My journey with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - shares Wendy Kimani

Piece by: Peninah Njoki
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Kenyan artiste Wendy Kimani has talked of how she battled Packs, a condition she has slowly learnt how to manage.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age.

Women with PCOS may have infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods or excess male hormone (androgen) levels.

The ovaries may develop numerous small collections of fluid (follicles) and fail to regularly release eggs.

Sharing in her journey through her social media Wendy said

'HAVE YOU TRIED THE DIET ROUTE? WHAT HAS WORKED FOR YOU SO FAR?

Just by the thousands of articles I've read up on through my journey, there's really no one test that you do to diagnose PCOS.

The doc just goes by what symptoms you have e.g Weight gain, irregular period, check for insulin resistance, an ultra sound to check for polycystic ovaries (If you have cysts in your ovaries).

Some blood tests to check for hormonal imbalance just to name a few. AND YES SOMETIMES IT IS MISDIAGNOSED.'

Wendy pointed out that at times it's easy to be misdiagnosed.

'It's also so strange how Women with PCOS can each have really different symptoms from each other.

I may not see my period for months and another chic with PCOS may have an abnormally heavy flow. I might gain weight and the other person have no issue with weight at all.

SO CONFUSING! So your DOC is the best person to speak to about diagnosis and treatment buuuuuut don't just stop there.

So after I was told I was pre-diabetic, the doc prescribed Glucophage (I believe this was for the insulin part) and contraceptives to regulate my period plus working out.'

Adding

'As soon as I started to use the contraceptives, BOOM!! guess who shows up? miss period! 

But after two months my pills were over so I thought I'm cured.

WRONG! After 2 months it was gone AGAIN! Also, Glucophage was making me feel HO-RRI-BLE! Dizzy, foggy plus the weight was just there tu mschewww!.'

It's then that Wendy decided to carry out her own research.

'I did my own research online and found loaaaads of info. Women who've been there before me who know way more than I do.

I ditched the drugs and decided to try the diet route.

No dairy😭 no gluten (well at least for the majority of the week) Do you know how painful it is to not eat bread! 🍞 That's a rant for another day!

Guess what! In a month my period was back.

This was one year before I had my son.

So I decided to be dedicated for a year to this new lifestyle and see if I could regulate it for 12 months straight and it did.

I actually lost SOME weight considering I wasn't working out and was able to conceive my son. This is what worked for ME!'

Have you ever battled PCOS if yes, how do you manage the condition? You never know you might help someone with new ideas.