Need advice about my daughter on hormone issue

Zoe seems to be like me, just when you get one issue under control, a new one pops up. She loves school this year (senior) even though she is taking the hardest classes offered at a very competitive high school. Her migraines have been frequent but manageable so far.

She has not had an episode of weakness or tingling from Hemiplegic migraine for a year or so, just migraine with aura. So, now she has not had a period for 8 months. She is thin, but not that thin. The new Dr. we are seeing thinks she has Polysystic ovarian syndrome and wants to put her on BC pills (low dose one some thing like Ortho Triphasic low?). I called her Neuro, he has left the practice! They are looking for a new one.

I talked to the NP, who I really like. She said the official word is Zoe should not take BC pills due to increased risk of stroke.But in this case it might be the only option short term. I am actually more worried about Zoe getting more migraines. She cant take any preventatives due to previous severe depression.

She only has Fioricet to treat acutely. I remember trying 8 kinds of pills when I was young, they all made my migraines worse! She is at a critical time in school and cant afford to miss any more than usual. She is a highly motivated student, we do not push her to do the things she does. She is in line for a scholorship that is very important to her. Help, I need advice! Thanks for listening.
Hugs,
Cindy

Cindy,

I don't know anything about Polysistic ovaries or what might help that. I can say that once my daughter started taking birth control pills which a doctor prescribed for acne, she has started getting headaches again. She had been headache free for about 6 years after the removal of impacted teeth (which the dentist had missed, grrrr). It was okay on Zaz, but when we got the generic, the problems started. My guess is they are not all the same quality, but which would be worse than others I dont' know. She is 22 now, and off to grad school so I can relate to the concern about headaches effecting both school and quality of life.

Dr Andrew Jones says the following:

"There has not been a more effective means at poisoning our women than through the use of oral contraceptives. I can think of nothing more toxic that has been given to so many people with the best of intentions than oral contraceptives. Three generations of women around the industrialized world have been poisoned in the name of contraception.
The primary reason why birth control pills are so destructive is because the progestin component that acts in many ways similar to progesterone, but is chemically different. It causes the ovaries to shut down production of natural progesterone because it is being flooded with a synthetic variation, usually in the form of Norethindrone.
Once the ovaries stop production of natural progesterone, then there becomes a radical shift in the estrogen-progesterone balance. Estrogen then becomes dominant and natural progesterone becomes essentially non-existent.
Once the estrogen-progesterone balance shifts in favor of estrogen excess, then the above conditions begin to form. This may take years to occur, but with the combination of environmental stimuli of estrogens (called xenoestrogens) these maladies can form much more quickly."

Obviously he is very against them and believes they are behind the increase in many of women's issues including PMS, breast cancer and migraines. Scary stuff. Hard choices

Thanks, That is what I am afraid of. Most people I have asked say their migraines got worse on BC pills. I was hoping someone here would have experience with POS. I dont know if I should take her to an Endocrinologist or Gyn or just try the pills. I read that you shouldny go more than 6 months without a period (unless you are on BC pills) due to thickening of the endometrium and possible cancer. I am in the midst of bad migraine pattern, so I'm having a hard time sorting it out for her.
Hugs,
Cindy

Cindy,

I'd consult a GYN. I don't know that BC would fix PCOS - I've known people with it and they just don't seem to cycle period and I'm not sure that BC would force that issue.

Personally I've had a roller coaster of effects depending on the pill I was on. They aren't all the same and the side-effects can be rather unpleasant. IMHO this is more than a pediatrician or general medicine doctor should try to fix.

Best of luck,

Becky

I've got PCOS, and I've been told to get completely off all hormonal BCP to help control it and the migraines, since the placebo week (the week when you have your period) and its sudden drop in hormones was a migraine trigger for me, and I struggled to keep my hormones balanced with the BCP.

I follow a PCOS message board, where there are many more experienced 'cysters.' Its at soulcysters.net

I have got PCOS too.

I totally agree that the pill is poison. As I have mentioned previously in another post I have been off the pill for 10 years now and I am not looking back. It's makes migraines worse, increases the risk of stroke and messes with a healthy reproduction system.

Prescribing the pill for PCOS is just masking the symptoms, but it does not address the cause and is a rather dated approach to deal with PCOS

The main reason for PCOS is insulin resistance. The best plan to deal with PCOS is diet (high protein, low carb), exercise and Metformin (a drug that increases the body's sensitivity to insulin). There is no cure, but with lifestyle changes the condition can be kept in check.

P.

Wow, I knew everyone here would give me good advice. I have spent the day in bed with migraine and trying to avoid ER. Havent been able to process the info until now. I am glad I held off calling Zoe's new PCP back. She really wants to go with the pills. I think I will take her to a Gyn. I feel better about waiting now. Does anyone have any info on how long a young woman should go without a period before you worry about it? If she has PCOS is this a problem besides fertility issues? Thanks so much for your feedback. I will go to the message board to read also.
Cindy

Cindy, Anna doesn't have PCOS.

But she has taken Micronor, a "suppressor," for many several years now. Future cancer isn't something I'm going to worry about. Cancer is terrible, but the neurological conditions she currently suffers from are worse than cancer, I feel.

So I fear the nightmare reality she lives with now, rather than future trouble. Something else may kill her first, before cancer could hit.

So for her, suppressing some pretty terrible extra pain and suffering each month is worth the risk of taking Micronor. Which works perfectly well for her. These are our personal feelings on it. I respect the feelings of other people.

One neuro took her off Micronor to see if it improved her head pain. Long time off it. Didn't make any difference at all. So she went back on it.

Cheryl

I've sent you PM, Cindy

Risa

Thanks Cheryl. It helps to hear different experiences. I talked to Zoe today. She is very stubborn and is tired of seeing doctors. She has been to hearing specialists,Opthamologists, gastroenterologists, Neuro, Psychiatrists, Dermatologists. Probably forgetting some. So, she says she wants to try the BC pills and see what happens I am still debating and would appreciate any other thoughts.
Thanks,
Cindy

I have PCOS and my general dr wasn't concerned for 6 years when I wasn't having a period. I finnaly went to a gynecologist on my own and within one visit and some blood work was given the diagnosis.

Now I do have to say that my GYN is special and really listens to everything I have to say. This was her first thought of what may be wrong and she was right.

I think it would be a matter of finding a dr that doesn't just want to put her on BC. Call ahead to a GYN office and see if the dr is knowledgable in PCOS. That will be very helpful. We have some docs in our area that are only GYN but most are OB/GYN and if you can find one of those that knows about PCOS ahe will have a dr that will be able to help her throughout pregnancies as well.

Good luck! (sorry if anything was confusing my head is weird with a "hangover" from a migraine from today and 12 hrs of work)

Isn't one of PCOS "symptoms" being overweight? You mentioned your daughter is pretty thin.

I have no info for you but that popped into my mind.

lesherb- there are 'thin cysters' who are either in the correct BMI or are even underweight. The diagnosis is from the cysts that develop and the hormone imbalances that cause irregular cycles, weight gain (for some), thyroid issues, and insulin resistance among some of the symptoms. It's a strange set of issues that no two PCOSers have exactly the same markers for.

BCP = poison for me.

Lack of periods may have many different causes. Stress and anxiety are often the culprit.

A diagnosis of polycistic ovary cannot be made like this. It's necessary at least a good ultrasound.
A good gyno know what to do and help a lot, in particular with migraine triggered by hormonal imbalances!

As for lacking periods, in the past, I've tried also natural cures with good results. BUT only after I have seen my gyno and done all the necessary official tests to exclude important causes.
In my case, the lack was due to anxiety and sudden important weight loss.
Extract of sage helped a lot. Normally, I'm cautious with natural remedies because I know the limits of natural therapies, but in certain cases they are better than chemical stuff.

Thanks Ladies, for the input. I am still waiting to hear back from the PCP. I will discuss all the points you have suggested with her. I would like Zoe to see a Gyn., but she is quite stubborn. I will post when I hear something. Feel free to give more advice in meantime if you want to! By the way, Zoe did have a blood test that pointed to PCOS. She then had an Ultrasound that showed no cysts. Life is always interesting around here.
Hugs,
Cindy

Sometimes my ultrasounds show no cysts and sometimes they do show cysts. Random I guess. Just thought I would share that.

Finally got hold of the Dr. Between the Neuro and the PCP, they decided Zoe should not start BC pills right now. We are going to give it until Winter break. That way if she does have to try something, she will be out of school. That is what I was hoping for, its nice to have something work out!
Cindy

how long has she been having periods? When I first started out, I was allll over the place. Sometimes it was 2 weeks apart, then it would be 4 months. The doctor said it's not uncommon for girls to be out of whack for the first 2 years. He said if it didn't straighten out after that time, to see a gyn.

Brenda, she started at 15 and is 17 now. They started out normally and gradually slowed to none. Of course, being a teenager, she is just glad not to have to deal with it. No thoughts of future consequences.
Cindy