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Ericka’s Story (PCOS)

I was diagnosed with PCOS on February 22, 2017. This is a day I will never forget. Like most girls, I began my cycle at 11 years old. When my periods first started, they were extremely heavy. From that point on, unlike my sisters, who received the monthly gift every 28 days, mine would come every 2 or 3 months. I did not complain at the time.

When I was in high school, my periods made me very sick. There was always prolonged vomiting. By the time I reached my senior year of college, I had gained almost 40 lbs. I stopped having my cycles completely. I informed my family doctor, and that is when my nightmare started. He prescribed me birth control pills, and I began to bleed out of control. My cycle lasted three weeks, and I passed large clots. I was falling to the ground with pelvic pain. I could not eat or drink anything. I told my doctor, and he told me the pills needed time to adjust to my body.

Two weeks later, my cycle started again, and this time, I had been going on almost three more months straight. The spotting turned into heavy bleeding. My doctor told me to stop taking the birth control pills and told me to schedule an appointment. He then prescribed me Provera. Instead of it making my cycle restart, it made the bleeding more heavy and prolonged.

From January til July, I bled non-stop. I was referred to a specialist. I had a D&C and a laranscopy to stop the bleeding. They removed the painful scar tissue. I was prescribed Jolessa, which was supposed to make me have four cycles a year. My body did not like the Jolessa. Again, I bled for months.

I finally stopped taking birth control, and I let my body go through the withdrawal bleed. A month later, I ended up in the ER, August 10, 2016, with ongoing pelvic pain. I was sick and vomited my whole way home from work. I had large clots as well. I received two shots of morphine because of the intense pelvic pain, especially in my legs.

I have not bled since, and I am so happy. Since the summer, I changed my diet, but I am unable to lose weight. My PCOS diagnosis was confirmed yesterday by my new specialist. Knowing that I can develop diabetes or heart disease is depressing. I do not want to become fat, so I will have to do a lot of dieting and exercising.

It took me almost three years to get diagnosed, but I am happy I can finally start treatment. This disease has taken over my life so far. I cannot let it beat me.

Ericka
Indiana
Submitted 02/23/2017

This story is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.

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One comment

  1. Ariel

    I am so sorry for what you have gone through. I am so happy that you finally have a diagnosis. Keep fighting and stay strong.

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