Diagnosed As A 13 Year Old

PCOTeen · 07-10-2002, 05:44 PM

Something no teenage girl wants to face--uncontrollable weight gain, acne, hot flashes, and the ridicule of classmates. That was the life I was living. I was simply being told by doctors that I was just "bigger" than the other girls. Baffled and distressed, my mother and I fought not to give up. Three years and over 4 different doctors was a failure, the symptoms even passed by a childrens endocrinologist who was trianed in these diseases. I gained over 40 pounds in one year of middle school, at a stunning 200 pounds, playing hockey became more difficult by the minute, and I didn't understand what was happening. Once again, a doctor did a thyroid test (that was normal) and sent me to a nutitionist, who told me to eat MORE CARBOHYDRATES! As I did, I felt sick, nausated and even more sluggish. :o August before my freshman year turned my life around. I went to a doctors assistant for an EAR infection, and as my mom displayed my list of symptoms, she asked if I had ever heard of PolyCystic Ovarian Disease. Amazingly enough, I had, in a magazine I read in middle school, but the earlier doctors shrugged it off as being a hypochondriac of some sort. I was diagnosed with bloodwork and a ultrasound within a week and began medicine. The mystery stops there...right? Wrong, my freshman year was a living hell. I was constantly depressed and my once all A's fell to D's and C's. I tried to hide it for a while, but it became obvious. I was put on therapy and anti-depressants, which did a little good, but family involvment wasn't the greatest. I discovered I felt worse on the anti depressants because I felt that a pill had the control of my emotions, so I stopped taking them. Within time of starting a website, talking about it, and helping others, my grades steadily climbed, as did my awareness of others facing the same problem. I recieved emails from young girls everyday, a few of which I referred to my own personal doctor, because they lived close. I just finished my Sophomore year, and have changed dramatically. I had an article published inside a local magazine called Great Lakes Family Living, which can be viewed here :
http://www.glfamily.com/html/jf-02/j...akingnote.html

PCOS is not part of my everyday life, its merely a shadow of who I am inside. People can accept me for who I am, or can stay arrogent, either way, I am living how I want to. I have lost two dress sizes so far this summer, and I moved to the Detroit area recently, where I am working in a major hospital. As for what I want to be when I grow up? I am not sure, but am leaning towards a career in medicine.

Eva34 · 07-11-2002, 01:07 PM

Hello

sending you ((hugs))

Eva

AmericanWoman · 07-13-2002, 07:41 PM

Girl, I am so proud of you! At so young an age, you are getting the right attitude going on.

Wonderful! I just had to say that.

Blessing to you.

tash77 · 07-16-2002, 12:29 PM

I am young also, but i was diagnosed when i was 17, now 18, 19 in 3 months, its been a struggle to cope with everything that has been going on.

I must say you have a great attitude towards it all.

I used to get down about my weight, but not show it in front of anyone, and then i came to realise that i am who i am, and if people don't like it, they can go elsewhere. Thing is with my friends they seem to see pass my weight and see me for who i really am, i am a bubbly happy giggly person and i get on well with alot of people.

I've had alot of things happen in my life, not just with me, and its alot to deal with when your young, and i must say i am proud of you and you should carry on being happy and living how you want to.

Edit: OH i forgot to say, i think your a really pretty person

abralinn · 07-20-2002, 04:18 PM

I want to tell you how strong and intelligent I think you are.Not only are you dealing better with it than most adults but your outlook is super.My daughter who is 13 is going through the emotional as well as the physical aspects of pcos and she is trying so hard to come to grips with this.We educate ourselves with searching the message boards here at soulcysters and all the wonderful articles here.Thank You for sharing your story I know it has not been easy. Take Care, Abra