Basically I was a mess. I get chocolate ovarian cysts due to endo and also suffer from hypoglycemia. I had a laporoscopy done when experiencing fertility issues and found out my tubes were blocked and scarred. There were a ton of lesions that had to removed and the doctor said I couldn't have children (already having one 15 years prior) without the help of fertility. Being newly married and in my late 20's you can imagine I was devastated. I have suffered with the chocolate cysts since the age of 14 however my skin was never prone to bad breakouts. My episodes would happen probably once or twice a year. As I grew older they became more consistent every three to six months.
Pain during sex, random bleeding during sex and the cyst rupture would land me in the emergency room over 50 different times in my life. My skin would break out horribly into painful cystic acne, so bad that I was embarrassed to leave the house. Before finding out about my endo I thought I was simply an acne sufferer. I took Acutane for about a year which helped but did not cure. Now I know why. My acne was from the inside out. I missed many events because I was so horrified by these big huge painful throbbing cysts on my face that I could do nothing about. When I would try to relieve the pain by popping them that was a disaster. You tear the skin and it takes a month to heal never really doing anything anyway about the actual acne itself. As far as the hypoglycemia I was diagnosed with at 14 years old, I didn't understand it and did not have enough information to manage it so I quickly dismissed it. It would leave me tired, sluggish, moody, lack of energy along with episodes of shakiness, as well as a feeling of weakness to the point of almost fainting.
I tried fertility treatments for years. My tubes were cleared but my endo was so rapid that it came back. I achieved two pregnancies which resulted in eptopic pregnancies needing immediate surgery at two different times. I now have no Fallopian tubes. However, I WAS able to get pregnant through IVF and have a beautiful fun loving hilarious little 3 year old boy. :)
During my IVF treatments of lupron and managing my hormones through the years of drugs and pills they put me on, I had no acne flareups. (obviously) I had no cyst ruptures and had perfect skin, hair and nails. During my pregnancy it was the same. When he was born less then a year later it reared it's ugly head again to torment my life. The chocolate ovarian cysts became so frequent they happened every month. It's as if they had some catching up to do to torment me even more since they didn't for a good three to five years.
Along with the chocolate cysts and the endo once again, came cystic acne. It is from the inside out.
I have learned throughout the years and much experimentation that the only way to control my endo, cysts, hypo and have clear skin is to become the poster child for health and fitness. Drink 8 plus glasses of water a day, no sugar, low carbs, high protein, salads and fruit everyday along with grilled chicken, fish, beans and nuts. When I workout 60 minutes or more a day (at the very least 30 minutes of cardio) and follow this diet I am healthy, happy, acne free, no flareups and live a very very fulfilling life with a ton of energy. It is difficult to do at first but when your health and well being depend on it, it becomes a no brainier. I do fall off the wagon at times but am quickly reminded to get back on. It literally only takes a week of bad eating for the signs and symptoms to start peeking their ugly head.
I did try the birth control pills but broke out even more and added an extra ten pounds with each one I tried. My libido would also decrease and being a newlywed that was not a good thing. I am not one for pills as it is. I have seen too much and known too addicts, heard too many stories and seen too many side effects to jump into a pill right away to solve any issues. What I can say is I like to exhaust all possible natural methods that I myself can control in order to fix something first. So I decided it was time to take back my life.
It's not easy but it works. I follow the South beach Diet phase 1 and 2 only as well as the 17 day diet book. I adopted this for a healthy lifestyle and not so much to loose weight. I kind of live off of these two books and stick to the recipes, mixing the two concepts and menus together. I am not a rep for anyone, I'm not trying to sell or advertise for anyone and my solutions may not work for you. Keep in mind I also have hypoglycemia so it is a double whammy for me.
I hope my story will help someone because I suffered for years with this and didn't know how to fix it until I stopped listening to others, doctors who couldn't tell me much and living in a world where I felt half dead. So I would say to anyone who goes through what I did, try to embrace a healthier lifestyle first and see if it helps you. But the key is to stick with it. Don't eat healthy and then have a candybar everyday or fill up on caffeine and sodas, energy drinks, alcohol, or have one little bite of chocolate everyday and think that's okay. Pass up the bread rolls at dinner. Once a month, maybe twice I can have one cocktail with sips of water in between for date night. I can enjoy an Italian dinner with my family one time out of the 31 day month and it will be okay. But to live half and half healthy or have a "cheat day" once a week does not work for me personally. It will come back. So I manage it with
Healthy, clean eating
No alcohol
No drugs
I don't smoke
8 plus glasses of water a day
60 minutes of working out between Cardio and strength training/toning
OR I do intense 45 minute Billy Blanks TaeBo workout.
I hope this helps at least someone out there! Good luck.