April’s Experience With PCOS

Each week I interview someone who has experienced infertility firsthand.  Today I’m chatting with April from Faith n’ Pixie Dust and Pixie Dust Savings.  I met April in a Facebook group for bloggers and I really appreciate her willingness to share her experience with PCOS.  Enjoy!

Q. Tell us a little about yourself.

I am 35 years old and have been happily married for just over 9 years. I love children and have been a teacher and even had my own in home daycare for awhile. I gave up full-time teaching a couple years ago to pursue blogging full time. My husband is an EMT and is in paramedic school. Together we enjoy going to Disney (I even blog about it at Pixie Dust Savings), the beach, and shopping.

Q. How long have you been trying to conceive and what issues are you facing?

We began trying to conceive the day we got married 9 years ago. I experienced a chemical pregnancy and haven’t been pregnant since. I have PCOS and hypothyroidism.

Q. Which books, quotes, websites, verses, movies, songs, etc. have been an encouragement to you during your journey?

Psalm 113:9, “He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.”  This is God’s promise to me that I will be joyful mother, even if I don’t give birth. My foster mother has also been an encouragement to me. She was TTC for 9 years before she had her first. She is great to talk to because she understands everything I go through. 

Q. How have you taken care of yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually during your struggles?

Physically I have tried watching what I eat, avoiding soy and eating lower glycemic foods. I became my own health advocate. I read medical journals and test studies. I made myself super aware of how certain foods affect me and learned to avoid those. I did lose about 80 pounds at one point and have since gained it back since I lost medical coverage and am without some of my medication right now.

Emotionally, I have dealt with the sadness and loss. I have talked to others and had healthy conversations with my husband who has just this share shared with me his depression from not being a dad yet. I used my blog as an outlet too.

Spiritually, I remind myself that God has a plan. I know God may not allow me to get pregnant. I have been angry with him and sorted it out. I learned it is okay to be mad with God as long as I don’t stay there.

Q. What has been your lowest point and how did you survive it? My lowest point was a couple of years ago.

My PCOS is different than most. Instead of rarely bleeding, I bled heavily every single day, soaking pad after pad hourly for almost 6 months straight. It took an emotional toll on my emotions and my marriage. Looking back, I can’t really explain how we survived. Maybe just taking one day at a time. My husband is a “carer” and does his best to take care of me. Maybe our love for each other got me through it.

Q. Have you been able to find a “silver lining” in your infertility?

My husband and I have had time to strengthen our marriage, but other than that not really.

Q. Anything else you’d like to share with my readers?

I have recently switched my goal. My husband graduates paramedic school in December. In January we are already signed up to take foster care classes. I was a foster child and want to adopt through foster care. You can follow my journey on my blog, Faith n’ Pixie Dust.

This post is linked with up several blog hops / parties. You can see everywhere I link up on my Party Page.  

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