The Little Victories...

*warning*
If there happen to be any men reading this, allow me to alert you. I am going to reference my cycle. I know how you all are. Ok, not all of you, I do not want to be unfair and generalize. But I am going to talk about this for a second. You can choose to read on and learn some stuff or say "forget this" and run away now. I won't blame you either way. Thank you.


Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

My menstrual cycle has always been a source of agony, worry, and embarrassment for me. I have never been regular, save my various stints on "the pill"--which by the way is very evil to me.

From the beginning, it stayed on way too long, didn't come on at all ( I never missed it by the way) and caused too much pain for what I considered to be worth it.
One of the most frustrating parts of my reproductive journey was the inconsistency. Very few times in my life did I have the luxury of counting days to when it would come on, and when it did I assure you it was always unannounced, uninvited and most inopportune.

After years of doctors telling me I was just young and eventually my body would regulate itself, and my constantly telling them something really was wrong with me--they figured if it wasn't cancer, then why was I worried I did as much research as I could and found I had "Stein Leventhal disease" or "Polycystic Ovarian Disease."

At the age of 19 I went to my doctor armed with a blurb from a medical book found in Hood's library and said "this is what I have." They looked at me funny and said ok, wrote out another script for birth control pills and sent me on my way.

I waited an additional six years to be diagnosed by an Endocrinologist/Fertility Specialist who realized that PCOS is not only real, but effects a lot more than just your menstrual cycle. It took years for me to find a GYN who specialized in this field and who LISTENED to me. (Thank you Dr. Dellabadia)

There is no cure for PCOS.

In fact, the only way it is controlled is through diet and exercise. Gaining weight makes it worse. Here is the cruel part. It causes you not only to gain weight, but makes it harder to lose it. It is not only a disease that causes irregular periods, but insulin resistance, helps aid in diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and infertility. Not to mention, due to the overdose in male hormones it can cause male patterned baldness and unwanted hair in places where women don't want it !

Therefore, my having PCOS played a major role in my having this surgery. I am deathly afraid of being diabetic. I am afraid of having heart disease. I went through two procedures and two medications to get pregnant with Maxwell. I know my share of heartache from the disease, but I am not complaining.

Despite my struggles with PCOS I really am healthy. And it could be a lot worse!

And now for my little victory. I lost six pounds prior to surgery and my period came on January 1, by itself. It amazingly left as quietly as it popped up. I thought it a fluke, so didn't get too excited. Since having surgery I have had TWO regular cycles 30 days apart.

I am almost normal. I might actually be able to count and know when its supposed to be here. I can MAYBE plan my life around the monthly event.

I am so happy I could scream. And I did when it happened the second time. I actually did a dance. I hope to be doing it again soon.

My scale needs a new battery, so I am not sure the last reading was accurate before it started reading Lo, but if it was I am down 22lbs. I will reveal my weight to the whole blogging world when I lose three more. I figure by then the number will not be so embarrassing. At least not to me.

I have a house waiting to be picked up and sleeping babies, so I had better hop to it.

Until the Next Time
Your Recovering Fat Girl
Mikki