My Health Journey (Part Two)

I ended Part 1 with sharing the beginnings of my Health Journey and some of the resources that have helped me.

Part 1 discussed my most common health issues like weight gain, hair loss, and acne. It also discussed how I was treated by the healthcare providers I saw. But it did not discuss how it affected me, or my mental health. It also did not discuss the skin conditions I have been dealing with. 

During those 4 years, I advocated for myself but was met with hostility and gaslighting. It felt so defeating that I wasn’t believed that what I experienced in my day-to-day didn’t matter. Along with my other issues this took a huge toll on my mental health. I developed body image issues, my anxiety and depression worsened, and I felt very alone in that experience. No one around me had gone through what I was going through so it was something I dealt with in silence. Which looking back, made it harder on myself.

While experiencing body image issues from the weight gain and acne, I also developed multiple skin conditions. Peri-Oral Dermatitis, worsening Rosacea, Seborrheic Dermatitis, and most recently Eczema.

Peri-Oral Dermatitis: Is a rash around the nose and mouth. The rash can be red, dry, itchy, or have puss filled bumps. The skin can peel, and can also be found on the nose, cheeks, and eyes.

Rosacea: Is facial redness with small red bumps and visible blood vessels. People can experience dryness, oily skin, dry eyes, puffy eyes, itching, or a bulbous red nose. The redness is commonly noticed on the cheeks and nose but can affect the whole face.

Seborrheic Dermatitis: A skin condition causing scaly patches and red skin, commonly on the scalp. This condition can have active and inactive periods. The skin can have burning sensations, scaling, and itching.

Eczema: An inflammatory skin condition that can cause dry skin, itchy skin, rashes, scales on the skin, skin infections and blisters. Severe inflammation of Eczema can cause burning or burning when topicals are applied.

These conditions can be affected by weather, stress, inflammation, and other factors. None of these conditions are curable. They can be treated with topicals, steroids, lasers, or diet and lifestyle changes. Once these conditions manifest, they do not go away. Rosacea is typically genetic, and the others manifest from stress, toxins, hormonal changes, allergies, abnormal cells, immune system dysfunction or infections. Since switching to Non-Toxic Living these conditions have improved and are mostly managed except for the Rosacea and in times of stress. I was happy to see improvements as these also were negatively affecting my mental health.

Following up with my experience with Parsley Health since Part 1 I have had 2 visits with my Provider and Health Coach. I have also since been diagnosed with Poly-Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a hormonal and metabolic condition that can be genetic. PCOS affects 1 In 10 women and is the most common cause of Infertility in women. PCOS Is most recognized by cysts on the ovaries, Insulin resistance, and Infertility but not everyone with PCOS has all these symptoms. PCOS Is a completely Individual and unique disease, that affects everyone in different ways. PCOS Is the most common hormonal disorder with more and more women being diagnosed every year. It Is estimated PCOS may in fact affect 1 In 5 women as many go undiagnosed or incorrectly diagnosed. PCOS affects women in their reproductive years. Though there Is no set cause for PCOS there are many factors that contribute to PCOS. These factors include Inflammation, genetics, chronic stress, Insulin resistance, and environmental toxins. 

After getting this diagnosis, I remembered as soon as all this started PCOS was the first thing I thought it was. I have 7 plus years’ experience in the medical field and working in women’s health. At the time this started 4 years ago, I had a male doctor. I don’t want to discount men as doctors, but they don’t fully understand how woman’s body’s function. Even though they study the reproductive system in school women were not a part of medical studies until the 1990s. Our reproductive systems are not the only part of us those functions differently than men, and that’s important for healthcare providers to study, and understand. 

I am currently processing this diagnosis, what it encompasses and what it means for my health and my future. The healthcare providers I’m working with have been so incredibly patient with me. They are not pushing restrictive diets, excessive exercise, or unsustainable habits. As I am working on managing my PCOS I will continue to share this journey. PCOS is extremely common, and I hope after you read this you do not feel alone. You feel understood and can relate. Even though our healthcare system is completely broken there are answers. There are people who care and there is treatment. There is a way out and a way to feel like yourself again.

This is not sponsored by Parsley Health. 

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This me sharing my story. It is not for diagnosing or treating any conditions. Always consult your doctor.