My PCOS story - Nicole T.

Day 2 Challenge- My PCOS story

Nicole T.

My name is Nicole T and this is my story. In January of 2009 my husband and I miscarried a child we had been trying to conceive for 10 months. We were devastated. The doctor at the hospital said he saw no reason we wouldn't be able to conceive again easily. Unfortuantely, he was wrong. My periods started coming later. I went from a 30 day cycle to a 47 day cycle until October of 2009. They just stopped. I took many pregnancy tests only to get negative results. I was so frustrated and confused. I spent hours researching the reasons you would skip a period without a pregnancy to no avail. I couldn't find anything that stuck out like, yeah, that's what is going on with me. In 7 months I had gained about 30 pounds which seemed odd to me, but I figured it was because I was still greiving. So around the end of December, my period finally showed up. And then for the next 8 months, it played the same game of being random and 2 or 3 months late. I started getting hot flashes. I became unnecessarily mean. I couldn't sleep. I was so frustrated and nothing seemed to be working right in my body. I felt out of control, and that freaked me out. I started to think I was starting menopause at 29. In Septmeber of 2010, I had the worst period of my life! I was vomiting from the pain. I was passing clots. I couldn't understand why this was happening and at the time, neither my husband or I had a job- not to mention insurance. So I just dealt with it, thinking it would work itself out. My period went back to being random. I would go months without it or a month or two with it. In December of 2010, I quit smoking after 15 or more years of the habit. Apparently, my quitting opened the flood gates on my hormones. I became violently angry, even at the smallest thing. I couldn't control how mad I got. It seemed like when I got mad, I was ready to kill! It got to the point that I didn't even like myself anymore. And although I have an incredibly patient and understanding husband, I am really surprised I am still married. Finally, we were in a position to be able to afford to go to the doctor. I had some hormone panels done and found that I showed signs of having PCOS. I was then scheduled for an ultrasound which resulted in the doctors finding some cysts. My doctor refered me to a hormone specialist. A wonderful doctor who said basically what he could do for me was prescribe me clomid if I wanted kids or birth control if I didn't. He said the rest was up to me. That controlling PCOS meant making lifestyle changes which included a better diet and exercise. He didn't get too deep into it, though. So I decided to take the clomid. Since the loss of my angel, having kids is all that I have wanted in my life. The first month went okay, but my hormones seemed to have gotten more out of wack. My doctor said that it was normal. I didn't conceive, but I did ovulate the first month. So I gave the clomid another shot. The second month wasn't without side effects. I was vomiting. I had abdominal pain, hot flashes, and I couldn't sleep. And somehow it seemed worse than it had been in the past. I stopped my treatment with clomid. I decided to do my own research on PCOS. I came across several good websites... an entire community of women that shared in my misery. I found out that the low glycemic diet is a good basis for someone with PCOS as well as several herbal supplements and vitamins that would help with symptoms of the disorder. I decided that my health was first and foremost and if I conceived along the path, then I would be happy. I started charting my temperatures- not necessarily for conception purposes, but more to be sure that my hormones and my body is doing what it should be. I have not felt this good in years! I am happier, more mellow, I have more energy and I am sleeping better. I have ovulated every month since I was first diagnosed. I have lost 25 pounds and gone from a size 24 to a size 16. I had started walking 2 or 3 times a week and now I am doing Zumba classes for 1 hour 2 times a week. I feel so much more like myself than I ever have, I think. I am so thankful for finally knowing what I have and how to make myself better. Now, I am looking forward to conceiving my first child. I no longer feel like it is out of my reach!