Official PCOS Diagnosis: Advice and Soothing Noises Needed

[aprilz81]

Background:  I have a history of irregular cycles with heavy bleeding (including large clots).  I went on BC to regulate my cycles, which worked but only masked the symptoms.  I went off BC on October 5 to TTC, first cycle was "normal" at 36 days with dotted cross hairs at CD21, second cycle was annovulatory and ended on CD87 following Progesterone.

I had blood work drawn last week and an appointment with my OBGYN this morning and I received an official diagnosis of PCOS.  This was not surprising due to other symptoms, but still disappointing.  

My DHEA was on the extreme high end of normal and my FSH and LH was off by a 3 to 1 ratio (which is primarily what lead her to the PCOS).  We are still waiting on the results of the metabolic panel, so we don't know if I am insulin resistant yet.  

I realize this is not an end to my hopes of having children, but it will likely be a longer road with more difficulties and disappointments than most.  I'm still processing, so this post is partly a way for me to think things over and partly seeking advice.

My doctor wants me to add more Vitamin D (a lot more, I am severely deficient) but that isn't that unusual for living above the Florida panhandle.  I live in Ohio and our winters are very gray (we honestly don't see much sun in the winter) and with it getting dark so early it is more of an issue in the summer.

She also wants me to lose weight, I am about 35 pounds over my personal ideal weight, but more like 50 pounds over what is ideal for my height.  This is not a surprise as she recommended this at my last annual.  I lost 8 pounds then gained it all back over the holidays.    

In addition to losing weight she would like me to get more exercise (again, no surprise, I'm a couch potato) more as a stress reliever than anything else, but of course everything leads back to having a healthy pregnancy once I get pregnant.  The more fit I am and the healthier my starting weight is will result in a lower risk of gestational diabetes, hypertension, pre-eclampsia and other things that PCOS women are more susceptible to.

She also recommended a nutritionist, but I'm not sure that will be worth the expense.  I know I eat like crap.  I love carbs and don't like most veggies.  <sigh>

My doctor is also going to call me in a standing script for Progestrone so I don't have to wait the 60 days for future cycles.  I will be able to take it as needed if I continue to be annovulatory.  Yeah for no more 87 day cycles!

My doctor offered up Clomid when I am ready, but she does not offer any monitoring other thank OPK and a CD21 blood draw so I WILL be seeking a referral to an RE when we are ready for that step. I learned from you lovely women that un-monitored Clomid is a recipe for disaster and not worth the risks.

I have been doing some research and it sounds like Femarra is better for PCOS patients and overall less risky even for other infertility patients. Does that sound right?

DH and I will talk things over tonight.  I think that since we have only been trying for 5 months (2 full cycles) I want to give us a little more time before going to an RE.  With the PCOS along with my age (just turned 34) I don't want to wait TOO long, so maybe if we aren't pregnant on our own by June or July that we can go to an RE and explore other options.

My gut instinct is to go no further than Femarra/Clomid and avoid injectibles, IUI, IVF, etc.  The added expense, emotional toll and stress may not be worth it to us.  Obviously this is a good route for some and I hope I do not sound critical for those who pursue that route, I'm just not sure it is right for us.

TL:DR Officially diagnosed with PCOS, lots of information to process, not sure what to do, advice welcome.

[expatmama11]

No advice or information to give but just wanted to say I'm sorry for what you are dealing with. It does sound like you have a good plan going forward and that is great. Wishing you the best of luck as you process all of this new information.

[ghostmonkey]

80%+ of your weight is determined in the kitchen. We all love carbs. You can't live off them. Either make changes or don't complain about it. There are tons of veggies. Try new ones or find ways to hide them in things so you can't taste them but get the benefits of them.


You are about 500 steps ahead of yourself deciding about meds at this point.

[piccyami]

You may want to at least look at going to a couple sessions with a nutritionist. They're there to help you eat the right foods for you. It was a lot of effort on my part when I went to the campus nutritionists, but totally worth it in the end.

[moutonrouge]

First, big creepy internet stranger hugs aprilz81 Even with it being unsurprising, I completely understand needing time to process this.

I think the nutritionist would be worth it. Two friends have insulin resistant PCOS, and both saw positive outcomes through changes in diet specific to insulin resistance. Nutritionists can work with your likes and dislikes to suggest meal plans and recipes, and can suggest good strategies for weight loss. I saw one a few years ago to help jumpstart weight loss and was very glad I did. My insurance covered it minus a co-pay for the office visit. The biggest changes from that visit have been using a food scale and using a food journal - both have helped me to make more conscious choices about eating. I also found it easier to exercise/be more active once I lost the first 10 lbs - it just felt easier and maybe even enjoyable.

[wanderingheart]

Hugs to you. I'm currently undergoing testing for PCOS as well, just waiting for my date with the vag cam next week to confirm.

I'm glad you know to seek an RE for Clomid. My OB tried to pass it off on me instantly. It sounds like your OB has a plan for you going forward though.

Let me know if you ever need anyone to talk to. I get it

[ghostmonkey]

Feb 12, 2015 12:33:22 GMT -5 adelbert said:

Have you seen the documentary, "Fed Up"? In a nutshell sugar is really awful in terms of weight gain/health and it is in pretty much all processed foods in the States especially the "diet" foods because it makes them taste edible. If you started cooking 90% of your food from scratch I bet you would see a big difference and still be able to enjoy carbs I only mention this as I believe the weight thing can make a big difference in dealing with PCOS. I'm sorry that you are going through this but I am sure once you have had some time to process that everything will work out and you will still get pregnant. Hugs.

This is a good point too about the sugar. Carbs aren't necessarily the enemy, but processed carbs loaded in sugar are and those are what many people love. The sugar in those items is what draws people to them.

Looking up a Glycemic Index diet is also another good source, and would be a very good idea if the test results do come back show insulin resistance.




PS-You have no way of guaranteeing that someone will get pregnant. That's a slippery slope that you should avoid.

[bl1210]

I was just dx with PCOS today. I don't have any advice but I am thankful to have all of you here for support!

[Sparkly]

No real experience or advice on the diagnosis and med questions, but I wanted to say I'm sorry you're dealing with this. I'm glad you do have some answers, but I know it's not an easy road now as you might have hoped.

As far as the nutrition and weight issues, I will agree with ghostmonkey, there are many good vegetables and healthy options out there, you just have to find what you like.

Anecdote: Every woman in my family has struggled with weight, except me. (of course my weight fluctuates here and there, and I'm healthier some times than others, but never significantly overweight like my mom, grandma, aunt, cousin, etc.) I give most of the credit to my mom for reversing the cycle, teaching me how to eat and how to cook to have a healthy weight and relationship with food. The thing is, I love carbs, I love dessert, I don't do diets, and I don't deprive myself. I believe in everything in moderation.

You can learn to love new foods (including vegetables), still have the things you like, and maintain a healthy weight. It's not possible to do it this way for everyone if you have really bad habits to start, and aren't willing to give some of them up. I personally think the nutritionist sounds like a good place to start for you, as you do have a significant amount to lose and it sounds like the diet aspect of it may be the bigger issue. Good luck!



edit: words/phrasing

[nuggetrn]

((hugs)) aprilz81 Sorry you are having to deal with this. I am glad you have some answers and can start making some plans for moving forward! Just echoing PPs, try not to get ahead of yourself with the meds and such. I think seeing a nutritionist is a great first step! Good luck with everything!

[singingsea]

Hugs! I'm sorry about your diagnosis At least you have a plan in place. PCOS is definitely not a game ender for TTC.

[JulietRose]

Sorry to hear the diagnosis. I've been dealing with PCOS since I was 18. They diagnosed me that early because there is a history of it in my family. I was immediately put on BC and Spironolactone, which of course you want neither since you are TTC. Ive always been irregular. When we first started TTC I was just coming off 3 months without a period and I had a 2 week period throughout our entire honeymoon (can't describe how much that sucked). After many months of having long cycles, I went to my new (and most awesome OB) who immediately put me on Metformin. I still had a 75 day cycle afterward. So she upped the dosage. Between that and exercising a lot more this month, my temps are looking way more normal. It can be super frustrating, but I'm here for ya!

[mrsp]

First, PCOS does not mean you won't get pregnant. The road might be a little longer, but a lot of women get pregnant with PCOS. I have PCOS and the problem with it is that I may have completely different symptoms than you so my experience and treatment may differ from yours. I would recommend reading up on PCOS and how to change your diet. I bought a few books off Amazon that talked about the PCOS Diet which I found helpful, but cutting out processed foods was one of the things highly recommended.

I do believe you're getting ahead of yourself with talking about meds considering you've only been TTC for a few months. Just try making a few adjustments and you may notice a difference almost immediately!

[chiapet]

So sorry you have this diagnosis, but know that there are way worse things than having PCOS and this does not mean at all that you cannot get pregnant. I was diagnosed a few years back and also told to lose weight. I lost weight by simply cutting down my portion sizes and not eating till midnight. I still enjoy carbs and sweets on occasion, but I am not eating half the cake now. I was put on metformin when we decided to start TTC. Remember for a healthy couple it can take up to a year to get pregnant and I wouldn't touch clomid if I were you before trying metformin, if your doctor recommends it. PM me if you have any questions or concerns. I know what it's like to have the first fear of hearing that you have PCOS, but it's truly not that bad. ((HUGS))

[peaseblossom55]

I'm so sorry sending you lots of hugs

[gdaisy09]

First, very big creepy internet hugs from new hampshire...I feel you on the lack of sunlight, it doesn't help anyone.

Consider consulting a dietician over a nutritionist, they'll hold a RD or LD, they are wholely more eqquiped to think about your intake from a vitamins, minerals, nutrient standpoint and can make better recommendations about supplements if "eat more plants" doesn't jive with you.

annecdotally I have a friend who was diagnosed with a condition similar to PCOS who had amazing results from cutting sugar from her diet almost entierly, no processed sugar, no carbs, etc. she says she missed candy and sweet drinks for about two weeks, and pizza and pasta for three or four, but now feels terrible if she consumes any of it and doesn't crave those things any more. To me she looks like she's lost 30-40 lbs, and she's been able to stop taking medication for her metabolic disorder.

As you may know from discussions on other boards I am a believer in Michael Pollan's approach to food, check out Omnivore's Dilemma or In Defense of Food, the basic philosophy is to shop the exterior of the grocery store (seriously the only thing I go down the asiles for are raw baking ingredients (sugar, flour, spices), coffee, and oatmeal). My H is not into vegetables, at all, when we first started dating I literally had to look-up "kid-friendly recipies" to find things I could make that he would eat, I have found that many of the recipes in Cooking Light Magazine have the veggies prepared and seasoned in ways that he does not find them nearly as offensive as he used to.

PPs are right that food is the biggest part of weight loss, but you'll probably find as you eat better you'll have more energy and just naturally feel like doing more things. find things you enjoy doing so that you keep doing them, even a simple yoga practice can make a huge difference. I like cardio-training, I do run, bike, swim, zumba, etc, but I didn't actually like those things until I was in shape enough to actually enjoy them. I LOVE strength training type stuff and actually lost the 30lbs I gained in college when I started lifting weights. I think all exercise is awful the first two or 3 months you do it, so build up slowly and don't let yourself get easlily frustrated, know that the majority of the work is in the kitchen

feel free to PM me or find me in facebook-land if you want any ideas

[JulietRose]

Feb 12, 2015 13:32:07 GMT -5 chiapet said:

So sorry you have this diagnosis, but know that there are way worse things than having PCOS and this does not mean at all that you cannot get pregnant. I was diagnosed a few years back and also told to lose weight. I lost weight by simply cutting down my portion sizes and not eating till midnight. I still enjoy carbs and sweets on occasion, but I am not eating half the cake now. I was put on metformin when we decided to start TTC. Remember for a healthy couple it can take up to a year to get pregnant and I wouldn't touch clomid if I were you before trying metformin, if your doctor recommends it. PM me if you have any questions or concerns. I know what it's like to have the first fear of hearing that you have PCOS, but it's truly not that bad. ((HUGS))

Agree with all of this, plus: For me, cutting out the carbs makes a huge difference. Little to no sugar, no pasta, rice, bread. I stick to salads, fruits, veggies, and meat protein. If I do have bread, I make my own. As for exercise, I would mix cardio with strength. I did P90x and running. I use MyFitnessPal to be accountable for my food intake. The hard part is starting it and sticking to it, but it makes you feel sooooo much better!

[joy]

I'm sorry you have to deal with this! I don't have much advice about PCOS but I want to say a few words about weight/nutrition.

First, weight and weight loss is nearly 80% your food. For this reason, I highly HIGHLY recommend going to see a nutrtionist. Hell, I'd like to go see one myself! Anyone who will help guide you is worth it.

That said, I want to stress that eating better doesn't mean you only eat salads/feel uber hungry all the time and exercise doesn't mean you're killing youraelf at the gym six days a week. That mindset is the fast track to failure.

You start small. Tweaks to diet that you can handle, walks two days a week. You build up from there over time. Your focus should be diet, not crazy exercise.

I also agree with others who say you are ahead of yourself with saying what meds you are willing to take. Be open and remember that your opinion will change as your emotions do. Focus on the things you can control now and answer the other questions later.

[aprilz81]

Thank you all for your responses, well wishes and advice. I'm sure as I learn more and process more that I will feel less overwhelmed and more in control.

Cutting back on food portion sizes won't be a problem for me as much as trying to eliminate all sugar/carbs. I just don't think it is possible for me at this time (yes, I realize this is an excuse). I've also read that dairy is bad for PCOS and that is my second favorite food group.

I've been wanting to purchase a rowing machine for awhile now and this may be the kick I needed to just spend the money and do it. I really like the rowing machine when I had access to one at my gym and we have a weight machine in our basement I can use. I just need to USE it.

[joy]

I may be on my own island right now, but telling people to just big fat cut out large chunka of their diet immediately is more fad dieting than helpful to someone just starting out.

I'm not debating it's ultimate usefulness, but clearly OP is stressed and sad. She needs to start with changes she can deal with. Telling someone who loves carbs to cut out ALL carbs is more harmful than helpful because it will be discouraging from the very beginning.

There's also oodles of conflicting information out there. Before cutting out whole food groups, I'd meet with someone who specializes in nutrition who can guide her.

EDIT - I wouldn't remove carbs or diary from your diet ubtil you talk with a professional. Definitely cut down on processed foods, though. Cut down, start small, work up to none at all.

[aprilz81]

Follow up question...

For those who have experience with the PCOS diet, is that an "all or nothing" deal? Would cutting back on the sugar/refined carbs/soda/dairy be beneficial even if it isn't totally eliminated?

I did a quick search on my lunch hour but most of what I saw was incomplete or "do not ever eat these foods".

[joy]

Feb 12, 2015 14:13:18 GMT -5 aprilz81 said:

Follow up question...

For those who have experience with the PCOS diet, is that an "all or nothing" deal? Would cutting back on the sugar/refined carbs/soda/dairy be beneficial even if it isn't totally eliminated?

I did a quick search on my lunch hour but most of what I saw was incomplete or "do not ever eat these foods".

Oy. Talk to a nutrionist.

[kaliRN]

I'm sorry. I know that's super disappointing but there's a lot of help and support out there for PCOS and for helping get to a healthy weight. I wish you the very best of luck and lots of hugs to you!

[ghostmonkey]

Feb 12, 2015 14:10:26 GMT -5 joy said:

I may be on my own island right now, but telling people to just big fat cut out large chunka of their diet immediately is more fad dieting than helpful to someone just starting out.

I'm not debating it's ultimate usefulness, but clearly OP is stressed and sad. She needs to start with changes she can deal with. Telling someone who loves carbs to cut out ALL carbs is more harmful than helpful because it will be discouraging from the very beginning.

There's also oodles of conflicting information out there. Before cutting out whole food groups, I'd meet with someone who specializes in nutrition who can guide her.

EDIT - I wouldn't remove carbs or diary from your diet ubtil you talk with a professional. Definitely cut down on processed foods, though. Cut down, start small, work up to none at all.

I will join you on this island. But changes do have to happen if you expect the outcome to be different. If you keep going the way you are, things aren't going to change. Is one donut going to kill you? No. Even on a restrictive diet, it's not going to make or break you. You aren't a failure if you don't follow the diet to a T every single meal of every single day. Treats are ok, but they need to be that- treats. Treats aren't a daily thing. Then it's called your diet.

And humans can't live a functional life on no carb for very long. Carbs is where your energy comes from. You still need them. Altering the quality and watching the quantity for a bit can be hugely helpful. You aren't doomed to a life of tracking all calories all day long, but it can be helpful while you establish new habits so you get an idea of what a "good" day looks like.

And for the love of everything holy, if the nutritionist says anything about a 1200 calorie diet- RUN.

[aprilz81]

Feb 12, 2015 14:48:20 GMT -5 ghostmonkey said:

Feb 12, 2015 14:10:26 GMT -5 joy said:

I may be on my own island right now, but telling people to just big fat cut out large chunka of their diet immediately is more fad dieting than helpful to someone just starting out.

I'm not debating it's ultimate usefulness, but clearly OP is stressed and sad. She needs to start with changes she can deal with. Telling someone who loves carbs to cut out ALL carbs is more harmful than helpful because it will be discouraging from the very beginning.

There's also oodles of conflicting information out there. Before cutting out whole food groups, I'd meet with someone who specializes in nutrition who can guide her.

EDIT - I wouldn't remove carbs or diary from your diet ubtil you talk with a professional. Definitely cut down on processed foods, though. Cut down, start small, work up to none at all.

I will join you on this island. But changes do have to happen if you expect the outcome to be different. If you keep going the way you are, things aren't going to change. Is one donut going to kill you? No. Even on a restrictive diet, it's not going to make or break you. You aren't a failure if you don't follow the diet to a T every single meal of every single day. Treats are ok, but they need to be that- treats. Treats aren't a daily thing. Then it's called your diet.

And humans can't live a functional life on no carb for very long. Carbs is where your energy comes from. You still need them. Altering the quality and watching the quantity for a bit can be hugely helpful. You aren't doomed to a life of tracking all calories all day long, but it can be helpful while you establish new habits so you get an idea of what a "good" day looks like.

And for the love of everything holy, if the nutritionist says anything about a 1200 calorie diet- RUN.

I've done a 1200 calorie diet before and it was miserable.  I do much better around 1400-1500 when I'm trying to lose weight.

I know generally speaking that one donut or one serving (not bag) of chips isn't the end of the world, but some of what I read today is that people with PCOS should not eat those foods.  I realize that not all of these sources are scientifically based and there is a lot of conflicting information out there.

I will be making changes immediately because changes need to be made for my overall health, not just to increase my odds of having children.  I'm just trying to figure out how far I need to go "now" while I look into a dietitian/nutritionist who can better guide me.  That is why I asked for any experience with the PCOS diet.

[anonymouseliza]

See a nutritionist or dietician. The end.

Yes, cutting back on processed foods/sugars/complex carbs is going to be healthier for you. Whether or not that will help your PCOS isn't something we can say.

I'm someone who is not PCOS, but I am morbidly obese and have had had diagnosed eating disorders dating back to childhood. I have been very attached to sugar. I was able to break those addictions and lose weight and the impact on my fertility was amazing. Now, I do not have PCOS - I can't say you would see the same result, but there is a reason it is recommended.

Don't make excuses. I didn't and don't like giving up sugar either. I can handle a moderate amount. I hated giving up fast food. It was worth it. I'm not a big fan of veggies either. Doesn't matter. My health is more important than those head things, and once I let them go, I didn't need them anymore. What I was getting back in it's place was worthwhile.

If you don't like veggies, try new veggies. Find new ways to cook them. I'd honestly never had roasted vegetables before, outside of potatoes. I didn't know it was a thing. Now I love roasting cauliflower. It's delicious. I make cauliflower rice to serve with dishes and zucchini noodles for pasta. And they are delicious. It's a matter of branching out and exploring new options.

You don't necessarily have to deprive yourself - I'm not saying that jumping right into a Whole30 is best move for you (though it was for me personally) - you just need to broaden your horizons and get more creative. I found I liked food a lot more when I started experimenting with different things to reduce my processed food in-take.

Please don't think I'm being harsh intentionally - what you're saying is what I said for years and years. I wish I'd snapped out of it sooner and faced my food issues before, because it might not have taken additional years to conceive my daughter, and my health would have improved sooner.

[anonymouseliza]

Feb 12, 2015 14:48:20 GMT -5 ghostmonkey said:

Feb 12, 2015 14:10:26 GMT -5 joy said:

I may be on my own island right now, but telling people to just big fat cut out large chunka of their diet immediately is more fad dieting than helpful to someone just starting out.

I'm not debating it's ultimate usefulness, but clearly OP is stressed and sad. She needs to start with changes she can deal with. Telling someone who loves carbs to cut out ALL carbs is more harmful than helpful because it will be discouraging from the very beginning.

There's also oodles of conflicting information out there. Before cutting out whole food groups, I'd meet with someone who specializes in nutrition who can guide her.

EDIT - I wouldn't remove carbs or diary from your diet ubtil you talk with a professional. Definitely cut down on processed foods, though. Cut down, start small, work up to none at all.

I will join you on this island. But changes do have to happen if you expect the outcome to be different. If you keep going the way you are, things aren't going to change. Is one donut going to kill you? No. Even on a restrictive diet, it's not going to make or break you. You aren't a failure if you don't follow the diet to a T every single meal of every single day. Treats are ok, but they need to be that- treats. Treats aren't a daily thing. Then it's called your diet.

And humans can't live a functional life on no carb for very long. Carbs is where your energy comes from. You still need them. Altering the quality and watching the quantity for a bit can be hugely helpful. You aren't doomed to a life of tracking all calories all day long, but it can be helpful while you establish new habits so you get an idea of what a "good" day looks like.

And for the love of everything holy, if the nutritionist says anything about a 1200 calorie diet- RUN.

God yes.

[anonymouseliza]

Adding one more thing to piggyback on what joy said. The biggest thing I've done this time around is increased my walking. I've been super stressed out by a bad work situation and just haven't had time to start a new workout routine. And last year, while I got off to a good start, I fell off the workout wagon about half-way through. So this time, I'm just walking. Dug out the fitbit and put it on again and I've gone from sloth-like sedentary (maybe an average of 2500 steps on a workday) to 10,000 steps per day this week. It's made a huge impact on my general health. I can't say, again, you would see the exact same results since PCOS can interfere, but it's amazing how much better things are from where they were over the holidays.

This is a lot to take in, and you definitely have a lot to think about and process. GL.

[aprilz81]

Feb 12, 2015 15:03:54 GMT -5 anonymouseliza said:

See a nutritionist or dietician. The end.

Yes, cutting back on processed foods/sugars/complex carbs is going to be healthier for you. Whether or not that will help your PCOS isn't something we can say.

I'm someone who is not PCOS, but I am morbidly obese and have had had diagnosed eating disorders dating back to childhood. I have been very attached to sugar. I was able to break those addictions and lose weight and the impact on my fertility was amazing. Now, I do not have PCOS - I can't say you would see the same result, but there is a reason it is recommended.

Don't make excuses. I didn't and don't like giving up sugar either. I can handle a moderate amount. I hated giving up fast food. It was worth it. I'm not a big fan of veggies either. Doesn't matter. My health is more important than those head things, and once I let them go, I didn't need them anymore. What I was getting back in it's place was worthwhile.

If you don't like veggies, try new veggies. Find new ways to cook them. I'd honestly never had roasted vegetables before, outside of potatoes. I didn't know it was a thing. Now I love roasting cauliflower. It's delicious. I make cauliflower rice to serve with dishes and zucchini noodles for pasta. And they are delicious. It's a matter of branching out and exploring new options.

You don't necessarily have to deprive yourself - I'm not saying that jumping right into a Whole30 is best move for you (though it was for me personally) - you just need to broaden your horizons and get more creative. I found I liked food a lot more when I started experimenting with different things to reduce my processed food in-take.

Please don't think I'm being harsh intentionally - what you're saying is what I said for years and years. I wish I'd snapped out of it sooner and faced my food issues before, because it might not have taken additional years to conceive my daughter, and my health would have improved sooner.

I understand where you are coming from and I appreciate your feedback.

I have gotten better about expanding the foods I will eat (dare I say like?) compared to when I was younger and I have a lot of room for improvement.

A lot of my issues with veggies is a texture issue more than a taste issue.  For example I will eat raw carrots but I can't stand them cooked, they are too mushy and I like guacamole, but not raw avocado.  Maybe different cooking/prep methods can help with the texture issue.

[anonymouseliza]

Feb 12, 2015 15:17:27 GMT -5 aprilz81 said:

Feb 12, 2015 15:03:54 GMT -5 anonymouseliza said:

See a nutritionist or dietician. The end.

Yes, cutting back on processed foods/sugars/complex carbs is going to be healthier for you. Whether or not that will help your PCOS isn't something we can say.

I'm someone who is not PCOS, but I am morbidly obese and have had had diagnosed eating disorders dating back to childhood. I have been very attached to sugar. I was able to break those addictions and lose weight and the impact on my fertility was amazing. Now, I do not have PCOS - I can't say you would see the same result, but there is a reason it is recommended.

Don't make excuses. I didn't and don't like giving up sugar either. I can handle a moderate amount. I hated giving up fast food. It was worth it. I'm not a big fan of veggies either. Doesn't matter. My health is more important than those head things, and once I let them go, I didn't need them anymore. What I was getting back in it's place was worthwhile.

If you don't like veggies, try new veggies. Find new ways to cook them. I'd honestly never had roasted vegetables before, outside of potatoes. I didn't know it was a thing. Now I love roasting cauliflower. It's delicious. I make cauliflower rice to serve with dishes and zucchini noodles for pasta. And they are delicious. It's a matter of branching out and exploring new options.

You don't necessarily have to deprive yourself - I'm not saying that jumping right into a Whole30 is best move for you (though it was for me personally) - you just need to broaden your horizons and get more creative. I found I liked food a lot more when I started experimenting with different things to reduce my processed food in-take.

Please don't think I'm being harsh intentionally - what you're saying is what I said for years and years. I wish I'd snapped out of it sooner and faced my food issues before, because it might not have taken additional years to conceive my daughter, and my health would have improved sooner.

I understand where you are coming from and I appreciate your feedback.

I have gotten better about expanding the foods I will eat (dare I say like?) compared to when I was younger and I have a lot of room for improvement.

A lot of my issues with veggies is a texture issue more than a taste issue.  For example I will eat raw carrots but I can't stand them cooked, they are too mushy and I like guacamole, but not raw avocado.  Maybe different cooking/prep methods can help with the texture issue.

Girl, I am with you on cooked carrots, raw avocado and texture issues generally.  I have found that exploring different cooking methods is a godsend to finding veggies and side-dishes I like.  I'm never going to be a bean fan, I'll still vomit if you try to give me lima beans or mushy peas, but roasted and grilled squash are amazing.  I also like well-prepared eggplant - who knew?