Introduction to PCOS

What is it and What Does it Do?

PCOS (also called PCO and PCOD, which I will use indiscriminately in this piece) is an endocrine disorder that affects a myriad of areas in your body. For whatever reason, the hormonal balance is off, and being off-kilter, the hormonal cocktail does not have the punch to eject all the eggs from the ovary; they get lodged in the -crust° of the ovary, causing cysts. Many cysts: POLY cysts. Get it? Moving on·

Other problems it can cause include: hirsuitism (too much hair where you donît want it), obesity, insulin resistance (pre-diabetes, or diabetes, depending on your particular case), and acne. There are many more manifestations, Iîm sure, but the aforementioned are the most common. -They° claim some PCOS patients do not have insulin issues, but I personally havenît met one yet. Insulin resistance seems to be at the heart of it all.

What Can I do?

Two years ago, I was directed to an endocrinologist. This was the first good move I made in relation to my illness (after years of fumbling blindly in the dark). Sandra say: find one. Stat.

Endocrinologists are intimately acquainted with this illness and its many facets. They know what blood tests to order, and what medications, if any, to prescribe. Generally, a good course of treatment includes medication, diet, and exercise. This is what worked for me. After eight mind-numbing years of misdirection, I became pregnant after only two months of this regimen.

Say Goodbye to Sugar, Sweetheart

Yes, Iîm afraid so. After youîre done cursing my name, please read on. Sugar is the devil to PCOS women. I donît know why, exactly, but it magnifies the problems of PCO exponentially. The more sugar you eat, the worse your insulin resistance becomes, the worse your blood sugar is, the more weight you pack on (trust me on this·moo!), and the less regular your ovulation becomes.

Cutting back (or better yet, out) sugar can only help you. A well-balanced diet is key (for everybody, but especially PCOS gals). Most of us are way long on sugar and way short on protein, fruits, and veggies. When I finally got serious, I followed my Endocrinologistîs diet plan; he called it -The Big Five° (to avoid). Let me tell you about it.

OK, sit down. The big five to avoid: sugar, bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes. I know itîs heinous. I really do. But I did it, and lived to tell about it. It was the *only* thing that worked for me. Itîs hard at first, but the more you work on it, the easier it gets. Youîd be surprised how good fruit can taste when itîs your only source of sugar! And when the weight that formerly stuck to you like glue begins to melt away, the incentive to stick on the plan goes way up.

After I went on this program, within two months I had lost 20 pounds, resumed normal ovulation, and felt more energy that I had in years; then I got pregnant! The sad part of the story is, I havenît stuck with the program long-term, and Iîve gained the weight back, do not ovulate normally, and have the energy level of a slug (mental note: kick self, then get back on program). Let me be your object lesson. Stick to the program!

This diet can be, and often is, overwhelming, especially at first. Even under the best of circumstances, itîs impossible to do it 100 percent of the time. For long-term livability and practicality, focus on balancing your meals. If you have a carb, make sure you have a protein, too. Focus on eating lots of fruits and vegetables. And cut back on the junk food. Itîs nasty stuff, really. Itîs terrible for your blood sugar, and itîs so full of chemicals, I suspect the ingredient that makes junk food taste so good is waste from Love Canal. Choose whole grain over white, fruit over fruit pies, and salad instead of breadsticks.

Get Moving

Exercise is another integral PCO management tool. For whatever reason, regular aerobic exercise helps lower your blood sugar, triglycerides, and cholesterol, helps alleviate symptoms of PMS, strengthens your back, and helps with a host of other maladies as well. People who walk regularly cut their risk of diabetes in half. Considering diabetes is a clear path from PCO, itîs worth doing. It also makes your backside jiggle less. Whatîs not to like about that? Both the exercise and the dietary changes need to be permanent.

Medication

In many cases, even with the diet and exercise, medication can be a helpful part of PCO management, especially if you currently desire pregnancy. There are a variety of treatments and combinations, most commonly ovulation-inducing drugs and blood sugar lowering drugs.

What Else?

In addition to diet, exercise, and medication, there are other things you can try to combat PCOS. Many women find success with alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, therapeutic massage, and herbs. There are new theories espousing progesterone cream and Vitamin D supplements as being helpful (again, see a qualified healthcare practitioner).

The Future

At present, the future of unchecked PCO is not good. As I mentioned, women with PCO are at higher risk of diabetes (types I and II) and female cancers, not to mention the *present* concerns of obesity (which carries its own lengthy list of health concerns) and infertility.

Insurance Quandaries

Often PCOS is rubber-stamped as *just* a fertility issue, but sadly, it encompasses so much more. Women with PCOS have had some difficulties with their insurance companies, some of which balk at their requests to be referred to endocrinologists. If this happens to you, be persistent. Do your research, and donît give up. Insurance carriers need to accept the scope of this illness as more than *mere* infertility, and treat it as the devastating health condition that it is. The more women like you and me go after them, the sooner we will get the treatment coverage we need and are entitled to.

Clearly, this is an overview. There are books on the subject, and more information is forthcoming. Itîs estimated that millions of women have PCOS. I believe it; with the prevalence of carbohydrate-driven, sedentary lifestyles, itîs a natural effect.

While PCOS is a frustrating and flummoxing illness (in my case, in the course of a year, I gained 80 pounds, stopped having regular cycles, and due to the weight, blew out my back), but itîs not totally out of your control. Take it one step at a time. Step to an endocrinologist, step away from the sugar, step outside and take a walk. You can succeed.