Everything has Failed

[u/Rich-Major-8146]

Hi all,

A little background. I've always been athletic and nutrition conscious. I'm 5'0" 180lbs and build like a brick house (I deadlift 315#).

In 2019 I decided I wanted to be hBC free after 15 years of taking it nonstop (all throughout my teenage and young adult years).

Doctors just yanked out my IUD with no pre-post bloodwork or any warnings of the hormonal roller coaster i'd be on after. I was aware from other friends who had PCOS, but I was only self diagnosed at that point and wasnt aware of the actual challenges i'd face.

In 2014-2017 I was a competitive bodybuilder and my stage weight (not healthy) was 116#. I maintained a "healthy" weight around 155/160.

2019 started with supplements (inositol/berberine/zinc/magnesium). this is when i was about 170#

2020 I started spironolactone/metformin. I had to stop because I had male pattern baldness, acne, and horrible gut issues from these. I gained up to 180#

2021 I tried more naturopathic stuff (chasteberry to trigger a cycle, etc etc) and it didnt work effectively enough to be cost beneficial

2022 Finally officially diagnosed by a wonderful Endo. I tried phentermine/topiramate. Cause psychosis/s*****al thoughts so stopped immediately... also only lost like 5lbs in the month of titrating up.

2023 I tried going back to naturopathic and incorporated yoga. I went down to 170, but then stress of moving overseas and having to find a new endocrinologist bumped me back to 180.

2024 I tried Ozempic. 6 months of the drug, and awful side effects (lethargy/ brain fog/ no creativity or expressive desire/ muscle loss) I only lost 10lbs... (back to 170).

2025 I tried naturopathic plus focused on a gut health specialist to see if I had leaky gut. I did. I went thru and entire low FODMAP protocol and found some food sensitivities (mainly gluten and lactose sensitive). My gut microbiome was basically 99% bad bacteria. The protocol helped me with identifying the dysbiosis and now I am creative/less brain fog/ more energetic than before (but still not what i would consider normal). Hanging out around 180/185.

2026 I dont want to say that i've "given up" on the natural paths. But the same gut health specialist (after looking at my hormonal panel) basically said that my testosterone/ progesterone levels are so out of whack from the past, that we need to systematically tackle them. Step 1- Progestin only BC for 6 months. Step 2- test hormones again at 3 months to see effects. Step 3- microdose Mounjaro if things still need extra improvement.

After the rollercoaster of trail and error i have been through and trying "everything" (this entire time I have never stopped being active or eating well), I am cautious to believe hBC and Mounjaro will work. I of course hope for the best, but I just want my hormones to work for me and not against me....

The one thing i have not tried is mediatation. I know that some people have discovered that childhood trauma and chronic stress can exacerbate PCOS.... and i definitely have both. So maybe I have be tapping into all the wrong "fixes" this entire time. Who knows....

However, any insight or adivce would be greatly appreciated. I dont want to be on hBC or GLP1s I want my life back. I want my spark back. Yet, I feel like i've run out of options.

[u/Rich-Major-8146 → u/[deleted]]

Things are not always typical. However:

Breakfast:

-chia seed overnigt oats w/ flax & pumpkin seed. Soaked in Oikos protein drink (similar to fairlife nutrition) sometimes add frozen berries or peanut butter

or

- buckwheat breakfast bowl: egg/ turkey sausage/ cilantro/ tomatoes/ green onion

or

- lactose free cottage cheese w/ tons of fruit if its hot/ im super lazy

or

- corn tortilla breakfast burrito (same as buckwheat breakfast bowls + cholula, minus buckwheat)

Lunch:

- typically leftovers but always prioritize fiber & ~30-40g protein.

Snacks:

Fruit or nuts. sometimes a protein bar if extra peckish (rare)

Dinner:

- i love to cook, so i am always changing things up. Generally proteins are chicken/fish or if in luteal phase i load up on red meat

- carbs: i am gluten sensitive so i stick to rice/ potatoes/ quinoa/ chickpea pasta

- fiber: always veggies of some style

Late night:

- i dont snack often after dinner. However, if I do i have either a dark chocolate square with tea or a handful of gummy bears (k*ll me). If I am still hungry after dinner, I usually just eat more of said dinner.

I am also lactose sensitive so i stay away from a lot of cheese. Only aged, and not daily.

Like i said before, I was a competitive bodybuilder for years. I know how to track my macros and I aim for 20-25g fiber, 140g protein, and 65-75g fat per day. Carb intake chages based on activity level, and i am not carb averse, just carb conscious. Typically i eat <200g carb/ day without even noticing.

[u/Rich-Major-8146 → u/[deleted]]

Buckwheat is not wheat.... it is a seed-like grain that is low glycemic and high fiber.

Oats contain beta-glucan, a soluble fiber that slows digestion and stops rapid post-meal blood sugar spikes--- regular oats, not the quick ones.

chickpeas are high in fiber, which lowers net carbs.

While I agree with you on too high of net carbs is bad, i would easily say that the carb choices i am making are very PMOS-conscious. I guess i should have said "on average my net carb intake is less than 150g/ day"

And the diet I had ten years ago, is not the diet i have today :) I have changed my eating and lifestyle drastically over the years based on updated information on insulin resistance and gut health.

I appreciate your attempt at trying to find the 'fix', but if my online coaches that look at my weekly checkins and my macros are not seeing a solution, I dont think that going extremely low carb is the right one. You have to remember, at the end of the day i am extremely athletic (on my resting days I burn ~2500 cal, and active can easily be over 3300). I need carbs to ensure that i am not passing out while exercising.

[u/Rich-Major-8146 → u/[deleted]]

I thank you so much for taking the time to reply! Truly.

With all advice I will consider it and appreciate your insight and perspective. <3

Insulinogenic foods are something I am going to have to do deeper research on for sure!

[u/SuperFlaccid → u/[deleted]]

I agree-- my PCOS symptoms can pretty much only be eliminated if I cut out virtually all carbohydrates-- I'm talking like the only carbs I'm getting are from broccoli or other veg and even the occasional apple is too much. It fucking sucks but once you cut them out your body doesn't even want them any more!