My name is Jacquelyn and at age 18, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, also known as PCOS. Having polycystic ovaries basically means ones hormones are unbalanced, causing a variety of symptoms such as weight gain, acne, hair loss on the head, hair gain everywhere else, depression, and more. The only solution I received from the western medical field was to be on birth control. Luckily, my new job as a flight attendant brought me to Anchorage, AK where I began to discover the truth behind PCOS and it’s treatment.
I was referred to a doctor of naturopathic medicine by one of my fellow flight attendants. I didn’t know much about naturopathy, but figured it couldn’t hurt to try. Little did I know, it would change my life forever. Finally a doctor spoke to me like a real person with real problems that needed fixing, not just covering up. She informed me that my condition is closely connected to my diet and referred me to a nutritionist for a metabolic typing test. This is where my real story begins.
While sitting in the nutritionist’s office discussing my results, my heart sank. Most of the foods I loved to eat were on this long list with red flags. No more sugar, no more flour of any kind. Ixnay on potatoes, most fruit and a few other tasty items. Now, you have to understand something about me, I LOVE sugar and carbs… L.O.V.E. To give you some kind of idea, my mom’s nick name for as a child was “snicker doodle dandy popcorn and candy girl.” So you can imagine my dismay when I was told to give it all up.
Now, there are 2 ways to take news like this. You can either sit around feeling sorry for yourself and continue to eat the foods you shouldn’t or you can pick yourself up and accept the challenge. What did I do? Well, I consumed my final McDonald’s quarter pounder with cheese, large fry and M&M McFlurry, cried a little, then picked myself up and got to work on my new lifestyle.
At the time I was living in a strange, freezing cold city 3,000 miles north of home with a house full of sugar loving flight attendants. Needless to say, breaking my sugar habit was going to be far from easy. At times it even seemed impossible. One minute I was motivated and the next I was overwhelmed. However, with the support of my mother and an amazing doctor, I did it. I felt balanced, healthy and in control.
After 4 years passed I felt I had a strong knowledge of food, cooking and health, but my symptoms began to flare up again, along with constant colds. I visited my new Naturopath in Seattle (where I currently live) to get tested for allergies in hopes of an answer to my getting sick all the time. When her assistant called me with the results, I was expecting her to tell me I was allergic to cats, mold, dust etc. so you can imagine my surprise when the words cow’s milk, eggs and wheat came out of her mouth. I hung up the phone, stared at it for a few minutes, took a deep breath and said “Ok. You know how to do this. You will be fine”
Once again, I began learning how to live without (let me just say, you figure out how to be creative quickly) and noticed a difference immediately. A
few months later, I began treatments for allergy desensitization. At
the same time, I decided to try acupuncture for my PCOS symptoms that I
couldn't seem to keep under control. I had been eating right,
exercising and taking my natural medicines for years but was in a
downward spiral I couldn't get out of. I had read that acupuncture
could be great for women with PCOS so I thought I'd give it a try, with
enormous hopes that it would prove successful.
After
2
months of acupuncture and food allergy desensitization I received the
most amazing news. My hormones were balanced and my food allergies were stabilized. I hadn't received good news in so many
years that I just sat there, waiting for the "but". After I left and got into my car, it finally sunk in. I was to leave that office with not only good news,
but the news I'd been waiting years to hear. Tears filled my eyes with
joy as I picked up the phone to call my confidant, my biggest
supporter, my best friend... my mother.
Finally, I am at a place of maintaining rather than fixing. Now, that I have myself taken care of, I can help others by sharing my experiences, recipes, achievements, failures and healthy living tips.
Never in my wildest imagination did I think my life would take me here, but now that it has I can’t imagine it differently. I hope this blog helps others with their diets, health and life challenges, but also, I hope it helps me with mine.
Here’s to Life, Love, Health and Happiness! Cheers!
