PCOS Journal: one woman's
story
So I'm thinking that to raise awareness about PCOS, it might be great to do a personal journal here at KotaPress about my discoveries and process with this syndrome. To that end, I'll present monthly entries here to chart what's happening with my own PCOS diagnosis and care. Maybe it will help someone else, too. This is presented chronologically with the most current entry on top.
June 2002
Freaky. So since I stopped the sugar and carbs, I've had two cycles 28
days apart and each lasting only 5 days each. I cannot tell you how WEIRD
that is. I go months and months with nothing or I get cycles that last
3 months at a time. NEVER do it get "normal-ish" looking cycles
like these.
One was extremely heavy, so much so that it scared me. Baaaaad cramps. But rashes on my body -- those brown velvety skin ones -- all gone! Can I tell you how many things I've tried to get ride of those d*mn spots?! arg. Who freaking knew it would be so simple as cutting out sugar and carbs! Hello, Kara!
Anyway, I did end up going to a random doc on the island because that cycle freaked me. He was totally condescending and uneducated about PCOS. He said the timing on my cycles and rash's disappearance were "coincidence" and probably had nothing to do with my nutrition changes. Then he proceeded to tell me that the best way to deal with PCOS is to go on the pill. HELLOOOO!? Anyone in this room actually go to medical school? GAWD! So I told him "no way" and that he should read Sam Thatcher's book and should understand up front that I want answers, not masks. He was like "yeah, yeah, whatever." I will never see him again.
Good news. The girls at the front desk of the clinic told me that my insurance will let me see a nurse practitioner instead and still cover. They recommended a woman there and said she's great. I see her July 15. Another woman in the community told me she also sees this same nurse practitioner and that this n.p. is great, very thorough, and interested in patients as a whole. There's hope.
May 2002
I discovered something called PCOS from a KotaPress reader who wrote to
share her website with us. As I read more and more about PCOS I started
thinking that it all sounded too familiar. Although it seems that no diagnosis
has been made of PCOS for me, there is every indication that this is what
I've been dealing with all along. Discovered the link between PCOS and
insulin resistance for some women. Figure it can't hurt to stop sugar
and carbs for a while and see what happens. Hope to have time this summer
to investigate health care providers who can understand this. We'll see.
Biography
Kara lives on Vashon Island which is a much more awesome place than she
ever imagined it would be. She is a poet, bookmaker, wife, teacher, bereaved
mom, facilitator, receptionist, founder, struggling p.t.barnum, turtle
faithful, editor, artist, and a million other things that will prevent
you from putting her in any one particular label box! Kara teaches through
local art centers, artists in the schools programs, KotaPress and independently.
To find out more about her, see:
http://www.KotaPress.com/kara/karajones.htm
Take an online class with Kara:
http://www.coursebridge.com/html/courses/writing/cbep01.asp
