Ashley’s Inspiring PCOS Story
After years of suspecting I had PCOS, and being unofficially diagnosed at age 12 and 18, I was finally diagnosed this year at the age of 25. Like many women, the diagnosis was actually a relief for me. Finally, there was an explanation for why my hours of exercise and perfect diet werenât working.
However, the relief quickly gave way to frustration when I was given little help. I was told to eat less and take metformin and spironolactone â both which made me very sick. I was told maybe I should exercise more, even though I was already doing an hour or more a day. It left me feeling alone and frustrated.
I felt terrible. I was exhausted. I was gaining, gaining, gaining more weight and I couldnât figure out how to stop it. I had headaches about every other day, my face was breaking out, and my hair was falling out in clumps.
But the thing that bothered me most was the fatigue and bloating. Only two years ago I was an elite powerlifter and now I was coming home from work and barely having enough energy to cook dinner.
Thatâs when I realised that I needed help. I had tried to fix myself on my own, and nothing was working, and in fact I was getting worse. Thatâs when I decided to reach out to Clare and get help.
Clare was able to identify that I was âadrenalâ type PCOS, and also had some insulin resistance, which really surprised me. After my first consult, the changes happened remarkably quickly. Within days, my acne breakouts stopped and within 2 weeks my energy levels took a massive turn around. I actually started waking up refreshed which shocked me.
Then within the month I also got my period back! In just 2 months, I have now had 2 periods (this coming from the person who hadnât had a consistent one in 2 years and averaged 3-4 months in between cycles). Iâve also found much more energy and actually enjoy working out again! Itâs like my life is slowing coming back one piece at a time.
But it wasnât all roses, Clare suggested that I remove caffeine for a while as my adrenals werenât coping and caffeine was just stimulating them to produce more stress hormones. This was tough for me as I was a self confessed Starbucks junkie!
I am very good at following rules but this was a challenge! I tried to go cold turkey and failed, so I tried cutting in half and failed again. I actually had to slowly lower the caffeine over an entire month to avoid the headache but when I was off it was such a sense of freedom (and my sleep was back!).
But I realised that slow and steady wins the race, and Iâm really proud of myself that I stuck with it. Iâm also really proud that I didnât give up on creating a better life for myself. PCOS doesn’t have to be a life sentence, you just need the right help treat your root cause.
It feels incredible to have energy, I can dance around again and be happy. The last year Iâve had such a cloud over me and I feel such relief that Iâm on a path to health. I didnât realise how bad the fatigue had gotten and how it was actually changing my outlook on life. I was looking at things negatively instead of being inspired to try. Now, that is certainly not the case.
So if youâre like me and are trying to fix yourself but not getting anywhere, donât wait to get help. I wish I would have found Clare months ago. She is an expert of experts.
I did a lot of independent research and nothing comes close to what Clare has put together, her tests, protocols, everything. And it didnât matter that I was the US and she was in New Zealand. She even helped me order some blood tests online that was cheaper than going through my insurance.
I never expected to have results this quick or even results at all. Iâve been struggling with my weight and insulin resistance for YEARS alone, and now I wonder why I waited to get help.
Take the leap of faith, you wonât be disappointed.
*Ashley has chosen to blur her image for her privacy.