2 year endocrinologist update!

Last week I went to my endocrinologist for my 2 year check up! I was seriously excited to go because I was proud to show off all the changes I had made.

I am in no way-shape-or form a doctor. This post is based solely on what my Endocrinologist and myself discussed. If you have health related questions please contact your own doctor. 

 

I am so proud of the woman I was...she started this journey.

I am so proud of the woman I am now...because I have been changing my life for over 2 years.

I am sure I will be proud of the woman I will become...because, well, I can't imagine my life any other way!

**January 2012 - Initial Endocrinologist Results**
Weight ~ 213 lbs
BMI ~ 38%
Hemoglobin A1c ~ 5.9 {normal range according to my Endo is 4.0 - 6.0}

**January 2012 - 2 year Endocrinologist Results**
Weight: 143 lbs
BMI: 24%
Hemoglobin A1c ~ 4.6 after 22 months on Metformin

July 2011

October 2012

July 2011

November 2012

 

When I first got my results back from the endocrinologist I was considered insulin resistant, they thought I had something wrong with my adrenal glands {turns out I'd just recently had a cortisone shot and sent my levels through the roof}, my Vitamin D level was 17.6 L2 {normal range 30.0-150.0}, and I was just in overall poor health.

 

My first tipping point was a Halloween party...but my boulder that catapulted me off the seesaw was getting my lab results back! It really shocked my system. I KNEW I was overweight, I KNEW I was unhealthy & unhappy but until those numbers were on the paper I didn't realize how bad it was. Nothing to me, at that point, was as scary as hearing that if I kept on the path I was I would have diabetes in a year. My endocrinologist was very blunt with me and for that I will be forever grateful. She was the FIRST doctor to tell me I was overweight and needed to change. Looking back that fact still shocks me.

 

Over the course of the last 22 months I did go on a few different medications that I believed help me. I started 500mg extended release Metformin in February/March 2012 and stopped one week ago. I have a follow up appointment in July 2014 to see how 6 months off of Metformin goes and I am so excited to see if the hard work I put in pays off. I admit it, I am nervous to go off the Metformin because I feel like it did help me get to me a little "looser" with my carbs because of my PCOS. But I am ready for the challenge of eating what I know my pancreas can handle. My goal is to only eat carbs at 2/3 meals in my day.

 

I am still taking Vitamin D {I mean, I like in Washington State so I feel like I'd need that anyways}, Singular, and birth control. Totally normal and totally unrelated to PCOS meds!

 

Fingers crossed {that my levels stay low}!!!

{30 thoughts} the inside...

Not that there was really a question as to if this lifestyle change was worth it but it was amazing to get these results in the mail last night!!! Happy does not begin to describe it!

"all labs are normal"

 

I am proud not only what I have accomplished on the outside of my body but now there is tangible proof that it's been good for the inside of my body. The hope is to eventually get off the Metformin, which is really the only 'PCOS' medicine I am on. I was kind of off with it after surgery and didn't take it for a while and gained about three pounds back. I don't know if it was directly related to that or not but I am back on it now so we will see in a few weeks! 

I'm all about eventually trying to go natural but this lab results paperwork goes to show that the route I chose was a good one for me. I cannot wait to see my endocrinologist in January!! She is going to be amazed!!

Fingers crossed {that I can come off the meds soon}...

one year check up!!

I had my endocrinology appointment a few weeks back and got some rave reviews. My doctor was so proud of me {and I with myself}. With Metformin, my glucose and insulin levels are in the average range!!! My bad cholesterol came down into the average range!! It was just the results I'd been working for, hoping for, and waiting for!!

I've decided to, for now, stay on Metformin. Part of me is really, really nervous to take it away. While it is not a weight loss drug - it is an insulin stabilizer and I feel has to have had some result to me losing weight. Granted - I put a LOT of work into this journey...but I'm still nervous.

I am going to see a Naturopath at the end of this month and maybe then, or soon, I will change to an "all natural" insulin stabelizer. I haven't decided yet. Metformin has been shown to have some good results with ovulation...if we go down that path!

Fingers crossed {that my levels stay in the average range}...

and the results are in...

I have PCOS. It is official. I got a letter today in the mail that said {and I quote}...

You do not have late onset CAH. The most conclusive diagnosis is PCOS.

It feels good to know. Now I know what books to buy, what websites to read, and what things to focus on. I still also have Insulin Resistance which is linked but separate to PCOS. Confusing right? ...tell me about it.

There is so much going through my head. I am glad it is not the worse of the two options. I really, really am. There is still lots to think about in regards to PCOS but not nearly as much as if it had been LO CAH.
I don't know what our next step will be. Right now I feel that it should be to get the IR under control, lose more weight, and learn more about this syndrome that I will be battling for the rest of my life. Pregnancy isn't really the number one thing I want anymore, at least right now. I mean, if I got pregnant that would be amazing but I really want to get my head wrapped around everything else.
I just filled out some paperwork to meet with a nutritionist that is also a local yoga instructor. While I don't know if I will work with her regularly {$150 a session is quite a lot} her initial session is free and I can at least get a grasp of what IR is and foods to start watching out for - either good or bad. I'm still also going to explore the options of dieticians through my insurance...we shall see.

Let the fight begin.

Fingers crossed.

{still} waiting...

I am super beyond frustrated tonight and even then those words don't do what I am really feeling justice. Like I said yesterday I had called OHSU yesterday to see if my results had even gotten back. Turns out they were in on Tuesday but the lady that assured me that she'd send the results to my Endo ASAP - did not. Simply put.

I figured that out when I called my Endo this morning and they hadn't gotten anything and I think she could tell I was really frustrated {probably because my voice cracked a bit because I was about to lose it} and assured me that there is a note on my chart to call me ASAP. I'm kind of over being assured things - I just want them to get done!! So then I called OHSU back and that's when she told me she'd had my results but hadn't faxed them over. WHAT THE HELL?? I mean, I know I don't always do things the exact day I get them - but that's like paperwork or making a copy for something - not life changing and potentially earth shattering medical information!!!

Needless to say I'm not sure I was in the most cheerful of moods at the end of the day. Then I started running a bunch of errands and was later than I would have liked getting to my parents house. That is where the above quote comes in. While today was not a good day because I didn't get my results that I so badly want ~ I did get to spend some fun time with my family, family friends & coworkers ~ all of which were very nice.

I went and had dinner with my parents and some family friends who have a 5, 2, and 3 month old. It was SO much fun, but I will admit it was hard too. My Dad LOVES babies and kids. We call him the baby hog because if there is a baby around he will hog it. At dinner tonight he even gobbled down his food so he could hold the baby. Then we started playing in the fort that my Dad and the girls had constructed before I even got there. And the whole time we were eating, talking and playing all I could think was it's supposed to be MY kids he is playing with!!! I hope that someday it will be but it was strange mix of sad and happy. So strange that I don't even know if it I could do myself justice by trying to explain it.

Well, here's to another weekend full of worry and a guarantee that I'll be calling the doctor first thing Monday morning to make really sure they know I want the results!!!

Fingers crossed.

and the results are in...

....and here goes the rest of my life. My life after today.

It is nice to know but man, this sucks. Like, a lot. All this information I got on a voicemail from my Endo. I had called on Wednesday and played phone tag a few times and gave her permission to leave me a voicemail. It was actually nice because I could replay it again and again {and again}. The bummer part - it got cut off. I think I have all the VIP information but I'll update it if it changes!! He is supposed to talk to me tomorrow.

Here's the information. When applicable I'll say what our next step is.

Blood Sugars - Normal
This means that I am not yet in Pre-Diabetes but I'll need to be watched for it.

Insulin
I am insulin resistant. My pancreas doesn't keep up with my body. Ways to overcome this are exercise and diet. Also, there is a drug called Metformin. It works my suppressing glucose production by the liver. I will be starting that soon. I hear it can be rough but if it can help make my life better I'll have to try my hardest to push through it.
Vitamin D
I am very deficient in my Vitamin D. Maybe we need to move to Hawaii ;-) A normal level is 30 and I have 17.6. I will take 50,000 IU for 12 weeks which is a prescription. Then after that I will take D3 2,000 IU daily. I can also decide if I want to get a sunlamp...or move to Hawaii ;-)
Thyroid Level
Normal - to a point. I'm a little high on the thyroid peroxidase antibodies but nothing of clinical significance.
Estrogen Level
Normal.

Testosterone
High
17-Hydroxyprogesterone
This is what my Endocrinologist is most concerned about. My levels of this are extremely elevated and I have been referred to the OHSU Dynamic Endocrinologist Testing Unit. Sounds important, huh?! They are looking for something called Late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia. I'm not totally sure what it is but it is basically like PCOS but um, worse, especially considering looking at if we are able to start a family... Hopefully we will rule it out instead of rule it in. If we are ruling it in there are some serious things to consider going forward to have a family that would involve some genetic testing. Major overload.

Cysts
I do have them, my ovaries are covered with them. They are not the kind you can remove and I think that is one of the most misleading things about PCOS. If you've read the "what is PCOS" section of my blog you'll learn that PCOS is actually not a good name representation of what this syndrome is. There is something called ovarian drilling but it is much worse than it sounds - if that is at all possible.
I'm feeling okay. Well, that's kind of a lie. I'm feeling overwhelmed, sad, worried, glad to know, angry, like I can't catch my breath and like I need a bottle of wine, a big one. I feel like now I'm on the roller coaster. Like, before this I was just looking at it and not wanting to go on it but now, here I am, unable to get off.

Fingers crossed.

until next week...

...that is how long I have to wait to get my test results.

Turns out because I went to a hospital near my house instead of the hospital where my Endo is. Because they are not in the same "network" my Endo can't just pull them up and look at them. But the medical assistant assured me that there's a note on my file that says to call whenever a lab results come in. I'm hoping the call doesn't come in the middle of me teaching...because I'm going to want to answer that call SO BAD!!

Lesson learned.

Fingers crossed.

Until then I have my PCOS book to finish and my CARB book to start. Oh, and my homework to do for class :( Here's to a book filled weekend!!!