Journey Along with Me by Beth

I have learned so much along my journey.  I wanted to share something that happened.

To give you some back story, I have reoccurring polyups on my endometrium.  I never knew why I kept getting them but I just did.  It was so frustrating to me because every time I didn't have a period for a couple months, I would get them.  I was told to stay on Provera every month for 10 days so I would have a period.

Back a few months ago, I wanted to go off the Provera because I was sick of the mood swings it gave me.  It's bad enough for my husband and family when it's THAT time of the month, then add in a bunch of mood swings a few days after starting my cycle of Provera and then a few days after stopping the cycle.  He was fighting a losing battle of hormones and so was I.  I researched what causes polyups and I found that it isn't clear what exactly causes then but some believe it is because of excess estergen.  Well, everyone has monitored my testosterone levels but no one said anything about estergen.

About this same time, my health coach, the PCOS Diva had recommended me to look into this product called MacaHarmoney from Natural Health International. She told me about how it can help balance hormones.  I was excited but went off to do my own research too.  I went on their site and they gave me a lot of information but I also researched Maca in general.  I was amazed that I had not heard of this before.  I can take a natural supplement that may help make my body work the way it is supposed to.

OK, getting off the point of this.  I am not trying to convince you to but Maca.  I am very excited about it and that's why I blab about it.  I tend to do that if there is something I really like.  I don't get money from any of these companies for sporting their product.  Boy, do I wish I did.  I would be rich by now for all the talking I do.

The point of this was that I was not being monitored for something that was pretty important for my personal PCOS and my recurring polyups.  I should have been monitored for my estergen levels as well so I could be controlling those and not end up with the same result of getting them again, going in for all those really fun tests then back in for a D&C.

What did I do?  I called my doctor a week ago and told them I wanted my estergen levels tested as well as my iron.  I have problems with my iron because of my heavy bleeding.  No one had monitored that either.  Today, when I went in for my blood work, they had not added it.  I was very polite and said, I am not going to pay to go through this twice so can we get these added.  She went to talk to a nurse that went to talk to the doctor and a little while later, they were added.  I pushed to get what I NEEDED.  I also set it up for me to get a paper copy of my blood work.  I know when I get it, I won't have a clue what most of it means and I will have to go look everything up online but that's what it takes.

I am not saying my doctor is a bad doctor because they didn't order these tests.  It may have sounded harsh above but that's not really what I mean.  PCOS is a VERY complex disease and it shows so differently in everyone.  They don't even have all the answers because this is something that is just now starting to get out there.  We have to give them a break and understand that when they went to school for this, it probably wasn't that prominently known.  If I only went on what doctors said then I would probably not be managing my PCOS well.  I do so much research online and figure out what works and what doesn't.  I do talk to those treating me before I start something to make sure I'm not doing something that will hurt me or interact with anything.  The point is, this is YOUR journey and sometimes you have to put in the work too by being informed and asking for what you need.

I am proud!

Thanks for letting me share this with you and I encourage you all to take the reins in your journey.  The more we work with our doctors to understand this disease the better our journey will be.  Print research out and bring it to appointments to discuss.  Some tend to not like to discuss supplements.  Most were not trained in supplements.  Even if they don't want to discuss your supplements with you, at least ask them to be supportive of you trying them anyways.

*Please note that I am not a medical professional. I am not qualified to give out any medical advice. I am a woman with PCOS who is sharing my personal experiences in this blog and I advise you to consult a professional.*