The PCOD demon

 

I’m a living victim of PCOD*. It gatecrashed into my life post marriage thanks to fun and careless eating habits. I had gained 15kgs in a short span of 6 months. Stubborn acne, excessive facial hair, dandruff, hair thinning and obesity externally. Infertility, high thyroid levels, anxiety and frequent mood swings internally.

Let’s face it, weight loss will not happen overnight. There will be difficulties in conceiving. You will look gross most of the days. Repercussions of PCOD during pregnancy is even worse (about which I will write some other time). But it is not the end of the world. Healthy eating habits, consistent workouts, and proper medication (if required) is what it takes to tame this beast. Although, unadulterated self-love, unflinching determination and unparalleled family support worked wonders for me.

My PCOD confession goes like this, “dear PCOD, if it wasn’t for you, I would have never realized the importance of healthy living at such a young age. I would have never known that I was capable of conquering something that appeared inexorable. I would have never developed the resilience, perseverance and resolve that I did in dealing with you”.

PCOD is a grumpy partner for a lifetime. If you ignore it, it will definitely get the better of you. But if you acknowledge its presence and befriend it, trust me it will make you a better person every passing day. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and so does PCOD.

I think we don’t talk enough about something as trivial as PCOD. As progressive women, we can all share simple tips to fight this together. Do you have a PCOD journey to share?

*1 in 5 women in India suffer from PCOD (poly cystic ovary disease)