What should I ask my doctor to test for?

Question

Sorry this is long, but any help is greatly appreciated.

I had a child almost 5 years ago. Before I was pregnant I was about 140 lbs (I am 5'3") and never really had weight problems.

I gained a lot of weight during my pregnancy and I thought it was normal. I was on bed rest for 20 weeks and my son was born premature. No matter how hard I tried I could not lose the weight.

I have tried everything and I have gained about 60 lbs on top of all the weight I gained from my pregnancy. A couple years after, I started thinking maybe its just not my diet and lifestyle. After my son stopped breastfeeding my periods still are not normal. I haven't had one in 7 months now and that's pretty much how its been for since I started my period after having my son. I also have noticed I seem to gain most of my weight during the time I am not having periods.

Here are some things I have noticed:

I also am losing a lot of hair every time I comb my hair. My hair is so thin (no bald spots that I see though, just thin).

I have these brown spots on my arms near my armpits, between my b*****s, and on my thighs.

I also have acne issues on my face and neck that won't go away no matter what I do.

I have lack of periods, which I think is contributing to infertility problems.

I have some mood swings, and sometimes minor depression although I do not feel like I have depression (as in the clinical diagnosis).

I have sleeping troubles. I either cannot sleep at all, but when I fall asleep it is really hard to wake up. Or I am just really exhausted and want to do nothing but lay around no matter how much I want to get up to do things.

My question is, I just got new insurance and I am going to ask to be tested for hypothyroidism and PCOS. I am so tired of living like this and I want answers. Is there anything else I should be tested for? Thank you SO much.

Answer 1

You know what - doctors do years of training so that you don't have to do your own medical research and worry yourself by looking at hundreds of internet sites! Given your symptoms, I think any halfway awake doctor would do the same profile of tests, so I would go along, describe your symptoms and let the doctor get on with it. If you walk in with your own diagnosis, that tends to really annoy doctors!

Your doc will probably test for hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, PCOS and diabetes.

I'd also like to add - thank goodness I live in a country with free health care!!!

Answer 2

First signs of depression are, change in eating habits, change in sleeping habits, get the thyroid out of the way, if that is ok, I would seriously consider depression, tho you may not think you are depressed, I would look at that pretty strongly.

Answer 3

sweetheart i think you need to be tested for diabetes and maybe cancer. i know this sounds bad but you also need to ask you doctor for his opinion. doctors do know a lot but yes get tested for any and everything under the sun. good luck to you  

Answer 4

you need to give your list of complaints to your doctor, he would know best what should be tested.

Answer 5

i suggest u make an appt with a doctor!!  tell him/her everything u have listed out here!  best of luck to you!!

Answer 6

What you have described is "HA IR -AN " syndrome.

Hyperandrogenism, Insulin Resistance, Acanthosis Nigrans"

It is a collection of hormonal disorders related to "Polyctstic Ovaries".

It is not rare and you should see an alert (usually young) Gynecologist.

Old Gynecologist (who is still alert)<that's me

PS Even the depression fits; it is seen in over 34 percent of these people

PPS Tell her or him what you have written here, you have done a fine job of outlining your problem.

Answer 7

you should probably be refered to a hemotologist for a total exam of your blood.  a hemotologist can test for lots of things - - and your answer may lie there.  get on it!  

i totally understand what you are going through.  keep a daily log of your problems and make sure your tell your doctor that you keep a log.  he or she may want to look at it.