Suz’s Ramblings…

Just over a week ago I had my first appointment with a regular endocrinologist.  As opposed to the reproductive endocrinologist variety.  I must say that I’ve had a smidgen of my faith in doctors restored.

With the exception of my RE, I’ve had a hell of a time finding someone to treat my PCOS.  The absolute worst encounter was with the doctor who told me that there’s nothing medically wrong with me and that if I wanted to lose weight all I’d need to do was stop snarfing the donuts and get up off my lazy ass and exercise.  The only exaggeration in that sentence is the use of the word ass.  Needless to say, that was the first time I’ve ever left a doctor’s office and sat in my car and cried.  And that encounter was strike two.  Strike one recoiled in horror when I made the mistake of quantifying how quickly I can eat a plate of food.

Strike three didn’t want to treat my PCOS, and because I’m not diabetic (just insulin resistant) that visit ended up being almost useless.  I say almost because the doctor hooked me up with a prescription for a low dose of metformin.  Which the RE had me start on about a month after that ill fated visit.

After the hell of starting on metformin had passed, I asked the RE about how we know if it’s the correct dose.  He said with blood work.  Which threatened to send me down the rabbit hole of depression and despair with medicine and doctors yet again.  So, I asked him if I might have better luck with either my gyn or a regular endo.  He said go with the regular endo and gave me a list of recommended doctors on my side of town.  Only one on the list was on my insurance  company’s approved list.  I called for an appointment, and his first opening was four weeks from when I called.  Lovely.

So, back to the appointment.  We talked about how my diagnosis was arrived at, and then what symptoms I was having.  Apparently my “shedding” (euphemism for copious amount of hair in the shower drain and my comb) might be related to the metformin dose not being high enough.  As is the extreme lethargy in the mornings when my blood sugar is over 100 (but under 110), where extreme can be likened to being hit by a bus.  I also described that on the occasions when my blood sugar spikes after a meal (between 120 and 130), I have an intense desire for a pillow and a blankie.  Which isn’t helpful for getting my work done.  Based solely on this, he doubled my metformin dose.  He wants to get my blood sugar levels “back to normal”.  I could have hugged the man.  After all of the times that I’ve been told there’s nothing wrong with me, and after two medical professionals (doctor & diabetic nutritionist) told me that my blood sugar numbers “looked good” here was someone doing something about the symptoms regardless of the numbers.

Monday (7/6) was the first day of my goal dosage.  It sucked. A LOT.  But for all the suckage, I don’t have the hit by the bus feeling any longer.  Yeah, I’m tired, but posting @ 10pm when you need to be up at 4 is a reasonable explanation.  Here’s to hoping it stays this way and that the follow up visit in a few weeks is another positive experience!