PCOS reactions...

[lauraa4]

Hi! I was diagnosed with PCOS last Nov. after having super inconsistent, heavy periods, some hair growth, oily skin, acne - basically all the symptoms the NHS website tells you to look out for - super helpful, for once. I was prepared to be diagnosed, honestly, I felt quite relieved that it had happened quickly and my GP listened, the ultrasound was pretty weird and uncomfortable (especially being told to drink a million litres of water and thinking my bladder was gonna burst there and then) and within a week my GP called and said it was quite a 'severe' case of PCOS - which definitely didn't sit well with me.

Told my parents, only for my dad to say ' so you can't have kids then?' and my mum to say 'it's super common, you're fine', two verrry different responses. I instantly felt like it didn't matter - my diagnosis was common, can live with it, not a big deal, so who cares? Suddenly, as if over night, my friends became experts in the field and told me 'oh you just need to exercise more' or 'you'll have kids just fine, this woman said she fell pregnant straight away!'. As much as I appreciated their intentions, all it did was invalidate me for a minute. I don't want pity, I think most women on here can agree that doesn't solve anything, but I'd like for someone to just listen to my worries without them being invalidated by people who don't live with this condition, who don't feel insecure about the hair that grows (literally) everywhere, who don't worry about the fact they are more likely to develop diabetes and potentially struggling to conceive.

I'm really not dramatic, I was very much accepting of the diagnosis, honestly, felt good to know I'm not insane from thinking I had it. I'd just maybe like to not be told how MY body will react to something someone else DOES NOT have - I'd never try to inform/correct someone on their own illnesses, etc., so it feels sorta disheartening that others do - has anyone felt like this? I'm not sure if it's my age (I'm 20) that people still feel the need to treat me with kid gloves sometimes but it would be nice to meet people who are in a similar boat to me, so it doesn't feel like such a lonely diagnosis.

Hope everyone's well in these trying times!

[Anonymous29]

Hey, hope you're ok. 100% know where you are coming from. We don't necessarily want advice... just someone to listen and accept what we're saying.

I had a total breakdown today and because my sister in law had her 12 week scan (over the moon for them, just having a bad day) and my friends now know to just listen to me. It's taken 4 years to get to this point but I just had to outright tell them that I don't want them to tell me everything will be OK, I just want them to be there. Still haven't quite got there with my family yet, but one step at a time.

I'm here if you need to chat x

[lauraa4 in reply to Anonymous29]

Yes, exactly! Just someone to not always have to one up or try to educate you from a point that has no knowledge on it. I'm so sorry you had a bad day, I can totally imagine that being really hard for you, sorta hits in a place some people won't get but I do and don't worry if it gets you down, that's only natural! I really appreciate your reply, made my day to know someone's felt/feels the same! Here for you too x

[Anonymous29 in reply to lauraa4]

Ahh I'm glad it made you feel a bit better. We're all on different journeys but think we can all massively relate with our experiences. I haven't even told my dad that we're trying to conceive and it's been 4 years 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

Think you've just got to take time for yourself and be a bit selfish, because at the end of the day, it is us that's going through this.

Private message me if you ever want to chat! X