I have had quite a number of people asking me why I have suddenly changed my diet, and why have I found it so easy to adjust to things like no sugar in my tea etc. I have debated whether or not to write this blog entry, and believe me when I say I have deleted it, rewrote it, deleted it and rewrote it several times.
I have come to the decision that my medical condition will not define who I am and what I stand for, and so I have decided to bite the bullet and explain.
In October, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) after over 18 months of piling on the weight, feeling ill and tired constantly as well as having strong migraines and such. I finally had enough of feeling low, so I decided to go to the walk-in centre nearby where the doctor suggested I visit my GP and request a test for PCOS. I did, and whilst I was nervous I didn't fully understand what PCOS was until the results came back positive. My blood tests show I have a high level of testosterone and other hormone imbalances, and as a result I have excess hair growth as well as terrible bouts of low self-confidence and weird mood swings (I can be really happy, and then really sad within the space of a few minutes and then happy again).
PCOS is an endocrine disorder, and as a result my body produces too much testosterone which has an impact on my reproductive organs. Whilst it is not impossible to have children with PCOS, the condition does make it more difficult.
I have also discovered that I am gluten-intolerant as a result of PCOS too, and as you may know, if your body is allergic to certain foods your body will start to react to it, which releases more corticosteroids in the body, which then result in a lower immune system. So because of this, I have decided to follow a gluten-free, sugar-free and low-carb diet to maintain my weight and my overall health as diet is key to managing the symptoms of PCOS.
Part of me has come to terms with this condition, and I know that there isn't much I can do in terms of fixing it as there is no cure, but there is another part of me which is struggling to understand it, which is why I have been discreet about it up until now. Many women keep this condition to themselves, and I understand why. For me, this condition almost meant I wasn't a 'woman' anymore for a while, and it was hard to not become angry when my life ambition has been to have children. It's an isolating condition and it's not something people understand easily. I have had a fantastic network of people supporting me, like many of the women I speak to, but it's daunting to think that I will need medical assistance to be able to have children and the diet is so frustrating as the ingredients are not as readily available, and if they are they do cost a substantial amount more compared to ready meals and so on.
I'm not ashamed of this condition, and whilst it is still frustrating and upsetting at times, I have decided that I want to learn more about PCOS and I want to be in control of it, rather than it over me. It's a liberating feeling to find new recipes and new information, and that's why I have decided to start blogging again, focusing largely on my diet, cooking and gluten-free products.
Hopefully this blog will eventually provide someone else with the feeling that they're not on their own, and whilst PCOS is isolating at first, there are ways of handling it and overcoming it.
