Posts by Melissa Martinez5

Sandra Brooks91 said:Yeah, you need a referral from your primary care doctor for every single checkup..

thanks ;-)

Sandra Brooks91 said:I don't think so... Honestly, instead of just making it happen, you should probably find out if it even matters. You already missed day 21. 🙂

Thanks!
Just went to get some blood drawn, so we'll see what they find.

I've got one more question—I need to head in for a follow-up this month to show my results to the endocrinologist. Do I actually need a referral from my primary care doctor for that?

I've got bloodwork scheduled for tomorrow—progesterone check, day 21 of my cycle—but my throat is killing me and I've got a bit of a fever at 98.6. Does this mess up the results?

Quick question for you guys.
So I just left my endocrinologist over at the Mayo Clinic.
They want me to get bloodwork done in 10 days, then follow up with more tests on day 15 and 17.
Basically, the doctor ordered a whole laundry list:
p4, fsh, lh, e2, prl... plus a dexamethasone suppression test, t4, tsh, anti TPO, and a 2-hour insulin test.

Here's what's tripping me up—some of those hormones have to be checked during days 2 through 5 of my cycle. So, do I just show up and handle those specific ones when my cycle hits, or does the clinic schedule everything all at once?

I've got this old rig, had Windows XP on it maybe three years ago, and man, it used to fly.
But now? It’s slowed down so much it’s actually painful... seriously, it's tragic.
If there's any good soul out near Chicago who can help me reinstall it, I'm buying the beers and pizza! :-)

Sandra Brooks91 said:Look, if you've got an appointment for your shoulder, just take it. You can't get every single scan done everywhere—maybe this one has to be at the hospital—but either way, you hit up your primary care doctor first. Then, once you have the results, you go back to her to get a referral for follow-up 🙂

Alright, thanks a ton 😉

Sandra Brooks91 said:You’re gonna need a referral, and your primary care doc will tell you where to go for the blood work.

Thanks, so I gotta hit up my doctor with that paperwork of hers to get the referral.
They actually scheduled me over at the Vineyard facility right away, but then it hit me—maybe it'd be way easier if I could just get it done closer to home...🙂

So, I went to see an endocrinologist over at the Vineyard hospital, though I actually live out in the suburbs near Columbus.
The doctor told me I need to get some hormone levels checked, so I set up an appointment at the Vineyard facility to get the bloodwork done and then head back to see her for a follow-up.
Quick question: since I'm heading to the Vineyard location for the labs, do I actually need a referral from my primary care doctor, or am I good to go?
Oh, and one more thing—could I have just gotten these tests done locally here at home, or is it mandatory to do them at the Vineyard place?

swiftbear86 said:You’re gonna have to track down a doctor when you finally get your appointment just to get them to fix the date or write you a fresh referral.

Thanks😉

So, I just emailed to book an appointment with an endocrinologist over at the Vineyard.
Sent them a scan of my referral, and they told me I'm on the books for two months from now.
The thing is, my referral is technically only valid for a month... do I actually need to go through the hassle of getting it extended, or am I good?

I seriously need an endocrinologist,
because I went to one recently who clearly hasn't a clue what they're doing...
So now I'm on the hunt for a new specialist.
I'm torn between heading over to Mercy Hospital or maybe Mount Sinai.
Has anyone here actually been to either of those? Give me the real scoop—are they any good?

Nathan Baker said:Personally, I think they should pull or at least dial back the weight gain concerns regarding Diane—though I certainly haven't experienced it myself—and as for actual weight, well, that’s entirely subjective. But please, don't fall for those endless horror stories about women gaining thirty pounds strictly because of the pill; this forum is absolutely saturated with that particular myth, and frankly, it's just not true. The pill doesn't make you fat. You might see a few extra pounds due to water retention or perhaps a slight uptick in appetite, but then there are girls who swear they actually lose weight, maybe because they’re more 🙂😁.... if you're struggling with your weight, it's far more likely that you developed PCOS because of the excess, rather than the other way around....

I’ve been on Cilest for years now. During the first five months, my weight stayed perfectly steady, but then I hit a phase where I was eating like a maniac—just gorging myself constantly. I tried dieting, lost some weight, started eating again, gained it back... it was a cycle. My period even vanished during my heaviest stretch. Currently, I've transitioned to Diane, but it's only been a short while, and I haven't noticed any changes at all, almost as if I'm not even taking them. I truly hope it stays that way, because when I first made the switch, I dealt with these unbearable headaches, though in my case, that could easily be attributed to other underlying issues, so... well, what I'm trying to say is, despite being on the heavier side, the pills didn't cause my weight gain. Honestly, reading through all these posts, I find it hard to wrap my head around how, out of every woman I actually know, not a single one has gained weight from birth control, yet this forum is overflowing with claims to the contrary. It’s a curious thing, isn't it?

Thanks for the quick and detailed reply...
Basically, I've got nothing to lose, so I might as well give it a shot and see...
I've never actually taken birth control before...
At least I can argue without being scared! 🙂

So, I’ve got PCOS.
For months now, my cycle’s been totally MIA...
It just skips a month, then shows up, then skips again—total chaos.
Last one was October 12th, and I missed this month entirely. My OB-GYN put me on Duphaston...
Hormone levels are mostly fine, except my progesterone is through the roof....
Even the doctor is basically winging it at this point (told me to come back once my period actually starts). He’ll probably suggest birth control if I'm down, but honestly, I have no clue if I even want to go that route...
The weight issues and hair growth are driving me crazy—would the pill actually help with that, or just make everything worse???

So, I finally called and booked an appointment with an endocrinologist over at Mayo Clinic. Honestly, who knows if this guy is actually any good? It’ll be a total surprise.😁
Anyway, I just scheduled it today—September 8th—and my turn isn't until November 4th...
Just enough time to have to $3.25 all over again just to get a fresh referral...
Seriously, you can't even be sick in peace anymore without dealing with this nonsense.🙂
I'll let you guys know if he's actually decent once I finally make it in.🙂

Got a referral for an endocrinologist.
So, I’m looking for some solid recommendations for a good one in Washington, D.C.
Do you actually have to book ahead, and how long is the wait looking like?

Isn't it kind of sketchy how long the gap was between the disappearance date (August 5, 2009) and when this thread actually popped up (July 2, 2010)?
Like, give me a break... a whole year goes by and suddenly this guy decides he's looking for his brother.

Look, the absolute best advice I can give you is just go see an OB-GYN.
An ultrasound will clear everything up and show you exactly what's going on.
Missing your period for a few months in a row? That’s definitely not normal.
There are a million different reasons why it could be happening.
You probably haven't even made an appointment yet, right? Don't freak out—it's really not as scary as everyone makes it out to be...

So I’ve got this box of Norethindrone lying around. My doctor prescribed it back when my period was late, but then my cycle just decided to show up on its own, so the meds ended up being totally useless for me.
The box is still sealed, though the expiration date is 07/2013.
Anyway, if anyone actually needs it—obviously, go talk to your doctor first, don't be reckless

Melissa Martinez5 said:Just prep like you would for any regular OB-GYN appointment. Nothing special.👍
It’s really not that big of a deal. It’s just a little "camera" poking around the "entrance" to get a good look at your insides.
If you go through a private clinic, I don't think you'll be stuck waiting around at all, but man, that price tag... it’s gonna hit ya. $100.

So, I basically guessed my way through that transvaginal ultrasound, and it wasn't until just now that I finally made a decision—only to find out I actually have PCOS.
Honestly, I can't tell if things were actually worse before I knew the truth, or if they just feel unbearable now that I finally do.
Look, I'm telling you—just get going already. Seriously. Don't mess around when it comes to your health.

Elizabeth Jackson64 said:Basically, I want to get an ultrasound just to be safe. My periods are brutal and ovulation hurts sometimes too. I know it's usually normal, but it could also be a sign of something else—God forbid—like endometriosis or a cyst.

I got a referral, but I can't make out the handwriting. Pretty sure it's a transvaginal ultrasound though, like 90% certain 😁. My question is: how do you prep for that kind of thing (is it like a regular OBGYN exam or...?), and for those who know—where's the best place to go in Chicago, and what are the wait times like?

If anyone has any other useful info from experience, please chime in...

Prep is exactly the same as a standard gynecological exam.👍
It's nothing scary; it’s just a little "camera" using the "entrance" to scan your internal organs.
If you go to a private clinic, you shouldn't have to wait at all, and it usually costs around $100.