Is It Possible to “Get Used” to PCOS?
November 3, 2008
Filed under Uncategorized
Tags: aging, androgen excess, creative inspiration, female, grassroots, lack of inspiration, magazine publishing, media, PCOS, PCOS teens, polycystic ovarian syndrome, puberty, publishing, teenagers, thirties, twenties, women
Lately, I’ve really been struggling with PCOS as a topic. Granted, nearly eight (8) years ago I was diagnosed with the disorder, and have been dealing with it since I was a pre-pubescent girl. It is ever-present in my life, but nothing new and different has occurred with the disorder in regard to my health for many years. I think I’ve found that it remains somewhat in the background of my life now, as I am not trying to have children. I’m probably very uncommon, in that sense, when it comes to my experience with PCOS.
In 2005, I brought my love of publishing together with my focus on PCOS in my life, and started publishing PCOS Today. I’ve found it a struggle lately, though, to really get “excited,” (for lack of a better word) about PCOS as a topic of thought, contemplation or focus. It’s like I’ve hit an “I don’t care” plateau about it, and I’m not sure why.
I’ve spent a bit of time thinking about the “why,” and the only thing I’ve been able to come up with is the fact that it is inherently chronic and somewhat unchanging as a disorder. It’s like there’s a point I arrived at when I thought “Ok, I deal with PCOS. Big whoop.” And the thing is, I know that sounds callus…but on the other hand, I also question how relevant it is in my life (anymore) past the fact that, yes, I deal with it chronically, but other than the basic treatment I receive for it, it has only a moderate affect on my life.
I once polled some of my mass comm/public relations students about whether or not they felt that PCOS had any pull in the media or as a topic. Many of them said that while they believed the issues to be of importance (as well as the secondary problems it can lead to), that because PCOS was inherently non-life-threatening and presented in some lights as merely a nuisance (at least until someone tried to conceive), that it would never really get a toe-hold in mainstream media. It would remain grassroots. Then my mind asks…”well, should it remain grassroots? Is the topic of PCOS doing its best in that form?”
I also wonder if this is a result of age? I’m in my mid-30s, have decided not to have kids but am settling down, and I’ve become much more comfortable with myself as a person and as a woman. Maybe this needs exploring…the emotional aspects of dealing with PCOS as we age. I have to admit that I was very “gung-ho” regarding my health in my mid-to-late 20s, and the closer I get to 40 I’m finding myself becoming a little complacent about the same-said health. What I find even stranger is that I’m still quite interested in completing my book for teens dealing with PCOS — at least I can pass my experience along to young ladies just starting to deal with the disorder.
I’d love to hear comments on this stream-of-thought.
“Boredom” with PCOS?
October 1, 2008
Filed under Uncategorized
Tags: boredom, childbearing, childlessness, children, chronic illness, chronic reproductive illness, diagnosis, infertility, intellectual boredom, life changes, magazines, PCOS, PCOS book, polycystic ovarian syndrome, publishing, social media, teens, wiki, writing
For the past few months, I’ve had a hard time getting in gear to publish the next “issue” of PCOS Today. Part of it, I’m sure, is the life change and geographical change I recently went through. I think I’m still trying to “get used to” everything. At the same time, I changed jobs/got a promotion, and life is downright crazy right now. I know…I should just stop whining, screw up my pride and just get organized.
However, I was dx’d with PCOS something like seven (7) years ago. It has permeated my life for so long, and as so much, that I wonder if I need to expand my horizons. Perhaps I’ve become brored with the topic because I haven’t seen much change in my experience with the disorder in a rather long time. My fiance even mentioned that he wondered if focusing JUST on PCOS was creating too much of a niche and pigeon-holing me as a publisher. I am still (intermittantly) writing my teen-focused PCOS book (I need to get that done), though. Maybe I need to think broader and into different mediums. Should I work on the PCOS wiki (I established it but haven’t done a darn thing on it), look into social media a LOT more?
As I’ve discussed in this blog before, I do not intend to have children. I have two nephews and a niece whom I love to pieces and am happy to dote on. Someday, my fiance and I plan to get a cat or a dog (or multiples thereof), and these furry creatures of mischief will become our “children.” So the infertility issues of PCOS, I can heartedly say, don’t interest me that much. However, I wonder if my publishing focus should expand to one of “chronic reproductive illness,” of which, yes, infertility is included.
As an academic (when I’m not focused on PCOS and whatnot, I teach college students about communication), I’ve started to focus on health education and promotion, and I have a definite interest in looking at PCOS and how its communicated. I think I need to find a way to tie the two together…my academic interests and my extra-curricular ‘publishing’ interests. I need input.
“The Quest for a Child,” by Hana Konecna
April 28, 2008
Filed under Uncategorized
Tags: Anshan, childlessness, children, folklore, Hana Konecna, health sciences, illness, infertility, Maternal Hope Foundation, parenting, parents, PCOS, pregnancy, psychology, social sciences, The Quest for a Child, University of South Bohemia
I just received my copy of “The Quest for a Child,” by psychologist Hana Konecna. Normally, this isn’t a book I’d pick up. It focuses very much so on the path from infertility to fertility and pregnancy…BUT, I have to admit, just on the first-blush page turning I’ve done since I ripped into its packaging – well, I’ve even found some insight. I definitely plan to write a more thorough review of the book later this week, for both this blog and PCOS Today, but I’m compelled to throw a few thoughts out into the vapor right now.
Obvious within just the first few chapters, this book provides a very comprehensive, and more importantly, very personal perspective on the mental, emotional and physical issues of infertility. Ms. Konecna takes both the psychological approach while regularly inserting bits and pieces of folklore about children, childlessness, and the such. “The Quest for a Child” also reads rather sequentially. Meaning, “the quest” is presented in an almost chronological format, from the beginning of a journey into infertility, through the outcomes of either pregnancy or childlessness, adding credibility throughout from both the female and male perspectives. And not only is the professional perspective presented, but tons of short but compelling commentary from those who gone through the infertility experience is provided (in statement and case study forms).
I think both couples facing the issues of infertility, as well as the professionals who work with those couples, will benefit greatly from this book. Those with PCOS, especially, understand how neglected the emotional side of infertility and hormonal disorder continue to be. Konecna’s “The Quest” breaks this barrier and, I hope, will start some very frank consideration by medical and similar professionals about the entire mind-body-spirit focus there should be on infertility (IMHO). Those who are dealing with infertility — well, I think these readers will discover a bit of anonymous support through this book; a feeling as-if “I’m not alone.”
Overall, the comprehensiveness of the book makes it a solid read. I believe there could be more breadth and depth to the author’s discussions about the CHOICE of childlessness. Then again, that may be just because that’s where my mind has been lately (see my earlier post about my choice not to seek pregnancy). All-in-all, I think Anshan Publishers UK has hit the proverbial home run on their publishing of this tome, and I see Konecna’s book being relevant for decades to come.
PCOS and “Elite Athletes?”
April 23, 2008
Filed under Uncategorized
Tags: acne, athletes, excess body hair, female athletes, hirsutism, male sex hormones, obesity, Olympics, overweight, PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome, polycystic ovaries, Stein-Leventhal Syndrome, testosterone, training diet
Before heading in to teach my first class today (when I’m not advocating about polycystic ovarian syndrome, I’m a college professor), I gave the BBC news feeds on Mozilla a cursory glance. Much to my surprise did I find an article about female athletes and PCOS.
At first glance, the article made me a little grumpy. The article seems a bit one-sided, and purports that in cases of hard-pushing female athletes, it’s restrictive diets and hard training that lead to their PCOS, which therefore leads to their lack of menstruation. Not sure I get the complete connection here, but then again I don’t have M.D. after my name.
The article is worth a read, but it doesn’t quite explain why it implies that female athletes may have a preponderance to PCOS.
“Resuming Womanhood” blog
April 23, 2008
Filed under Uncategorized
Tags: blog, diabetes, diabetic medication, Glucophage, Insulin Resistance, medication, metformin, PCOD, PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome, Stein-Leventhal Syndrome, Syndrome X, womanhood
I was checking in with Technorati today and found out about a blog by a woman who is chronicling her current experience with metformin (Glucophage). She’s into her fifth day taking the medication, and gives all the details about the experience as she goes along. It’s an interesting read, and I’m sure she could use the support.
PCOS and why I won’t get pregnant…
April 18, 2008
Filed under Uncategorized
Tags: chaotic life, child, children, chronic illness, diabetes, engagement, hormones, infertility, Insulin Resistance, marriage, nephew, niece, PCOS, pets, polycystic ovarian syndrome, pregnancy, wedding
I’ll admit, I’m on a bit of a blogging bent today. I already spent about a week thinking about the topic I’m going to discuss throughout this post. My other post today was reactionary. Just FYI. 
So, onward…
Almost one-and-one-half years ago, my then-boyfriend proposed to me after almost three years dating. Of course, I said yes. Flash-forward to today, April 2008, and I can’t count how many times I’ve been asked two clear questions: 1) when’s the wedding? and 2) are you going to have children? My answers, which I’ve now give on autopilot are: 1) we’re not sure yet, and 2) NO and Hell No. Regarding the wedding, for those of you who at home who are keeping score — it’s because we’ve spent a lot of time mobile and long-distance. We thought giving a try to actually living in the same zip code might be a new and novel idea. (note the sarcasm).
Heredity, on the other hand, has been a cruel master to me and my health. It was like I hit age 30 and the warranty expired on my body. Now mind you, I’ve battled other chronic health issues since my teenage years, namely PCOS. It wasn’t until about seven (7) years ago, though, that I had my definitive polycystic ovarian syndrome and insulin resistance (now diabetes) diagnoses. I’ve known since my junior-high days that something was incredibly not right with my body hormonally. It’s sad that it took until my mid-to-late 20s to finally find a doctor who was actually clued in to PCOS to diagnose it — but I digress into another bent.
So my answer when people ask if we plan to have children is always a resounding NO. First off, we (being the aforementioned fiance and I) have a niece and two twin nephews who we love to dote on and spoil, much to their parent’s chagrin. I have had great sputtering contests with the niece (because she thinks it’s funny to do) and I’ve spent many a day running around my future in-law’s wood floors after the nephews as they’ve raced around and around in their walkers. I love those kids to death, and wouldn’t trade the time I have with them for the world.
But at the same time, both my fiance and I battle too many inherited and/or chronic illnesses. We are also a very mobile couple, and don’t think we’d do a kid any justice because our lives are so chaotic. Foremost, however, is the fact that we don’t want to pass what we’ve battled (medically) on to a child to then have to deal with. I can just see it – our hypothetical son or daughter would reach 18 having dealt with their own health issues by then and say “Thanks. Thanks a Whole Freakin’ Lot.” I don’t want a daughter to fight PCOS anymore than I like doing it (because I don’t). I don’t want a son to know that at some point, his body will rebel on him and he’ll have to take medication to control his blood sugars.
So, for us, our “children” will be of the furry and scaley variety…and perhaps we’ll adopt a few dust bunnies in the process.
No Stupid People in this Car — It’ll Lower the Car’s IQ
April 18, 2008
Filed under Uncategorized
Tags: car art, cars, cellulite, chicks, children, fat, Freedom of Speech, healthy, obesity, overweight, PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome, skinny mini, stupid people, stupidity, weight, women
This morning while running an errand, I ended up parking next to a car that had the following on the back windshield: “No Fat Chicks — They Make the Car Scrape the Road.” It was all I could do not be irrational and do something dumb like key their car or go into the business, track them down and punch one of them. If I had done that, I would be writing this post from jail, or worse.
Weight has always been an issue for me, and for most women who suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). I’m a people watcher, and I have to admit that anytime I see a young lady whom my mother would probably refer to as a “skinny mini,” I just roll my eyes. I feel like our society, at least here in the United States, has become so focused on thinness AGAIN. So rather than being a “healthy” weight, let’s be light as a feather, eat like a bird, and worry if, *GASP* God forbid you *might* have some cellulite on a part of your body that very few people rarely see. It just annoys me.
Then we have people like the idiots who owned the car parked next to me. That’s it — let’s perpetuate this intolerant culture of allowing people (women and men, of all sizes) who don’t fit the ultra-think cookie-cutter size be considered sub-standard.
Now, granted, this is all happening at the same time that our society is also fighting issues of obesity. I believe that focus, though, needs to start at home. Sure, some kids may be getting too overweight. Here’s an idea — do what my mom did with me as a kid — kick me out of the house during the daytime, tell me to go ride my bike and come back for dinner or sundown. I WISH I had the level of energy today, because I’d do it! But, going back to my original argument, let’s not be crass, act stupid, or perpetuate hate. It just shows how dumb and trashy people really can be when messages like “No Fat Chicks” are out there for all the world to see. Sure, we have “Freedom of Speech,” but I don’t think we should have freedom of stupidity.
Books on infertility, PCOS/PCOD
April 12, 2008
Filed under Uncategorized
Tags: acanthosis nigricans, amenorrhea, androgen excess, Czech Republic, diabetes, Dr. Gautam Allahbadia, folklore, Hana Konecna, hirsutism, India, infertility, Insulin Resistance, metabolic syndrome, ovarian cysts, PCOD, PCOS, polycystic ovarian disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, The Rotunda, University of South Bohemia
PCOS Today has been working with Anshan Publishers UK to let both women in the United States with PCOS/PCOD, as well as medical professionals working with PCOS/PCOD patients about their newest offerings. In Fall 2007, Anshan released “Polycystic Ovary Syndrome,” a new clinical textbook specifically on the disorder, edited by Dr. Gautam Allahbadia. This month, Anshan is release “The Quest for a Child,” written by Hana Konecna, a professional on the Faculty of Health and Social Studies, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic. “Quest” hits on numerous topics related to infertility (including PCOS), while Dr. Allahbadia’s
text focuses specifically on all aspects of PCOS. Hana Konecna’s book is entertaining, providing case studies and connections to folklore about infertility from around the world.
In the next few weeks, PCOS Today will feature both a review of “The Quest for a Child” as well as an interview with Ms. Konecna. Keep checking back!
Angela Grassi answers questions about PCOS and vitamins
April 11, 2008
Filed under Uncategorized
Tags: amennorhea, Angela Grassi, blood sugar, cinnamon, diabetes, fish oil, girls, infertility, insulin, Insulin Resistance, magnesium, menstruation, nutrition, PCOD, PCOS, PCOS magazine, PCOS nutrition, PCOS Today, polycystic ovarian disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, Stein-Leventhal Syndrome, supplements, The Dietician's Guide to PCOS, vitamins, women
Angela Grassi, PCOS nutritionist and columnist for PCOS Today, answered a reader’s recent question about the best vitamins and supplements for women and girls with polycystic ovarian syndrome. She presents detailed information about such supplements as cinnamon (and it’s blood sugar level benefits), vitamin D, fish oil, and magnesium, among others in her latest “Ask Angela” entry on the PCOS Today site.
PCOS Glossary introduced on PCOS Today site
April 7, 2008
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Tags: acanthosis nigricans, amennorhea, glossary, hirsutism, infertility, Insulin Resistance, PCOS, polycystic ovarian disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, Stein-Leventhal Syndrome, Syndrome X, thinning hair
To help women and girls who are just learning about polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS or PCOD), perhaps from a recent diagnosis, I have created a PCOS glossary page on the PCOS Today site. It includes many of the common (and some not-so-common) terms used surrounding PCOS. If any additions are needed, please let me know through a comment to this site, to PCOS Today, or via e-mail. Thanks!
