My PCOS Journey

EmilyH13 · 02-25-2009, 08:41 PM

Seven long years ago I got my period for the first time. I would not get it again for one more year after that. Which it not that uncommon. But after it came back, it stayed for 3 weeks. And then gone for two months and then lasted for 1 month. It continued to do this for 6 months until my mother and I deiceded to go into the doctor.

My pediatrician referred me over to an OB/GYN who after speaking with me. About my abnormal period put me on birth control pills. These helped for 6 months, when all of a sudden they just stoppped working. I again had my period for over a month. I went back to visit my OB/GYN who after speaking with me again about my periods, my fast growing facial and body hair, my dark finger tips, and elbows referred me to an endocrinologist.

After blood work, a physical exam, and an ultrasound I was diagnosed with PCOS. Although at the time I was only 13 I didnt quite understand everything I was being told, but one thing that stuck with me was that they told me there was a slim chance I would ever have children. That part was the hardest for me. Some kids want to be doctors, or vets...I wanted to be a mommy.

So since the age of 13 I have been taking birth control, and have also been taking Spirolactone for quite sometime.

Six years after being diagnosed with PCOS, I gave birth to a HEALTHY, HAPPY, BABY BOY. So much for not being able to ever have a baby, right?!

I am 30 pounds overweight, even with the spirolactone I have a lot of unwanted body hair, the hair on my head is thinning out, and both of my ovaries are pack on the inside with cysts. After giving birth to my son I decieded to go on the shot, and now a year later I have made the choice to go off the shot and have an IUD put in. I feel like a lot of times I am very very irritable, and often get angry about little things.

On top of having PCOS, I also have high cholestrol, and IBS. Sometimes I just feel like it is all too much.

I will be suprised it anyone read this whole thing, it ended up being quite long.

andrea16 · 03-12-2009, 07:27 PM

It wasn't that long

Your son is beautiful.
I know how you feel about getting overwhelmed. In case it's not enough to have all the main issues of PCOS with your period, the ugly side effects of hair and weight gain, so many of us have tons of other side effects: I know I have a lot of digestive problems, and depression, and other things that seem to come and go.
I found out when I was 18, and like you, I always wanted to have kids. When I found out, I ended up having an emergency surgery and they had to remove one of my tubes. My doctor told me that many women only have 1 fully functioning ovary, so if the one without a tube was the only one working, plus the PCOS, there was a good chance I couldn't have kids. So even though our situations aren't the same, it's nice to see people like you that still made it through to have a child.
One day, I hope to do the same.
Good luck with everything, and hang in there, I know that feeling of "why can't I just have ONE thing to deal with? Why do all these different problems have to be on my plate right now?" it's a lot to deal with, but this site is a great testimony to just how strong we ladies can be, and what we're capable of getting through.
Your son is luck to have such a strong mom