My Endocrine Problems (don't read if you're grossed out by such things)

I'm finally losing weight now because I finally have an endocrine specialist, the right medication, and a diet that seems to be working.  Without all of those things before, no amount of exercise or dieting was successful in helping me reach a healthy weight.  You don't have to believe me, and I am sure that many people assume that those who are fat are simply lazy, but in my case it's not true: I can blame [most of] it on my genes and screwed up hormones.  I exercised regularly, and I followed the American Diabetic Association's Carb Counting Diet (as proscribed by a nutritionist), and I still gained weight.  Knowing that society diminishes the worth of obese women and glorifies the very thin ones, for years I have felt hopelessly frustrated, forever worthless, and deeply depressed.

Although the genetic hand I was dealt is very challenging to work with, I still believe that it is my responsibility to be informed about my condition and health risks, so I can make the right choices to enable me to live as best as I can.  I'm not healthy.  The truth is I've been sick for many years, and I'm only just now beginning to heal, after a long and difficult search for answers.  In reality, doctors are still learning about polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and tomorrow may be the day of a great breakthrough cure.  And it's odd to note that there may be a correlation between PCOS and hypothyroidism (which I also have).

To explain my issues as simply as I can, I'll use a bulleted list.

• defective thyroid gland fails to produce proper amount of thyroid hormone
• body burns energy slower than it should
• constantly tired with no energy
• unexplainable rapid weight gain (in my case: 100lb. weight gain in 3 years)
• hair loss, slow heart rate, depression
• nobody knows how one gets a defective thyroid gland
• it could be genetic, or environmental, or a combination of both
• it is more common in women than men, and babies can be born with it
• it is a lifelong condition with no known prevention and no cure
• treated with synthetic thyroid in the form of a daily pill (Synthroid for me)
• requires biannual blood tests to ensure drug effectiveness
• may require dosage adjustments, especially during pregnancy when thyroid levels are known to fall even lower
• symptoms can be treated, but the condition never goes away
• defective ovaries produce too much testosterone and prevent eggs from being released
• when eggs cannot be released, they form large, painful "cysts" on the ovary
• there is no chance of pregnancy 
• there is no monthly cycle, and no regular hormonal fluctuation
• there is risk of developing uterine cancer 
• facial hair, acne, weight gain
• high levels of insulin, and cells become insulin resistent 
• more likely to be obese
• high risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol problems, and heart disease
• nobody knows how one gets PCOS
• it could be genetic, or it could be environmental, or a combination of both
• symptoms begin in puberty and last until menopause
• it is a lifelong condition with no known prevention and no cure
• treated with birth control pills to restore monthly cycle, reduce testosterone, reduce risk of uterine cancer, and sometimes treated with diabetes medication to regulate insulin (Metformin for me) 
• diet and exercise help to prevent heart disease and diabetes
• even if the symptoms of PCOS go away, risk of heart disease, diabetes, and uterine cancer always remain high, and weight will always be very difficult for a woman with PCOS to control
• the Paleo Diet, and other low-carb diets, have been rumored to work wonders

In case anyone was wondering what was going on with me lately, or why I haven't been blogging much or taking photos or being very sociable, this pretty much explains what I'm having to deal with.  PCOS is a very serious and dangerous condition that could cut my life short if I am not careful.  For me, the saddest part about having PCOS is being infertile.  I've always wanted to be a mother, and it's hard on my self worth as a young woman to be incapable of having a child.  The most difficult part about having PCOS is having to adjust my diet in such a radical way that I can't eat much of anything that is served at restaurants or in our family's homes.  I'm on a modified version of the Paleo Diet, which means that I can't have anything that wasn't accessible to Paleo Woman.  I secretly love this diet because I am an anthropologist after all, but I have an even greater reason to be happy about it.  So far, after a week on the diet, I've had a noticeable decrease in inflammation and pain, and I have more energy.  The only thing I miss about my previous American Standard Diet is chocolate.  However, I did make some amazing Paleo Brownies that satiated my chocolate craving perfectly!

My plan is to reach a healthy weight through diet, exercise, Synthroid, and Metformin, and then take another drug called Clomid to force my ovaries to release eggs.  In the past, women with PCOS had surgery to remove the cysts, but the results were always just temporary so surgery is no longer a typical option.  I have to believe what I am told and what I read, that with proper care and treatment, my PCOS symptoms may improve or go away altogether.  It's all I can do sometimes to keep my faith, when I know that no matter what I do, diabetes and heart disease remain a high risk for me for the rest of my life.  But I still believe in miracle babies.