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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on August 29, 2006, at 6:01:22
I visited my new ob/gyn for PMS. She put me on prometrium for part of my cycle. She wasn't very pleasant, didn't test for hormone levels, and didn't really want me to bother her with questions. She kept saying "Stick to the PMS, that's all I can help you with." But honestly, I think the fact that I've never had PMS before and that I'm getting clusters of migraines the week before my period, which I never had before, WERE relevant to my my PMS, and took less time to tell her about and ask than her objections to my completing a sentence did. All she said was that I was typical. But wouldn't say typical of what.
I since did an internet search which said that prometrium was widely prescribed for PMS despite the only trials showing it was ineffective for it.
I think I need a new new gynecologist. :(
I discontinued it after one pill, and last night had my very first hot flash. I'm hoping it was related to the pill. I'm guessing it's important to keep a bottle of water by the bed because I woke up feeling a bit nauseous and dehydrated.
And now I'm tearful, because I'm suffering from PMS, and having hot flashes and feel sick, and my new ob/gyn scares me, and so does my pdoc, and while I like my new internist, her office staff simply does not return phone calls. And I'm just feeling very sorry for myself.
Posted by gardenergirl on August 29, 2006, at 7:39:46
In reply to My visit to my doc and hot flashes, posted by Dinah on August 29, 2006, at 6:01:22
Oh Dinah, that sounds just awful. I'm sorry she treated you that way. I wish I could clone my OB/GYN and send her down to you. She's awesome!
And I'm sorry PMS is rearing its ugly head. I just had a conversation with my T about it yesterday, since it has such an effect on the intensity of my emotional reactions. This month I didn't try taking an extra half tab of Nardil for the week, since it's a bit hard to predict until whammo! And last time, I guessed wrong and wound up having some withdrawal.
If I hear of anything that helps, I'll be sure to let you know. It's definitely something I plan to talk to my doc about, actually today since it's time for annual bloodwork. And I see my pdoc later this week.
The only thing off the top of my head I can think of is evening primrose, but I'm not sure why I associate that with PMS. It might actually be for menopause.
Also, I used to take Premsyn PMS, an OTC med. It was somewhat helpful. Whatever antihistamine in it seemed a bit calming. I don't know about the migraines, though. Mine don't come as often as yours seem to, although they are more likely to show up during PMS. Nardil seems to have had a hugely positive effect on preventing them, though. Otherwise, Excedrin is the only thing that helps me.
It stinks that you've had to find so many new doctors all at once. I would imagine the pickings are much slimmer than they were pre-Katrina.
Hang in there.
((((Dinah))))gg
Posted by ClearSkies on August 29, 2006, at 8:26:00
In reply to My visit to my doc and hot flashes, posted by Dinah on August 29, 2006, at 6:01:22
I'm in the same boat with an unsympathetic gyn doctor. I chalk it up to her lack of personal experience with the symptoms. She's much younger than I am. However, I did get a second opinion a couple of years ago, and the second doctor was even more dismissive of my complaints, and said my gyn was giving me appropriate treatment.
I'm now considering going the alternative, and holistic treatment route. I know that all of this is interconnected - the flashes, the migraines, the disrupted cycles - and that there are healthcare professionals out there who have a better appreciation of how to treat the entire woman and not our individual symptoms.
CS
Posted by Dinah on August 29, 2006, at 20:51:30
In reply to Re: My visit to my doc and hot flashes » Dinah, posted by ClearSkies on August 29, 2006, at 8:26:00
I don't think I would rule out alternative medicine for this problem. I'm not sure how comfortable I feel with traditional medicine, in fact, in this area.
Posted by Dinah on August 29, 2006, at 20:55:40
In reply to Re: My visit to my doc and hot flashes » Dinah, posted by gardenergirl on August 29, 2006, at 7:39:46
I called my internist today for her opinion on the medication, as well as a referral to a new gynecologist, and a question about when I should make my next appointment because they were supposed to contact me after my last bloodwork and let me know and they're just renewing my meds month to month, and a request for her to prescribe my Frova.
I haven't heard back. What a surprise.
But to be fair, the remaining doctors are seriously overburdened. And I'm sure her office staff is no more at peak efficiency than ours is.
I also asked my therapist for a pdoc recommendation, but he only knows of the other pdoc who scared me *and* overprescribed. Simply scaring me seems better, so I guess I'll stick with my current one.
Posted by MidnightBlue on August 29, 2006, at 23:56:35
In reply to My visit to my doc and hot flashes, posted by Dinah on August 29, 2006, at 6:01:22
Dinah,
Ah yes, been there, done that. Personally I don't think some women docs are very sympathetic when it comes to "women's problems"! (Just my personal experience.)
Most docs don't check hormone levels unless you are trying to get pregnant or sprouting tons of hair. I think they did one or two hormone tests (not counting thyroid) in the many years leading up to menopause. The reason they don't test more is that your levels can be all over the place, perfectly normal one month and high or low the next.
It has been my experience that the migraines right before your period are due to the change in hormone levels. Usually there is a rapid drop in estrogen right before you start.
Prometrium gave me horrible heartburn and made me tired. I did take evening primrose oil (and still do) but I think it helps aches more than PMS or migraines. You might try calcium. That can help calm you.
At least for me, once I made it to the other side (menopause) the headaches went away. But only if I don't use HRT. I think my body is very sensitive to any change in estrogen. I noted several weeks ago I had to stop a very low dose patch because it caused my eyes to change prescription!
Good luck! and hugs,
MidnightBlue
Posted by Phillipa on August 30, 2006, at 20:40:06
In reply to Re: My visit to my doc and hot flashes, posted by MidnightBlue on August 29, 2006, at 23:56:35
How well I remember the three day headaches going through menopause. No motrin or anything else would get rid of them. Then on that third day they disappeared. None now. And I used bioidentical hormones compounded by a compounding pharmacy. I cream in a syringe without a needle. You appled it to your skin. No sides effects. And you can get saliva testing done. That makes your presciption that more accurate. Love Phillipa
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