Some thoughts and discussions from me.
Some thoughts and discussions from me.
Good morning, my friends
Before I dive into the nitty gritty of this post, a little disclaimer: itβs about to get personal up in here! Any male readers who might not want to hear about womanly issues may want to skip this post Seriously — if you donβt care to read about PCOS, feel free to move along! Also, the primary reason Iβm writing publicly about this is to possibly help someone else with PCOS, or at least connect with you/her.
Itβs been quite a while since Iβve given you guys an update on whatβs going on with my PCOS. (Hereβs part 1, part 2, and part 3.) In fact, the last update I gave yaβll was that I have blood sugar issues. Blood sugar is directly tied to insulin, which is a hormone that can affect the sex hormones, which can affect the reproductive system, thusly resulting in PCOS. In the past 7 or 8 months, I have learned a LOT about insulin.
Now, after a year of battling issues with my cycle (50-60 days apart, and then none since last October) I have good news. My hormones are back in the normal range, and I got my period back β thusly, I reversed my PCOS!
So, if youβve been following along on my story, or if you have PCOS yourself, this post is going to be on the next part of my story, and then what I believe reversed my PCOS.
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My PCOS Story, Part 4
About a month ago, I sucked it up and made an appointment with an OB/GYN. The naturopath I saw a few months back was insanely expensive, and I was just ready to do something β anything β to get my period back, even if that meant turning western medicine. At my first appointment, I just met with my doctor, told her what was going on, and showed her my blood work from last October, which is what lead my previous doctor to diagnose me with PCOS. I instantly clicked with her and knew I was in good hands. Sheβs an athlete herself, and was completely open to my want of staying away from any drugs, if possible.
After talking with her, she suggested I get an ultrasound, since I hadnβt gotten one before, to check out my ovaries for cysts. We scheduled it a week out, and that entire week I was a wreck, picturing the worst case scenario, as I do. Then the appointment came, and everything lookedβ¦completely healthy and normal. In fact, her words were, βyou could take these ovaries out for a drink!β haha Still, I hadnβt had a period, so that outcome was confusing. Typically, people PCOS either have physical symptoms (hair falling out, acne, facial hair, overweight) OR lots of cysts on the ovaries. I had neither, at this point in time.
At this point, she ordered more blood work, so I headed down to the lab and got lots of blood drawn, and played the waiting game again. About a week later, I got a call from my doctor saying, βitβs really weirdβ¦all of your hormones are within normal range.β Since I still hadnβt gotten my period, we talked about how she thought it was hypogonadsm instead β from lots of life changes over the year and then next steps. So, next steps were either clomid, another drug, birth control, or acupuncture.
That weekend I went to Blend, and had the time of my life. I felt SO happy on the plane ride home, and just had such a good feeling. Plus, I got to see Shane, who was on a business trip the entire week before, and the week coming up. Coincidentally, he was leaving for LA as I was getting back from Blend, and our gates were right next to each other at the airport. So I got to spend some time with him. During that time, I went to the bathroom to find out I started my period!! Iβd been praying about this for months, and finally God answered my prayers. So, the reason my hormones were in normal ranges were because things are back on track!!
What I Believe Helped Reverse my PCOS
Oh man, I tried everything under the sun to reverse my PCOS. I pretty much went paleo, took some crazy supplements, drank a silly potion, did seed cycling, went gluten-free instead of paleo, changed up my exercise, changed up my lifestyle, quit eating added sugar, tried to quit drinking coffee (ha..hahaha) and more. Most of it, I believe, didnβt really work. However, I also donβt think it was any one thing, but rather a combination of things changed from nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle. Hereβs what I think worked for me:
Nutrition
For me, this doesnβt mean low carb or no sugar. It means eating any meals or snacks with balanced macros. It means that I canβt just have a banana or another piece of fruit for a snack. It means I canβt have froyo on an empty stomach. I can have those things, but only along with or close to eating a good amount of protein and fat, as well. I have to be careful when it comes to carbs, and eat more protein or fat than carbs in my meals and snacks.
–a note on gluten:
As for the whole gluten free thing, Iβm still on the fence. I went gluten free for a long time, but lately, Iβve been reintroducing gluten back into my diet. Obviously, Iβm drinking beer. But Iβm also having sandwiches at restaurants even if they donβt have gluten free bread. I do, however, have some adverse side effects after eating gluten sometimes. Like after eating pizza last weekend, my stomach was not happy with me in the morning. Iβm still trying to figure it out. Iβd really like it if my body is perfectly fine eating gluten, because being gluten-free is just not fun. Iβm just being honest. But what sucks even more? Explaining why Iβm choosing something gluten-free over regular. Itβs so complicated, and people are SO damn quick to judge. Ugh.
–a note on paleo:
I do not believe a paleo diet helped me at all. In fact, it just made me more rigid with my eating, causing stress. It also made me lose weight, which I donβt think helped at all (see why below.) I think it also caused me to eat too few carbs. I do believe paleo can be good for some people, and I do appreciate its focus on eating whole foods. Also, I do think it helped me learn how to cook some meals which agree better with my blood sugar levels. However, I donβt think it helped me reverse my PCOS.
Out of ALL the supplements I tried in the past year, I believe these three to be the most helpful in my healing.
Lifestyle
Itβs helped me to not be such a reactionary person. I donβt βfreak outβ or overreact to situations as much anymore. I also donβt sweat the small stuff. Iβve ended toxic friendships in my life, and donβt have time for people who bring drama into my life. Not to mention, my body feels SO much better, and Iβm much more flexible than I ever was before! I canβt sing yogaβs praises enough.
I also started taking more baths, drinking tea, do relaxing/fun activitiesβ¦and just trying to be a more relaxed person in general. When this whole thing started, Iβd quit my job and changed careers so that I was 100% in the fitness world. That was SCARY for me. Super duper scary. It was a risk worth taking, but it was also a stressor on my body.
Fitness
Aaaand now Iβve written a book. If youβre still reading, thanks for sticking around If anyone has any questions or is going/went through a similar situation, please feel free to email me! Have a great Thursday, my friends.
I’m so glad to hear things seem to be getting normalized for you!
Erica { EricaDHouse.com } recently posted…A few of my favorite things
You are awesome for posting this. I would like to truly, truly 100% thank you π
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I”m so glad you shared this. It’s crazy what we go through only to realize that we just need to simple and de-stress. You know i could have talked about this for hours with you. I think we stress ourselves out more trying to find a solution or the right diet to heal us, versus praying and just letting things go. Oh i am sooo guilty. Right now I’m doing the happy period dance for you. hehe
p.s. I think you look HAWT! Love your GLOW!
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Thanks, Lindsay!!! <3 And thanks for being there for me, too!
oh Paige i’m so so happy for you! yay!!!!!!!!!
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**REACHES THRU SCREEN AND HUGS YOU**
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Great news Paige! And I am happy to hear you put on some weight and reduce your intensity of exercise that can help many women get their cycles back too, it was all I had to do!
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Great, informative post! I wish I would have talked with you about this at Blend… I had pcos-like ovaries (similar to you except that I did have cysts, but I had no other signs). I was able to get pregnant naturally with my daughter, but we’ve been going through the ups and downs all over again this time and decided to adopt instead. I do think we’ll try to get pregnant again at some point, but adoption was something we always wanted to do so that’s the current plan. In any case, I think you nailed it with your diet changes (paying attention to blood sugar and insulin) and B vitamins seemed to help me a lot, too, as did cutting back on intense exercise. SO excited for you that your cycles are back!!
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I’m really happy for you! I give you so much credit to try and figure things out without going strictly to drugs.
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I’m so glad things are better for you!
It really does sound alot more like a classic case of hypothalamic amenhorrea than PCOS to me.
Regardless, keep doing what you’ve done to get where you are!
Agreed! Especially if there are no cysts and reduced exercise/weight gain helped get your cycle back. My advice, if you want to KEEP your cycle do NOT increase your exercise intensity. I have HA and used to exercise at a high intensity, if I reduce intensity and amount of exercise my body will behave, and if I increase intensity my body will go back into HA shut down mode. Doctors are pretty clueless on HA unless you see a fertility specialist instead of an OB/GYN, and even the specialists are sometimes clueless.
There are no cysts *now* – there likely were cysts a year ago when my hormone panel pointed toward PCOS, as diagnosed by my doctor.
It would be awesome to know all the details of what pointed to a PCOS diagnosis. I was misdiagnosed with PCOS 8 years ago by a doctor who saw cysts on my ovaries. I didn’t have any other typical symptoms of PCOS. I was thin and fit and in shape. I had blood sugar issues but those were more from a history of restricting food and carbs and over exercising.
Turns out all along it was HA and not PCOS. The cysts in PCOS ovaries have a very distinct pattern which mine didn’t have. PCOS is also a syndrome. It takes many (not just two) symptoms to actually have it. In addition, PCOS is generally helped along by weight loss, not gain. Cysts will also appears on the ovaries of women with HA. It’s very common for HA to be misdiagnosed as PCOS.
Totally happy you are doing well, but based on reading your blog, it sounds more like a classic case of HA than it does PCOS.
Hey, any way we can exchange emails somehow to chat about this? sounds familiar…and I’m going thru misery right now…hope to hear from somebody.
Agreed, Sounds like HA. I got my periods back by reducing exercise, gaining weight and eating more appropriate fats, calories etc. Sounds like you’re on the right track and figuring it out early!
Same as message below:
Hey, any way we can exchange emails somehow to chat about this? sounds familiarβ¦and Iβm going thru misery right nowβ¦hope to hear from somebody.
I have to agree with previous posters. I was also diagnosed with hypothalamic amenorrhea and your symptoms sound SPOT ON with mine. I was exercising excessively and restricting my food intake. Enough so that my pituitary gland stopped communicating with my ovaries. It might be something to look into – as I was misdiagnosed with PCOS by my GYN – my HA diagnosis came after seeing multiple docs and winding up with a reproductive endocrinologist. I went a full 3 years w/o having a period. I gained weight, reduced exercise drastically as well as any life stressors where possible. Sure enough aunt flow decided to show up not long after making those changes. I hope that your body is on a continued healing trend!
meant to say hypothalamus – not pituitary gland!!!
Jill,
Jill, I’d be willing to email with you if you would like. Can you post your email so I can message you? I have also recovered from HA.
Just wanted to mention, that unless your blood levels are taken on cycle day 3, you do not get an accurate level of what they may really be. I had above normal levels of testosterone as well when my blood was randomly drawn, but I do not have PCOS. PCOS is highly misdiagnosed/overdiagnosed, and I would question the diagnosis and get a second opinion before I’d believe it.
Hi Jill, you can email me if you’d like – yourtrainerpaige@gmail.com
I’m so glad to hear that things are going well Paige!! It really is amazing what de-stressing and eating well can do for one’s body.
Alaina recently posted…2013 Bostonβs Run to Remember
So glad that you seem to have reversed the condition Paige! That’s seriously incredible…a reminder that stress can wreak havoc, and sometimes we need to gain a little weight for our bodies to function optimally!
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I’m so so happy that things are better! That’s amazing.
Kacy recently posted…His other lover
So happy for you! I usually dread my period each month, but the struggles that some people endure to get their’s back makes me really appreciate it. (But I still reserve the right to bitch and moan those five days per month.) Seriously though- huge congrats!
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Woo hoo!! Congrats Paige! So glad your period came and your hard work paid off!
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Good for you for really tackling this issue. I still have to work on being proactive. I have some things I’ve wanted to speak to doctors about, but I let it just get pushed to the back burner. It really is important to get to the doctors. Gah. π
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thank you so much for posting this update! I am SO happy for you! xoxo
I feel like I am failing in so many aspects of trying to figure out my own balance with PCOS, hormones, all of it. It’s interesting to see you and the twins getting results after simplifying things more. It’ll be interesting to see what comes out of my 30-day food senstitivity elimination, but I think I need to think of ways to simplify as well. I’m afraid of the possibility of going on conventional meds, though it may have to be an option. I have also scaled WAY back on exercise, though for the past few weeks since Blend maybe too much. I’ve just really needed the rest. Ugh, so hard to figure this all out!
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It’s SO damn frustrating, isn’t it? You try all of these things, and then have no idea if they’re helping or not. Simplifying my life definitely helped. But I really think managing my blood sugar levels through food played a major part of it, since insulin is such a key player.
Doing a happy dance for you friend!! Would you mind if I emailed you?? I would love to pick your brain!
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Please do!
so happy for you Paige, as you know I (lori) was just diagnosed with PCOS, and I am making some dietary and lifestyle changes, and so far I see such great improvement π I hope to conquer this like you!! Again so happy for you!!!
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That’s so great that you’re seeing improvement, Lori! If you want to chat more about it, feel free to email me xoxo
I believe we are fertility twins. Might email you about this π Thanks for sharing!
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Please do!!
I haven’t gotten through anything but the intro, but I have to say CONGRATULATIONS!!! So fabulous that you were able to work through a hormonal issue like PCOS (and I’m hoping that you are finding some relief as I know that PCOS is painful). I’m off to read the rest of this story. Thank you so much for sharing because I know that it’s very personal, but your journey WILL help somebody else (I guarantee it!).
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Okay, and I’m back now to post a legit reaction to all of this.
1) βyou could take these ovaries out for a drink!β <=== made my day.
2) bodies are weird, weird, weird things.
3) being around a bunch of women for a weekend probably made your ovaries jealous and they had to join the party. (but seriously, being around a ton of females may have had something to do with it)
4) weirdly, i've never heard of gaining weight to help this, but it makes sense because estrogen is stored in fat. though, pcos is usually linked to too much estrogen (at least from what I know about it).
5) i'm glad you weren't growing a beard.
YAY for you and your ovaries! π
calee recently posted…my big fat (or fit) #blend2013 recap post
Haha, thanks, Calee π
My kind of PCOS was actually too much adrogenous hormones. My free testosterone was a bit high, as well as a couple other hormones were too high. But estrogen was toward the low end of normal! Agh, it’s such a confusing syndrome.
aha! well I could use some of that testosterone. glad it’s getting under control, and the natural way. i’m with you on not wanting to do drugs / hormone therapy.
calee recently posted…my big fat (or fit) #blend2013 recap post
sorry to chime in here, but low estrogen is more a symptom of HA rather than PCOS… a lot of times people are mis-diagnosed with PCOS when really they have HA. you seem like a CLASSIC HA case. as someone who has struggled with missing periods, and having “low end of normal” estrogen, all it took for me was a few lbs gained and less exericse, and boom..period back. Just some food for thought……
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I’ve heard that, too. I think it was the high testosterone that really pointed toward PCOS (in my OBGYN’s opinion/expertise, anyway.) It’s definitely confusing, though.
Was your testosterone high as in above the normal range, or high as in “on the high end of normal”, or high as in relation to your estrogen?
high…as in above normal range!!
Wow so informative! Congrats on taking such good care of yourself!
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Thanks for all your honesty Paige, I truly think this will help a lot of others! I’m really interested in all your hypoglycemia work, since I’ve suffered from hypoglycemia for about 8 years now, and am still having a hard time getting it under control all the time. It can be frustrating, because I can’t necessarily eat “normally” compared to others. I’ve noticed cutting gluten out (for the most part) has helped with blood sugar (no clue why, doesn’t make much sense) haha. Although, I know most of your healing was for PCOS, but I’m so impressed you’ve got it under control and healed yourself naturally!
Yay for you!
And sorry for this long comment.
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XOXO <3 u, you courageous, inspiring, beave π
That’s awesome that you got in under control!
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Really happy for you. I think I need to do yoga and breathe , but I’m so…..high strung and can’t seem to “come down”. I had fasting blood glucose taken before, but it came back normal..I think 3.7 (?). Doc said it was normal anyway. I LOVE that you mention stress.
I’ve been on the fence with how to balance meals…more fats? more protein? a balance, etc…
I had zero appetite for supper tonight and ate a cup of yogurt, an avocado salad with fruit, 2 rice cakes with tahini, and then 40 grams of dark chocolate (I know WAY too much dark chocolate..I got totally ahead of myself, and this was 10 pm at night π ).
I’ve been amenorrheic for a long time though and I think the out-of-whack hormones lead to my low mood, anxiety, brain fog (I feel “out of it ” a lot, and utter SLOWNESS). I’m also seriously thirsty all the time….water doesn’t cut it and I find myself eating a LOT of pineapples, mangoes, etc etc because I want to quench the thirst and I don’t want to obsess over sugar…yet I wonder if it makes me worse. Gah…so confusing..
Your thoughts on Mark Hyman’s “Blood sugar solution” diet? OR any others (books, websites, bloggers that you think emulate solid good meal plans? I’m Not not active like you at all….someday I hope…gotta believe).
I found this on Mark Hyman http://drhyman.com/downloads/detoxmanual.pdf and thought it was interesting (he gives meal plans and recipes at the end…but looks like he avoids grains, but easy enough to add them in order to not be stressed about it)…
Thoughts??
Also, are fish oil tablets okay? I know the oil is the BEST apparently, but the actual oil is super expensive unlike the tablets…thoughts on that?
I take a multivitamin, zinc, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, magnesium….anyway, let me know your thoughts. I haven’t been diagnosed with PCOS , but my hormones are obviously screwed, so…
Hi! As NDF mentioned above, I also think it sounds like you may have been misdiagnosed. I myself did not regain my period after going off the pill a year ago and after 4 months went to a specialist who said it could possibly be PCOS. My estrogen was very low and at the ultrasound they saw no cysts which means it’s not PCOS. If you have true PCOS it’s a string of pearls they will see on your ultrasound. I was diagnosed with Hypothalamic Amennorhea and the dr asked me to gain some weight and cut the workouts (which were mad intense). My husband and I are trying to conceive our second now and it’s turning into quite the challenge because of HA. I am respnding to fertility meds easily though since gaining 10 lbs and not working out except walking (and I’m a personal trainer also). Sucks but my body was pissed at me so I had to help it recover! I think if this happens again with your cycles being out of whack or MIA then you should definiltey get a secon opinion..I don’t doubt it’s your workouts messing with your cycles! =)
Thank you for sharing your story π Sending positive thoughts for you!!
My estrogen levels were normal. My blood work pointed toward PCOS because I had elevated testosterone levels, along with some other hormones. HA is characterized by low levels of almost all of the hormones, which is why that was ruled out at the time.
To Glove: Ashley at “My food and fitness diaries ” went through this..so did the girl at “Sweet tooth, sweet life” or something? can’t remember the blog address..her name is Courtney…this article might be of interest also:
http://www.youreatopia.com/blog/2011/9/14/i-need-how-many-calories.html
(kind of anyway)…
Congratulations, Paige!! This is amazing news – I knew you would revere your condition π I have recently been trying to reintroduce grains and dairy. I think my body can handle the former, but dairy seems to be no bueno. After months and months without any new pimples, I got four this week!! The only thing I’ve changed is adding dairy back in so I’m not happy as I really do miss my greek yoghurt. I still need to work on my stress levels as I think that causes a lot of my problems. Anyways, I’m so happy for you!
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Thank you, Tara!! <3
That's a bummer about the dairy π I would miss yogurt like crazy, too. I've actually found I can tolerate some yogurts much better than other (basically all forms of Greek yogurt are out, unfortunately.)
Can you provide linkage to the yogurt you buy?
Also, do you eat much fish? I find myself insanely eating a lot of fish (especially canned sardines every single day)…
Madly jealous of your bacon, chicken sausage and turkey…my body Needs it and craves it but I can’t find hormone free and am not sure what to do about that…
Also, protein powder recs? I have NO idea if I ought to go with whey isolate, sunwarrior, or some cheaper brown rice, or RAW (garden of life)…let me know!
I probably should eat more fish than I do. I eat sardines or salmon on average twice a week. For protein powder, I actually don’t use it much. When I do, I have Perfect Fit.
You know how I feel about all of this since we talked about it at Blend. I could not be happier for you and when I just read the part about getting your period right after Blend…I was so excited for you. This is a perfect example of how we are all so different and we have to find what works for us as individuals. I’m so glad you have found some peace and that your body is now responding to that. You are simply amazing Paige and I’m so glad you shared your story! Hopefully this journey of yours will help others! Big hugs my friend! xoxo
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Thanks π <3 ya, Sarena! xo
Congrats babe and thanks for sharing all of this info π so proud of you π
Meg @ A Dash of Meg recently posted…High Five Friday #68
I’ve suffered from PCOS for years, and through natural healing and patience (really hard to have that patience sometimes) I went from going 8 months with no period to pretty regular periods. I’m still having trouble going gluten free, and hoping I can tolerate little bits of it…although I really do best without it. I found a lot of success juicing certain produce that detoxifies or supports hormonal balance. It’s a process, and most doctors don’t consider much more than meds : ( Keep it up & have patience!! Vitamin B Isotonix have been my go to savior energy supplement!!
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This is so fabulous! Agree with a lot of the notes above. I’m not sure PCOS is really reversible (from my understanding). I know there is a lot of mus-diagnosis of the condition and that HA is the actual cause a lot of the time. Regardless, I’m just so happy you’re back with a normal cycle- that is amazing!! Whoop whoop
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This is so fabulous! Agree with a lot of the notes above. I’m not sure PCOS is really reversible (from my understanding). I know there is a lot of mis-diagnosis of the condition and that HA is the actual cause a lot of the time. Regardless, I’m just so happy you’re back with a normal cycle- that is amazing!! Whoop whoop
That’s one thing I don’t really get either. If you reverse all fo the symptoms – and the blood work – then what still points to PCOS? How is it not reversible. Just one more thing confusing about π
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