I'm new to the forum. I'm 27 years old, married for about a year now and Not TTC for another 2 years. I've been diagnosed with PCOS ever since I entered
puberty (only on the basis of irregular periods and ovarian cysts visible on ultrasound) - yes, I 've also been pushed around by doctors and stuffed with birth control pills!
Im from India and moved to the Madison, USA only last year and after moving - I find that I 've also developed mild Hypothyroidism and gained some extra pounds (I'm about 5"4 1/2 -and I went from 138 pounds to 159 pounds in about 6 months. But recently with all my new found knowledge - thanks to this forum and several other great websites - I decided to bring about a huge change in my lifestyle and am totally amazed at the results. I'd like to share this with all my fellow cysters:
(A) My past
I have to say my life was a mess!!! I was in and out of relationships (thankfully no premarital sex! Thats a big NO NO in the Indian society) - not knowing why I entered into any one those in the first place. I could just never say NO to anyone. And to make matters worse, I was working my ass out in a big tax consultancy firm that didn't care about my health - on a average I used to work 7 days a week from 8 am to 2 am - with little sleep and little time to think.
My food habits were erratic - I was eating all sinful foods out there (thank god I'm vegetarian thought) - starting with white rice, potatoes, chips, cheese, fried food, chocolates, alcohol, lots of caffeine etc. Yup, these were the only inputs - I had an aversion to veggies and anything that wasn't carb! Of course with no time on hand, my attempts to exercise were successful once in 180 days!!! I joined the gym 3 times, only to skip the sessions! Not surprisingly, my periods never came - and I didn't care! Now and then my mom would get worried and take me to a doc who'll give me a dose of BCP.
With my wedding six months away, I quit my job and thought I could get some discipline in my life. All in vain! I used the time in hand to get some sleep and more sleep and more....Yes I slept all day - and my folks at home would only sympathize with me!
(2) Post- marriage - Im in the US with no job and lots of time to study for CFA & GMAT. But suddenly I realized I couldn't concentrate, I couldn't focus on anything beyond 10 minutes. Leave alone books, even conversations were getting difficult to focus. My husband used to get irritated that I never listen to him. I was gaining more weight and eat unhealthier food each day. And I had to study - I failed the CFA exam twice! I went to take GMAT - came out of the exam centre half-way through!
(3) The change - Last August I had a month long and very heavy period (which stopped only after taking Provera) after a gap of 4-5 months. And after that I didn't get my period. I went to the doc in January for a knee pain and incidentally took some tests - to find my TSH levels were mildly higher than normal at 6.36! So, now
I not only had PCOS, I also have a thyroid problem. The doctor prescribed Levothroid for me and was ready to prescribe drugs for PCOS. I said NO, thanks and asked for some time till I can naturally bring my hormones under control! In february, I decided to take control of things and did the following:
(a) No caffeine - I was addicted to coffee with 3 - 4cups a day. I just stopped it, one fine day! Naturally, I had a lot of withdrawal symptoms - headaches, fatigue, feverish, etc etc for atleast a week. I lived with it.
(b) The same day, I cut sugar! It was horrible!
(c) I brought in some exercise regimen - I must admit I wasn't regular at it. But I learn Indian classical dance twice a week.
(d) I switched to Brown rice instead of white rice. To my surprize, I didn't overeat once I switched to brown rice.
(e) I ate breakfast for a change - Oats, Quinoa, Nuts & seeds (pumpkin seeds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, ground flax seeds) with a glass of milk without sugar.
(f) I ate fruits everyday - apple, oranges, grapes, blueberries, pomegranate, papaya, cantaloupe, raspberries
(g) I cut chips and fried foods out of my diet (except rarely). We did eat out (read unhealthy food and even sugar) once a week - but that was it!
(h) I started with cod liver oil capsules everyday - to get omega 3 fatty acids in my system.
(i) I maintained a food and activity diary of every little thing I ate and monitored my activity levels for a few days. That put me on my routine. I no longer use the diary, cos the food and activity are now a part of my life.
(j) After some research, I found that I might need zinc, magnesium & calcium supplements - I bought the Zn-Mg-Ca supplement, Whole foods Womens' multi-vitamin, mineral & herbal supplement.
(k) From March 2nd - I started Vitex & Evening Primrose Oil - one tablet each a day
And I got my periods on March 12th. I do hope I can maintain this lifestyle and it regularizes my cycle.
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Loving the exercise!
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Please keep us updated. I am in a similar situation.
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 2 months ago, but I haven't been formally diagnosed with PCOS, although I am pretty sure I have it. I have just started to cut out the sugar and carbs and work out. I have been working with an herbalist for about 6 months now.
This all started when I had a period for a month when i was 19, my mom took me to the gyno and they said I had a hormonal imbalance, gave me BC and sent me on my way. Fast forward to 10 years later, my husband and I want to have a baby. I went off BC in October 07, had a period right away, another in Feb, then another in June that lasted for 3 months! Only will a break of 9 days somewhere in between. Doctors gave me prometrium, BC again and then aygestine. The first two only made it worse, the aygestine worked for a couple of weeks, but then I started again 10 days before I was to stop taking it. Somewhere in between all of this, my hair was falling out like crazy (I mean softball size hairball in the drain), the hairs on my face were growing at the speed of light, and I could not get control of my acne. I had no energy all I wanted to do was sleep.
Finally, I was so frustrated with doctors, and I couldn't help but think my body is doing this for a reason, I went to an herbalist. Since then, I have had a few more periods, started taking thyroid meds and the herbal supplements suggested by the herbalist and I feel to much better.
Except for the fact I am still not pregant or ovulating normally. Originally, I saw the post by shebaby and was excited to see a natural way to get my body on track.
I am new on this site and I love it already. It is good to hear the success stories of others. I motivates me and keeps me going. Having difficulty TTC is so frustrating and heart breaking.
I finally got my periods! 
