Life Lately: My PCOS Journey

I can still remember the day when I almost lost my employment journey with Summit Media (2015) because of my pre-employment medical requirements.

Long story short, the Doctor asked me the date of my last menstruation.

After a couple of seconds, I told her I had my last period a couple of months ago. 4 months, I guess. She quickly asked me to set an appointment with an OB-GYNE so that I can be cleared from my pre-employment medical requirements.

It was almost a week when I set an appointment with an OB-GYNE at Healthway Greenbelt and it was also my first time to have an ultrasound. I was amazed seeing my ovaries (oopsie! haha) and uterus real time. Everything was okay back then except for one thing — my left ovary has PCOS.

What is PCOS?

According to healthline.com:

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects a woman’s hormone levels. 

Women with PCOS produce higher-than-normal amounts of male hormones. This hormone imbalance causes them to skip menstrual periods and makes it harder for them to get pregnant.

PCOS also causes hair growth on the face and body and baldness. And it can contribute to long-term health problems like diabetes and heart disease.

Birth control pills and diabetes drugs can help fix the hormone imbalance and improve symptoms.

A year after, I decided to have another check up to see the status of my PCOS since I also accompanied my then-boyfriend for a check-up at the Medical City Ortigas. However, I didn’t like the OB assigned to me then. She just said that I just have to have a healthy lifestyle. I asked if there’s anything I need to do like an ultrasound but she just told me to reduce (even though I have normal weight) and to exercise. She didn’t even bother to check my previous ultrasound.

I want another OB but time didn’t permit since I still have work.

Fast forward to April 2018, I decided to have another check-up. I want to see what’s happening down there since I have been late for my period already for almost two weeks or so. Again I visited the Medical City Ortigas and made sure that I will be set to a new OB-Gyne.

After a couple minutes of waiting, I talked to my new OB. I gave my previous ultrasound but she didn’t check it. She just said what the last OB said. To have a diet and to exercise. Frustrated, I have the urge to visit another OB in the building since I want to know what else can I do other than exercising and having a diet. And then, she asked me what I want to do, and if I want to have an ultrasound.

My mind was shouting, ‘of course!’. Then she gave me like a letter to the Women’s Health Section of the building for the ultrasound.

After I got the results (thanks TravelBook.ph for my free Medicard!), I quickly went to set an appointment with a new OB.

Then finally, I met Ma. Rosario Laarni C. Diaz, M.D. She is by far the best OB for me. She answered all my questions about PCOS patiently. She even said that my PCOS cannot be treated by diet and exercise alone, thus, I need to rely on medications.

Since Aunt Flo is still out of reach on my day 49, Dra. Diaz prescribed me to take 10 Medroxyprogesterone (Provera) for 10 days. She said with confidence that I will have my menstruation a week after my last take of the pill.

I was just so happy that I already have an OB-Gyne that I can visit anytime.

So, I went to Mercury Drug, bought Provera (P87 each, I think) and took the tablets religiously. However, after every take, I always feel that my left side is numb from head to toe! But because I want to finish the 10 tablets, I just brushed it off.

Days after my last period, I was having a very watery discharge. Marami. I was thinking what is happening. Am I getting my period already? And then, hello anxiety! I immediately googled what’s happening and what will happen if I will not have my period.

Gladly, after three days Aunt Flo finally said hello with just some spots.

A day after, I went to Dra. Diaz again (that’s today!) since she asked me to come back so she can prescribed me with pills to regulate my period. I’ll be taking Diane 35. It’s my first time actually and my OB’s instructions didn’t go inside my head. Haha!

*No edits, free flow. Sorry for the wrong grammar if there’s any. I just want to spill what’s inside my mind.