On being hormonally challenged
...
Never really know how much detail to put in these things, I mean, do you really want to know why I'm in an out of the hospital all the time? I know that you care, but how much is too much information? I have a hair problem and fucked ovaries. After many blood tests the only explanation the hospital can come up with is that I am hypersensitive to testosterone and I have polycystic ovaries (I knew about the second bit). Added to an already battered self image, I don't think much of myself really although I hide it well. I think.
My third of 6 laser treatments is in two weeks. It's already made a huge difference to my self esteem and confidence. My neck is clear of hair for the first time in years and the rest of my face is slowly following suit. I can actually look at myself in the mirror without feeling angry, disgusted, sick or fed up. I'm not overflowing with positive vibes but at least the negative ones are gone.
I have some work to do still, but I've made a start.
Hey, Claire. I'm glad to hear things are getting better. Hope you carry on feeling better. Oh, and you get your Apple software sorted out.
Progress is good. You do do a good job of hiding it, but I kinda know how that feels. Regardless of what you think of yourself, I think heaps of you. Have some positive vibes from over here...just in case that helps :)
Darling.
You are beautiful, inside and out. You looked stunning on sunday......
Love you lots and lots...
xxx
I've been recently diagnosed with PCOS and I'm fighting a real battle trying to get consultants to listen to me, to understand what I am telling them about my symptoms and how they are making me feel. The last gynaecologist I saw even went as far as saying it was "a combination of gluttony and sloth" that made women like me "suffer so" and he discharged me with nothing more than telling me to lose weight. My ovaries are over twice the size they should be and I've got as much testosterone floating around my body as the average man. So much so, that the person running my blood tests at the hospital felt the need to ring my GP immediately to comment on it. I feel your pain dear, I really do.
But at least the doctors won't be telling you that you did this to yourself because you're overweight whilst refusing to consider the possibility that I am overweight because of the PCOS...
Jayne, I really sympathise. The problem with PCOS is that it's a vicious cycle of weightgain and excess androgens and other fucked upness which just exacerbate the weight issue which in turn produces more testosterone and so on and so on. I luckily am tall and can carry off what excess weight I do have, but my issue is my beard and other hairy bits.
Please do everything you can to be seen by an endocrinologist; a gynae can do the ovarian ultrasound but PCOS has to be dealt with on a hormonal level. It took me 9 years to get a referral, I'm unlikely to be able to have kids now and I've spent years being depressed and frantically pulling my hair out. If you get a choice of hospitals (you should, thanks to the *new NHS way*) then do some research on their web sites to see if any have a PCOS specialism or interest before you book any appointment.
Weight loss will help but sometimes you need a little help evening out the testosterone and insulin levels before diets can make a difference. Have you had a glucose tolerance test to check for diabetes? Have you heard of metformin? It's a diabetes medication often prescribed to PCOS women to regulate their cycle and to level out hormone fluctuations.
Go back to your GP and keep trying to be taken seriously. But if you ever need to vent, I'm always here.
You are a Hot Chick and you know it... I'm not gonna pretend to know the right things to say to make you feel better, except that I empathise in a fucked up way, and still love you. xxxx