Hello World,
You know 10 years ago when I was first diagnosed with PCOS, I didn’t understand the magnitude of what that would really mean in my world. 10 years ago, doctor’s and health providers also didn’t care enough to really inform me of how my world would change and be impacted literally by the condition. To their defense, as was told to me, it was barely covered in medical school, no more than 4 pages worth of information about the condition and its unknown cause. However to all my cysters with PCOS, we all know that this is one of the most painful conditions a woman can indeed have.
To some you may think that I’m adding that above sentence to ignite sympathy, shock, and awe, but if you indeed could live a day in the shoes of a woman suffering from PCOS, you would understand why that statement was made. Everything about PCOS goes against everything it means to be a woman in today’s society. As young girls we are taught to be beautiful so that we can attract a good man, then become a wife, and lastly get pregnant and become mothers. Now let’s fast forward to the reality of PCOS:
- Excess Male Hormones that lead to facial hair, unwanted body hair, skin tags and discoloration.
- Androgenic alopecia and or hair thinning of the scalp at any given moment in time
- Weight issues (whether excessively thin or morbidly obese) with almost an inability to lose or gain weight due to the hormonal discord on the body.
- Fertility issues
- Anxiety
- Chronic Fatigue
- Increased Risks for Diabetes, Heart Attacks, Hypertension, High-blood Pressure, Depression, and Anxiety
- Extreme Mood Swings
The list goes on and on and on and on, but after reading this list and comparing it to what is expected of little girls as they grow into women…it seems that PCOS is the exact contradiction to all things feminine. How can one attract a husband with her beauty when PCOS attacks her appearance in such a way that she may exhibit more masculine traits than her fellow peers. Followed by the threat of having difficulty conceiving, it is no wonder that most women fall into anxiety, depression, and hopelessness once they are diagnosed. I was included in that percentage once upon a time.
However, throughout my years of advocacy and research I recognize that I can succumb to my problems or find a solution the best way I can and celebrate being a cyster. Even though this road is extremely tough, (I write this today feeling the most fatigued I’ve felt in a while) I have continued hope and confidence! My story has taken many twist and turns but I’ve realized that God gave me this so that I can give someone else tools to win and live life healthier than I am. Sometimes blessings come in the form of your biggest challenges to push you to your greatest version of self.
This month, weekly, I will drop a tidbit of my story and what I’ve learned about PCOS to help those around me remain inspired. I also plan to share women with PCOS all over my instagram platform (If you aren’t following its @cystumofcurves) to highlight women making a difference for cysters all over. Lastly but definitely not least, this month kicks of PCOSCon, which is the only event in the US completely dedicated to us! So definitely stay tuned as I provide you in depth information and coverage of PCOSCon and give you an inside look at how women from all over are choosing to fight instead of fail. So let’s remember remember the month of September. Stay tuned!
With Love,
LoLo
