Hi all,
Just found the site. I’m 38 and in Nov. I had a transvaginal scan and have fibroids and ‘suggestion of polycystic ovaries’. I have been on the pill since I was 31 - starting for bad skin (horrible acne type on chin during time of month) and before the pill I had normal periods, a 28 day cycle, PMT in lower back around time of month and stomach upsets around this time. I didn’t have very very heavy periods and do not believe I had fibroids at that time but can’t prove that.
I was put on Yasmin a combined pill skin cleared up and all the discomfort of menstruating went away.
I noticed hair loss when I was 27 but didn’t talk to my GP until I was 31 - they did the blood tests found I was low in iron zinc vitamin D and B12 - given some supplements but not taught how to take iron properly so just made my stools black. Then pushed it and sent to local hospital dermatologist was diagnosed with two hair loss conditions and then sent to a London for second opinion which they confirmed and told to take minoxidil @5% which they won’t sell over the counter to women, they’ll only sell you the 2% version. I had to go to the London hospital’s pharmacy and buy it from them which just wasn’t feasible. I was also advised to move onto the pill Dianette which my GP did.
Fast forward to age 37 my weight creeps up from 12 stone pre pill weight to 16 stones, I’m weighed at the GPs during my pill checks and I have normal blood pressure but no one links my weight to the pill or hormonal issues. My hair loss continues so I start a visit to a private local trichologist who can sell me the minoxidil at 5%. By now I’m on Cilest as my GPs have removed me from Dianette as I was on it longer than I should have been.
I start taking more supplements the iron properly again and the minoxidil however my hair loss continues in the year that follows and my weight is now 18stones. I finally mention to my GP that my weight is getting me down along with my hair loss. Through out this time I’ve had blood tests and they come as “normal” though the last one found some inflammation, cholesterol is slightly high. Due to my weight and age they remove me from Cilest and move me to a mini pill - Cirelle which broke me out in spots, flatulence, urgency to go to the toilet and hot flushes. My trichologist was also weary as it is a pill not good at lessening androgen levels which might be causing my hair loss.
I am sent to have the scan and a dietitian which takes a while to get an appointment -I have tried weight loss programmes but have failed them all. I also have done exercise but am not consistent I am in a desk bound job so I know that’s bad.
The scan was in Nov and I got given the results by my GP. Iam not in a relationship and not looking to have children which I have told him. I asked if I can see an endocrinologist however he said it’s not something that they could help me with? How can I pursue this?
I decided to come off the mini pill and to be pill free which my GP agrees with. So I can have blood test levels not masked by the pill. That happened in beginning of Dec and to this day I haven’t menstruated. I’m due to have a blood test this week and am worried my levels will still come out “normal” and there won’t be any follow up as he’s already told me they only do blood tests every 6 months if all shows as normal.
Does anyone have experience with endocrinologists re: hair loss and weight gain? My issue isn’t fertility at the moment and I’m feeling fobbed off by my GP because of that fact.
Thank you Sandra.