This is something completely new that I thought I would try out. I have seen other women do some journaling on-line, and I have never really seen the need to do my own journaling in this space until recently. It seems that this site gets a great deal more traffic than I thought, and I just thought that it might be informative for me to have my PCOS journal online. Also, this particular writing space might help me understand more about how I am dealing with this disorder. This is an experiment. Read on and let me know what you think.

8 December 1999--My first entry in this new kind of journal. I really don't have much to say only that I have just recently had an ultrasound (regular and vaginal) and it was an uncomfortable situation. I had to show up for the tests with a full bladder, and after I got there, I had to wait awhile before they would even take me in for the examination. Finally, it was my turn and I was able to see my ovaries (not really ploycystic, but several follicles were present), my uterus (within which the technician found what looks to be a fibroid), and my cervix (looked normal). It seems, though, that I have a lot of build up in my endometrial layer, probably since I have not had a period since July. Good news, though, tonight I felt sharp pains in the area of my right ovary. I am confident that it means that I ovulated. We hope that we will concieve in the next few days, but we are trying not to get too anxious. . . yet. We have time. The best news is that I have an appointment with a specialist on December 30. I can't wait to go. Perhaps he will have the answers that I am looking for. I am hoping to try to get on metformin before trying chlomid for pregnancy, but I am not sure what he will recommend. I hope that he is a well-informed doctor.

12 December 1999-- Well, I am not pregnant. I started my period this afternoon. The first since July. It was so strange to go into the restroom at the coffee shop and discover that I was bleeding. I did not expect. I have felt sick for the past few days, as I have right before starting periods in the past, but I always have "false alarms." I guess I have sort of learned to ignore them. Now, I feel really sick and tired, so tired. My abdomen is swollen and I have slight cramps. It just seems so strange to have a period, again. Though, it is likely that I will wake up in the morning and it will be gone. I have days of spotting every few months, but this seems like the real thing. I found a new article today in the eMJA (Australian Medical Journal) that discusses dealing with PCOS by treating insulin resistance instead of the other symptoms, such as hirisutism, acne, amenorhea, etc. It is truly my philosophy concerned the treatment of the disorder. I think that if the insulin resistance is treated with Spironolactone or Aldactone, then the patient has a better chance of managing PCOS. I also think that metformin most likely works for some women, but I have heard more women complain about side effects with metform than the other drugs. I guess I will find out what the doc. says at the end of the month. I am hoping he will be able to do something. Since I stopped low carbing, I have gained about 30 lbs. I feel so sick to my stomach all of the time. I just want to manage this!!!!!

22 December 1999-- This will likely be one of my last entries before the New Year (notice that I did not say that dreaded word "Y2K"). I will be going to visit my family for three or four days and then back here to get work done on things that I have not be able to do since I have been ill. The time has surely flown by this year, these past five years. I will be going back on the low carb diet in January. I am starting to do that now, but things are slow going given the holidays and the stressfulness of my recent illnesses. I know that things will shape up. I just have to do it. I am in much better spirits today than I have been recently. I think it is because I was finally able to leave the house, after being couped up in here with the flu for the past several days. Ugh! My period was very lengthy this time. It seemed to last forever--over nine days. It is still kind of hanging on even now. I don't know if it's length has anything to do with the flu I had or the other way around. In any case, I am so glad to be feeling better.

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