I remember that when I was diagnosed with Poly-Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), I felt like my world was shattered. I knew that something was wrong with my body, and that's why I went to my family doctor. However, I was hoping that he would actually be able to fix it, not tell me that it was something he didn't understand, and something that was only manageable.
It's been nearly three years, and I feel farther away from answers than I did when I first started looking for them. I have been on several types of birth control- some work better than others. I have taken supplements and vitamins, and been on crazy diets. I run everyday. And I have gone to a dermatologist, and had laser hair removal to deal with the awkward facial hair and acne that made me feel like I should join a traveling circus. I have gotten down to a weight that made one gynecologist laugh at the thought that I have PCOS, but the symptoms are still here, and they are no laughing matter. I still feel like I am fighting a loosing battle.
Feeling more frustrated than when I first started looking for answers, and feeling even more frustrated with the lack of information, a few friends, that also have PCOS, and I have decided to do research together. To talk openly about the things we deal with everyday because of PCOS. We will talk about our journeys so far, and about what has worked for us, what hasn't, and what we are currently trying.
This is our fight against ourselves, to find ourselves. And our journey for others that are also in this war.
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I was diagnosed with PCOS literally two weeks ago so I feel like a bit of a noob. I did feel like it is what I had for the past year however.
For me it all started after a move, and then a move back to my home town about a year and a half ago. My first symptom was having a period every other month for about 6 months and it just spread even more than that with the longest being 5 months.
My second symptom was weight gain. I just kept gaining weight and I don't feel like my diet had been too different to really make a 40 lb. difference in one year. Needless to say I began to feel super frustrated and more discouraged than ever. Some other symptoms that I started having are fatigue, cravings for sugar and carbs, bloating after almost everything I eat, emotional breakdowns (like once a week), anxiety, and a mild depression.
After a year and a half of guessing my self-diagnosis I decided to go to the gynecologist and he said he was 90% sure PCOS is what I had. We could have done further testing to be 100% sure, but with no insurance it would be costly and basically confirm what I we already knew.
He gave me a prescription for birth control called Tri-Sprintec, which I am waiting for my menstrual cycle to come before I start on it. To get my menstrual cycle started he put me on a different medication.
Meanwhile, from doing my own research I have decided to take D-chiro-inositol (to help with insulin resistance) and Vitex which seems to benefit several symptoms of PCOS. There are apparently several other supplements you can take, but these are the only two I am starting with for now.
My goal is to first get myself down to a healthy weight and incorporate a healthier diet to reduce and possibly cure the symptoms. I don't want to be on birth control forever. I personally feel a holistic approach will be best, but I still have a lot of learning and experimenting to do!
I am excited and grateful to have a place where I can post my feelings and findings and to hear from other women who struggle with PCOS.
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