 The villian in my "happily ever after"
I've spent the last couple weeks lurking on this website. I find myself gravitating to this board. I find it reassuring to see so many women who are going what I'm going through to some extent or another. So, after reading and re-reading so many of your posts, I thought that I'd give back to a community who's already given to me. And this is "My PCOS Story".
I had my first period at 9 or 10 years old. As with many young girls, it was never regular and I never thought anything of it. Then, at 13 years old, I started taking notice in boys and my mother immediately put me on the depo-provera shot as a form of birth control. (I know that putting your child on birth control - especially at such a young age - is a touchy subject, but I'll leave that for another time) While taking the depo shot, my periods were very irregular, but of course nothing was thought of it because of being on the shot. I stayed on that shot until I was 18 years old.
My periods did not return to normal. On a good cycle there would be about 45 days inbetween periods. But it was more common to go anywhere between 4-8 months between periods. And I goofed with the girls at work when they would have thier monthly cramps that I would probably have to wait another couple months before I'd be in that boat.
I was always self conscious of my dark upper lip hair and the dark random hairs that would sprout from my chin. My ex would always tease me that it must be the italian side of me. I would laugh when with him and pluck until my eyes watered as soon has he left.
Fast forward a couple years and I'm 24 years old. I'm at work with no insurance and I start having excruciating right sided abdomen pain. I'm sent to the emergency room because my employer believes it may be my appendix. Several hours, tests and thousands of dollars in hospital bills later they tell me that I had a cyst on my ovary that ruptured and send me home. Still, I don't follow up with a doctor. I am living on my own without health insurance and just can't afford it. I push any worries to the back of my mind.
Now, I'm 26 and getting married. The fiance and I discuss wanting a family rather soon. We discuss my lack of periods and realize that it may not be easy for us to get pregnant, so we'd prefer to start sooner or later. I'm ecstatic because all I've wanted for as long as I can remember is a baby! I have found a man who is ready and willing to make my dreams come true.
So, we get married and live happily ever after right? We all know if that were the case then I wouldn't be here right now. And we all know that no fairy tale is complete without a villian. No, we get married and I FINALLY take my health issues off the back burner. I go see my OB and after blood work and ultrasounds I'm diagnosed with bilateral PCOS. There's a part of me that's discouraged by all this. That knows my dream just became a whole lot father away by this diagnosis. But there's also a part of me that's relieved. It's good to know you're not alone. It's good to know that you're body isn't as crazy as you thought. That's there's actually a NAME to the villian that's been lurking inside you. There's a name to your battle.
And battle I shall. You and me, PCOS. I'll slay you or die trying. | 
