QuestionI am a 29 yo F, 62" and 216 lbs (lost 14 lbs in last 2 weeks w/o trying.) I normally don't each much, and started gaining weight just before I became pregnant with my now 7 yo son. I have congenital hypothyroidism, currently euthyroid at 200 mcg qd of levothyroxine. I also take 500 mg qd metformin for PCOS dx in 2006 but not given tx till 2009 (nearly every dr tells me there is nothing they can do)- I was prescribed it for BID, I cut down d/t prolonged severe diarrhea.
I had a "period" for 5 straight months at age 13 before a doctor would help me. I was put on Ortho Novum 777 and gained 55 lbs in 9 months while vomiting often during the same time frame. Every time I start on a form of hormonal contraceptive I gain tons of weight and become violently angry. My periods for the last year have been every 4-6 weeks with 2 missed periods. In 2006, missed periods for 5 straight months.
I have been TTC for 5 years. I have had multiple partners in those years. STD free. I had a m/c at 5 weeks in 2001 and I carried a pregnancy to term 3/15/2003, unassisted pregnancies. I developed GD and borderline preeclampsia, oligohydramos (sp?) and had to have a c-section at 38 weeks d/t breech presentation and macrocephaly.
I have been told by a couple of drs that clomid would cause dangerous effects bc of the thyroid and cysts that I already have.
I also have a strange pulling or hanging feeling in the area of my right ovary whenever I lay on my left side and it is sometimes unbearably painful. Dr could find nothing on ultrasound last Sept, been going on a couple of years and still to this day. Couple of drs say it's all in my head. Any ideas? The medical help in this area (Utica, NY) is seriously lacking, considering the years it took for any dx and then more for the subsequent tx.
Also: I was on effexor xr and depakote er about 1 year for an incorrect dx of bipolar (thanks to now-ex-hubby), no psych meds for 10 months now. I read that depakote can also contribute to pcos- true?
AnswerHello Heather,
None of the information that you have given me leads to a diagnosis of PCOS. The dosage you were previously given of Metformin was not therapeautic. Metformin needs to be at least 1500 mg per day. I am not sure what your question is or are? Depakote does not contribute to PCOS. I do not have any ideas regarding what is going on. If it is the pelvic pressure/pain that you have, then the next step would be an outpatient surgery called a laparoscopy. This is where a scope is passed through the belly button to look inside at the pelvis.
Sorry I can't help you more.
Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on twitter with me at @montereybayivf
