I recently went to the doctor
to get some tests done. The doctor at
the ultrasound matter-of-factly- told me I have polycystic ovarian
syndrome. At first I was quite relieved
to discover I had ‘something’, something I could label. I was pretty relaxed about it because of the
way he told me and also because I had been to a homeopath a few weeks prior and
he suggested I might have a cyst on my ovary. I felt reassured that there was a
confirmed reason why I am having such a difficult time losing weight after
Soleil was born and why my monthly cycles aren’t so monthly.
After I went home and Googled
some of the effects of PCOS I became slightly sad, scared, shocked, and a little
bit overwhelmed. I read that I may not be able to have any more children. Marc and I were possibly considering having
another child, but to have that option taken away is a bit disheartening. Some
websites suggest that I need to be on medication for the rest of my life and
that I now have a significant chance of getting diabetes, heart disease, high blood
pressure, blood sugar imbalances and cancer. Wow! I already feel like my body
has aged ten years in the past three since having a child and being in a
traumatic car accident, and now this. I’ve
been working so hard on getting back to where I was that it seems like yet
another reminder that I am not quite there yet.
The past three years have
been quite a blur. Within that time I
have become a completely different person, unrecognizable from the person I was
and not even close to the person I want to be.
For almost two years I was completely disconnected from myself and had
no desire to reconnect. Time was on fast forward and I never wanted to be in
the moment I was in, which is the opposite of what we are supposed to do to be at
peace. In only 3 years I have had so many symptoms from anxiety and depression,
to chronic pain and digestive issues. Some symptoms are possibly from regular post-partum
stuff, but I believe all were enhanced from the trauma of the car accident. When my body was in a flight or fight state
it was working on the basic stuff, like digestion, just to survive. After getting a Bodytalk treatment I was
finally able to just breathe.
Now that my body has returned
to state of functioning, I can finally appreciate the small moments again. I am
so thankful to have found all the resources that helped me work on healing my
body. All the material I’ve been reading
on trauma, emotions, and body awareness has helped me to remember to focus on accepting
things the way they are and not overreacting. Things do happen for a reason and
everyone experiences positive and negative situations in life. I consider myself lucky to just have PCOS, who knows
what condition my body would be in say in another year or two from the state I
was in. How many other people are in
that state and have no idea they are or how to get out it?
Having a diagnosis of PCOS has enabled me to revaluate who I am and what my body needs. It is
another great opportunity to get to know my body on another level and make some
even healthier life-style choices. One
of the first things I have done is look up some natural approaches that help
with PCOS. I already eat fairly healthy, but everyone can always improve their
diet! I’ve changed a few simple things like
instead of drinking regular tea first thing in the morning; I drink a strong, plain green
tea to provide a boost in antioxidants. I usually eat
toast, cereal, oatmeal or bagels for breakfast, but now I eat oatmeal (soon to
be steal-cut oats), a hard-boiled egg and soon to add an orange for almost all breakfasts
to increase my metabolism. I've also been waiting about 2 hours to eat anything. I am focusing on eating more whole foods and drinking lemon water to promote an alkaline state. I have
decreased my carb and sugar intake even more and I am being even stricter on
the products I purchase.
I have been continuing to bring
a deeper awareness to my body since the Bodytalk session and even though some
parts are painful, it is still amazing to be able to be in the
moment again! I have been practicing the
‘Alexander technique’ of posture and breathing based on a couple books I
read. I am doing regular exercise, yoga,
and stretching both at the gym and a home. I am taking a movement class with Dan
Ouellette to help change some patterns and create more positive body movements
and body awareness. I have gotten 2
amazing visceral massages from Marie at the Harder Wellness Center, and plan on
continuing acupuncture and chiropractic treatments. I have also been taking some homeopathics, which
have cleared up some major symptoms I was having, and I am supposed to go back
to the Homeopath (who was the first to suggest I had cysts) in a couple
months. In addition, I’m going to do a
body cleanse/fast based on Madeiline Marentette’s book when my blood work comes
in.
With all of the focus I am putting on my health and wellbeing and putting
my needs higher on my list of priorities I am very positive and have complete faith
that I will clear out every last cyst and be able to lose weight naturally!
UPDATE /April 2014 As written in a blog 'My Personal Log' (almost a year after diagnosed)
Ø I’m now 22 weeks pregnant! Wow that was fast!
Ø I had lost close to 10 pounds before I became
pregnant, but that won’t last for long! I’m still going to the gym when I can,
which seems to be twice a week these days.
Ø First think every morning I continue to have a coconut
latte. About an hour later I take the EFAs and gut flora repairing probiotics
from the Naturopath with an orange and some almonds and of course my prenatal
vitamins. I’m no longer taking the homeopathics.
Helpful Resources:
Brennan, Richard. Change Your Posture, Change Your Life: How the Power of the Alexander Technique Can Combat Back Pain, Tension and Stress.
Hay, Louise. Heal Your Body. (Inspirational healing)
Khalsa, Harjiwan. Kundalini Chakra Cleansing CD. (Found at the library).
Lee, IIchi. Meridian Exercises for Self- Healing.
Levine, Peter. Healing Trauma: A Pioneering Program for Restoring the Wisdom of Your Body. (The library’s hard copy is more visually appealing but much more expensive than the soft copy).
Levine, Peter. Trauma Proofing Your Kids.
Levine, Peter. Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma.
Madison, Dr. Lynda. The Feelings Book: The Care and Keeping of Your Emotions. (I got this book from the library with intentions of helping Soleil handle her toddler emotions better, but I learned a lot about my emotions as well).
Marentette, Madeline. Grail Springs Holistic Detox for Body, Mind, and Spirit.
Nicholls, Carolyn. Body, Breath & Being: A New Guide to the Alexander Technique
Wauters, Ambika. The Complete Guide to Chakras, The Vintage Edition; Unleash the Positive Power from Within. (If you’re interested in learning more about chakras).
Amazing Healing Practitioners - Saskatoon
SRT (Self Regulation Therapy): Irma Robson 2nd Ave N (280-1950), although Heather Brenneman (343-1502) or Judy Pope (934-6454) are supposed to be excellent as well and they are Psychologist so it would be reimbursable for insurance. More information about SRT and the practitioners can be found at; http://www.cftre.com/
Body Movement Classes: Dan Oullette (306-715-2354)
Chiropractor: Dr. Cam Olson (306-955-5888)
Acupuncture: Wei Ping Wang/315 20th ST. (306-933-4164)
Homeopath: Dr. Hoe Mark/315 20th ST. E. (306-382-4507)
Myofacial Massage Therapy: Jody Braun (306-249-4099), Aaron Johnston (306-249-4099), or Dan Oullette (306-715-2354)
Cranial Sacral/ Visceral Therapist: Marie Laniece (306-384-3531) or Linda Fisher/Delta Bessborough (306-665-2424)
Website of other PCOS success stories:
