What is PCOS? "Polycystic ovary syndrome is a problem in which a woman’s hormones are out of balance. It can cause problems with your periods and make it difficult to get pregnant. PCOS may also cause unwanted changes in the way you look. If it is not treated, over time it can lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease. PCOS is common, affecting as many as 1 out of 15 women." (Web MD)
My symptoms have included sharp pains, that almost bring me to my knees, on each ovary 14 days into my cycle, weight gain, intense sugar cravings, irregular periods, fatigue, 9 cysts on my left and 6 on my right (they look like a string of pearls), my progesterone level is at .2 when it should be in the teens to 20's, and now I am starting to lose my hair.
My doctor suggested that I try the natural approach for the next 3 months. Low GI diet (Paleo/Atkins), vitamin supplements (Multi, Biotin, Chromium, Iron, and D). 14 days into my cycle I need to have blood drawn and an ultrasound. I am trying to stay positive and have an awesome support group of friends and family.
I have been much better about my sugar intake. I have cut out Starbucks and Coldstone and I make Paleo desserts that do not use sugar or dairy.
The point of this blog is not for me to get sympathy from others but for me to tell my story and hopefully meet other women who are going through the same thing.
Thank you for listening.
"A strong woman knows she has strength enough for the journey, but a woman of strength knows it is in the journey where she will become strong"
my story started just shortly after may of 2006. I stopped using my birth control patch and was going to start preparing myself to have a baby. at the time I was about 110lbs. my dr said she wanted me to be around 120lbs which was a healthier weight to carry a baby. I had chronic knee pain in my right knee and finally decided to have surgery to fix it. soon after my surgery in august of 2006, my size 2 clothes started to fit a little tighter with no change in lifestyle or diet. I had gotten to my 120 weight, great! now it was time to start trying to have a baby...so I thought. the next month came with no period. I wanted to see what my schedule was so I knew roughly when I was ovulating, but I didn't get my period. could I be pregnant already? we were so excited, then I took a pregnancy test. it was negative. I was convinced I was pregnant, I waited a couple more weeks and a few more tests later, still negative. I started feeling nauseous, my boobs were getting bigger and I was gaining belly weight and still had no period. I waited a few more weeks and by then, I was already aver 140lbs! I looked 5 months pregnant at that point and had to eat in order not to throw up. I went from a 2 to a 6 and a 34b to a 35c. what was going on? and again, no change in diet or excersise. I finally went to my ob and she couldn't figure it out either and gave me a prescription to start my period. another 20 lbs later, I went back to her, she sent me to her husband who is a fertility specialist (what? a fertility specialist? I am only 25 and generally healthy, wtf?) so he did some test and a vaginal ultrasound and found the cysts. he told me I had PCOS, he said if I google it, it will sound worse than it is but we can control it and with his help we could have as many babies as we want. so the weight kept piling on around my belly and I could only wear maternity clothes at this point and looked pregnant but couldn't get pregnant, it was awful! so after tipping the scales at 173, I went on the south beach diet and lost 25 lbs and got out of maternity clothes and back into normal clothes but at a size 8 :( then in November of 2008, after 4 fertility treatments with clomid and IUI, we finally got pregnant. during my pregnancy, I did not have gestational diabetes but gained weight easily. just before I delivered I was 234 lbs. hailey was healthy and tiny. I soon started to go back on south beach and lost an astonishing 76 lbs in about 8 months. I thought for sure I would be able to get back to a size 4 or 6 but as life happened, I stopped doing south beach and stopped watching carbs and sugars (with an already overwhelming sweet tooth)and gained it back. jan 1 of this year I was 184. I am not down to 169 but am struggling. I am starting to loose my hair, I am loosing faith and am becoming more depressed. bc of my job being on the road all of the time for long periods of time, it is hard to stick to a strict diet and it is hard to keep up with it. I do well for a bout a week, see results, my face is thinner, skin is less oily and not breaking out and am feeling good so I allow myself a treat, then another then the sugar addiction comes back. my life does not allow me to keep a set workout schedule so I can't start something and stick to it. I completely feel your pain but luckily you are pretty good at keeping up with your exercising and you know what you need to know in order to control it. you are not alone and any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated, but with anything, one size does not fit all and what works for one does not always work for another. good luck and I will keep in touch with your blog. good for you, putting it all out there.
ReplyDeleteI too have pcos. I became pregnant at 19 a month after trying and thought now that I was older and ready to have another baby with my husband that it too would be an easy process. I began trying to get pregnant in August 2008 and after a year and a half I became pregnant in March 2010. I was so excited and happy. On April 2010 I had a miscarriage at 8 weeks pregnant and it turned my world upside down. I went through test after test only to be told I had PCOS. I did my research and feared my dreams would be over. That is hen I found a group of amazing women online with PCOS and there were tons of success stories. I continue to keep the faith and not let PCOS and infertility win. My symptoms are: Painful periods and pain every month at 14 days after period, hair loss, facial hair, weight gain, skin tags and insulin resistance. I was put on metphormin 2 times a day for my insulin and have been trying a diet called low amylose diet. I am always depressed and have anxiety attacks often but just know that you are not alone. Support is out there. Never give up:)
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