Power over PCOS?

by Day
(Canada)

I've known something was wrong at a really young age I didn't get my first period till I was 16.

And it was extremely painful every month once I turned 17. I was skipping periods. I've been diagnosed with PCOS.

I am going to be 27 this year and I still battle with it.

Me and my husband want to have children soon and I am fearful it's going to be unsuccessful.

It's a hard battle emotionally and physically.

I feel a little helpless to be honest.

I start a diet ..... I quit.

I start to exercise ....... I stop.

I take vitamins ........ I forget.

I eat healthy ...... I overeat.

Where is the willpower?

It's nice to read that people have overcome it and have gone threw same experiences. It gives me hope

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Editor's comments: Many other women have the same experience that you do.

But you know what, PCOS will never go away all by itself. You have to make it go away.

Success with PCOS is very much a mental and emotional game. Your attitude and beliefs are all-important.

Think of yourself not as a victim of a horrible disease that will stop you from having a family, but as an intelligent, powerful human being who will do whatever it takes to have the family of her dreams and live a long, interesting, healthy life.

If you believe you will fail, you will. If you believe you will succeed, you will.

Secondly, every failure carries the seeds of future success. Learn from your mistakes and press on towards your goals.

What I think you need to do is become very clear on WHY you are dieting, exercising, eating moderately, taking vitamins, etc.

First, take out a sheet of paper and write down what it means to you to be able to become pregnant and start a family. Write down what it would feel like. What it would look like and sound like. Describe in vivid detail what it would feel like to become a loving mother.

Next, write down what your goal is, and how you will get there.

Example: My goal is to "become pregnant before next Christmas".

Then ask, "How can I make this happen in the next 12 months?" Write down what you will do each and every month.

Example: "In January, I will walk around the block at least 3 times a week. I will find an exercise buddy to walk with in January. I will start an exercise journal so that I can keep track of my progress."

There's a good reference ebook here that will give you some ideas about diet, exercise, and stress management for PCOS. Read this ebook, read the pages on this site, and look for other resources to educate yourself about what you can do to normalize your hormones so that you can get your family started.

One more thing. Don't beat yourself up if you do something unhealthy. Just pick yourself up and resume your healthy behavior. Each of us has a "Self Critic", a little voice in our head that is always telling us what we are doing wrong, we are powerless, we are unattractive, we can't have a baby because of the stupid things we do, etc., etc. The critical self-talk is absolutely endless.

Ignore that little voice. Simply press on with what you know to be the right thing to do, such as eating a healthier diet.

By the way, if you are so severely depressed that you feel incapable of doing anything, find a health professional who can help you. That would be a good first step.