PCOS Saga: Doctors...that's why they call it a "practice"

Ok - so I can't take complete credit for that little quip in the title...I have to give credit where credit is due. After expressing my dismay and disgust upon returning from my doctor's appointment, that was the line he gave me. And you know what? He's right! For all the doctor's that I have been to in my life, each one has a different view, approach and style. This latest one just happened to think I was a total nut-bar, and was extremely dismissive. Now, the nut-bar part...sure! I'll own that one - in my own special way, I am...but hey, aren't we all?!? But dismissive?! Nunh-unh...not happening. If he had maybe taken more than the 5 minutes he did the first time I saw him, and the 30 seconds he took this time, then maybe I might be a little less annoyed. However, the man doesn't even know my history. So I'm going to go in for the last blood tests that he wants, get those answers and then I'm going to tell him that I no longer need his services and will be seeking a second opinion, so could he please send me my file. I'm also going to go back to my family doctor (who referred me to him) and let her know that he wasn't helpful at all, and more than that he was disrespectful.

So here's the back story...I've got PCOS (Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome). It's a series of non-specific symptoms (hence the "syndrome") that "wreak havoc, and cry war" on my hormones, ovaries, and body in general that cause: infertility, male pattern hair loss, acne, weight gain (very quick to acquire and difficult to lose), insulin resistance (though some experts say it's the insulin resistance that causes the PCOS - but no definitive proof at this time), anxiety/depression, and anything else that is governed by your hormones! It's messy!!!! I've been dealing with the effects of this "thing" since I was about 15 years old, but I've only been trying to figure it out for the past three years. There are so many factors to this that it has been hard to get a hold of it. However, I'm starting to get it sorted.

As a bit of a simplified explanation of the insulin resistance, which is the biggest health factor, here is what I have been able to come up with so far. The body is unable to efficiently use the insulin produced by the pancreas, which turns the glucose in your blood into usable energy for the cells, because the insulin receptors are "lazy" or only a certain number of them are actually functioning - they don't know that part yet either. What this then does is create a lot of extra glucose floating around in the blood, which is filtered through the liver. When the liver encounters extra glucose, it turns it into "fat" and your body stores it - usually in those horribly unwanted areas such as the hips, thighs, and stomach. Though some women, such as myself, store it EVERYWHERE. Why can't it just go to our boobs and we'll just keep buying bras and secretly loving the drooling stares from the men-folk? Seriously unfair!! Here's another really unfair part - compared to a "normal", or more accurately, a "non-suffering" woman, it takes half the time to put the weight on, and twice as long to take it off. What causes that condundrum is that pesky insulin resistance again!! Bugger!!! So when you exercise, you need the insulin to convert your glucose to energy, right? Well, what if you're insulin isn't working? What is your body feeding on? It's not feeding on the fat, because there is loads of glucose floating around still...so it takes twice as long for your body to get through all the glucose, because of the lazy insulin receptors, which means that, instead of the 30 minutes you need to get into a good "fat burn" you need an hour! Sucks!!! However, while that part is shitty, what is equally important is...dunh, dunh, DUNH....your food intake!!! Yes folks, it really is all about diet and exercise - CRAP!!! In some respects, it's almost like having diabetes, but you don't take insulin shots, because you have enough insulin that isn't working very well! So step one - get your exercise at least three times a week - and seriously YOU ONLY NEED TO WALK!!!!! - if you can't do the 60 minutes, then work your way up to 45 minutes. You'll notice a difference - I swear. The next steps, and the next blog, will be about food intake - that was a lot more difficult to figure out!!!

Take care peeps!!

Here we go again!!

So if I had to go back and pick the day when everything changed for me, I couldn't. It wasn't a day, there wasn't the Oprah-esque "Ah Ha!" moment, and there wasn't a sign from God. To be honest, it was nothing spectacular and yet...it was awesome none-the-less. All that was required was a shift - a shift of focus...a shift of attitude. With each shift came a new awareness. I was aware of how I was feeling, of who I am, of who I wanted to be, and how I can get there. But holy smokes - I was not prepared for all the "things" that would be coming up for me! It's been a couple years of low-level ("it's not so bad") to high-level ("get me the hell outta here") stresses. But amazingly enough, and just like everyone says...what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. At this rate, I'm destined to be the next Wonder Woman!!!

My goal here is to talk about what I've been going through, and maybe make some sense of it all. Right now it's still all just jumbled thoughts, emotions and decisions running around in my heart and head. And maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to help someone else who is going through some "stuff" in their life.

I look forward to posting, and if I'm lucky, then I will have some folks following me along in my journey who will give me a different perspective on things. Although, speaking of lucky - I am very lucky to already have the people in my life that I do - especially my wonderful husband - he is the best decision I ever made.