Hey Jude! I have a couple of chronic diseases including PCOS and DM. Been receiving the best healthcare no doubt!, but sometimes I feel frustrated and that all this I’m carrying is weighing me down and stealing my life away. I’m still young (20s) and I feel like these health problems are turning me into a grumpy old lady, impatient, always worried about nothing and everything. Also I think my OCD is getting worse and every health problem keeps affecting the other and i feel trapped in this loophole. I’m done with people telling me that others have it worse! How can I deal with all this?
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Our apologies for the wait on this one! Since I'm travelling right now (which I don't do often), this contributed to said delay; I assure you that this won't happen again. I hope you're well and safe! Below, you will find Angelica's response:
I can relate somewhat because I also have PCOS. It’s absolutely NOT a picnic to deal with. I am on hormonal birth control to stop my reproductive system from surprising me every few months. PCOS can be tough to manage on its own because some women have more complicated cases than others; everyone is different, but that doesn’t mean your case and feelings aren’t valid.
PCOS is an endocrine system disorder, but the most salient and common symptoms manifest themselves in the reproductive system; the classic calling card is irregular, painful, and heavy periods. Since it’s an endocrine system disorder, more parts of the body could potentially be affected; women who have PCOS can experience more body hair, acne, insulin issues, etc.
I have some articles here that explain symptoms and ways of managing PCOS:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pcos/symptoms-causes/syc-20353439
https://www.healthline.com/health/polycystic-ovary-disease#health-effects
https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/polycystic-ovary-syndrome
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos
I’m not sure if having bio kids is in your life plans, but if it is, you’ll likely need some sort of medical assistance. If not, well PCOS makes it harder to get pregnant, so I guess that’s sort of a silver lining for you?
I noticed you mentioned having DM in your post; is that diabetes? If so, there is definitely a link between PCOS and Type 2 Diabetes. Managing the former should make it easier to manage the latter!
I imagine that having to deal with these and the OCD on top of them makes you feel very health-conscious; it must be hard to enjoy some foods or even exercise without having to worry about what will happen to your blood sugar. It’s okay to feel frustrated because you did not ask for any of this extra responsibility.
I have some articles that talk about how to develop healthy habits to manage diabetes and PCOS here:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326185#the-link
That same site also explains the differences between healthy and unhealthy fats:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322295#understanding-healthful-vs-unhealthful-fats
A diet that’s good for PCOS and diabetes is one that is low on simple and fake sugars as well as unhealthy fats, such as trans fats. Such a diet will have enough healthy fats and complex carbs because too much fat isn’t good for your liver and too much sugar isn’t good for your pancreas.
This article explains more of the science around sugar and your liver and pancreas:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/even-modest-consumption-of-added-sugar-may-affect-the-liver
Basically, the simpler and more artificial the sugar, the worse it is for your body. Eating natural sugars, like the ones found In fruits and vegetables, is better for you because your body knows exactly what to do with them. Even complex carbs are better, but I still suggest limiting the intake of wheat or similar carbs; asking your doctor about finding the right balance of sugar, carbs, and fats is best.
When your body has to exert very little energy to process food for energy, then it becomes way too tempting for your body to store other forms of energy, such as fats, in the rest of your body (especially your liver). Basically, eating too many fake or simple sugars interferes with your metabolism and your pancreas’ insulin production.
Make sure you get lots of rest, as well. Sleep allows your cells to perform their maintenance and clean out any gunk. Insufficient sleep means your skin cells can’t clean themselves out and that’s where acne can come from. Staying well-hydrated also keeps your skin from drying up and breaking out.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to any healthcare providers you may have with questions; they want you to stay healthy and happy! It’s not easy to manage any of these conditions by themselves, so definitely make sure you have a support team. If you ever need someone to talk to, feel free to reach back out here, as well. It’s not easy to take care of ourselves, but the good news is we don’t have to do it alone.
Socially-distanced hugs,
Angelica Barile
Hi, @anonymous00! Angelica will be answering your submission shortly.