Dismissed and shamed by doctors, later, she was diagnosed with PCOS, endometriosis, and a bicornuate uterus.
Being a teen and constantly being told to stop eating donuts and frappuccinos to lose weight? The little girl’s heart broke a little more every time she heard such remarks.
As a teen, the girl had irregular periods. Sometimes they would come in a few months, and sometimes not at all, which is why the doctor put her on birth control at a very young age. Moreover, when on her period, she experienced pain similar to being stabbed. Not engaging in activities and staying in bed was the new thing!
Birth control pills did help her, but just for a little while. At that point, all she wanted was eased pain and a proper cycle, ignoring how things weren’t just okay. She was busy with her college life, and things were just going fine after her parents agreed to let her see a doctor.
However, she soon had to move to Chicago to start her professional life and find a new doctor.
She chose a fancy women’s clinic, a place with a good vibe, and as per her professional staff, too. The doctor at first recommended that she start NuvaRing so her cycles would be consistent and the pain would be bearable. Of course, no patient disagrees with the doctor, so she soon began taking NuvaRing, but in a few months, she understood something was wrong. But what?
She felt frustrated; her emotions took over her. Feeling off all the time wasn’t something she had experienced before, which is why she asked the doctor if she could start the birth control pills again. However, the doctor disagreed and wanted things to balance out in a few days.
Not just this, the doctor also suggested that the woman take an STD test after getting to know about the woman’s committed relationship, and the reasoning she gave was, ‘You never know what your partner is doing.’
The woman was speechless as she was no longer just concerned about her health, but now all of her fears hit her. New doubts, fears, and anxiety surrounded her.
Eventually, not listening to what the doctor said, she stopped using NuvaRing and instantly felt more energetic and full of life!
However, she again had to go through the unbearable pain and irregular periods just like her teenage years, but this time, there came a new challenge: weight gain. The concerning thing was her eating habits; no over-eating, and a healthy lifestyle were the same. The number on the weight scale did not seem to stop increasing.
She was also reluctant to visit the doctor because of her previous experiences, but she had no other choice. She ended up taking a new appointment. Worst part? With the same doctor, who made her feel fearful and insecure in just a few appointments.
However, she was left in tears after the appointment and was disappointed again. After listening to what she was going through, the doctor said: ‘If you’d just lay off the donuts and frappuccinos, you wouldn’t be gaining so much.’ This happened probably because the doctor wasn’t happy with her discontinuing NuvaRing and just gave what she perceived was the problem- overeating. But the woman was sure something was going on.
Months went by, with the same pain and physical changes, but she avoided doctors as there was no point in spending so much time and money on doctors who wouldn’t even listen to her. She promised she wouldn’t go back after the last time she had to hear such harsh statements.
Things didn’t get better with the resistance to looking for a new doctor.
Thus, she ended up finding a new clinic.
The first doctor she met there gave her a few basic tips, like cutting calories and starting to use a food journal. She had already implemented what the doctor told her and got no results.
It wasn’t until she got the flu and met a nurse practitioner at the same clinic that she finally felt like someone was out there listening to her and making her feel better.
For the first time in so many years, she didn’t feel judged or embarrassed.
At the woman’s annual exam, she requested the practitioner, and this time, she opened up about the sudden physical changes and quick weight gain. All the blood tests done to diagnose the problems came out fine, which was even more frustrating for the woman. According to the lab, she was perfectly okay! How was that even a possibility with so many problems going on?
The doctor implemented several ways to determine the problem, but no diagnosis ever came. The woman even tried to conceive a baby, but failed to do so even after several months.
But one fine day, when someone referred her to a specialist, things started to change. It was high time life took a positive turn!
The doctor did everything that the previous doctors should’ve done.
I took a proper patient history, listened to the patient, made her feel heard, gave her hope every time she asked a question, and made an effort to review everything.
She looked at her and said, ‘You have PCOS.’
Suddenly, everything felt a bit put together, like her questions finally had an answer. All the problems and stress she had to go through- weight gain, imbalanced hormones, so much pain, now had a name. PCOS.
A wave of relief passed through her heart. At least she didn’t have to blame everything on herself and become angry.
Soon after being diagnosed with PCOS, she also found out she had endometriosis and a bicornuate uterus, i.e, a heart-shaped uterus. All of this resulted from constant questioning, advocacy, and pushing herself when she was so close to giving up.
A lesson in her story? Healing does not come from medicine but from being heard! If you, too, feel broken and left out, know that even after going through the worst phases of your life, there is still hope waiting for you.