PCOS?
Hi! This is probably a silly type of post, especially considering im in healthcare. But I have absolutely struggled with a lot of PCOS type symptoms, but I can never get a full lab work up or be taken seriously by a physician. When I first started my periods, they were absolutely awful. They were so painful, you never knew when they were coming, and when they came they were heavy and lasted weeks. Yes, plural, weeks. During those periods I would have to wear the biggest size pad and just had so much pain and discomfort I couldnt even try tampons. I also had severe acne and was seeing a dermatologist. Ultimately due to both of those things, I was placed on birth control at a young age. (~13, im now 27.) Over the past three years, I graduated pharmacy school and did two years of residency. Which is pretty stressful. And Ive gained a ton of weight too during that period that I am STRUGGLING to lose. (Im calorie counting down to the smallest unit even and ensuring im in a deficit. As in, i count the nerd gummy clusters or number of m&ms, because I know someone will say im probably forgetting to track something) Im still seeing a dermatologist and a lot of my acne doesnt respond to normal treatment and she said it has a very hormonal type pattern and suspects PCOS. All that to say. I cant get a physician to take me seriously with testing for it or help me with weight loss or why i gained it so fast (I know with residency it can happen, but it seems like a lot). Heck, I feel like i may have other symptoms related to it and not even know it!
And as a pharmacist, I know the field and suspect it. But im not a physician. All that to say, am I crazy? Does this sound like PCOS? Anyone else have this issue or advice? I feel like Im going crazy. Ive tried a GYN, Endo, and IM. Im at a loss.