As noted in my last post, my doctor cleared me of PCOS. After blood tests and an ultrasound, I didn’t meet any of the three requirements.
It’s safe to say this was the best news I received in 2011.
When I first learned that my PCOS was no longer an official diagnosis, I went through some sort of strange near-grieving period. PCOS has been with me for so long–such an integral part of my identity–that my heart and mind were a jumbled mix of feelings and confusion.
Elated, absolutely. Thrilled. Delighted. Relieved. Overjoyed.
And also a bit empty. My mission was gone. The fight I’d been fighting so fervently, working just to manage and cope with the symptoms of this dang disease, was over. In a matter of seconds, unexpected news from my doctor opened a new world of non-PCOS thoughts.
I had flashes of what do I do now? Who am I?
And then I began to reflect: I wasn’t fighting as fervently, I wasn’t trying to get by, I was no longer in a state of constant efforting. For 5 years, I’d been so focused on the fact that I have PCOS and therefore must suffer that I failed to recognize my symptoms had indeed vanished. The blood tests were just confirming what I realized long ago: Paleo works for me.
I’m over the emptiness now. I am the same person with one less label. Losing my diagnosis doesn’t change what I do daily; only what I write on my insurance forms. And it adds yet another weapon in my Paleo arsenal.
Truly, I couldn’t be happier that Paleo worked for my body to reverse PCOS.
Am I cured?
That remains to be seen, but I imagine the answer is no. I don’t have symptoms, my blood work is clean, and my ovaries have so few cysts that I can hardly be called polycystic.
However, I still have the scars from metabolic derangement. I’m incredibly sugar-sensitive. If I merely entertain the idea of grains, I swear I gain weight (and my husband swears I do, too). When I eat poorly, my PCOS symptoms come back. When I eat poorly for several days, my PCOS symptoms come back with a vengeance, as if making up for lost time.
Diagnosis removal is a fantastic ego boost, but there isn’t any difference in my daily routine. I still identify deeply with the PCOS community and I still eat Paleo. My guess is I would go right back to PCOS if I return to my daily bowl of mac and cheese. I doubt I can ever remove the treatment (proper nutrition), but I can live a perfectly full life without being hindered by the side effects of PCOS. That’s what matters, right?
(Though I would be lying if I said I wasn’t holding on to the hope that I may one day eat nightshades again. Fingers crossed.)
I’m in a good place. No longer an emotional slave to a diagnosis AND I have a built-in accountability system that keeps me healthier because of my PCOS history. The best of both worlds.
Paleo, you treat me real good. Thanks for a great 2011.
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Tags: Paleo, PCOS, PCOS Cure, PCOS Diet, PCOS Nutrition, PCOS Symptoms, PCOS Treatment, PCOS Weight Loss, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Thanks for this additional post. Perhaps that is where I am as well. When I was pregnant with my son, my midwife said, “I don’t think you have PCOS.” I’ve lived with the mental stuff so long that it’s hard for me to see past that. And, like you, when I don’t eat Paleo, hello Nov/Dec, my mental issues are bigger as well as my waist
Congratulations and keep up the good work!
I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s where you are. It’s so easy to hold on to this part of our identity even though it causes so much pain. Why do we do that? My heart knew for a very long time that I could rid myself of the PCOS stigma, so it’s nice to finally allow myself to remove the label.
Now as far as having a perfect body? Not even close. Just because I don’t qualify for a PCOS diagnosis doesn’t mean I don’t have OTHER issues and symptoms (a post for another day…sigh). So maybe I will just rotate all of my autoimmunity issues on this blog until they are all gone or I get tired of talking about them
Hope you’re still on cloud 9!
I was wondering, do you follow the autoimmune protocol of Paleo? No nightshades, no nuts, no dairy? What about yams? I’ve found that eggs and tomatoes don’t work too well for me. Anything else you’ve eliminated and found to be helpful in eliminating your symptoms? Thanks, and enjoy your newfound freedom!
I am! I don’t follow the autoimmune protocol strictly, but I need to. I never have dairy or eggs, rarely tomatoes and sweet potatoes (they make my stomach churn), I really need to stop eating nuts and peppers….I just haven’t been ready to take that leap yet. I think perhaps I will on my next Whole30.
When I do the autoimmune protocol, I really feel much better. Beyond that, it’s more the addition of things that helped eliminate some of the lingering symptoms
1. Meat first thing in the morning
2. Greens (kale, collards, etc.) every single day
3. Sleep, and lots of it
4. Magnesium supplements (I use 1 tsp per day of Natural Calm)
5. Sun every day (I haven’t checked lately, but I have historically been very Vitamin D deficient, so I also supplement with D3)
Congrats on your “un” diagnosis! I can only imagine (largely because of your post!) the inner conflict. I’m hearing of more and more people who are overcoming their infertility and health issues through clean eating–I’m glad I can pass on your blog as a reference and personal experience.
Much love!
Ali, thanks for passing it along. That’s why I write even when I don’t feel like it–I just wish I had something like this when we were struggling.
I’ve also been passing yours along as well for tutorials on Star Wars cakes/costumes and spica casts. You are an amazing woman!