Kay
06-20-2006, 12:05 PM
Hi, hopefully someone can give me some advice.
I'm a 24yo female, non-smoker, non-drinker, no meds, no history of any medical problem.
Six months ago I started getting acne for the first time in my life, quickly gained 15lbs, and I started losing scalp hair by the handful but growing dark thick hair where I'd never had any before (upper lip, chin, thighs, buttocks, upper and lower abdomen, periareolar, upper arms, shoulders, back). At the same time my periods suddenly became irregular, 45-65 days apart and only lasting one day (before they were always a clockwork 29-days, lasting 5-6 days).
For the last 3 months (in addition to the acne and hair growth worsening) I've had no appetite and have been so tired that I need at least 10-12 hours of sleep just to function. Because the fatigue started affecting my job performance I had to cut my hours, and also cut back significantly on my daily jogging -- yet somehow I've since lost those 15lbs (current weight 135lbs, 5'5" tall), my muscles are bulging, and my resting pulse has dropped from 58 to 45. I constantly have dark circles around my eyes, a red face, oily skin/scalp, brittle hair, slow healing, sweaty hands; I've been having bouts of dizziness and chills, and dull intermittent right-sided lower abdominal (ovarian?) pain.
I went to a GP who based on my symptoms (no exam, not even a BP) ordered blood work (CBC, electrolytes, kidney and liver panels, TSH, LH, FSH, cortisol). All were apparently normal except my 8AM serum cortisol which was high at 700 (lab range 120-620), repeated it 3 weeks later and it was 480 (although I was working the midnight-to-8AM shift then, so I don't know if that might have affected it). Had a pelvic ultrasound which showed a cyst on my right ovary (which I was told was completely normal) otherwise the results were unremarkable. My doctor's telling me that I'm perfectly healthy -- my thyroid's fine and he doesn't think I have polycystic ovary syndrome based on my ultrasound and normal LH-to-FSH ratio, but offered birth control pills to regulate my cycle (I declined, instead requesting a gyn referral, but it'll be several weeks if not months until I can get an appointment).
So if it's not thyroid or PCOS what else could it be? From what I've read, my symptoms seem to suggest high androgen levels, so do I need those tested? My doc doesn't seem inclined to run any more tests or do any sort of exam, he practically pushed me out the door last time I saw him, telling me that I'm fine. But I find it hard to believe that all of this is normal, especially coming on and progressing so quickly. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Kay
I'm a 24yo female, non-smoker, non-drinker, no meds, no history of any medical problem.
Six months ago I started getting acne for the first time in my life, quickly gained 15lbs, and I started losing scalp hair by the handful but growing dark thick hair where I'd never had any before (upper lip, chin, thighs, buttocks, upper and lower abdomen, periareolar, upper arms, shoulders, back). At the same time my periods suddenly became irregular, 45-65 days apart and only lasting one day (before they were always a clockwork 29-days, lasting 5-6 days).
For the last 3 months (in addition to the acne and hair growth worsening) I've had no appetite and have been so tired that I need at least 10-12 hours of sleep just to function. Because the fatigue started affecting my job performance I had to cut my hours, and also cut back significantly on my daily jogging -- yet somehow I've since lost those 15lbs (current weight 135lbs, 5'5" tall), my muscles are bulging, and my resting pulse has dropped from 58 to 45. I constantly have dark circles around my eyes, a red face, oily skin/scalp, brittle hair, slow healing, sweaty hands; I've been having bouts of dizziness and chills, and dull intermittent right-sided lower abdominal (ovarian?) pain.
I went to a GP who based on my symptoms (no exam, not even a BP) ordered blood work (CBC, electrolytes, kidney and liver panels, TSH, LH, FSH, cortisol). All were apparently normal except my 8AM serum cortisol which was high at 700 (lab range 120-620), repeated it 3 weeks later and it was 480 (although I was working the midnight-to-8AM shift then, so I don't know if that might have affected it). Had a pelvic ultrasound which showed a cyst on my right ovary (which I was told was completely normal) otherwise the results were unremarkable. My doctor's telling me that I'm perfectly healthy -- my thyroid's fine and he doesn't think I have polycystic ovary syndrome based on my ultrasound and normal LH-to-FSH ratio, but offered birth control pills to regulate my cycle (I declined, instead requesting a gyn referral, but it'll be several weeks if not months until I can get an appointment).
So if it's not thyroid or PCOS what else could it be? From what I've read, my symptoms seem to suggest high androgen levels, so do I need those tested? My doc doesn't seem inclined to run any more tests or do any sort of exam, he practically pushed me out the door last time I saw him, telling me that I'm fine. But I find it hard to believe that all of this is normal, especially coming on and progressing so quickly. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Kay