Ask: PCOS & Women’s Health with Nicole Granato
I was diagnosed with PCOS – Polycystic Ovary Syndrome — at age 22. And I cured myself through Holistic Medicine.
This post comes to us from women’s health specialist, Nicole Granato.
I am excited to be part of the Free People Wellness Team, to share my story with you and thousands of other women who are looking for support in healing themselves from PCOS, hormonal imbalance, fertility issues and digestive disorders. Through years of working with women and building my company I have come to understand we all want the same thing – answers and support through our journey. I am hoping this will serve as such a place. Through this wonderful collaboration with Free People, we will be setting up weekly Q & A’s to bring forth new tips and solutions on women’s health. Send your questions to: asknicolegranato@freepeople.com. I am looking forward to answering your questions starting next Monday, Sept. 19th!
I have always been what I would call healthy. I grew up in a very health-conscious home and continued to embrace a very similar lifestyle throughout my teens and early 20s. The age of 20 proved difficult, as I began to suffer from anxiety and depression, and coincidentally experienced weight gain and consistent pain in my pelvis. My periods were very irregular and came only three times a year. (I assumed it was anxiety and stress that were throwing me off.) I began studying Holistic Nutrition and, through it, became fascinated with Infertility and Pregnancy. I always wanted to have children so, when I started my research about Infertility, I was shocked to see so many women suffer from this disorder. I was even more shocked that there were different tiers of infertility ranging from Unexplained Infertility, Endometriosis, PCOS and so on. I started to dive a bit deeper into side effects, cures and holistic remedies when I realized I had similar symptoms to those indicative of PCOS.
I requested an ultrasound of my ovaries from my gynecologist. Before he could even say a word, I broke into tears. I couldn’t believe that A) I was right, and B) this was happening to me. I had 7 cysts on my ovaries, with otherwise healthy-looking eggs, which was a plus. I then asked my doctor what this meant for me in terms of having children someday. His answer — a slim to no chance of having kids naturally, without considering IVF (In Vitro Fertilization), Hormone Therapy and Adoption. My heart broke again. How this was possible? I was healthy, young and willing to do anything. Learning that there was nothing I could do but begin birth control and visit him one year before trying to get pregnant was what made me really upset.
I spent days dwelling in sadness, thinking incessantly about it would be like to never conceive naturally. The worst part was, I didn’t know anyone who understood what I was going through. I couldn’t talk to anybody who knew what it felt like, who had the same worries or who could give me advice on what to do! Days and weeks went by, and I thought to myself this cannot be. I refuse to accept this! I went into crunch mode, deciding that I was the only on who could fix myself. And, guess what? Five months later, I cured myself of PCOS. I went back to my doctor and was officially undiagnosed. I had no cysts on my ovaries, my hormones were balanced and I had my period for four months straight! What did he say? “Some people just get lucky.” Well, he was lucky I didn’t slap him.
There are currently about 3.8 million women suffering from this disorder in the U.S. 1 in 5 women are diagnosed with PCOS. This is an issue affecting women as young as 15 years old. Most are told to take drugs, eat healthy and be administered a prescription. This is not ok, and it needs to end.
I found what I was set out on this earth to do, and it became more apparent as I started helping women. I want to help them not just in addressing PCOS but to feel confident, supported, understood and loved during their struggle. I have worked with women all over the world, from the U.S to New Zealand, who have one thing in common — nobody can relate to or understand what they are going through. My message to anyone out there who feels that way: YOU are not alone. I understand what you are going through and there are millions of women who understand, too.
So what did I do?
I focused first on balancing my hormones, then removing any candida (yeast) lingering in my body. I modified my exercises to be more nourishing — pilates, yoga, light jogging and hour-long walks. I created for myself a wellness routine, adding new super foods to my diet and all the while remaining positive.
My Routine:
I start off my day with a shot of aloe vera juice in a glass of water followed by two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water. Next, I make a fresh nut milk smoothie using the following:
Having a daily routine is essential when making lifestyle changes or doing something for an extended period of time!
My goal is to help as many women as possibly facing PCOS, Infertility and Pregnancy issues. I believe that we are able to accomplish whatever we put our mind to. It is a journey that nobody should face alone. It is possible to cure yourself of this illness and live the life that you have always wanted.
Follow Nicole on her journey.