My path to wellness began when I was a teenager. I started my period at the age of 14 – later than most of my peers, but not uncommon for competitive gymnasts. My cycles were irregular – I would have a period once every few months. I was told by my pediatrician that sometimes it can take a little while for the body to get in sync, so the plan was to watch and wait. Fast forward to 4 years later, nothing had changed. I never knew when my periods were coming, and knowing what I know now, I was having significant PMS (premenstrual syndrome) symptoms – bloating, mood swings, and cramping to name a few. I was then referred to an OB/GYN who ran some bloodwork and determined that I had PCOS, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
PCOS is a very common condition, in fact up to 1 in 15 women battle this condition. There are many signs and symptoms of PCOS including irregular periods, series of small cysts on one or both ovaries, abnormal LH:FSH ratio (hormone that regulates your cycle), weight gain, acne, male-pattern hair growth, lower tone of voice, and insulin resistance. My primary symptoms are the first 3 listed. PCOS is associated with the development of type 2 diabetes, obesity, thyroid disorders, liver disease, and certain cancers. Needless to say, it can be a very scary diagnosis at the age of 18 – especially when I didn’t know how to decipher Dr. Google’s information.
My OB/GYN told me that the birth control pill would regulate my cycles and may help improve my PCOS symptoms long-term. So, I was put on the pill at the age of 18 – it took a couple tries, but we did find one that regulated my cycle. The problem was the pill was a band-aid and not a solution.
8 years later, my husband and I made the decision for me to get off the pill. I was hopeful – maybe now that I have been on the pill for so long, my body will just keep regulating my cycles on its own. I was very wrong. Coming off the pill, my periods went right back to being irregular and my cramps were more painful than I remembered. I knew right away, the PCOS was not cured by the pill, much to my dismay. Thankfully, I quickly found an incredible provider (s/o to Dr. Sally Kurz with WholeLife Authentic Care!) who did not dismiss my symptoms and worked to find the root cause to my problems right away. We did LOTS of bloodwork and an ultrasound, which confirmed my PCOS and also uncovered a new diagnosis – Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease of the thyroid. Basically, my body interprets my thyroid gland tissue as foreign – even though it’s not! This then results in the activation of my immune system, which launches an attack on my thyroid. This condition is commonly seen in women with PCOS and is one of the most common thyroid disorders.
The bloodwork also revealed a lot of imbalances – high testosterone levels, low estrogen, low progesterone, and high DHEA (indicating high stress hormones). Essentially, my hormones were all out of balance. We started implementing lifestyle changes and some low dose medications to address these problems right away – it took about 6 months, but I now have REGULAR cycles, with no birth control and minimal medication use.
Long story short, if I had known what I do now, I would not have chosen birth control to “treat” my PCOS. I do not blame my doctor – what she did was the standard of care. We have learned A LOT since I was first diagnosed, and in my opinion, what is most important is for patients to be informed of ALL of their options, so each patient can make their own informed decision regarding the course of treatment.
My hope is that I can help women advocate for themselves. Do the research, ask the questions, search for the resources. And most of all do NOT give up. There are options, and there are wonderful providers who can help you recover.
My journey is only beginning; there is still so much healing to be done! And although it feels scary, and vulnerable at times, I am excited to share my journey with you.
Onward & Upward,
Allison
Well + Woman 