thing to add. Last Wednesday I had post intercourse bleeding. No pain was felt during intercourse but prior to it my right ovary was hurting really badly the entire day. It stopped suddenly and I had sex that evening. With the blood came out a small gelatin like glob. It was clear with a few red blood looking streaks, almost like 2 tiny veins were in there. I though perhaps I was pregnant because it looked kind of like a mucous plug. My at home test came back negative. Yesterday, i went to the restroom and a similar glob came out. except this one was completely brown. Like old blood brown. I went to my doctor today to confirm that I did not have the pituitary gland tumor and we did a pregnancy test just to make sure. It came back negative again. Perhaps this is due to my hormonal changes. I don't know though. I've never had break though bleeding before and I have been on birth control for 3 years.