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Post by palesa on Feb 10, 2009 10:27:28 GMT
I have just been for a consultation with a beauty therapist. I wanted to discuss a few issues such as pigmentation, facial hairgrowth etc.
As soon as she looked at me, before I even opened my mouth, she said have you been diagnoses with Polysystic Ovarian Syndrome?
I asked why she asked and she said, your skin pigmentation. She then suggested that I see my gynaecologist as she cannot diagnose me, but after telling her what I was there for, she seems to really think that there is a strong possibility.
I had blood tests done last year to test hormone levels and nothing showed up there. I have left a message for my doctor to call me to find out if these test would have picked this up, am waiting for him to call back.
Do any of you know if a full hormone test would have picked this up?
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Post by happytraveller on Feb 10, 2009 10:34:24 GMT
A hormone test should show, if it's specifically tested for PCO. Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much as a beauty therapist would not know much about it.
Have you had hormonal problems ? I think if you had PCO you would know...
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Post by happytraveller on Feb 10, 2009 10:37:54 GMT
A dentist once asked me if I was HIV- positive... because I had some white spots on the side of my tongue. He really thought he was right. People should just shut up about things they have not much of an idea about. (I have bite marks on the side of my tongue...) What an idiot!
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Post by palesa on Feb 10, 2009 10:38:36 GMT
Umm, just read the symptoms and I have more than 70% of them. The reason I am even entertaining this thought, is I have been hunting for answers to a few problems I have had over the last few years.
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Post by happytraveller on Feb 10, 2009 10:42:48 GMT
Hmmm... maybe she was right then ? An answer to some problems is always helpful.
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Post by palesa on Feb 11, 2009 5:06:26 GMT
HT, how irresponsible of your dentist! Ignorance.
I should not have called her a beauty therapist, she is more trained than that, and has done extensive studies of facial hair growth and pigmentation, so she probably knows the symptoms. She kept repeating that she is not diagnosing me, but she suggests I have it checked out.
My doctor did not call back yeterday *stomps foot*, I need to go out today, so will make an appointment to see him while I am out, and I will take it from there.
I am trying not to get caught up in this until I have spoken to my doctor.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 11, 2009 5:57:11 GMT
I wouldn't discount what she said even if she were "only a beauty therapist". Sometimes "untrained" people pick up on stuff simply because they've been closely associated with it for whatever reason. This lady has more specific training than that, & the fact that she told you to have it checked out sounds responsible & as though she has good reason to think you might have POS.
When I was in my early 20s, an elderly gynecologist told me I really needed to have my wisdom teeth checked out. I dismissed his opinion since he wasn't a dentist. Wish I'd listened.
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Post by mockchoc on Feb 11, 2009 6:26:56 GMT
Skin pigmentation can be caused by being on the pill.
I know someone that suffered from it. I know she also sunbaked a lot so not sure if that made things worse.
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Post by palesa on Feb 11, 2009 14:00:34 GMT
Mockers, I have not been on a birth control pill in about 15 years, so I imagine any of those side effects would have left the building.
Went to see my GP today, and he agrees that it is a possibility. I am scheduled for some tests tomorrow morning and an appointment with a specialist next week.
The strange thing is, it does not really worry me, it would be nice to know that all of these little things that niggle have a name and I know what I am dealing with.
But the thing that I am most upset about, is that if this is the diagnosis, I am in all likelyhood infertile. We made a decision a long time ago, not to have children and at the age of 41 I doubt that I am going to change my mind. But pshycologically this is quite hard for me to digest. WTF is that about?
I keep saying, we don't have a firm diagnosis yet, and push it to the back of mind, but not always succesful.
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Post by palesa on Feb 12, 2009 16:53:09 GMT
I had all my blood drained out of me today! (well only a bit) but I have just taken the plaster off my arm (where they put a huge big needle in my arm, ok, it was small) and I seem to be allergic to the plaster I am red and swollen where the plaster was.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 12, 2009 17:41:56 GMT
Palesa, put some regular cooking oil or olive oil on the spot, rub it in slightly, then clean it off with a cotton ball. The oil should pick up any residual adhesive and give some relieve to your skin.
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Post by palesa on Feb 13, 2009 4:32:21 GMT
Thank you, that did help. All better today. And surprisingly no bruise.
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Post by happytraveller on Feb 13, 2009 8:00:32 GMT
PCO doesn't necessarily mean infertility. I have a good friend who's got pretty bad PCO and she's a happy mother of 2 kids. A diagnosis might help you dealing with the problems you have, so it might be a good thing. Good luck my dear !
By the way, this dentist didn't stop talking shit after I told him that the chance that I was HIV positive was close to impossible... he then said that I might have oral cancer and sent me to a specialist. No need to say that I changed dentist very quickly!
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Post by tillystar on Feb 13, 2009 10:42:45 GMT
Hope you get good news or at least a quick diagnosis so you can get any treatment youmight need. I don't know anything about it but I know a Mum with PCO as well so its not certain that someone with it would be infertile xxx
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Post by palesa on Feb 14, 2009 15:05:11 GMT
Thank you! I am feeling tons better and now just hope that I can get a dianosis one way or the other and do what needs to be done.
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Post by palesa on Feb 14, 2009 15:08:26 GMT
Turns out the beauty therapist I went to see is a trained nurse and worked for a gynae for a few years, so her comments were largely based on her experiences.
HT, that dentist should not be allowed to practice anymore!
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Post by palesa on Feb 19, 2009 11:40:48 GMT
Back from the doctor, drained more blood out of me. How much blood can they want?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2009 11:46:54 GMT
I have always believed that the lab analyst profession attracts vampires.
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Post by palesa on Feb 19, 2009 12:37:41 GMT
It was a bit weird cause she counted out the number of vials required, filled them and then said, lets do one more.
Probably had it for lunch.
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Post by happytraveller on Feb 19, 2009 13:14:03 GMT
Was it Bixa ?
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Post by palesa on Feb 19, 2009 14:07:17 GMT
Probably Bixa, in disguise, she did not want me to out her!
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Post by palesa on Mar 6, 2009 5:00:32 GMT
Well, I have an appointment for surgery on Tuesday morning to sort out non PCOS related issues, but I now have a confirmed PCOS diagnosis.
Don't wanna have surgery. *stomps foot*
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 6, 2009 5:18:27 GMT
Oh! Did you just find out today, Palesa? Is your overall health expected to improve once the PCOS is addressed? Errrgg -- this is a lot to take in for you!
Big surgery? Little surgery? Tuesday is just around the corner. Will you have to stay overnight in the hospital?
Our poor little Palesa!
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Post by palesa on Mar 6, 2009 5:36:11 GMT
Should be fairly minor, with a week of bed rest afterwards! Should not need to stay overnight, byut have been advised to take an overnight bag in case.
I have to report to the maternity ward at 6am on Tuesday morning, I am wondering how Zonker is going to cope spending the day at a maternity ward. Poor chap!
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 6, 2009 6:34:55 GMT
I think you will be on the ob/gyn floor or wing, not in the middle of the labor rooms. Bring lots of reading material for both of you.
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Post by palesa on Mar 6, 2009 6:47:07 GMT
Bix, we went to do pre-admission yesterday and it is in the maternity ward, behind a *lock and key, right next to the nursery.
* due to some baby snatching that had happened in SA all our maternity wards are behind security gates and the gate is locked. Only authorised staff and visitors are allowed.
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Post by happytraveller on Mar 6, 2009 7:41:57 GMT
When I had my laparoscopy, they basically kicked me out in the evening. I was ok but not really awake, I have absolutely no memories of how I got home. Apparently they wheeled me out to the car in a wheel chair and hubby drove me home. I was chatting along... LOL I don't remember a thing ! I felt kind of high... which was quite pleasant The rest of the week I spent on the couch, watching lots of stupid TV-shows and DVD's. I hope it is going to be easy for you pal and afterwards I am sure you feel better once they start treating you against PCO. You'll feel 20 years younger *hug* You'll make it, today in a week the worst is over !
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Post by tillystar on Mar 6, 2009 14:17:38 GMT
I hope it goes OK for you on Tuesday and that you'll feel much better now getting the treatment you need xxx
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 6, 2009 17:29:08 GMT
Bix, we went to do pre-admission yesterday and it is in the maternity ward, ... right next to the nursery. I think they do that in the States, too. It seems pretty insensitive, as there must be quite a few women who'd like to have children but can't. Being in the hospital for a gyn procedure which might insure they'll never get pregnant and being right next to the babies is rather cruel.
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