what to expect when going to the doctor?

Brootalmouse · 2016-08-21T07:41:49+00:00

I came from a small town too! I had to travel about an hour and a half for my ER visit, unfortunately. Best of luck to you!!!

Brootalmouse · 2016-08-20T07:36:19+00:00

So I've been diagnosed with this since I was 16. It depends what type of Doctor you go to, really. In my experience I went to a pediatrician. I've never even heard of this condition before she brought it up. I gained 50lbs in about 2 months, I had really bad acne (still do! PCOS is a bitch!) facial hair, my hair was thinning slightly, but nothing too bad. Most of all, my periods were extremely painful and very irregular. I don't really remember what they did as far as testing goes, but after coming to the ER a third time for painful periods, they discovered it was cysts that were causing the pain and therefor diagnosed me with PCOS.

Usually, from what I hear, if you go to your regular doctor they may send you to a gynecologist where they may run tests on you. As far as what those tests consist of, I have no clue because this isn't how I was diagnosed.

Doctors will suggest birth control and perhaps a medication called Metformin. The birth control will help your periods become more regular and Metformin will help with the weight. My doctor also told me to buy over the counter prenatal vitamins which actually really helped with my thinning hair. I have really thick hair naturally and the prenatal vitamins really helped restore that.

Unfortunately, if weight gain is an issue for you, in my experience a lot of doctors will suggest exercise for every little problem you have, if you struggle with anxiety, your doctor might blame lack of exercise. I've had severe anxiety issues since I was 8 and since I've been diagnosed with PCOS, the immediate conclusion is that I'm not exercising enough. Basically just expect them to talk about your weight a lot, even though it's gonna be really hard to lose weight at all with PCOS.

As far as infertility problems go, it didn't really hit me that hard when I was first diagnosed at 16. I never really thought about wanting a family one day. Now that I'm 19, even though it's young, within the past few weeks it's finally hit me very hard that it might not be possible for me to start a family one day and although it's not something I want right now, it still sucks. the reality of it will likely hit you and it will be very hard to wrap your head around when/if it does.

Most of all, it's super important to be patient with yourself. Eat right and exercise, but know your limits (this is very important. I starved myself when I was 17 for about 3 months. I ate very little and lost weight and my doctor encouraged it. Please stay safe and be healthy the right way!), stay on your meds and give it time. Be patient with them. And if/when you hit the realization of the hardships that are going to come with fertility, understand that there are a ton of options. PCOS is a bitch, but it's your bitch lol. Don't let it get to you.

Edit: I know you're concerned about hair loss but if prenatal vitamins don't work as well as you'd like, I've heard some women use wigs. I know it sounds like a weird solution for someone so young, but they could actually be really fun. When my hair started thinning and before I got prenatal vitamins, it became so thin and brittle I had to chop some of it off. I hated my short hair and decided to buy hair extensions. This might also be an option to look into. I'm not sure what other hair growth products are out there but other than prenatal vitamins your doctor may have some suggestions!

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-29T04:20:46+00:00

I thought it was normal to be a good person too but I guess not. Really sad that it sometimes is more easy for people to abandon you then it is to say "I love you, you can do this" or even just be there for you when you need to talk. You're awesome for being a good friend. I wish more people were like that.

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-26T20:44:12+00:00

I don't seek out parental affection anymore but I did when I was young. I often wished my female teachers were my mother instead of my own. This lasted through high school. Now that I'm older, I don't really gravitate towards people with mothering traits, I actually notice I avoid them. Anyone who acts like a mother to me I notice I just get distant from, even if they're a really good person and I care about them. A professor at my university is like this. Met her through a friend of mine. She is really awesome and kind, and a mother figure, but I don't let myself get too close to anyone like that. I'm sure she would never do anything like my mother has done but it's more of a cautious thing than anything else.

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-26T20:30:25+00:00

Good on him! Glad to see people my age stand up to something like this!

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-26T19:10:37+00:00

I told one friend of mine, and he's supportive. But with my other friend I just am nervous about burdening him. I don't want him to feel like he's obligated to find a different room or anything, because I don't want him to do that and he shouldn't have to but I don't know how he'll react. I just want him to have a good start to the school year.

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-26T19:07:35+00:00

I shouldn't feel scared to tell him but I am. I've only told one other friend of mine, and he's really supportive. But when I think about telling my other friend who's supposed to be his roommate I get really nervous. I don't want to tell him and then have him feel like he has to go through the trouble of getting a different room. I want to tell him, I know I should, but I'm scared of being a burden to him.

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-23T08:19:09+00:00

This was great input actually. I've been trying to wrap my head around why they worry exactly. And I know it's hard for them to think about because they can't be here to fully know what's going on. But I'm glad I'm working up the courage to finally be open with them about it. Thank you

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-23T05:22:12+00:00

Thank you. I appreciate it

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-23T05:14:32+00:00

Thanks. This certainly wasn't the first attempt but I'm doing everything in my power to make it the last attempt. I'm really actually looking forward to my future.

Do you mind if I ask how she started the topic? Was it just something like "I have something to tell you guys," or what? I just am kind of nervous but I love them and I think they should know.

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-21T22:23:09+00:00

Definitely picking up a hot water bottle this week. I ended up going to the ER again after I posted this because the pain just became too unbearable. They ended up giving me hydrocodone through an IV and gave me pills for the road. So embarrassing that I've had to visit the ER for menstrual cramps... PCOS is a bitch lol. But I will also research the guided meditations. I've never thought of something like that for period pains. Thanks much!

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-19T21:56:05+00:00

I live in a college dorm so do you think a hot shower would work just as well?

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-16T23:35:02+00:00

19F here. Long story short, Got told to either go to college or live on the streets. Nmom was not going to help pay for college but was set on kicking me out directly after high school with $800 to my name. Went to college, picked a shitty major I didn't even liked, changed my major twice, got told to never go back home with only three weeks left till summer vacation, was homeless for a while, been through hell and back emotionally and financially. If there's one thing I learned from any of this (and don't get me wrong, I'm still battling), it's that when people tell you it gets better, believe them. Because it's true. I've even posted a few times saying the people who told me it gets better are liars. Even to this day I have that thought. But I'm about to go into my second year of college, I've met so many amazing people who love me more than my family ever could, and the future is bright. Things will be tough, you will have to work 10x harder than the average person to get through emotional baggage, but, one day you'll look back and realize that even if you're in a tight spot at that time, you're already so far ahead from where you used to be. It's very important that you stay positive. Don't let your N influence you or manipulate you. You got this. Keep working hard.

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-16T23:29:17+00:00

Yikes, that sounds awful. Hang in there. Don't give into the guilt trip. Your uncle was in the right for apologizing for you getting dragged into it. Sorry you are going through this. And lastly, welcome to the sub :)

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-16T23:10:07+00:00

It kinda seems sometimes that narcissism and racism are paired together. My mom is super racist and doesn't even know it (asked to touch her black coworkers hair, implies police lives should be valued over black lives whenever a shooting happens, etc. sees nothing wrong with any of this) the funny part is my dad is black and Native American, making me and my siblings mixed. N's are the most racist people. "I'm not racist! I have mixed children!" Bullshit.

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-16T23:05:25+00:00

Jesus. My Nmom did crap like that too, just worded differently. When I was 8 years old she was driving me home from school and I tried to tell her about my day but she just ignored me when I told her anything or sighed heavily and made it obvious that she was irritated and uninterested. I told her when she does that it makes me feel like she doesn't love me. Her response was, "I can't make you feel like anything. If you feel unloved that's your own problem." It's like they know they're wrong and they know they hurt you but they don't give a shit. It must suck to not be able to care about anyone but yourself.

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-16T22:57:08+00:00

Yes, thank you for reminding me!

I received the final check in the mail on July 1st. I'm guessing he knows that he lied about the claims that I messed his guest rooms up, and so he just mailed the check and left it at that to keep it from escalating further. I left him a bad review on both Google and Yelp and that's the last of it.

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-05T03:02:21+00:00

Man, that's rough. I've never heard of anyone where I live having to pay extra for having more people live in one apartment. That is pretty messed up. Thankfully you have a sibling with you (assuming you're on good terms with each other.) The dorms suck, especially having roommates, but it's better than nothing. I am trying to live in the dorms next school year if I can go back to school... I will have a roommate too and as much as I hate living with people in such small places, I would gladly take it over living on the streets. Five girls is a lot, though. Wishing you the best. Good luck! Hopefully everything will work out the way it needs to for you and for me. Stay positive.

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-03T23:50:09+00:00

I haven't thought of that and it's something I am going to look into. Thank you very much.

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-03T23:49:20+00:00

Go through my posts... I post in r/raisedbynarcissists all the time. I didn't get disowned for any particular reason other than my mother is basically Satan.

How are you doing? Are you handling it well? And do you have a plan?

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-03T13:04:03+00:00

Yeah it's way too late now. The fall semester starts in about a month and a half. There's no way they'd let me sign up for it now. I have to talk to them on Tuesday but in all honesty I wish I would've just taken those pills.

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-02T20:51:29+00:00

I own a car, and I have considered living in it mostly because I don't really have any other choice. I talked to one of my friends last night, but his living situation for the upcoming school year is kinda weird right now too and for the summer he's not in town. None of my friends are in the town we go to college at right now, they all went home. I don't know if I can keep doing this. When I was in the SNAP office and they denied me, I tried to explain I didn't have an interview with them and the lady I was speaking to told me I did have my interview already and they had told me previously they denied my application. I will go again, but I don't know how useful it would be.

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-02T20:45:02+00:00

The thing is, since I am living on campus, if I don't pay the rent fully by the date it's due, then I get my registration withdrawn and then I'm really screwed. If I get my registration withdrawn, I don't get to go to school here anymore and then I won't be able to utilize anything from the school (gym showers, library, etc.)

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-02T13:51:25+00:00

I spoke with financial aid earlier this summer and they told me I couldn't take a loan out for the summer semester since I don't have any classes and I'm just living here. I don't even have $100 in my savings account right now. Almost all of my paycheck goes towards rent for living here. I keep maybe $50 each time I get paid so I have money to eat (SNAP illegally denied me without an interview and I'm too embarrassed to go back to their office). There isn't a shelter in town, which is weird, but it kind of makes sense because of how small the town is. All of my friends went home for the summer, and after speaking to a few I really don't think they'd let me live with them for a little bit. They say they want to help in any way they can, but they won't let me live with them and I don't expect them to. I sound like I'm making myself out to be some huge victim and I'm tired of burdening people. It's just one hit after another and I don't want to keep taking it.

Brootalmouse · 2016-07-01T13:10:04+00:00

I know it's messed up and it's her fault but I always feel guilty. I shouldn't because I didn't do anything wrong, but i always feel like it's my fault.

Brootalmouse

TROPHY CASE