No risk shooting the messenger during this visit
Routine well-woman visits are not very fun.
Imagine my surprise when I walked out of my doctor’s office with an uncontrollable smile on my face. Giddy beyond belief. Wanting to call all of my friends and family. Greeting strangers with overly enthusiastic salutations and even stopping to make friends with the lady in the hallway who traveled all the way from Waller to see the doctor because he was “the best OB/GYN this side of the Mississippi.”
Prior to my appointment, I’d requested blood work. My periods hadn’t resumed after the birth of my babe (10-months-old at the time). I was still nursing 4-5 times per day, but given my PCOS history, I wanted to play it safe and requested every single blood test I could think of. And my doctor, being the brilliant man that he is, requested about twice as many to add to the phlebotomist’s task list.
It was such a surreal appointment that I wrote a little one-act play to depict the events.
A Farewell to PCOS
Scene: Jennifer waits patiently in room 4. Infant rips paper on exam bed.
Dr. E: (opens door and enters room)
Jennifer: (looks up expectantly)
Dr. E: Well I’ve looked through your blood work and you don’t have PCOS anymore.
Jennifer: (smiling broadly and crying)
End scene.
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Tags: Ancestral Health, Paleo, PCOS, PCOS Cure, PCOS Nutrition, PCOS Treatment, PCOS Weight Loss, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Congratulations. I’ve never had blood work that supported my diagnosis of PCOS though. It’s interesting that your doctor relies on those. Are you not experiencing any other symptoms? Thanks for putting this information out for women who struggle with this issue!
My doctor takes everything into account–blood work, ultrasounds, symptoms, etc. If I’m at one end of the normal spectrum, he considers that very carefully as well and is quite thorough. The only true remaining PCOS symptom I had when I visited was my lack of periods. And after examining all of my blood work, he determined it was because I was still nursing (A LOT). I’ve since started menstruating regularly–the first time in my life–so I can effectively say I don’t have any more PCOS symptoms right now (other issues, perhaps, but the main PCOS ones are gone for now). More on that in Friday’s post.
Yeah, not to rain on the parade, but I think symptoms are the only way to know whether it’s gone or not. For years doctors didn’t diagnose me with PCOS or even wonder whether I did because my testosterone levels were considered high on the spectrum, but not a huge problem. Same with my glucose in fact – nobody said I was close to having diabetes or ever even mentioned insulin resistance (and I weighed a consistent 220 pounds for eight years). All the while I had majorly awful symptoms of having a hormone imbalance/insulin resistance. But the last doctor I went to said, you know what, the amount of testosterone that’s good for each female is very different depending on genetics and environment. She said the fact is that my symptoms prove there is something out of balance and no blood test is going make those symptoms irrelevant.
But … if all your symptoms are gone and your blood test results are great, then yay!
I totally, 100% agree with you and your doctor and actually have a post scheduled about that very concept on Friday. I am diligent in examining my blood work, even when the results fall within normal range, and have a doctor who is supportive. For instance, I’ve never gone over the 4.5 mark that would indicate a thyroid problem, but when I was at 3.8, my doc understood that thyroid issues don’t just “switch on” at a certain number and we started keeping an eye on it.
And even with my test results looking good, my symptoms are gone which, as you say, is the true indicator.
Congratulations! I almost cried for you when I read that!
Thank you! There has been so much defeat, that it’s such a joy to be able to share the successes as well.
Contests on the wonderful news!!! What were the blood tests he ran than confirmed his statement?
I’m currently nursing my five month old and am curious to see when/if my body cycles. I never ovulated before getting pregnant (thanks clomid) but nursing really seems to keep the exterior signs of PCOS at bay. In the surgical notes from my c-section (breech and pre-term) the doc wrote, “normal condition of ovaries noted.”
I’m just curious if my cycles will return when I wean my son or if pcos will return at that point. In the meantime we are pretty strict paleo and loving the results we get from it.
Thank you Johanna! I don’t have all of the tests handy, but the ones officially confirming the statement were an ultrasound of my ovaries (less than 10 cysts) and testosterone counts. My doctor looks at everything though, and the phlebotomist took 9 vials of blood that day, so there were quite a few more he examined before making the determination. I will be sure to post the rest shortly.
That’s awesome for you that nursing is so powerful for your PCOS symptoms. Mine worsened after my first baby, but I wasn’t Paleo at all. I’m not sure when/if your cycles will return, though clear ovaries is great news! My first cycle was in September when my baby was 15 months old. Two months later, I had another. And a third one 5 weeks later (just last week). I’m still nursing my 18-month-old 3-4 times/day, so we will see if the trend continues. I’m crossing my fingers that the answer is yes.
Wow! Even though I don’t know you, I am SO SO happy for you!
Thank you for sharing in my joy Rachel!
What wonderful news!! Congrats, all your hard work has paid off — even though we’ve never met, I feel so proud of you!
Thanks Reshma! And I’m still kicking myself for not meeting you when we were in the same room. So close, yet so far…. August in Boston?
I’m in!! Looking forward to it!
so you don’t have facial hair anymore? lucky. I still do
no, but really, I’m so glad for you.
Thanks KP! I will have to come check out your face soon. Or maybe you can come see us *wink, wink*
So happy for you Jen! What a huge accomplishment! Im overjoyed that you’ve been able to make such an amazing improvement in your quality of life. You should be so proud! By the way, Im starting Whole30 with the beginning of the new year…
Thanks Amber, and AWESOME for you! Let me know if you need anything during your Whole30.