Hi All -

Finally went to the OBGYN after a 10 year break (I hate going there). Anyway, they just called to say I'm diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). The doc wanted to put me on Birth Control pills, but I'm 38 and a smoker. I don't think this is such a great idea. I've talked to the nurse who will discuss with the doc again - she agrees that BC is not the way to go.

Can anyone with any experience here tell me what alternate treatment options are and if they are as effective as birth control?

Thanks!

Kim

Alway - nice summary info - thank so much! Good reference link indeed. Good luck to you... hopefully they'll find something that works for you at the endo!

graceysnema - so sorry to hear about your daughter's problems! I hear your words and thank you for your concern. Over the next month I'll be looking into alternative therapies.

Tricia - yep - not so thrilled with the talk. Part of what he says makes sense and he was kidding about me reading the web sites... but still, what a comment! I dunno... I'll be researching over the next month and will be looking for a specialist. I'm thinking weight loss is my best option - lucky for me I have a bright future in that area :bananadoggywow:. I hate that I've seen no reduction of symptoms with the weight I've lost, but technically I'm still in the "severe overweight" category - not even the "moderately overweight" category, so maybe I can't expect any change yet.

I'll go see an endo then.

Golden words. Your regular doc may know little about PCOS treatment, and management, but an endo! Well! What can I say? All they deal with is disorders like PCOS. They usually have the most up to date info.

So I say, do as you are, and do what your regular doc says in order to get a Dx, and get your referal to your endo. That is great!! :clap2:

And on the subject of chin hairs.... 62kg (136lbs) down, and close to goal, I am sitting here tweezers in hand pulling stray hairs :bananadoggywow: I am afraid it gets no better with weight loss. I am told there is a medication (the name is on the tip of my tounge...) to stop/slow the hair growth, but it has some very nasty side effects. My endo told me to stick with the tweezers.. I would be better off in the long run *sigh*

That said, weight loss has sorted my hormone levels, my insulin has gone from off the charts high, to perfectly normal, and I have a 28 day cycle (I was lucky to have 2 cycles a year). So there is hope.

I am told there is a medication (the name is on the tip of my tounge...) to stop/slow the hair growth, but it has some very nasty side effects.

FYI - It's called Vaniqa and is VERY expensive.

Thanks Sammee! Don't you hate it when you lose your tweezers??? It's like a mad frenzy around here until I find them! I could not live without them! By the way, I've had around 15 - 20 laser treatments... it helps for a couple of months, but then it's like Michael Myers from Halloween.... back again!

Gooney-Goo-Goo, lol. :bananadoggywow: Love your sense of humor, Kim! You always make me smile!

I gotta say, I hate when doctors tell us to quit researching! Knowledge should not be something to be feared. I know it sometimes makes us more difficult patients, but seriously, they shouldn't be afraid to tell us WHY!!

On the nurse telling you your diagnosis was PCOS, that was probably from the insurance coding. They code for payment, heh, not necessarily the "correct" diagnosis at any given second. You should see my super bill, lol, they have everything under the sun circled!

By the way, I've had around 15 - 20 laser treatments... it helps for a couple of months, but then it's like Michael Myers from Halloween.... back again!

LMBO... yep! Here too.

Tricia, Im not sure the price of Vaniqa, but -so far- Ive paid a grand ($1000) in 1 year for zapping these tree stumps!

Vaniqa cant be MORE expensive then this?!

I brought this up on my Laser hair Removal thread and thought Id mention it again....

Anyone around here have PCOS that has naturally light hair?

My doctor said that PCOS can be found primarily in Spanish decendents (dark haired women).

Interesting, I fit that category.

My hair was blonde... um... once upon a time. Before I had friends, lol. (Went red on a dare... found out I love 1 change -- hair color!) When I went for laser treatments they had to dye my hair before the treatment, lol, so the laser could "see" it. :bananadoggywow: My "beard" is black, though... when it's not gray & springy **sigh**. (Does Aunt Ruth have a beard? Not sure, but Aunt Janet does! :Banane20:)

I do have Native American blood (and a bunch of other stuff, true mutt)... wonder if that's close enough?

My hair was blonde... um... once upon a time. Before I had friends, lol. (Went red on a dare... found out I love 1 change -- hair color!) When I went for laser treatments they had to dye my hair before the treatment, lol, so the laser could "see" it. :Banane20: My "beard" is black, though... when it's not gray & springy **sigh**. (Does Aunt Ruth have a beard? Not sure, but Aunt Janet does! :fruitsex:)

I do have Native American blood (and a bunch of other stuff, true mutt)... wonder if that's close enough?

Im cracking up... Aunt Janet!!! LOL

~~~ Sorry Kim, but I need to slightly hijack this thread for a moment ~~~

Janet, just wondering about the "dying beard" thing. Did that actually work...??? If you DYE your grey/white whiskers, the laser can actually ZAP them?

This is, of coarse, from one mutt to another :bananadoggywow:

I'm a blonde too! Very fair skin. Irish/English/Germean decent.

Has anyone tried laser removal to any success? I tried electrolosis and only got scars and about $500 poorer out of it.

Does anyone else have skin tags? ARRG!!

Tricia, Im not sure the price of Vaniqa, but -so far- Ive paid a grand ($1000) in 1 year for zapping these tree stumps!

Vaniqa cant be MORE expensive then this?!

I brought this up on my Laser hair Removal thread and thought Id mention it again....

Anyone around here have PCOS that has naturally light hair?

My doctor said that PCOS can be found primarily in Spanish decendents (dark haired women).

Interesting, I fit that category.

Paula, Vaniqa is no where near as high as laser hair removal treatments. It doesn't make the hair go away but rather slows the growth and, if I remember correctly, lightens the hair. I chose to go the laser hair removal route for the hair on my upper lip. I used to get it waxed but wanted something permanent.

My ethnicity is primarily Norwegian with a small amount of Cherokee Indian but my hair is very, very dark. The unwanted hair growth for me is (was) my upper lip, my lower abdomen and the back of my upper arms.

As far as getting laser treatments, it works best on dark hair so if you have blonde lip or chin hair, you would have to dye it for the laser to recognize and zap it. It looks for pigment.

I'm sorry that some of you haven't had good luck with it. I had my upper lip treated a while ago and nothing has come back. Is it possible that they're using the wrong kind of laser? They have different types for different things. My technician uses the Candela GentleLASE. There is a place around here that claims to treat unwanted hair, but uses the wrong kind of laser so people keep coming back and spending more money. Of course, this is just heresay.

I hope this information is helpful. :grouphug:

Treestumps - LOL!!!

Yes, that they are! My hair is ummmmmm????? I think it was medium brown :-). Now it's grey, blonde, red, brown :-). However, the facial hair is BLACK and COARSE! I've spent --- geez --- at least $1500 on laser hair treatments. I've been to two different places. I don't know what kind of laser they used unfortunately. I talked to the obgyn office laser treatment person and they quoted me another $1000 for 5 sessions (full face). YIKES! I've even thought about buying my own professional unit if I could find one and get some training on how to use it. Seems like since it comes back, this will be a vicious money losing cycle. I have to say though that for the month - two months that the laser does work for is WONDERFUL!

Ummmmm... maybe not :-)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7611857996

You, too can own your own Candela USED laser removal system for just US $38,995.00

Ummmmm... maybe not :-)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7611857996

You, too can own your own Candela USED laser removal system for just US $38,995.00

Ouch!! My technician wants to buy one that costs $100,000. Unfortunately, in Louisiana, it has to be used in a physician's office. She wants to buy it and use it at her home, but wouldn't be able to advertise/market it without getting herself in trouble. Too bad though, because I'd still go to her. She's awesome! Even though she currently works out of a ENT/Facial Plastic Surgeon's office, she never charges the amount listed on the price sheet. Examples: Upper lip regular price -$100. She charged me $50, which includes a 2nd treatment. My friend Kristy had her bikini line and underarms done recently. Bikini line regular price - $350. She charged her $225. Underarms regular price - $200. She charged her $125. Again, all of these prices include a 2nd treatment.

FYI - It's called Vaniqa and is VERY expensive.

No, the one I was thinking of is Spironolactone. Nasty, nasty side effects.. But apparently it works, and the execess hair falls out. It is taken in pill form. It is not a cream. Maybe they don't give spiro for hirsutism in the US, I don't know. But they do in Oz.

It works, but at a price. I think I will just stick with my bleach and tweezers :grouphug:

The doc mentioned something about trying Aldactone (mild diuretic)... says that's supposed to help. He'd like to possibly start me on that next month. Ah geez - I just looked it up on yahoo and it says that that is the Spironolactone! Go figure - get pocket book ready huh? Great.

Here's the info I got when I looked up Aldactone and Hair on a search:

FYI... Looks like it costs about 150 - 160 for 90 pills....

Are there any prescription treatments for excess body and facial hair?

Excess body or facial hair, a condition known as hirsutism, can be caused by a number of different factors including heredity, certain drugs, and several medical conditions. Vaniqa (generic name eflornithine hydrochloride) is a new prescription cream for women that can reduce unwanted facial hair. Vaniqa seems to slow facial hair growth by interfering with the enzyme that promotes hair growth.

Excess hair growth in women is sometimes due to conditions that cause the body to produce excess male hormones called androgens. An oversupply of androgens in the body can lead to excessive unwanted hair. Some prescription drugs can help reduce hair growth by blocking androgens. These include certain birth control pills, the diuretic spironolactone (brand name Aldactone), and flutamide (Eulexin). These drugs are usually reserved for women who have severe excess hair growth or hair growth that's difficult to remove with do-it-yourself methods.

What is spironolactone?

Spironolactone is in a class of drugs called potassium-sparing diuretics (water pill). It is used to reduce the amount of fluid in your body without causing the loss of potassium.

Spironolactone is used to treat edema (swelling) and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Spironolactone is also used to treat potassium deficiency and hyperaldosteronism (a hormonal disorder).

Spironolactone may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of spironolactone?

Stop taking spironolactone and seek emergency medical attention if you experience any of the following serious side effects:

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
  
• an irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, fatigue, confusion, weakness, numbness, or tingling (caused by high levels of potassium in your blood); or
  
• decreased urination.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take spironolactone and talk to your doctor if you experience

• unusual headache or dizziness;
  
• nausea, diarrhea, or a decrease in appetite;
  
• dry mouth;
  
• bloating;
  
• muscle cramps; or
  
• lowering of the voice, excessive hair growth, or enlarged breasts.

I LOVE the last side effect :grouphug: