It's September which is PCOS Awareness month!
I have a lot of women I know showing fantastic support toward PCOS and what women can do to empower and overcome such a devastating condition.
Most of you know that I am a blogger for the PCOS Awareness Association and I take great pride in being teamed up with such a wonderful organization helping women.
So, the founder has given me some goodies to share with women. I am hoping to have a giveaway of small items. I will also give the winner a surprise prize that will only be known when the winner recieves the package. Here is part of what you will win.
Please comment on this blog post or send an email to chelsearosen@gmail.com and explain how PCOS has touched your life. Write a brief (or long) message about how you've made steps in your life to live a healthy, happy life with PCOS. (If you do not have PCOS but you have a spouse or family member who does, please feel free to enter).
On September 30, 2013 5:00 pm (MT standard time) I will read all entries and draw a name from all entries for the winner.
I will also pick 3 of my favorite emails or messages about their PCOS journies and feature them in my blog. I will feature their success stories, progress, pictures, and a small interview.
Please let me know if there are any questions! :)
I am a 27 yr old woman has had PCOS since I was 16. I dieted and to my suprise the weight came off! Than in 2009 I found out i was a diabetic got put on metformin which the weight left n my cycles were normal and now im still going stronhmg
ReplyDeleteThank you for your submission Alli! :) Your name is going into the the drawing! :)
DeleteHi Chelsea! I've always been above my ideal weight, as well as exceeding the BMI charts...In the last two years I was diagnosed with PCOS. I made small changes to the way I was eating to help with losing weight, but didn't stick to it like I should. I am currently focusing on becoming the BEST me possible in hopes that I can beat PCOS and become a mother! You IG posts are inspiring! Keep up the good work!
DeleteThanks Chelsea! :) I just checked out your blog and am in love with it! :) So excited to find a new read :) So glad we have the support of one another. Your name has been entered into the drawing. Thanks for the kind words :) Hugs!
DeleteI'm 30 years old and thriving with PCOS! I am beginning to understand what I should and shouldn't eat...I love working out (well, I love barre3), and I love the community of women I'm finding!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for entering, Annie! Your name is in the drawing. So excited to learn more about your maintaining process! I'm getting nervous but excited that I'll be begging a new phase before I know it!
DeleteHi my name is Liz and I was diagnosed with PCOS at the age of 19. I started noticing changes in my body, moods and daily life at the start of 17 when I noticed that my period no longer came. I've seen ob/guns, endocrinologist and I've always been told to go on metformin and birth control. Those methods didn't work for me and I became very discouraged. It wasn't until I found pcoschallenge and soulcysters when I decided Pcos wasn't going to take over my life. I started all natural substances and I now get my period almost every month. I broke my ankle in May so the exercise was put on hold for a few months but I am walking now and using my bike at home. I am going to start ttc in June 2014. I am hoping that with the proper exercise and continuation of proper dieting I can accomplish my goal of having a happy, healthy baby. Thank you so much for this opportunity and I wish you ladies the best of luck on your journeys!
ReplyDeleteSo excited for this new journey for you and this awesome outlook on life! :) I've entered your name into the drawing and please don't hesitate to ask questions or make comments! Congrats to you, I know you can do it!
ReplyDeleteHI! My name is Theresa and I was diagnosed with PCOS 2 months ago at age 34. I have been "living" with this disease since I was 18 years old. I say living and not battling because I believe that with will and determination I will overcome my issues. I have completely changed my diet and have lost 15 lbs in one month. I have been more active and happy and have been thriving. I believe the lifestyle change has helped me tremendously. With positive thinking I know I can overcome the issues. As I am getting married in April, I am excited to start the next chapter of my journey and start trying to conceive. With willpower and a positive attitude it will happen!!!! I wish all of my fellow "cysters" much love and happiness on this journey that we have yet to fully get in depth with. We are all beautiful and we all deserve happiness!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Theresa! Your entry has been entered and I'm so excited to follow your progress. Congrats on the upcoming wedding! :) You are right where you belong in this journey. Keep pushing!
DeleteTheresa, can you please email me asap chelsearosen@gmail.com
DeleteThank you for sharing! You've been entered into the drawing! I'm so glad you have your miracle son! That makes the struggle and fight so worth it! Hugs to you! :)
ReplyDeleteHi! My name is Jess. I'm 19 years old and I was diagnosed with PCOS April 15th, 2013. My doctor tried to explain and answer my questions about it to very little success on that first visit and that visit was followed by monthly blood tests up until August of 2013. My DHEA levels were and still are very very elevated. The first step my doctor took was to put me on metformin. Sadly I had a severe allergic reaction to the medication and I was switched to Victoza which is a once daily injection. Being a 19 year old college student, I bawled my eyes out when my nurse handed me a pack of needles for the month and a sharps container... but I got over it thankfully. My insurance would not cover victoza so two months ago I switched to Byetta which is a twice daily injection and has made me feel somewhat ill but it is working correctly in my body and I've lost 32 lbs in the last two months thanks to the combination of proper medication and my dietician opted to switch me to a Gluten and Dairy Free lifestyle plan. I've been G&D Free for one month now and I will not lie: It sucks. Being used to indulging in bread and cheeses, it was heartbreaking to walk away from my favorite foods but the weight loss has made it worth it. I've added exercise to my daily life (walking for about half an hour) and I've built a support network through my family and friends to try and feel more comfortable with my diagnosis. I still sometimes find myself crying and feeling sorry for myself but then I remember how many people are not only supporting me in my daily life but there is this wonderful network of women with PCOS online here as well. That makes me smile all the time! I found the PCOS Awareness Association two weeks ago so I'm still relatively new but it's been amazing to read and post along with everyone else who understands what I'm going through and who I can connect with. So, so far in the last few months I've been playing with new recipes that are good for me as well as taste good, I've been toying around with herbal remedies to some of my unpleasant symptoms and/or side-effects, and I've been trying to step out of my comfort zone and communicate with others who have PCOS as well as remember to ask for help and support when I need it (I'll admit I'm stubborn and really don't like asking for help).
ReplyDeleteJess, Thank you so much for sharing your story with me! :) I cannot say how excited I am that you've found support, confidence, and the ability to make sense of this crazy life altering diagnoses and preserve! Please feel comfterable in adding me on FB or IG and talk/share/ask questions/ anything about this journey. :) I'm so glad that with lots of trial and error you're finding answers. Your name is being entered into the drawing. Hugs to you and it took me 5 years to reach out for help and I'm FINALLY taking control of my life. I know exactly where you're coming from.
DeleteHi, my names Jazz and I'm 17 years old and was diagnosed with PCOS at the end of August 2013! I've had all the symptoms since i was 14 but was to scared to go and have everything checked out! But since August I've dropped 2 dress sizes and I'm being to eat a lot more healthier! My diagnosis was really though and I still can't get my head around it but its groups like this which are making me come to terms with it and also expand my knowledge because my doctors haven't given me much to go on.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jazzi! Congrats on the success thus far! Please find me on IG or FB (click on my contact tab on top) if you need extra motivation or a push! You've been entered into the drawing and I can't wait to hear and see how your progress develops over time!
DeleteHello! My Name is Amanda and I was officially diagnosed with PCOS when i was 18. I suspect I had it ever since I came into puberty. I had my first and ONLY menstration when I was in the 7th grade. I was not sexually active. I hid the fact that I didn't have my period from my mother, very well. I was ashamed. My entire life i have been heavy, with no avail. Growing up I played soccer, basketball, volleyball, track and field, I was on student council and apart of many different community service organizations. Yet i was still 220lb by the time I graduated high school. I decided to take what I knew, which were my symptoms and look up for myself, and red flags kept popping up that I had PCOS. Sure enough, I finally went to the doctor and I had it. From that moment on, i have been having doctor after doctor tell me how much i need to quit over eating and lose weight. But none know how much it hurts, when you just cant. Today I am 273lbs and I am going through fertility treatments with my husband. I work out and eat as healthly as possible. I know I am more than just a number on a scale, I am taking control, going to focus on being healthy, at any number, and not focus on becoming skinny! I hope to one day be able to share my experiences and help others out. I plan on organizing a 5k to support and fund PCOS awarenss and research, in my area! thank you for creating this blog, to show us we are not alone!
ReplyDeleteAmanda, Thank you for entering, your name is in the drawing. It sounds like we had a similar childhood and activity level but still PCOS took over. i'm exctied to see how your progress comes along! Don't ever give up.
DeleteMy husband (at the time) and I tried for many years to have a baby to no avail. I went to the doctor inquiring about the dark patches on my skin, my very irregular periods, and why I wasn't able to get pregnant. The periods/pregnancy part of my inquiring were thrown to the wayside. The dark patches, as he explained to me, was because I didn't practice proper hygiene. I'm the type of person who bathes every day, especially if I'm going to be going out of the house. So I knew hygiene was NOT the problem. It took me years upon years to go back to a doctor because I didn't trust them. It was only after my ex and I split up, and I found out he was cheating on me that I decided I needed to get checked out; had to make sure he hadn't given me an STD. That is when I was diagnosed... in 2005. Since then I have suffered with unwanted hair growth where a woman shouldn't have hair growth, and hair loss where a woman shouldn't be losing hair. My irregular periods had gotten to a point where I was only experiencing a few days off them during the month and then right back on. Very heavy, very painful. Between 2005 and 2013, I saw 2 different doctors. I was diagnosed with stage 1 uterine cancer in March 2013. I was scheduled for a complete hysterectomy on April 30, 2013. Unfortunately, rather than having the hysterectomy, the anesthesiologist almost killed me and I ended up with a tracheostomy instead. My gynecologist and oncologist refused to touch me after that, so I ended up living 3 months with a tube in my throat awaiting a doctor who had the .... nerve to perform my hysterectomy. I finally got that taken care of in late June of 2013. Since then, I have so far been cancer free. However I suffer with raging mood swings, and horrible hot flashes. I can't afford the premarin I have been prescribed (that even with insurance costs $80/month) and the OTC Estroven just seems to make things worse. I deal with things the best I can and hope my family and friends love me enough to understand that I'm dealing with things the best I can.
ReplyDelete