Posting my shortened story to help others

[veryblueapple]

I have PCOS, and was diagnosed like 8 years ago. I'm 27 years old, and have been with my husband since we were teens. We've been trying to have a baby for almost 5 years now with out any help (prescribed meds, IVF, etc). I've attended PCOS seminars and am well informed about the statistics and facts.
All these years I knew I needed to lose weight (I'm in the low end of obese according to my BMI) for years. I knew I needed to eat healthy, but it's hard especially dealing with the fact that a couple years ago I was diagnosed bipolar, going through depression, etc. Not getting pregnant was like the root of my hopelessness. Most of the time I would just block it all out of my mind, eat what I wanted, and sit around watching TV or playing on my computer because it was effortless and distracted me from my problems, anxieties, and worries. The problem is that sitting around, eating horribly and blocking out all the problems didn't make them go away, it just set them on a shelf for a later date. And as I continued to live this way, those problems got bigger and bigger.
The PCOS now was not only just an irregular period and weight gain, it was now A LOT of weight gain, an even more irregular period, acne, facial and body hair, plus loss of hair on my head, and I've always had thick beautiful hair. This really got me into a pickle because one day about a year and a half ago I looked in the mirror and couldn't believe how bad off I was. That combined with bipolar, got me a ticket straight to the hospital on suicide watch. I was hideous, not even a woman, unable to reproduce, and felt like I was holding my husband back in life.
After a year of counseling, bipolar meds, and support from my family, I was finally ready to start focusing on getting healthy physically. (I think I needed to sort through the emotional and mental stuff first so that anything that followed could be successful).

So for the last 4 months I've been living a new lifestyle.

I decided I'd start off by eating healthy for a month, before I started working out, just to flush out some toxins and other crap from my system. I had just quit smoking a few months prior to this so things were gradually happening and this was fine with me. I decided to drink a slimfast in the morning for breakfast because I normally skip breakfast and I decided this wasn't good. While I was at the store buying the slimfast I saw some prenatal vitamins on the shelf. I remembered in one of the PCOS seminars the speaker had said that while you are trying to get pregnant you should be on vitamins. I grabbed them and thought I'd keep them around for when my periods started regulating. I felt that there was no sense in taking them before then because I knew I wasn't ovulating ever, and therefore no chance at getting pregnant.

Later that evening when my husband got home from work he saw the vitamins and told me I should start taking them right away. I saw no reason why not, it's not like they were expensive, what could it hurt? He popped them into my pill case with my bipolar meds so that I wouldn't forget to take them, because in the past I've tried to get on a vitamin regamin but I'd always start forgetting a day here and there, then forget to take them all together.

About a week later I got my period. I didn't think anything of it, except I was thankful of course, even with the horrible cramps I get! I'm always thankful of my period because it means, yes I am still a woman, and there might still be a chance I can have a baby some day. The strange thing is that 45 days later I got my period again! Now this was something to note. I never get my period that close together. Starting at about 19 or 20 yrs old I was on the depo shot for a couple years and never had a period, and once I went off of it, ever since then my period had never resembled anything close to regular.

I would NEVER recommend the depo shot by the way!!! Especially people with PCOS, Don't do it!!

Anyway, so after I got my period for that second time relatively close to the previous one I wrote it down to see if it was worth keeping track of, something I haven't done in forever. 24 days later I got another period. then 29 days later I got another (which is where I'm at right now, literally with my period . I've never missed a vitamin in all of these days. My period started a week after taking the prenatal vitamins. coincidence? I don't think so.

I also eat only whole wheat bread, pasta, tortillas instead of white, more fruits and veggies, less sugar, no regular pop or sugar added to anything, more water, more protein, more nuts, I eat yogurt now, and 1% milk instead of skim (skim products actually decrease your fertility, while dairy that still has fat actually increases your fertility- another tidbit I picked up at a PCOS seminar). I try and keep track of my calories, because I'm forgetful and will keep eating thinking that I'm still good on calories. I use an app on my smart phone for calorie tracking it's called myfitnesspal. I'd recommend it.

4-6 times a week I use my elliptical for 45 minutes a day. I started at 20 minutes for the first week. But felt strong enough to go up to 45 after that. It's very hard let me tell you, but it feels great after each work out and is helping me every day towards my goal weight and overall health.

I'm losing 8-15 lbs a month right now. My period is regular. I feel better. I'm happier. I have hope for the future. I take my vitamins each morning

I've already helped myself so much in such a short period of time. I still have facial and body hair issues but I think that is going to be one of the last things that gets resolved. I know as the weight drops off and the vitamins and minerals continue to nourish my body, my hormones will naturally regulate, which will decrease androgens and in turn decrease the hair. And let the hair thicken back up on my head!

So I hope that helps/encourages someone. Sorry for any typos, it's really late, but I knew I just had to share that because I was SOOO desperate for so long, and very depressed. I know others out there feel that way, and need some help. Send a message if you have questions or need to talk to someone

[melishars1977]

Wow! this was extremely encouraging! Thank you so much! I'm going to use some of your tips and keep you updated!

[Alwilki]

Good for you! It is always nice to hear a story like that. I'm sure eating healthy is helping regulate your periods. I know that if I have a bad month with eating, my period could be a few days later than normal.

[sedivy_gal]

**bumping passed the spam**

[BubbleKat]

That's a really positive story to hear. I also started doing the same things as you to help me lose weight. I even use the same MyFitnessPal to track my calories and exercise. It is a really good app. Another useful free website is sparkpeople.com. They have a free app also, but I think the myfitness app is much easier to use. Thanks for sharing your story. It helps me know that I'm on the right path. I love food, so it's hard, but I need to lose the 30 extra pounds I gained in the past 2 years, and then some. It's time to take back control! Good for you for managing it!

[MokieMo36]

Thanks for the inspiring story. I am starting my prenatal regiment today. I am grateful to know I am not along in this journey with PCOS.

[emmilynn]

Great story and thank you for sharing! I've had a lot of the same feelings as you did and I think we all have those feelings of inadequacy, not feeling womanly, feeling like you've let your husband down in some way etc. PCOS really does take a toll on you mentally, emotionally and physically. I'm sorry you had to suffer through depression and being bipolar. But, you've taken great steps to better yourself and I'm proud of you for doing that and pushing through! Please come back to update us on the rest of your progress. Especially now that you cycle normally and you could easily end up pregnant! Good luck and keep up the good work!

[Sarah E]

thanks a lot for sharing your experience. Ive just found out that the PCOS have got worse on me, it is so big, scares me. But I don't know how and why, when I asked my doctor for the reasons and solution, she just said that there's no clear reason, no solution, just take the pills(which I really hate). I gain weight, irregular periods, hair loss and so many many other problems. But you know what? I found it more useful to help myself than asking the doctor. I surfed in the net and I found it much more useful, and I really loved your real story.

My effort is going to start right from tonight. I am working out, controlling my diet, eating healthy whatever needed to take me right away from the depression of it all, however it's a bit difficult in my country, but I'll do it and let me say that I owe you somehow