My husband and I have been married for almost three months now! It feels like we have been married for way longer than three months, but I guess that is normal when you live with someone for over two years before you get married! Even though I heard a lot of criticism about us living together before we got married, I don't regret it. It allowed us to really get to know each other and to see what married life would be like, before we actually got married. I know what the Bible says about that, and believe me, I understand that in his eyes it is wrong. At least I can say that I would have never lived with Mike if I didn't see a future with him.
Mike is my rock. He's always there for me when I need him. He literally can read me like a book. He knows what kind of mood I'm in, just by looking at me. He can tell immediately when something is bothering me and always goes out of his way to figure out what is wrong and be there. There are times when my moods are up and down because of my hormone issues and he is always so sweet and understanding about it, even though at times it frustrates him.
We have so much laughter in our marriage. Sure, we go through hard times and get into stupid little fights sometimes, but in the end we are always standing together. We are so goofy sometimes and we literally crack ourselves up. It's hilarious. We are definitely "a pair".
These past few weeks, we have been trapping opossums. They have taken over our neighborhood and since those type of animals are full of diseases, we trap them and then relocate them. Early yesterday morning, we caught a huge one. It was the biggest opossum that we have ever seen. It was 4:00am when we heard him in the trap. I went out on the porch to see if the trap had closed on him, and it hadn't. So I ran over and shut it before he could get out. Since it was so early, we decided to just let him stay in the cage until we got up for the day. We got back in bed, and started hearing noises. The opossum was trying his best to get out of the trap! Mike went outside and told me to get an old towel to put over the trap. I gave him one and he covered it up. (Sidenote: It was still dark outside at this point). We got back into bed and Mike said, "Well, he'll sleep because his cage is dark now". I about died! I said, "Ummm, well sweetie, it was already dark outside before you put the towel over it". He started laughing and I almost fell out on the floor from laughing so hard! We were just a little bit sleepy and delirious. But even now, it cracks me up.
We then decided that it would be absolutely hilarious to put an ad on craigslist for a free opossum. So, there we are, at 4:30am posting an ad on craigslist for a free opossum. Can you believe that we actually got several emails? One person did tell us that we needed to take him to the animal shelter so that they would give him the care that he needed. The other people that emailed were interested in having the animal as a pet. Then we got one that apparently wanted the opossum so that him and his brother could eat it. GROSS!
Mike and I are just a goofy married couple. We love to laugh and we come up with the craziest ideas sometimes. It was both of our ideas to start trapping opossums. On a regular basis our neighbor comes over and asks us what we are up to now! She about died when we told her that we had trapped a skunk by accident! Believe it or not, that skunk was so friendly. We were able to get up close to it(don't even ask why we decided that would be a wonderful idea) and it didn't even try to spray us. I guess we're just silly and full of weird ideas at times! I wouldn't have it any other way! ;) We are still waiting to trap a squirrel and a raccoon. We just think that would be great! ;)
I love my husband with all of my heart. I've never in my life felt so close to someone and so connected on every level that there is. He is my everything! :)
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
PCOS Questions
I received an email from someone who has a few questions about PCOS. She came across my blog through a search on Google and since I have been diagnosed and understand it, she thought that I would be able to answer her questions! I am going to try my best to answer them in this post.
1. When I was diagnosed with PCOS, my doctor explained it to me but I didn't really understand him. Can you explain it in English for me?
I completely understand what she means. Doctors try their best to explain things so that we can understand them, but sometimes that isn't enough!
PCOS is basically an imbalance of hormones. Women have sex hormones that are called estrogen and progesterone. We also have androgen hormones that are basically called "male hormones". Males also have androgen hormones but have a whole lot more of those hormones than women do. In the case of PCOS, we tend to have more of the androgen hormones than women without PCOS. Because of the higher than normal male hormones in our body, it can cause unwanted facial hair, skin problems like acne, weight gain, and problems with ovulation. The high levels of androgen hormones affect ovulation because they disrupt the normal development and release of eggs. The ovaries of a woman with PCOS do not look the same as a woman that doesn't have it. Our ovaries have small cysts all over them. Usually they do not cause any problems, but in some women they do get larger and have to be removed.
My doctor told me that PCOS is also related to insulin in some cases. She said that some women with this syndrome have excess insulin in their bodies because their bodies get confused on how to use it. The excess insulin causes the increase in the production of androgen hormones, which then causes the problems that I mentioned in the last paragraph.
2. Could I have gotten PCOS because I am a little overweight?
I have heard that PCOS can be caused by being overweight. But, I have also talked to women that are skinny that have PCOS. I really believe that it just depends on the person. Your weight may have not caused the PCOS, but if you started noticing symptoms after gaining weight, it could be directly related. In my case, my problems started after I got off of the birth control pill. They have not proven that birth control pills cause PCOS, but in my case, I think that it could have been related somewhat!
3. I rarely have a menstrual cycle which is why I went to a doctor. Is going without one bad?
I struggle with that too. I have gone an entire year without having a period before. I was put on Provera after that and finally started bleeding(it was terrible). Since then, it has been off and on. I haven't had one in several months now. Usually the lining in my uterus has to build up so much that it just has to come out and then I will start bleeding. I've heard that this isn't good because it can put you at a higher risk for cancer and other problems. A lot of the time, doctors will put women on birth control to cause bleeding every month. I can't take birth control pills so I just have to deal with it and get Provera if I go too long without one.
4. I'm scared that I will never have children. Do I even have a chance?
It just depends on what your doctor told you. I was told that I might never have kids but that I could try fertility drugs and other options. I've talked to several women that have PCOS that were able to get pregnant by losing weight and eating properly. I have lost weight and eat properly and still can't get pregnant, so I know that mine is more complex. I have also heard of women that take the drug, Metformin, that have gotten pregnant after 6 months of taking it. I take Metformin and have for several years, and can't get pregnant. As you can see, it just depends on the person and how their PCOS affects them. Everyone is different.
5. How do you deal with the side effects that come with PCOS?
My side effects really aren't that bad. I don't have excess hair growth or acne. I do have a problem with losing weight and keeping it off which is a side effect of having PCOS. I definitely have the depression that comes with it and that is probably the hardest part about my PCOS. I deal with that on a daily basis. My advice would be to talk to your doctor about any side effects that you have and work with him to figure out how to deal with whatever side effects you are having!
6. I read somewhere that people who have PCOS will have other health problems. What are the other health problems?
Diabetes is the main one. A lot of women with PCOS get diagnosed with pre-diabetes or diabetes. I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes in 2006 and was put on Metformin. Having a heart attack is more common in women with PCOS than women without it. High blood pressure also comes with PCOS a lot of the time. Cholesterol issues is another problem that can happen. Women with PCOS can have more bad cholesterol than good cholesterol. Endometrial cancer is also a problem. It happens when you don't have a period and the lining in your uterus continues to grow and grow and grow. The endometrium gets really thick and when it grows too much, it causes the cancer. I know, it sounds like a lot of crap comes with the PCOS but all of it can be prevented. Just talk with your doctor about how to prevent all of those things!!!
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Those are all of the questions that she had for me. I hope that I helped her but of course, I am not a doctor and a few of the things that she asked me, I had to look up on a legit website!
1. When I was diagnosed with PCOS, my doctor explained it to me but I didn't really understand him. Can you explain it in English for me?
I completely understand what she means. Doctors try their best to explain things so that we can understand them, but sometimes that isn't enough!
PCOS is basically an imbalance of hormones. Women have sex hormones that are called estrogen and progesterone. We also have androgen hormones that are basically called "male hormones". Males also have androgen hormones but have a whole lot more of those hormones than women do. In the case of PCOS, we tend to have more of the androgen hormones than women without PCOS. Because of the higher than normal male hormones in our body, it can cause unwanted facial hair, skin problems like acne, weight gain, and problems with ovulation. The high levels of androgen hormones affect ovulation because they disrupt the normal development and release of eggs. The ovaries of a woman with PCOS do not look the same as a woman that doesn't have it. Our ovaries have small cysts all over them. Usually they do not cause any problems, but in some women they do get larger and have to be removed.
My doctor told me that PCOS is also related to insulin in some cases. She said that some women with this syndrome have excess insulin in their bodies because their bodies get confused on how to use it. The excess insulin causes the increase in the production of androgen hormones, which then causes the problems that I mentioned in the last paragraph.
2. Could I have gotten PCOS because I am a little overweight?
I have heard that PCOS can be caused by being overweight. But, I have also talked to women that are skinny that have PCOS. I really believe that it just depends on the person. Your weight may have not caused the PCOS, but if you started noticing symptoms after gaining weight, it could be directly related. In my case, my problems started after I got off of the birth control pill. They have not proven that birth control pills cause PCOS, but in my case, I think that it could have been related somewhat!
3. I rarely have a menstrual cycle which is why I went to a doctor. Is going without one bad?
I struggle with that too. I have gone an entire year without having a period before. I was put on Provera after that and finally started bleeding(it was terrible). Since then, it has been off and on. I haven't had one in several months now. Usually the lining in my uterus has to build up so much that it just has to come out and then I will start bleeding. I've heard that this isn't good because it can put you at a higher risk for cancer and other problems. A lot of the time, doctors will put women on birth control to cause bleeding every month. I can't take birth control pills so I just have to deal with it and get Provera if I go too long without one.
4. I'm scared that I will never have children. Do I even have a chance?
It just depends on what your doctor told you. I was told that I might never have kids but that I could try fertility drugs and other options. I've talked to several women that have PCOS that were able to get pregnant by losing weight and eating properly. I have lost weight and eat properly and still can't get pregnant, so I know that mine is more complex. I have also heard of women that take the drug, Metformin, that have gotten pregnant after 6 months of taking it. I take Metformin and have for several years, and can't get pregnant. As you can see, it just depends on the person and how their PCOS affects them. Everyone is different.
5. How do you deal with the side effects that come with PCOS?
My side effects really aren't that bad. I don't have excess hair growth or acne. I do have a problem with losing weight and keeping it off which is a side effect of having PCOS. I definitely have the depression that comes with it and that is probably the hardest part about my PCOS. I deal with that on a daily basis. My advice would be to talk to your doctor about any side effects that you have and work with him to figure out how to deal with whatever side effects you are having!
6. I read somewhere that people who have PCOS will have other health problems. What are the other health problems?
Diabetes is the main one. A lot of women with PCOS get diagnosed with pre-diabetes or diabetes. I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes in 2006 and was put on Metformin. Having a heart attack is more common in women with PCOS than women without it. High blood pressure also comes with PCOS a lot of the time. Cholesterol issues is another problem that can happen. Women with PCOS can have more bad cholesterol than good cholesterol. Endometrial cancer is also a problem. It happens when you don't have a period and the lining in your uterus continues to grow and grow and grow. The endometrium gets really thick and when it grows too much, it causes the cancer. I know, it sounds like a lot of crap comes with the PCOS but all of it can be prevented. Just talk with your doctor about how to prevent all of those things!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Those are all of the questions that she had for me. I hope that I helped her but of course, I am not a doctor and a few of the things that she asked me, I had to look up on a legit website!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Excited!
I'm about to get ready to go to my after-wedding bridal shower in Lebanon at my mom's church, Highland Heights. I grew up going to that church and haven't seen the people from there in a long, long time. The shower starts at 1:00pm and I have to pick up my mother-in-law around noon. My registry only has a few items left on it! I know that I spoiled the surprise by looking at it but I'm too curious to not look! I'm so excited to see everyone and be able to spend some time with them, catching up. It looks like I'm going to be getting a lot of new things, which is also exciting! I love unwrapping presents! ;)
I'm so thankful that Ms. Marilyn(my mom's best friend) put this shower together. She didn't have to do it but she volunteered and insisted that the church have a bridal shower for me! I can't wait to see what it looks like down in the fellowship area. I'm sure they decorated it beautifully! I will be taking some pictures hopefully, and will post them later!
I'm so thankful that Ms. Marilyn(my mom's best friend) put this shower together. She didn't have to do it but she volunteered and insisted that the church have a bridal shower for me! I can't wait to see what it looks like down in the fellowship area. I'm sure they decorated it beautifully! I will be taking some pictures hopefully, and will post them later!
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