Omg...i Might Be On To Something

[mftnchn]

Kassandra, my DIL has PCOS and is pregnant with her third little angel!! It's not impossible.

One of the newer treatments is one of the oral diabetic medications, apparently this condition is very insulin related.

Sorry for all the stress of this though. Keep us update on the progress and hang in there. You've been through so much and gained a lot of courage and strength through it all.

Sherry

[mftnchn]

April, I don't have much to add either about the IDS. One thought is about the allergies. How was the child tested? There is a way to test and treat allergies that is not all that common but can be very helpful. My allergist does it but most conventional allergists do not. They test foods and chemicals this way: with skin tests and drops under the tongue, in changing doses up or down until there is no skin reaction and no symptoms provoked, or the symptoms improve. This is the titrated dose that "turns off" the symptoms. Then they make a solution that is taken as drops under the tongue.

My kids used these and it was helpful. We had dramatic results with my daughter's milk allergy that was causing ear infections.

The down side is that it has to be re-titrated periodically, especially at first. For example, my daughter's first mix worked for about 11-12 months, then she suddenly started having ear infections again and was facing surgery until we took her off milk and her ears returned to normal limits. It can take quite awhile to test if there are many allergies, and insurance doesn't always cover it.

I know you are not in the same part of the country as my allergist, but if you want the info I can PM you and perhaps he can recommend someone near you.

The "father" of this approach, now deceased, is Theron Randolph. He has a book that is a fascinating read. They tested folk by keeping them in a controlled environment (exposures to chemicals and stuff), had them fast, then tested organic foods one at a time. The results were amazing. The story I remember well was the totally normal person who became psychotic within a few minutes of testing an item and tried to jump out a window.

Sherry

[mftnchn]

Nora, thanks for the vitamin D links. I remember a family story that is fascinating: My father contracted bovine TB as a child from drinking raw milk. There was no treatment, and finally the doctors suggested a sanatorium (to die, basically). My grandparents couldn't afford that and kept him at home. They had him lay outside all day in the sun throughout the summer--no other treatment other than the rest. My dad got well on his own.

Sherry

[mftnchn]

Donna-

I counted. I have 40 of these symptoms. I made an appointment with the LLMD who Carla recommended. He can't see me until the very end of August. I will try to to call occasionally for cancellations.

Thanks again for the help.

Nancy

Nancy, I'm glad you have made this decision. Perhaps the PA option would be a good one to consider? My impression is that Carla's doctor is very thorough about screening for more than lyme. Please keep us updated, we are so hoping you'll see some improvement.

Sherry

[Rachel--24]

I wish I had a poop story to tell! I have nothing...there's a serious lack of poopiness going on.

Its been almost a week....I'm almost tempted to go for some of the foods that I *know* will correct this problem...but those foods are very bad.

I think the problem is that I had to stop taking my enzymes. I'm still trying to take my CDSA test but with nothing going on...I havent even started and I have to take samples from 3 different days!

At this rate I might still be trying to complete the test when we hit page 3000.

I'm frusterated....to say the least. Been eating gluten and dairy but stopped a couple days ago due to this new problem without my enzymes. I'm thinking its mainly dairy which constipates me...particularly cheese...as in macaroni and cheese.

I know I had severe constipation as a teenager....only at that time I wasnt aware that "not going" for several days wasnt normal.

I asked my mom if I was a constipated baby....she said no....there was no lack of poopiness in my diaper. She said I had rashes because I had "d" all the time.

The only food I ever felt addicted to (as in cant live without) was milk. I know I've mentioned it alot in the past but I was seriously "on edge" if there was no milk. I would get very stressed and agitated....enough that I would drive to the store just for milk. No other food caused me to stress out like that.

I'm thinking I had leaky gut for awhile before I actually got sick......hence the graves disease and OCD problems....plus increasing sensitivity to metals and such. So yeah...it makes me wonder if maybe dairy was irritating my gut for many many years.

I dunno but *something* had to be causing the constipation problems I had while growing up. I seem to have way more problems with dairy than I have with gluten....and I dont ever feel addicted to gluten. I still feel very addicted to milk...even if I'm not drinking it...just *seeing* it in the fridge makes me want it pretty badly.

When I was eating all those pints of ice cream last year I was actually "regular". It was only chocolate ice cream that I was eating. I now know for sure that chocolate (in large amounts) makes me have loose stools...so I think maybe between the dairy and the chocolate I was actually somewhat "balanced" with formed stools.

It seems to be the high oxalate foods that cause me to have loose stools...chocolate is one of them....also on the list are yams and sweet potatos. So yeah...I could go crazy with sweet potatos to "fix" this problem I'm having with the C right right now....but I'm thinking that would be a very bad thing to do.

Okay....off the topic of poop (or lack of).

The Organic Acid Test that I'll be taking (as soon as the kit arrives) tests for a long list of compounds....the main focus is on yeast and bacteria metabolites.....but the test also checks for additional things....including oxalate levels. I'm excited about that part of the test. Yeast and fungi produce oxalates so if theres alot of yeast...most likely there will be a high amount of oxalate as well. At least thats what is commonly seen in autism.

In addition to the OAT I added on a yeast culture & sensitivity test. Basically, with this test they will culture any yeast which appears in stool and then they will test the most common prescription and natural antifungals against the yeast to determine which is most effective for that particular strain.

Ok...back to the poopiness.

Good news! As I was typing this post I ate about 3 handfuls of chocolate chips. I'm now done with Day 1 of mt CDSA. YAY!!

Only 2 more days to go.

[mftnchn]

Rachel, chocolate has magnesium. Can you take any forms of magnesium? That should help you with the C. Sorry for the problem, glad you were able to get the first one done!

Sherry

[Rachel--24]

Rachel, chocolate has magnesium. Can you take any forms of magnesium? That should help you with the C. Sorry for the problem, glad you were able to get the first one done!

Sherry

Sherry,

Its not the magnesium. I take alot of magnesium but dont get these results. Its only the really high oxalate foods that cause loose stools for me. Otherwise, I'm usually more on the C side.

Unfortunately, the high oxalate foods also cause alot of inflammation and weight loss/malabsorption problems...so I cant be eating stuff like that on a regular basis.

I've been taking magnesium everyday and I also apply magnesium sulfate cream 4-5 times a day...but it doesnt help with the C for some reason. Even when I took really high amounts with vitamin C it wasnt having the desired effects.

[Nanjkay]

Update on me: I had an "inner" pelvic ultrasound and guess what?! I am FULL of cysts. My ovaries are "textbook" for PCOS. The Dr didn't even ask me about Lyme, etc. and she was SO so sweet. She said that this is extrememly urgent.

She is sending me for a full evaluation with an endocrinologist. We are trying to get an emergency appt. next week. Unfortunately we have to have tests run before we stop the bleeding. All the endo's I have been reffered to are SO full! But I'm trying to use my connections.

Basically, every time I have gotten my period, another cyst has formed in each ovary. Usually the ovaries make follicles and they're released and that's what causes your period, but mine don't know how to release. They need progesterone to do that, and I don't have any.

I'm trying to not stress, but she said that fertility will be a problem. What we are going to try to do after the endo evaluation is "pop" the cysts with really strong hormones. She is thinking about what she wants to put me on, and will let me know.

The endo is going to run "lots" of tests. Glucose tests, hormone tests, possible MRI of my brain. So all the testing will take a while, so we're waiting to find out if I can get in on Monday on an emergency basis and they can run all the tests in a day or two, then we'll be able to stop the bleeding.

But if I can't get in, we'll have to make an appt for about a month away from now, so we can stop the bleeding and then I'd go off the hormones and they will then run tests.

I want to get in right away, but the Dr said it will be a couple weeks worth of testing, so we might not be able to do that.

Ughhhhhhhh, so much to digest. Not to mention we weren't going to see the OB/GYN until Tuesday but the bleeding was so out of control they told us to get there immediately.

Quite a whirlwind day.

I just want you to know that I have PCOS or I had PCOS. I freaked out too. But then I realized as I did with every new diagnosis is that these doctors are not telling me anything I don't already know about how I FELT and what I deal with every day except give it a new name.

Three things that helped: I started taking progesterone half the month and that helped with PMS a bit. Second, I changed my diet- this was before I knew I had celiac- no white sugar, white potatos, refined carbs, etc. I cut out fried foods. I only ate olive or canola oil. I cut out high fructose corn syrup...etc. I imagine your diet is already very good. I also use Chasteberry Tree Extract aka Vitex. I swear that I started ovulating the first month I used it. Anyway, the last time an Endo looked at my bloods, she said that I didn't have PCOS. In Germany, they give Vitex to women with fertility, menopausal and peri-menopausal symptoms before anything else.

High insulin can stop ovulation. Not ovulating causes hormone imbalances. Lyme can cause it too. Just changing your diet, taking the insulin sensitizing meds or taking Vitex can make a woman fertile who wasn't fertile. Don't worry about the fertility aspect...Also be careful with the meds, many of them made me sick and so that is why I approaced it natually.

This condition did not even have a name until women started trying to get preggo in their thirties and couldn't and with all the money in fertility now, they have a new disease. In my mind, I don't even think I have PCOS anymore. It is just a name for 5 or 6 of my 60 symptoms.

I also have very bad endometriosis and so I know how upsetting it can be to find all of this out. I do feel for you and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Nancy

[Rachel--24]

For anyone who was/is doing a low oxalate diet....I remember that vitamin C was one of the things to be avoided because it was said to be converted to oxalates.

I was someone who always had problems with vitamin c...except for one hypoallergenic brand that I tolerated ok.

Anyways here's what I found recently...

Evaluate vitamin C intake. Vitamin C can break down to form oxalates. However, in adults, the amount of oxalate formed did not increase until the amount exceeded 4 g of vitamin C per day (27).

A large study of more than 85,000 women found no relation betwen vitamin C intake and kidney stones (28). In addition, an evaluation of 100 children on the autistic spectrum at The Great Plains Laboratory revealed that there was nearly zero correlation between vitamin C and oxalates in the urine (Table 2).

Megadoses (more than 100 mg/Kg body weight per day) of vitamin C were shown to markedly reduce autistic symptoms in a double blind placebo controlled study (29) so any restriction of vitamin C needs to be carefully weighed against its significant benefits.

A very important factor that accelerates vitamin C breakdown to oxalate is the amount of free copper in the blood which can be determined in the advanced metallothionein profile (AMP) or the copper/zinc profile of The Great Plains Laboratory.

I do have an imbalance of copper/zinc but the article doesnt specify if its high copper that would accelerate Vitamin C breakdown to oxalates.

Anyways....this is the copper/zinc profile that Dr. Amy wanted me to take but for now she said to not worry about it since we already know its a problem from my RBC results.

Heres more on Vit. C/oxalates.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid or ascorbate) can be coverted to oxalates but apparently the biochemical conversion system is saturated at low levels of vitamin C so that no additional oxalate is formed until very large doses (greater than 4 g per day) are consumed.

It is interesting that fungi can also produce vitamin C which may explain why many children with autism have high vitamin C even though they do not take supplements containing vitamin C. The high correlation between arabinose and oxalates indicate that intestinal yeast/fungal overgrowth is likely the main cause for elevated oxalates in the autistic spectrum population.

[ShadowSwallow]

Also no news here. Well, other than that I saw my naturopath and she informed me that I needed to get off the antibiotics asap because they were "tearing my gut apart". Unfortunately my Mom was in the room with her... and she's taken that very much to heart. She's not discontinuing with the LLMD, thankfully, but she's getting into the alternative treatments for Lyme with a vengance to shorten the time I'm on antibiotics.

At this point I'm going to be going to see my allergist Monday to discuss some things, and have a BioSet appointment.

The naturopath tested that I'm reacting to the zithromax... but I was testing odd that day, so I don't quite trust it.

Kassandra.

[AndreaB]

Birdy,

Hope you can get things figured out with an herbal protocol that works for you soon. I always appreciate the updates even if I don't comment.......and that goes for everyone.

[confusedks]

I just want you to know that I have PCOS or I had PCOS. I freaked out too. But then I realized as I did with every new diagnosis is that these doctors are not telling me anything I don't already know about how I FELT and what I deal with every day except give it a new name.

Nancy

My diet is already squeaky clean, so that won't and hasn't changed anything. I've tried EVERY herb including Vitex (??) and nothing has helped. I will be starting progesterone as soon as we get the proper tests done. I don't have any PMS symptoms, thankfully!

My main concern is that my ovaries are FULL of cysts. The Dr said it was a good thing I got in when I did, because there could have been some serious problems if I waited any longer.

I have read quite a bit about PCOS and a good percentage of women don't have cysts. I do, and that's my main concern. I'm trying to not worry about the fertility issue, but that's easier said than done.

I do have to disagree for a minute with you though, lol. I already have something (Lyme) that we know is causing a lot of my health problems. The main missing piece has been the hormone stuff. So I think that this isn't just "another name" for something. I have known for a long time that there was something really wrong with my periods, but never knew what it was.

Now that we know...we can treat it! That's a HUGE deal for me.

[confusedks]

An update.

We so far haven't been able to get in to see an endocrinologist. Dr M (the OB?GYN) who I was supposed to see, but didn't because she wasn't in the office today...called us and told us that the endo her office suggested is NOT someone who I should see. He isn't a specialist in female issues, so it wouldn't he a helpful appt.

So at this point, I'm going to wait until Tuesday to see her (instead of the nurse practitioner who I saw today) and she is going to discuss everything with me. We will come up with a plan of action as far as which endo to see, which tests need to be run, etc.

The only thing I need to know, is whether or not to start the progesterone to stop the bleeding. I don't want to go on it, then find out I have to get off of it for proper test results.

I'd like to just have the tests done before messing with any hormone levels. We'll see.

[mftnchn]

Kassandra, glad your OB/GYN is on top of things. So sorry for all of this but so glad you have an answer.

Sherry

[mftnchn]

Rachel that's a bummer, I didn't realize none of that worked for you. Since you can't eat much veggie I guess fiber might be an issue too.

Sherry

[CarlaB]

She is "very" concerned about fertility. Through all of this health stuff, I have hung on to the fact that one day I will have kids...that is what I have lived for. So this was very upsetting to me.

I know it is .... we talked about this when you were here .... you will be able to have a family even if you can't get pregnant .... you know first hand that Jack is just like the rest of the kids. I hope you can experience pregnancy some day, too, but I know you will have a family.

My LLMD has me on this. PCOS is on the list of things it helps. Open Original Shared Link

It might be worth a try .... it helps with estrogen dominance, which often is the cause of progesterone deficiency (from what I understand).

Nora, thanks for the vitamin D links. I remember a family story that is fascinating: My father contracted bovine TB as a child from drinking raw milk. There was no treatment, and finally the doctors suggested a sanatorium (to die, basically). My grandparents couldn't afford that and kept him at home. They had him lay outside all day in the sun throughout the summer--no other treatment other than the rest. My dad got well on his own.

Sherry

I put the Lyme in remission three times with lots and lots of sunshine, along with daily exercise and rest.

Good news! As I was typing this post I ate about 3 handfuls of chocolate chips. I'm now done with Day 1 of mt CDSA. YAY!!

Rachel, chocolate has magnesium. Can you take any forms of magnesium? That should help you with the C. Sorry for the problem, glad you were able to get the first one done!

Sherry

Sherry,

Its not the magnesium. I take alot of magnesium but dont get these results.

Okay, that was the conversation I was going to have!

Also no news here. Well, other than that I saw my naturopath and she informed me that I needed to get off the antibiotics asap because they were "tearing my gut apart". Unfortunately my Mom was in the room with her... and she's taken that very much to heart. She's not discontinuing with the LLMD, thankfully, but she's getting into the alternative treatments for Lyme with a vengance to shorten the time I'm on antibiotics.

Well, I do take herbs along side of the abx. I don't know if it helps, but it would be nice if it did. Of course the Naturopath is not going to like the abx! It's true they tear your gut apart .... but the naturopath should be helping to correct that, and I don't mean by taking you off the abx ... but by helping your gut handle the abx.

[Nanjkay]

My diet is already squeaky clean, so that won't and hasn't changed anything. I've tried EVERY herb including Vitex (??) and nothing has helped. I will be starting progesterone as soon as we get the proper tests done. I don't have any PMS symptoms, thankfully!

My main concern is that my ovaries are FULL of cysts. The Dr said it was a good thing I got in when I did, because there could have been some serious problems if I waited any longer.

I have read quite a bit about PCOS and a good percentage of women don't have cysts. I do, and that's my main concern. I'm trying to not worry about the fertility issue, but that's easier said than done.

I do have to disagree for a minute with you though, lol. I already have something (Lyme) that we know is causing a lot of my health problems. The main missing piece has been the hormone stuff. So I think that this isn't just "another name" for something. I have known for a long time that there was something really wrong with my periods, but never knew what it was.

Now that we know...we can treat it! That's a HUGE deal for me.

Kassandra-

I completely understand what you are saying. It is a huge deal. I agree. I am glad you found the missing piece. I was just trying to say that everything is connected, as we know. I, not you, always gets upset when i get a new diagnosis, so I would tell myself that it is just another name for what I already knew was in there...this was more about me, sorry. And what I mentioned was my way of calming myself down when I would get a new diagnosis.

I am sorry about the cysts, too.

Nancy

[Rachel--24]

Kassandra,

Did you ever have your copper levels checked??

I think it was something I mentioned in the past as a possibility for your difficulties with sleep.

Anyways copper has a very strong relationship with estrogen. If you have estrogen dominance you will more than likely also have excess copper.

Copper is also used to fight bacteria as it has antibacterial properties....however, excess copper can increase susceptibility to viruses and can also activate viruses already in the body. It can also lead to deficiencies of minerals and vitamins.

If the thyroid and adrenal glands are slow copper can build-up....also excess copper can cause the adrenals and thyroid to slow down.

Anyways an imbalanced ratio of copper/zinc can lead to alot of problems/symptoms in the body and copper does have a negative effect on the reproductive ststem.

In my opinion alot of the problems we experience are caused by imbalances such as these which develop as a result of the infections (but can also be a cause for the susceptibility to infections) and toxins such as heavy metals, pesticides, etc.

It might be helpful to get the copper/zinc checked.

Copper can have a very negative effect on a women reproductive system. PMS and Postpartum depression are associated with copper toxicity. Estrogen and copper are closely related. As estrogen rises more copper is retained by the body. [added note: estrogen is usually flushed with bile, but the bad guys in the gut can free the estrogen from its "chains", raising its amount in the body]

Estrogen's rises during pregnancy, during the premenstrual cycle and while taking estrogen medications including many birth control pills. Copper increases sodium retention which aggravates PMS symptoms. Copper also antagonizes zinc and B6 which help reduce PMS symptoms.

Fibroids and cysts in the reproductive system are more common in high copper patients.

Copper has been shown to antagonize the function of both the adrenal glands and the thyroid. All hypo thyroid patients are seen to have elevated levels of copper.

Copper-toxic women are often estrogen dominant. They may benefit from progesterone therapy to help balance their hormones.

The impact of copper excess seems to be much more severe in preadolescent and adolescent girls than in boys. As girls reach puberty, the increase in estrogen levels tends to exacerbate the effects of copper excess because estrogen raises the level of copper in the body

[Rachel--24]

Kassandra,

I think this was before you joined the thread but awhile back I was found to have a large ovarian cyst....had to go back for repeated ultrasounds which showed that the cyst had gotten smaller. I guess that was a good sign because there was less concern after that. They also found a small fibroid.

I also have elevated copper. I'm not sure if thats the reason for those growths but *something* has to cause it.

[confusedks]

I know it is .... we talked about this when you were here .... you will be able to have a family even if you can't get pregnant .... you know first hand that Jack is just like the rest of the kids. I hope you can experience pregnancy some day, too, but I know you will have a family.

My LLMD has me on this. PCOS is on the list of things it helps. Open Original Shared Link

It might be worth a try .... it helps with estrogen dominance, which often is the cause of progesterone deficiency (from what I understand).

I'm sure I'll have kids one day, but actual pregnancy is something I have always wanted to experience. It's just an amazing thing, and I'd be bummed if I couldn't go through it.

Thanks, I'll talk to Dr H about it. I'd ask my OB/GYN, but we all know how most Dr's are about supplements.

Kassandra-

I completely understand what you are saying. It is a huge deal. I agree. I am glad you found the missing piece. I was just trying to say that everything is connected, as we know. I, not you, always gets upset when i get a new diagnosis, so I would tell myself that it is just another name for what I already knew was in there...this was more about me, sorry. And what I mentioned was my way of calming myself down when I would get a new diagnosis.

I am sorry about the cysts, too.

Nancy

Sorry Nancy if I seemed short with you. I'm just going through a whole skew of emotions. I wasn't even expecting to go see a Dr yesterday, so I wasn't prepared for it at all! Not to mention, getting another diagnosis made it even harder.

Kassandra,

Did you ever have your copper levels checked??

I think it was something I mentioned in the past as a possibility for your difficulties with sleep.

Anyways copper has a very strong relationship with estrogen. If you have estrogen dominance you will more than likely also have excess copper.

Copper is also used to fight bacteria as it has antibacterial properties....however, excess copper can increase susceptibility to viruses and can also activate viruses already in the body. It can also lead to deficiencies of minerals and vitamins.

If the thyroid and adrenal glands are slow copper can build-up....also excess copper can cause the adrenals and thyroid to slow down.

Anyways an imbalanced ratio of copper/zinc can lead to alot of problems/symptoms in the body and copper does have a negative effect on the reproductive ststem.

In my opinion alot of the problems we experience are caused by imbalances such as these which develop as a result of the infections (but can also be a cause for the susceptibility to infections) and toxins such as heavy metals, pesticides, etc.

It might be helpful to get the copper/zinc checked.

I will try to remember to ask Dr H about this. I was going to ask him about heavy metals anyway, but I will specifically ask about this.

Kassandra,

I think this was before you joined the thread but awhile back I was found to have a large ovarian cyst....had to go back for repeated ultrasounds which showed that the cyst had gotten smaller. I guess that was a good sign because there was less concern after that. They also found a small fibroid.

I also have elevated copper. I'm not sure if thats the reason for those growths but *something* has to cause it.

Did you do anything to make it smaller? I have lots of little ones, lol.

Well the explanation I got for things growing was... when you have a period, there's 2 phases: estrogen and then progesterone. Estrogen is what helps (can't remember the name, lol) grow, then it is released, but it can only be released with the progesterone. Since my period won't stop, I don't have enough progesterone, which is how the little whatever's get stuck and I don't stop bleeding. They then are supposed to leave your ovary, but mine don't, they get stuck and form into cysts.

Oh another thing she mentioned is, I have a heart shaped uterus which she said will further fertility problems. I haven't had any time to look that up, but I want to know more about it. I'll be googling a lot later on.

[CarlaB]

Kassandra, that supp has to be bought through a doctor anyway. I'm on it because both of my parents had cancer and Dr. H has given me two supps that lower cancer risk, that's one of them. (The other is also xymogen - oncoplex).

Actually, you have a good understanding of what's happening, you just don't know the terminology. With what's happening it makes sense that you figured this out when you were so young.

That change from estrogen to progesterone causes a temperature shift .... that temperature shift is how I know with natural family planning when the infertile time is there. Also, the first few days of the month are infertile.

[Rachel--24]

Did you do anything to make it smaller? I have lots of little ones, lol.

I had to look at my posts because it was around 2 years ago and I forgot exactly what happened.

Anyways, it was the GI doctor who actually noticed a large cyst on my ovary on the results of a CT scan. He said it was larger than most (over 4 cm) and I needed to follow up with my regular doc.

I ignored it for a couple months but I kept having some pains that I would describe as "ovary pains" near the lower part of my abdomen. It was sometimes really bothering me and once to the point that I could hardly walk.

I made the appt. with my doc...she looked at the CT scan and said the same thing....it was bigger than most "normal" cysts. So apparantly it was growing and not getting released. I think when they get to a certain size they can cause problems. I had to go for an ultrasound the next day and they also ran liver tests because I'd previously had elevated liver enzymes. They checked for hepatitis as well.

All my labwork was normal except my urine was too alkaline....which makes sense because of yeast issues and such.

After my ultrasound the radiologist told me that they'd be seeing me again...so I assumed that the cyst was still there but they wouldnt actually discuss results with me.

When I got the results I was told I had two cysts (one on each side) and that the one which had been over 4 cm was now over 2 cm...so they said it might be on its way out. They also told me about the fibroid. I had to wait 6 weeks and go back for another ultrasound.

Then I found out from another doctor that even though it was shrinking it still might not be dissolving as it should...and also, since I had two it could be that as one grows larger the other shrinks and they continue to go back and forth like that but never actually leaving.

I went to the obgyn for another ultrasound and had a really freaky experience. The OBGYN couldnt see my ovaries at all because my intestines were moving all over the place. She showed me how everything on the screen was moving all around and said that in all of her years she'd never seen anything like it. She said it looked like a GI problem...like my intestines were *trying* to digest something. She looked freaked out by it and I ended up crying. This is when all that ruckus in my intestines got blamed on the "alien baby".

So I had to get yet another ultrasound and this was my post about the results.

Ovarian Cyst update

I finally talked to the OBGYN...we played phone tag for a couple weeks.

She said my fibroid and cyst are still there...the cyst is small. It was first seen in a CT scan and now in 2 ultrasounds. This last ultrasound was done a week after my period so it should have been gone if it were a normal cyst. It doesnt seem to be leaving so she said at this point they would normally try birth control pills. She said we cant do that for me because of my sensitivities.

She said the only other option would be surgery to take a look around and get rid of the cyst. She mentioned the procedure...it started with an "L"...cant remember the word but we've discussed it here before. I think maybe Patti knows??

Anyways...she said maybe I have Endometriosis...which I know nothing about. I do recall reading it could cause food sensitivities though. She said there is no guarantee that they could diagnose it with the surgery...even if I had it. There is also no guarantee that the cyst wont come back after they remove it either.

She doesnt think the cyst is causing my abdominal pain....she made that clear. Its not really the occassional abdominal pain that concerns me though....its mainly the other stuff I'm dealing with. I asked her how they normally diagnose Endometriosis...she said they usually put the patient on hormones and if it works they diagnose based on that. I dont want to try hormones or BC or anything like that. I'd rather go ahead with the surgery.

She said they can do the surgery and get a good look around but she is going on maternity leave and wont be back until November. I need to set up an appt. with her in Nov. for a surgery consult where she said we can discuss all of this stuff in more detail. It sucks to have to wait that long but I figure I'll get another ultrasound around that time to make sure the cyst is still there before we do surgery.

So apparantly the cysts never resolved....I just forgot all about them!

Sheeeesh....maybe I should go back now??

The thing is if I have elevated copper and all of these other imbalances I dont see how things will improve by having them removed...they'll probably just come right back!

I'm still not at all open to the thought of birth control pills which will only worsen my candida and leaky gut issues.

I think it would be best for me to focus on the underlying issues since I'm not having any pain related to this and I'm not having any irregularities as far as my cycle goes.

At the time when all of this was going on I was having major pain which is why I followed up on the cyst. The OBGYN said the pain wasnt related to the cysts...although I'm sure seeing my intestines in some pretty severe distress helped to convince her of that!

Anyways, she was right....the pain was caused by foods I was eating. I actually remember what foods I was eating on the day I had that ultrasound....and they were all high oxalate foods. Those are the same foods that cause that same pain to return along with a bunch of other unpleasant symptoms.

Since I've been really strict with my diet I really dont have all of that pain any more...its been gone a long time now.

So I have no clue what the cysts look like now but I dont think I want to make any decisions as far as treatment goes since I know I'm dealing with some of the problems that can lead to cysts and fibroid growths. I do think it would be good for me to have another ultrasound though.

Thats so crazy that I forgot that this issue never got resolved! I had thought that the cysts "went away"......I totally forgot about the OBGYN going on maternity leave and that I was suppossed to have a consult for surgery!

Oh well....I think everything happens for a reason and I'm thinking this wouldnt have been the best option for me. Its something I'm gonna have to follow up on though...I'll have to mention it to my current doctors.

Kassandra,

We talked alot about cysts, fibroids, PCOS, and all of the "scientificness" on how/why cysts develop early on in this thread.....like in June of 2006. You can do a search on "ovarian cysts" all the way back to those discussions if you're interested.

[Nanjkay]

Kassandra, that supp has to be bought through a doctor anyway. I'm on it because both of my parents had cancer and Dr. H has given me two supps that lower cancer risk, that's one of them. (The other is also xymogen - oncoplex).

Carla-

Do you think it would be beneficial to take indole 3 carbinol on its own? (I think that is in Xymogen). I have PCOS and a hidden copper toxicity. And I think the copper toxicity is what causes my terrible endometriosis...plus I am hypothyroid and have all kinds of adrenal issues. Do you find that it helps your symptoms?

I still don't know how to treat the copper toxicity. I take zinc, that's all I do. What else is there to do?

Kassandra-

Don't even worry about it. You had an overwhelming day. By the way, I too had cysts during one ultrasound and the next time I had it, there weren't any.

nancy

[jerseyangel]

Rachel,

Your doctor at the time was wrong about diagnosing endometriosis...the only way to diagnose it is to do laproscopic surgery. I had numerous ultrasounds (both types ) and it was never picked up.

I was found to have a "stage 4" endometriosis when I had my hysterectomy--which means the tissue had spread beyond the reproductive organs.

Actually, the use of estrogen (I don't know which hormones your doctor was talking about) is contraindicated with endometriosis, as it feeds it and can cause it to regenerate even after it has been surgically removed.

I never took hormones after my surgery-- refused them--but I actually couldn't have taken them anyway, as it can even grow back after a complete hysterectomy.

[confusedks]

Kassandra, that supp has to be bought through a doctor anyway. I'm on it because both of my parents had cancer and Dr. H has given me two supps that lower cancer risk, that's one of them. (The other is also xymogen - oncoplex).

Actually, you have a good understanding of what's happening, you just don't know the terminology. With what's happening it makes sense that you figured this out when you were so young.

That change from estrogen to progesterone causes a temperature shift .... that temperature shift is how I know with natural family planning when the infertile time is there. Also, the first few days of the month are infertile.

I told you I didn't think I could ever use NFP! My temps are so crazy, so are my periods so it makes sense.

Yea, she explained SO much, and I'm used to Dr H writing things down for me, because I don't remember anything. She didn't write anything down.

Rachel,

Thanks for sharing all that with me. The issue is that my period won't stop. These cysts apparently aren't being released at all. She said they have "nowhere to go." She explained, it's like being stuck in the middle of a really busy, overcrowded parking lot and not being able to get out. That's kinda what's happening.

I'm supposed to hear from the actual OB/GYN today so she can tell me whether to take hormones to stop the bleeding or not. I too, hate the idea of BCP, but I can't continue to have irregular periods, that won't get better on their own.

I don't think I'm ready to be looking into what's causing the cysts. It's a little too much to handle for me, and right now, I'm in a lot of pelvic pain (horrible cramps almost 24/7) so I just want this to all calm down.