5 Things People Don’t Realize You’re Doing Because You Struggle With PCOS
PCOS is hard to diagnose.
getty Unlike other conditions which we can confirm by their usual symptoms, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is quite subtle and can’t be easily confirmed unless we undergo a transvaginal or transrectal ultrasound.
What is PCOS? According to the Mayo Clinic, it's a hormonal disorder in women that hinders function in the ovaries, causing varying symptoms such as irregular periods, hirsutism, acne, and more.
We cannot really tell that we are struggling with PCOS the same way we can tell we have the flu. It takes a long time for a lot of women before they find out they have PCOS because the symptoms seem to be normal or just imitated those of other conditions or illnesses.
But when women have become fully aware of their condition and of what it can entail, they start trying things out to alleviate the symptoms and discomfort and curb its coexistent conditions.
Are you one of those women?
Perhaps these are the things you do which others don’t realize you’re doing because of PCOS:
1. You have tried numerous kinds of diets.
Even if you are struggling with lean PCOS (a type of PCOS that’s acquired by women within a normal weight), you know that you still need to have a diet plan which can boost your nutrition and correct your hormonal imbalance.
If you are someone who belongs to the majority of PCOS fighters — women who have excess weight — then you must have tried every kind of diet just to shed pounds. Your friends may just assume that you simply want to lose weight, but they don’t realize that it is a need for you because extra weight can either trigger the symptoms of PCOS or can be the effect of PCOS.
It’s really tricky. But either way, you need to burn those extra fats in your body.
2. You buy medicine meant for diabetics even if you don’t have diabetes.
Yup — Metformin is also your best friend. Definitely one of the medicines your doctor prescribes. Normal people would initially think you are diabetic (well, that can be true for someone with PCOS) but they would never initially think it is because you have PCOS and that you must also control your sugar level.
3. You have tried networking business products that claim they can prevent the symptoms of PCOS or even cure it.
Perhaps it’s a drink, a bottle of vitamins or supplements, or a pack of sanitary pads that contain (usually organic) materials which, according to the claim, can regularize your cycle or even cure that PCOS. You may have or may have not experienced the effect they claim to give, but you don’t really mind because all you wanted is to prove to yourself you’re doing your best to curb the effects PCOS has on your daily living.
4. You take birth control pills even if you don’t really have sex.
Birth control pills are the top prescription from your doctor. If you’re single and not really into dating or mingling, and your friends find out you’re taking those pills without the knowledge you have PCOS then I bet they will really be nosy about it. But you will just smile, show them the prescription, and explain it is your medicine to regularize your cycle.
On the other hand, if you are trying to conceive then you also need this since it is more possible to conceive with a regular period cycle.
5. You undergo regular checkups for other conditions.
As mentioned before PCOS can be co-existent with other conditions as hypo- or hyperthyroidism, diabetes, hypertension, GERD, etc. PCOS may not be deadly but it is a punishing condition. People may wonder why you are always sick, or why you always have an appointment with your doctor(s). And they don’t know it’s simply because you are struggling with PCOS which can accompany so many more conditions.
Sometimes you already feel tired of explaining yourself to people whenever they ask. Sometimes you even want to give up on making yourself better. Sometimes you don’t know what to do anymore because it just feels like you are not getting any better despite the efforts you take just to get rid of that PCOS or its symptoms.
But don’t lose hope.
We PCOS fighters should be here for one another, uplifting one another’s spirits.
We will all get better.
Karla Crisostomo is an English teacher, grammar enthusiast, aspiring author, cat cuddler, and INFP. Check her out on Instagram and Tumblr.