PCOS A Life-Changing Diagnosis
- 15 hours ago
- 6 min read
Laila Belabbas is the Founder of Splish Splash Handmade Products & Executive Coach In Your Corner. With over 15 years as a Human Resources Leader and Leadership Coach, she holds a Bachelor's in Commerce Entrepreneurial Management-Finance, is a Certified Executive Coach and a member of the International Coaching Federation
Living with PCOS can feel isolating, as its symptoms can be invisible to others. In this article, the author shares her personal journey with PCOS, shedding light on the challenges of managing the condition and the lifestyle changes that helped her regain control. Discover valuable insights into how PCOS impacts daily life and how a tailored approach to diet, exercise, and self-care can make a difference.
Misunderstood and underdiagnosed symptoms
For several years, I had been feeling tired and bloated, I was experiencing inflammation in my whole body, constant exhaustion, rapid weight fluctuations, and excessive hair growth on my face and abdomen. More surprising were the months without menstruation and then, having long-lasting periods over two weeks. I had a loss of appetite, anxiety and stress without reason. Even frequent unexplained vomiting and a poor sleep pattern.
I saw several doctors over the years and had numerous trips to the emergency room. The response I would receive is that your symptoms weren’t real and that it was in my head. I was advised to eat better, learn to manage my stress better, and exercise more. I felt isolated and discouraged, living in a body that was sick and uncomfortable.
Diagnosis
Finally finding a family doctor who listened to my concerns and wanted to help was game-changing. He understood that my symptoms were not in my head and could see the drastic changes in weight gain and weight loss, as well as irregular periods, which exacerbated my symptoms.
At first, my doctor put me on birth control to help regulate my period. Within a few months, my period completely stopped for a year, after trying several brands of birth control. The doctor concluded that this treatment wasn’t working and stopped the birth control. I was given medication to trigger my periods, which also didn’t work. I had to wait for my body to balance the hormones naturally. It took six months for my period to restart.
I was referred to a dietician due to drastic weight gain to try to identify what in my diet was impacting my weight. I had to keep a daily journal of all meals for three months. After presenting my journal to the dietician and blood work. Her diagnosis was surprising, my caloric count was 700 calories a day or less. She couldn’t believe how little I was eating and how anyone could survive on so few calories per day. I always had a very low appetite and didn’t enjoy eating food, when most of the time I was throwing up. She concluded that my weight gain wasn’t related to my diet and that something else was at play.
I was then sent to an endocrinologist for further assessment. He then concluded that I had an abnormally high level of testosterone and other markers that suggested an allergy to wheat.
My family doctor reviewed all the results and diagnosed me with PCOS and Celiac disease. This was a life-changing moment. All the years of doctors, family, and friends telling me it’s all in my head were such a relief. I finally felt there was hope that I might begin to feel better.[3]
The weight gain made sense, as I had insulin resistance affecting how my body processed sugar. In addition, the difficulty keeping food in my stomach when eating food that contains wheat made me throw up because I was allergic. I remember my doctor telling me ‘now we know what’s going on, you need to change your diet immediately and start medication that helps manage PCOS disease.’
What is PCOS
PCOS is a metabolic hormonal imbalance that affects 10% of women. The most common side effects are insulin resistance, high levels of androgen (testosterone), obesity and difficulty conceiving.
Insulin resistance: Elevated testosterone levels can lead to excessive hair growth, acne, and hair loss. In addition, it causes irregular periods, difficulty conceiving, body inflammation and weight gain.
Unfortunately, PCOS has no cure. However, the disease can be managed with medication, a healthy diet, and exercise. PCOS symptoms may vary from one woman to another, and it’s important to seek medical advice from your doctor. It is not one size fits all with PCOS. You need to learn what works best and listen to your body. It’s a process.
How to treat PCOS and reduce symptoms
Diet is key to managing PCOS symptoms. A diet comprises fresh fruit, clean protein, no processed foods, and reduced sugar to help your insulin work better. Very challenging as I have a sweet tooth. No more wheat products, as I was diagnosed with celiac, is a no-go. Regular blood work every 3 months to monitor hormonal changes. I started exercising more by going to the gym more often, biking, walking, and doing yoga.
I remember sitting with my doctor reviewing my new blood work after making drastic changes in my lifestyle and exercise. I was excited to see my progress. To my surprise, my doctor stated that going to the gym wasn’t conducive to being healthier. In fact, it was the opposite. Going to the gym increased my testosterone level, which impacted my insulin resistance, I was gaining weight instead of losing weight. Something I never expected to hear from my doctor is no more going to the gym!
He recommended gentle exercise walking, biking and yoga to ensure my testosterone doesn’t increase and help manage my insulin. Managing my diet, eating healthy foods, doing gentle exercise, and taking spironolactone to block testosterone, reduce hair growth and water retention. Metformin helps manage insulin resistance and regulate my periods. It has significantly reduced my PCOS symptoms.
How does PCOS impact your daily life?
Sleeping regular hours helps manage hormones and mood. To be at my optimal self, I need 10 hours of sleep. I wake up rested, with no stress or anxiety. I avoid gluten-free food as it increases my insulin resistance, makes my brain foggy, gives me headaches, and causes me to experience more inflammation. My doctor recommended a keto diet that is more suitable for my PCOS. There are days when I feel more tired than others, even when I eat healthy. Also, my period is more challenging as the hormones are all over the place the week before and during.
It impacts my mood, sleeping pattern, and appetite, causing exhaustion. In addition, I experience higher inflammation in my body, waking up with aches and pains. Aromatherapy is a lifesaver. I take a lavender bath with lavender essential oil (augustifolia) and bath salts to help reduce stress, alleviate symptoms, and improve my sleep.[1]
I also use clean beauty products that don’t have ingredients such as parabens found in moisturizers, makeup, and shampoo.[2]
Phthalates are found in fragrances, nail polish and hairsprays. Sulphates are found in shampoos, soaps and cleansers. Hence, I built a wellness brand, Splish Splash Handmade Products.
Some chemicals are hormone disruptors. In addition, I started creating keto and gluten-free recipes using almond flour. A PCOS diet doesn’t have to be boring. I am proud to have a few more options that suit my diet now. I have delicious bread, an everything bagel, a cinnamon-raisin bagel, and donuts. My favourite is the donut glaze! More recipes in the works.
You’re not alone
PCOS is an invisible disease, no one knows what you're experiencing. However, you're living with this disease every day, and the symptoms can constantly change. It is my hope that the more we talk about it, the more we can bring awareness. I had two women in my circle being diagnosed after I shared my experience. I learned to live with the disease and manage my days accordingly. My hope is to see earlier detection for women. It’s important to seek medical support and a personalized plan that suits you.
Read more from Laila Belabbas
Laila Belabbas, Splish Splash Handmade Products & Executive Coach
Laila Belabbas is an Executive Coach, Human Resources Leader, and Entrepreneur passionate about helping people and organizations reach their full potential. With over 15 years of experience in leadership, coaching, and business growth, she brings a human-centered approach to performance and purpose. As the Founder of Splish Splash Handmade Products and Executive Coach In Your Corner, Laila blends strategy with empathy to inspire conscious, authentic leadership. Her articles explore coaching, leadership, entrepreneurship, human resources, and wellness, empowering readers to lead with confidence, purpose, and live with intention.
References:
[2] Chantelouve, M., & Ripoll, L. (2022). Endocrine disruptors in cosmetics: A review. Constellation – Université du Québec à Chicoutimi.
[1] Vinall, M. (2021, February 24). How to use lavender to calm your anxiety. Healthline.
[3] Stathos, A. (2023, February 1). PCOS diet. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
