5 Things That Help Me Manage PCOS Symptoms
Hey friends! This post is coming to you from the current sunniest corner of my house: this bed. Steve and I are in the process of making our closet-sized guest room into a functioning home office, so here I sit. In my defense, I did use the kitchen table all this week leading up to my inevitable bed-desk situation. Let's just blame winter and call it a day. Also, I know I am biased, but how cute is little (not-so-little?) Luna?! She typically hates interacting, unlike my other attention-seeking animals, so this is a real treat. Are you surprised that none of this has anything to do with my blog topic? Me either. I get asked questions about PCOS fairly often, and while it's not a one-size-fits-all syndrome, I have found a few things that have helped along the way. Today I am sharing 5 things that help me manage my PCOS symptoms.
Tracking My Cycles Naturally
This has been the single most beneficial thing I've done for my health. I began tracking my cycles before I was even engaged, using the Creighton Model and method of charting. There are so many methods available, though, so search until you find what works best for you! Even if you don't have PCOS I think it's worth downloading an app (I use Ovia), tracking your cycles and symptoms, and having an overall sense of your reproductive health. Regardless of whether you are single, married, trying to conceive or avoiding pregnancy, knowing where you are in your cycle and what to expect can be so beneficial.
Charting also helped lead to my diagnosis of PCOS, so if you are like me and suspect you may have PCOS, you might want to start there. After noticing specific patterns in my cycle, coupled with blood work and ultrasound, I was formally diagnosed in 2014. Also, I will go so far as to say that I was 99% sure I had PCOS before my formal diagnosis, but it was so helpful in confirming my suspicions, validating my health struggles, and determining a method of care going forward, especially since Steve & I were actively trying to conceive.
Supplements and Vitamins
I take a daily prenatal vitamin with folate (not folic acid) which I began doing religiously after my miscarriage. I know it should've been a habit way before then, but I wasn't great about remembering. At one point in the beginning of our fertility journey I had a prescription prenatal, but that was $60 a month which wasn't sustainable for me. Now I take them first thing in morning, before my coffee, so I don't forget. I love these, these (vegan!) are in my Amazon cart, and these are a highly rated multi , but not prenatal.
I also take myo inositol & d-chiro inositol combo called Ovasitol. I ordered it on Amazon here. This combo is in place of Metformin, which did not work for me, and I'll talk more about that at the end of this post. I also take bio-identical progesterone following ovulation to help maintain my uterine lining and give us a better chance of supporting the pregnancy if we do conceive. In addition, on the recommendation of my doctor I take a baby aspirin every day.
Ovarian Wedge Resection Surgery
This surgery is truly a God-send. I worked with Dr. Beiter from the Gianna Center in New Brunswick, and it totally changed my life. I have regular cycles for the first time ever, I'm ovulating, and I know it's why we were able to get pregnant last June.
I've written a few longer blog posts specifically dedicated to this, including to what led to our decision to have surgery. You can read them, and more about our infertility journey and surgery in the Family and Health & Home categories.
Diet & Exercise
This has been crucial for me. When we first got married I allowed myself to eat anything & everything for the first time in my life. Part of my mentality was a desire to rage against the unhealthy cycle of dieting that I'd yo-yoed through my entire young and adult life. I also did not like to exercise. This led to a lot of unhealthy habits for me like: staying home too much, being sedentary, having a wine subscription box, and eating out far too often. I put on a ton of weight in a short amount of time, and have been working ever since to find balance in eating habits and exercise.
I've found that a plant-based, or vegan, diet is most helpful to me. I eat this way at home, indulging in an occasional treat when traveling or food preparation is not in my control. I have shared a few recipes about some of my favorite vegan foods in the health and home section of the blog, which you'll find here. Steve and I recently switched to a more simplified eating plan, so I'm working on a post about what our typical day of eating looks like. Stay tuned!
For exercise, I shoot to work out 6 times a week. Sometimes I hit the mark (like this week!) and sometimes I complete 2-3 workouts, but aiming high works better for me than easing into things, so I aim for 6 days. I do a combination of LISS (low-intensity steady state) cardio, HIIT (high-intensity interval training), and weight lifting. I use the SWEAT app from Kayla Itsines, and I follow the PWR program within the app. She also offers a downloadable PDF version if you'd rather pay one price up front instead of a monthly recurring payment. Occasionally I will take a class offered at my gym, do an outside walk or run, or pilates.
Resources
Books, websites, and support groups have also been a helpful addition to my journey. Two books I love are: Conquer PCOS Naturally , and 8 Steps to Reverse Your PCOS Naturally (I love this one, and she shares a lot of helpful supplements in this book).
PCOS Diva is a great site with a ton of additional resources, and the Catholic Women with PCOS Facebook group has been super helpful to me! Both are great spaces for encouragement, solidarity, and asking questions.
Things That Have Worked for Others but Not for Me
Acupuncture
As much as I loved going, it actually made my cycles weirdly wonky which freaked me out. I had been so regular leading up to it, and I was worried about further messing with an already good thing, so I stopped after a few months.
I will also add that I probably would've stuck with it had I not been injured in the process. During one appointment a needle was placed into a specific part of my arm and I immediately had shooting, hot pain in my wrist. I voiced my concerns to my practitioner and they were basically waved away. I later went home and experienced the same type of shooting nerve pain in my wrist every time I reached for items out of my grasp, or extended my arm a certain way. In a follow up visit I asked about why this would happen, and again I was told it was most likely in my head, but definitely unrelated to acupuncture. I did not return after that.
I am sure with the right practitioner acupuncture is incredibly beneficial, and I don't want to discourage you from exploring it. I also know it's on me for not researching thoroughly enough, but when someone dismisses my pain at their potential error, acts defensive, and won't give any further guidance, I know it's time for me to go.
Metformin
I took this for 8 months when were first seeing a fertility doc, and it did nothing for me. It did not bring back my cycles, it did not help me lose weight, and I experienced a ton of horrible side effects including migraines, GI issues, nausea, fever/night sweats, and general lessening of my energy. PSA, for anyone who might be ready to suggest: I experienced all of these things even with proper diet, and using the extended release version.
I know many women for whom Met has been a lifesaver, and a reason they were able to conceive, so know that my situation and yours may not be the same.
There are more things I am sure I could say contribute to my overall health in living with PCOS, so I'll update you if I think of others. If you have anything that has been particularly helpful you'd like to share I'd love to hear it!
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Have the best week, friends! Go RAMS! Patriots are trash!! (I still love you even if you're a Pats fan)
xo.