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Cara's Story...

I've had test after test in the last year. Things are progressively worse and I'm so sick & tired of my bad health.

I'm a 28yr old newlywed. I was a single mom for the past 8 years. Looking back- The pregnancy is where it all started.

I gained 30 lbs in the first two months of pregnancy- sick throughout my pregnancy and eneded up having a 10lb, 6oz babygirl 8 weeks after my due date. I was enduced twice (one week apart), then had an emergency C-section. I went home and my incision opened. I ended up with a staff infection & went back & forth daily to the dr. office 30 miles away to have my bandages changed. I didn't lose any weight...the total being 80lbs I had gained. Even after having a 10lb babygirl I didn't lose anything. I never gained or lost after that until the past year.

Since then, I have felt sick & tired. I contributed it to my bad marriage but after a divorce and moving on things didn't get much better.

A doctor asked me if I knew I had PCOS. I said No...why would you say that? He said because of my thinning hair, facial hair, excessive sweatyness, apple shape and no periods. I have not had a period that was not progesterone enduced since I had my daughter. Everyone seemed to tell me lose weight & I'd get better.

In the last year I have been to doctor after doctor. I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea- I thought that was the problem & have used a CPAP religiously the last two months- with no relief of fatigue.

My new husband is a Psychologist/Professor of Health Promotion at OUHSC. He has worked in a sleep lab & has suggested that it wasn't normal for me to be so tired all the time and unable to get to sleep. This led me to research the net.

I was reading on PCOS late one night last month and realized this summer I had my testosterone tested- came back normal. I had an ultrasound of my ovaries & uterus & things are fine..not thickening or any cysts. This led me to look at things to rule out before diagnosing PCOS. Cushings fits. I don't even try to make it fit- I read the stories and realize I'm reading my story over and over in different small variations.

I played racquetball, step aerobics, water aerobics all 3x/week for 16 weeks and didn't lose 1 single pound. I started having abdominal pain & then after the semester, my problems started to worsen.

I have the hump, thinning hair, facial hair, thin skin, red complection, for the first time in 8 yrs I'm high pregnancy weight. I gained 30lbs in 2 months this summer in my face & abdomen. I've had pain in my right arm and legs for the past 6 months, I've complained of my bones hurting, high blood pressure, acne, anxiety attacks, flu like symptoms with nausea all the time, another odd thing is I never produced milk after my pregnancy.

In the last year, I've had a colonoscopy, scope of my stomach, 2 ultrasounds, sleep apnea test and blood work to no end.

I feel I'm on the right track, and want to thank everyone here for putting thier stories out here so others can benefit & learn from their experiences.

~ Cara in OKLAHOMA

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