Question
See my post on the other thread. I saw an endocrinologist over 20 years ago, who tested me extensively and determined my testosterone level was very abnormal. Since he didn't feel this was a "disease," he just sent me on my way with no treatment. Doesn't say much for the medical profession in my estimation when you have an abnormality that falls within their specialty, and then they just brush you off. He was looking for lupus, and since it was "just" excessive testosterone, he trivialized it.

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i have acne , oily skin,
hairs on my belly, on my toes and on my fingers
i´ve always hated the hairs on my fingers.
I have the same skin as my mom does unfortunately
and she also has hairs on her chin.
I´m very sure my doctor won´t give me something
for it, he´ll just say that the diane 35 is good enough
but i suspect that there is something wrong with my hormonelevel as well.
i agree with pore they trivialize this.

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That's why it's important to go to a specialist.

Poreoilyme, are you a guy? If so, that's probably why you were blown off. Over and over I hear how men don't get treated for excess testosterone levels out of fear of chemical castration or feeling less masculine. Those men who decide to take Saw Palmetto (similar to spiro) have felt less "alive" and saw variable results in improving their skin. Then again, they tended to overdose on it, whereas us women can take 3-5x the amount and still not see a postive effect. Although, there are some women who see a postive effect while taking less than 200mg...

I will say that for any of you, I'm surprised you aren't taking an anti-androgen such as Spironolactone, or similar drug. Not only is it for cystic acne/oilies, but it helps with hirsuitism, and in the prevention of cystic ovaries (if that's a concern). That's what's rather odd, why they won't put men on this drug for acne, since it's used as a blood pressure medication to begin with??? The dosage that you would take wouldn't be that of the above, so "certain" side effects (I certainly never got them), may be less likely to occur, if at all.

I know that Diane 35 contains cyproterone (right?), but I'm aware of others that also take Spiro in addtion to this BC or others brands and have seen positive effects. While, taking Prednisone (deltasone) or Dexamethose glucocortocoids have helped to decrease hair loss and acne in women and men (LOCCAH dx), that would also explain the boosts inenergy. So it's very surprising Janet, that your doctor took you off of this drug. Then again, it takes a couple of tries before you hit the GOLD or PLATINUM of doctors. Heck, it took me 8 years of seeing doctors, specialists, before I found a good endocrinologist =)

Understandly you don't want to be on that drug for the next 30 years and while I've heard that the adrenal glands can rebalance itself, I'm surprised that it would happen in 6 months time. I'm even more suprised that he didn't give you anything for you excess hair. The drugs work, but usually ONLY while taking them and enough time off of them and your problems will come back. While Prednisone isn't prescribed to specifically to eliminate current body hair, the only thing that is supposed to do that would be Spiro or Flutamide etc. Of course there's other drugs and alternative treatments out there that have had varied success with acne/hair issues too.

So I guess the bottom line for those intersted, is that it just depends on your particular hormonal imbalance. The only way you'll ever know is to keep trying to see a specialist. The more time you have wasted by them, the more crazy your hormones will get, the more excess hair you'll get, etc. Yes, once you get it, it's not as easy to lose (you have to wait for the follicles to die, some do some don't). Depending on your age at the time of proper diagnosis & treatment (puberty vs. adult), somethings can be reversed and other things...can't

Say Janet, did you lose any body hair? How is your hair growth and acne now? How's your energy?

Thanks

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I'm definitely female!!

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Hello ladies,
I am so glad I stumbled upon this post...

Were any of you ever spoken to about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome? ALL the symptoms you have listed are included in this diagnosis. I have PCOS and have had it for 12 years. It is EXTEMELY important that you are correctly diagnosed by either a reproductive endo, a regular endo or a gynecologist, as PCOS can dramatically affect your general overall health. Hirsutism is certainly a side effect of elevated androgens - which are now believed to be attributable to insulin resistance, or hyperinsulism. This is the opposite of diabetes - women with PCOS have too much insulin, and this wreaks all kinds of havoc on the organs in the body (namely the pancreas) which produce and regulate hormone levels.

PCOS is a bit of a misnomer because the syndrome really encompasses a whole range of medical conditions. The first sign is increased androgen levels (mostly free testosterone, total testosterone. This can lead to irregular periods, total lack of mentruation ("amenorrhea"), excess hair growth, Type II Diabetes, heart disease, and thyroid disease. Common signs of PCOS are menstrual problems, breast pain or abnormal breast development, ovarian pain which exists outside of the normal menstrual cycle (these are the cysts forming and bursting), excess hair on the face, arms, leg, sometimes chest and back, excessive oiliness anywhere, excessive weight gain with no change in diet or exercise, and a very pronounced pear body shape (ie, all the body fat is stored between the waist and the knees).

PLEASE if you have any of the symptoms here, go see a specialist who know what PCOS is! You can find them on the net using some of the sites I have listed below. It is estimated that 10% of the female population in the US have PCOS, and 80% of those cases are undiagnosed due to general lack of information and knowledge on the part of most doctors. It took me TEN YEARS to be diagnosed, and that is precious time I cannot recover. My fertility has been irreparably damaged, and I am struggling to keep from developing TII Diabetes right now.

You can get more info about PCOS at [url="http://www.pcosupport.org,"]www.pcosupport.org,[/url] [url="http://www.obgyn.net/pcos/pcos.asp"]www.obgyn.net/pcos/pcos.asp[/url] , and [url="http://www.pcos.net."]www.pcos.net.[/url] Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this!

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