OUR PCOS STORY
Searching for Answers
It was a puzzle – what was wrong with my daughter? She was overweight, rapidly gaining weight each year. She had severe acne, all over her body. Her hair was thinning and falling out. Yet, she was growing unwanted hair in other places. She was anxious, depressed and tired all of the time. Our pediatrician chalked it up to adolescence.
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We asked questions, did our own research, met with allergists, nutritionists, dermatologists, cardiologists, gastroenterologists, psychologists, and psychiatrists. She went on diets, exercised, and talked with counselors. Not much changed. It was going on 4 years. I watched as she reached, by age 15, 225lbs and spent days hardly getting out of bed.
GETTING ANSWERS
A Diagnosis
In 2021, we got a glimmer of hope. By chance, at my own OB/GYN appointment, my doctor handed me an article about PCOS after I described what was going on with my daughter. Turns out her daughter had the same symptoms. We booked an OB/GYN appointment for my daughter, and then met with an endocrinologist.
Finally, the puzzle pieces started to make sense. The endocrinologist noted high androgen levels. Blood work showed abnormal insulin levels. And the gynecologists found internal cysts. These findings, combined with her other symptoms - depression, anxiety, weight gain, acne, and thinning hair - confirmed she had PCOS. My daughter began a treatment regime immediately. We focused on physical, mental and emotional wellness and created a plan to manage her PCOS.
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My daughter is successfully managing PCOS. Her weight and blood sugar are on track, her hair thick and healthy, and her depression and anxiety under control. There are still hard days but now we know how to better manage those times. We hope our story inspires other girls to ask questions, seek answers and find support.
MEET THE TEAM
The Faces of Our Organization
KATE EHRLE
Founder and Executive Director
RICHARD EHRLE
Director of Operations
ELISABETH EHRLE
Youth Liaison