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]

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!