My Game Plan In Addressing Fatigue Due To PCOS

For the last couple of days, I have been literally dragging myself out of bed. When I first had this more than a week ago, I thought that it would just pass. But since it has persisted, it has come to the point when my day would just go by unproductively. I have so much to do but my energy level is at its all time low.

With two storms forecasted to enter the country in a couple of hours or days, I can’t go and see my doctor yet. I am also unsure whether the roads leading to her clinic are passable. Since I won’t be able to see her until next week, I will do my share as to how I can address this issue. So starting tomorrow, I am going to:

1.    Start exercising again. Since I could not rely on the weather here for sunny days, I need to start using my exercise videos once again. I know that exercise will definitely increase my energy level, and I seriously need to have an exercise routine at home because I can’t walk or jog when the weather is so uncooperative.

2.    Eat healthier. I know that this has been the biggest issue that I haven’t been able to tackle, but I will keep on conditioning my mind so that I can eventually have healthier eating habits. Lately I have gotten back to drinking caffeine just to wake me up but it hasn’t done me any good. I guess a quick caffeine fix is not the answer to my fatigue issues. I will also stay away from sugary stuff so that my body won’t crash. The very least that I need right now is for my glucose levels to fluctuate. It will just make matters so much worse.

3.    Set aside more time for myself. I have always been busy taking care of each member of my family and in the process, I have forgotten myself. I have vowed to give myself more ME time so that I can slowly address my issues. I really need to give myself needed attention because this has gotten way out of hand.

4.    Manage stress. I must admit that I have been so stressed lately. After typhoon Ondoy left, we are again faced with the possibility of being hit by another storm. Since I have already addressed disaster preparedness issues at home, I will try to keep these anxiety-provoking thoughts to a minimum.

5.    Religiously keep my doctor appointments. I haven’t visited her since I got busy with my exam. I will never be better if I don’t see her regularly. I just hope that the wait won’t be as long as my previous visit. Sigh!

I have thought all along that my symptoms couldn’t get any worse, but now it seems that it has. I’ve always had enough energy for my daily activities, but lately all I wanted to do was stay in bed. So, here’s hoping to a better tomorrow!

My PCOS-Inspired Resolutions

The MIRROR is not exactly your best friend when you have PCOS. It’s not that you are in denial or you just don’t want to see yourself in such a condition, but it can get really depressing in the long run. For the past three years, I have accepted the fact that the syndrome is on its full course. But to this day, I still find it hard to stare at the mirror for three uninterrupted minutes. If you are wondering how I did it all through these years, the answer is quite easy.

When I flash a quick look at my reflection, I would only focus on staring at my face. And by mastering the skill, I have sadly neglected the rest of me. I haven’t really paid attention as to how long I have been evading the mirror, but when I look back on the time that I have shunned socializing, I can say that it has already gone for far too long. And it didn’t come without a price – I have lost too many opportunities and I have also lost touch with dear friends because I have totally enclosed myself in my comfort zone.

Aside from my immediate family and close friends, I have never bothered to open myself up to new people. It’s not that I don’t go out because I still love going to places, but I only do so just because I have the anonymity that came with moving to a bigger city. Being a small town girl, I grew up in a place where everybody knows everybody. And I have come to dislike the idea of brushing shoulders with familiar faces because I was just too afraid.

But I have gotten tired of avoiding full view mirrors, and I have spent such a long time feeling utterly hopeless. To add to that, I have ran out of excuses as to why I could not make it yet again to another family gathering. I realized that I have wasted too many years away, and I see no point in wasting some more. Hence, I have some mid-year resolutions for myself.

I WILL…..

1.     Get proper treatment – The reason why I have so many symptoms now is because my hormones went crazy after pregnancy. And I didn’t bother to go to many specialists after that, but this time around I am going to seriously have regular check-ups.

2.    Regularly take my medications – I am currently on Metformin 500 mg thrice daily after meals. I usually skip one dose when I don’t bother to eat breakfast. And since I could not tolerate a higher dose, I will work on taking it on the right intervals.

3.    Eat right. When you are insulin resistant, you tend to crave food every now and then. These cravings may also occur when your blood glucose is poorly controlled. I love Filipino food but many of the dishes that are easy to cook are just too fatty. And with cholesterol levels skyrocketing for PCOS women, I should exert an effort in preparing and eating healthy meals at home.

4.    Exercise regularly. Although I had too many failed attempts before, I could never have a better quality of life if I don’t lose weight. Many PCOS women attest to getting rid of most symptoms after weight loss. While it may sound easy, I am aware that weight loss is painstakingly hard for PCOS women.

5.    Stay inspired. I am slowly recovering from the effects of my solitude and now I am ecstatic to start this blog because it has the potential to reach out to other people who may be going through similar situations.

6.    Live life to the fullest. I refuse to waste more years feeling sad and sorry for myself. I will do my best in all my undertakings, and I will focus more on getting a better quality of life.

There is too much uncertainty ahead, but I am very determined to overcome PCOS. My daughter is just three years old, and I will not allow PCOS to rob me off fruitful years that I can spend with my family.  And after a long time, I have welcomed back the mirror as one of my long lost friends. I’m seeing that there’s a lot of work that needs to be done, but I’ll get there somehow…..