Just Diagnosed

[cfstorey]

In an appointment with my psychiatrist this morning, she determined that i do have PCOS. From the facial hair, to the acne, to the need for birth control just to keep me somewhat regulated - as well as keeping my hormones regulated. But the last two years my obgyn has seen me, she has said my hormones were fine. Currently i suffer greatly from anxiety and panic, as well as clinical depression. Im on ativn .5mg, pristiq 100mg, seroquel 150 mg and toropal xl 50 mg. I dont have an appointment with my obgyn for a few months, should i go ahead and make an appointment sooner? What should i ask? I mean the psychiatrist thinks that the hormones may be playing a huge roll in the anxiety and depression. And if they are, i'd love to get it straightened out as soon as possible. I"m just not sure where to go from here. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[msniki412]

Yes. And if your doctor is not willing to order the tests you need, then switch to a new doctor. You have the right to find out what is causing all of this.

[cfstorey]

i went without seeing an obgyn until i was about 22. I'm 26 now. We have gone through about 3 or 4 different types of BC to try and deal with the massive mood swings at that time of the month, but nothing has helped the acne or the hair. The BC has made my period more consistent, but it still varies as in i know which week it will be, but the day(s). I know in the past they've tested my hormones and said things were fine. But i'm already on blood pressure meds and have been for the past two years. With a diabetic mom, i've been testing my blood sugar and its about 119-125 each morning before i eat breakfast. I dont really know what to say when i make the appointment or when i go to see her. Just tell her i think i have PCOS and want to be tested to be sure bc i've been having depression and anxiety and super mood swings at that time of the month and alot of facial hair and acne?

[msniki412]

PCOS can cause depression and anxiety, due to the symptoms you go through each and every month. I have a feeling, even if you DON'T have PCOS, you most likely have some type of hormonal inbalance. Acne is due to an unstable in hormones as well as the excess faical hair. I feel for you with the acne...I've had some pretty bad cases of it, but my hormones are being controled with birth control and Metformin (metformin, is a commonly used medication for those who have diabetes....but can help with PCOS). PCOS, if you do have it...can sometimes be controled with diet only, such as losing about 10% of your current body weight...(so let's say your 150lbs, you should try and lose 15lbs and see if that helps with your hormones and period). Now if losing weight is not working, or helping...then Metformin is given, in which over time it CAN improve the menstraul cycle into making it more normal (about 6 months to a year). Another option is birth control. As this helps with controling your periods and hormones, plus works wonders on acne. At this time...there is no cure for PCOS, but with the treatment options available PCOS can be controled, and in some cases certain symptoms of PCOS can be reversed, such as the acne and excess hair (pending if the hormonal inabalance is being controled).

PCOS is not as bad as it sounds...once you know you have it, and start working on fixing it...you will be fine.

[cfstorey]

ok. is there anything they can do for this? Is this maybe some cause for the depression and anxiety i have? What if i dont have PCOS- why do i have such horrible mood swing and hormonal rages at that time of the month and why so much facial hair and acne? Im 26 with worse acne now than when i was in high school!

[msniki412]

Call your obgyn and ask for an earlier appointment...you can "fib" a bit and explain you are having problems and need to be seen as soon as possible. Now with your hormones, I have a feeling your doctor might not be testing the right hormones to see of any abnormal levels. The hormones that are greatly affected are testosterone, DHEA-S, androstenedione, prolactin, and LH. If those hormones are out of balance, then you do have a hormonal inabalance, which is common for PCOS. Most of us who have PCOS have problems with our Progesterone levels. My doctor explained to me that my body was not producing enough of it...and for that, it caused my excess bleeding and no ovulation. You may also need an ultrasound to see if you have any cysts on your ovaries, as this is another common symptom of PCOS (but not every woman who has PCOS, has cysts which is harder to check if you have PCOS).