I was just 11 years old when I started experiencing strange symptoms. I had just started my monthly periods a few months earlier, but it was always heavy, extra painful and I had terrible acne on my face, chest, back, and arms.
These symptoms were ignored for a very long time by my parents and especially my doctors, they all said it was what came with being a growing teenager and it was going to get better as I got older.
At 18, my symptoms worsened, my periods were longer, heavier, and painful while I still struggled with acne daily. Sometimes, my periods would last for months at a time, leaving me feeling exhausted and very weak. My sisters referred to me as the ‘woman with the issue of blood’ as seen in the bible (LOL, I can laugh about it now). At this point, my mother got anxious, and I was taken to the hospital but again I was dismissed by many doctors.
I was misdiagnosed for many years, the first doctor called it Fibroids due to the number of cysts on my ovaries, and the other said it was Uterine Dysfunctional Bleeding and other hormonal issues. I was placed on different medications, but the bleeding kept happening every other month till I was 24.
It wasn’t until 2019 that I was finally diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age. It causes a range of symptoms, including irregular periods, weight gain, excess body hair, ovarian cysts, and acne. It’s also one of the leading causes of infertility.
I was relieved to finally have a diagnosis, but I also felt frustrated. I had been living with these symptoms for so long, and I didn’t know what to do to manage them. I started doing my own research and talking to other women with PCOS. I learned that there were lifestyle changes I could make to improve my symptoms, like eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
I started making these changes by going on a gluten and dairy-free diet, and I noticed a difference. My skin cleared up, and my periods became more regular. I also started taking medications to help manage my PCOS symptoms.
But living with PCOS is an ongoing battle. I still must be mindful of what I eat and how much I exercise. I still experience acne and weight fluctuations. But I have learned to be kinder to myself and not let my PCOS define me.
I am now an advocate for PCOS awareness and help other women who are going through the same thing. I know I am not defined by my condition; it is just a small part of who I am.
And with that, I am now living a somewhat happy and healthy life.
