I am a 19-year-old college student. My life has seen some great and happy moments but with that I have dealt with hard times too, just like all of us do. One of the hard things that I still deal with to this date is PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome).
I got my first period at the age of 10 and after that I had no periods for 7 months since the irregularity is normal but not getting them at all was a little concerning. Along with no periods, I was starting to notice facial hair and severe acne.
Getting Diagnosed With PCOS
All these concerns were taken to my gynaecologist and she diagnosed me with PCOS, with cysts on both of my ovaries. That’s how I was diagnosed with PCOS at just a small age of 11. My doctor asked me to lose weight, eat a lot of veggies and refrain from eating spices for starters. I was put on hormonal pills to get my periods. I experienced some pain while I was on this medication. Fast forward, to grade 9, I had gained a lot of weight which made me feel insecure and made my health worse. So, I turned to VLCC (wellness and beauty center) for help and after 2 years of very hard workouts I had managed to lose weight.
Dealing With Irregular Periods, Excess Hair and Weight Gain
Even though it wasn’t enough, I was in a better place mentally and my periods had again become regular. When I was in 12th grade, I was under a lot of stress due to studies and wasn’t taking care of myself at all which resulted in weight gain, again.
Over these few tough years I came across a lot of taunting and laughs from my peers. People called me fat or kept asking me why I looked like a man because of my facial hair. This affected my self-confidence so much that I started waxing my facial hair.
Recently, I got a laser procedure done to get rid of my excessive facial hair once and for all. Losing weight was and still is a challenge for me. I was also suffering from hair loss and had a hard time concentrating on anything for a long time. PCOS caused my insulin levels to skyrocket, which made losing weight even more difficult.
Getting Diagnosed With Anaemia
While I was still struggling with PCOS and couldn’t expect anything worse, I got diagnosed with anemia. There was negligible blood loss and it was very painful to handle. I have been prescribed a lot of medication for different situations. I take Diane, a progesterone agent to reduce the excess male hormones for reducing my facial hair, and Primolut to get periods if I have missed a cycle or if it’s late. I also take Globifer Forte, which are iron supplements to treat anemia.
Moving Forward
Even with all these hard times and constantly paying visits to doctors, I didn’t let all that holds me back. I still put in all my efforts to keep myself healthy and not a single day do I want to crib about my condition. I think with this mindset anyone can take on any hardship they’re facing, be it health problems or work or anything. So, I hope my story helps you and motivates you.
Learn More with Veera Health
PCOS and anaemia can both affect your health in many ways. If you’re going through something similar, consult a trusted gynaecologist at Veera to get advice on PCOS and anemia.
