Annual coming on December 24

Deena_Bean

I have a new doctor (mine quit a few months ago), so it's a clean slate. They have my records and everything, but I really want to fill this doctor in and get off on a good foot! I know I want to have my hormone levels tested and I want to switch to constant BCP to stop my periods (for a few reasons). I'm finished having kiddies, so I think that's fine. Is there anything you guys would recommend discussing? This practice hasn't ever been too involved in PCOS discussion, so I feel like a lot of the talking will come from me. I'm going to fast so that I can request possibly having the blood tests while I'm there (it's at 9:30 am, so no big deal). I've never been insulin resistant, but I do get some of the other special treats of PCOS, although it's really quite mild. I recently switched to a lower carb diet (I aim to stay under 100g per day (total, not net)). My body seems to be having internal war at the moment with my cycle - I've been steady on the BCP with every 3rd pill pack being a cycle. Always the same start/end day. Now I've been spotting off and on for a couple of weeks, and this week the spotting is getting heavier. I was going to stop this pill pack and just let the cycle go, but I've since decided to just finish it out so I don't add any more changes for my body to sort out. I'm feeling frustrated with it all, but the other successes of the low carb have been worthwhile so far. If the spotting doesn't stop soon, I may give up, though. I can't mentally handle it to be honest. I start getting angry and depressed, I miss intimacy with my husband horribly, and it's starting to really drain my energy (which effects my working out). I'm trying to be strong with it all and push through, I know my body has a lot to sort out, but honestly...today I feel like a total train wreck. I am feeling like the cold virus that has hit each of my kids for the last few weeks is trying to creep in on me. Add some insult to injury, ya know? Anyways - if you have an suggestions or recommendations about what to talk about specifically with my doc that will make sure I'm in good working order, that would be awesome. I have some time before the appointment, but I want to be well thought out about all of it and come with my little notes

KnitOrMiss

Okay, all that being said, aside from the hormone panel, if you can afford the labs (this time of year is generally the BEST insurance/funds wise if you have insurance - as most deductibles have been met and all that), I'd ask them to run the extended basic panel. All of the moody stuff, exhaustion, all of that, I'd make sure they run your D, B, FULL thyroid workup (not the basic stuff), endocrine, etc. Basically anything they can. Cholesterol, too, but know if you are losing weight or have in the last six months your LDL may be higher, but is not a large concern. The HDL and Trigs are far more important.

www.stopthethyroidmadness.com explains why standard tests won't always show problems. Plus, PCOS and associated drama-crap we get to enjoy tend to disguise a lot of other conditions. Test magnesium, too. Most folks, even eating organic whole foods are deficient in D, B, and mag because our soil is depleted, and we spend no measurable time in direct sunlight without sunscreen.

Pretty much EVERY SINGLE THING you wrote up here was me, just a couple months ago. Like ALL of it. Almost to a T. Since then, I've gotten my thyroid medication adjusted, upped my vitamin D levels, got my vitamin K2 levels adjusted properly (dose in new med way WAY off), started working on sleeping more, dropped a supplement or two, added little things, added in Kombucha, and other stuff, and I'm finally, FINALLY feeling like myself again.

So don't take the party line that feeling crummy is normal this time of year, as you age, because you're a woman, or any of that bull. If something doesn't feel right, speak up. In fact, I honestly might call and talk to your doc's nurse and find out if this doc is going to be one you can partner with well on this kind of stuff...

(and yes, this is the Cliff Notes response - I could go on for quite some time)

P.S. I agree so much on not stopping the pill early - was going to warn about that!