Coffee Convos with Kail Lowry and Lindsie Chrisley - 150: Kail's Diagnosis, Making Changes, and The Impact It's Had

Episode Date: March 25, 2021

If you have been following along you'll know that Kail has been experiencing some concerning medical symptoms that she was getting tests for. She has gotten a diagnosis and is finally ready to talk about it. Kail talks about her recent PCOS diagnosis and how it has impacted her day to day life. Find out what changes she is starting to make and what led her to finally getting the answers she was looking for. This episode was sponsored by: Ana Luisa, Homer, Best Friends, & Brooklinen Have a question you want answered? Want to give Kail and Lindsie a call? Leave them a message at ?(609)-316-0060?. Music by Nathaniel Wyvern. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

All right, everyone, we're back with another episode of Coffee Combos podcast and today we are podcasting from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, are we? Oh yeah, we're in Pennsylvania. Duff Billy is in Pennsylvania. Why do I not know that? Well, I don't even know what state I'm in. Always ask me about where I'm from. And I usually say Delaware, because I never know like what, yeah, I'm just from so many places. And I'm like, Oh, what state is Delaware in? Wait, how do you know like where you're from? Like what determines that? Like how long you lived there? I don't know because it depends on the conversation and like who's asking because I lived in Pennsylvania for so long. But like, I've been in Delaware for seven years. Do you

feel like you're a true Pennsylvanian? Is that what they're called? Pennsylvania? But then I've also lived in like Northern Pennsylvania for 10 years. And then I lived in like, Allentown, Whitehall area for like 10 years, like the Lehigh Valley for 10 years, almost 10 years. And then now I've been in Delaware for seven years. So it's like, where am I? Which one am I from? Yeah, I don't know how to answer that question. Pennsylvania, but I live in Delaware. Because like I, I tell people I'm from South Carolina, because I lived there from birth to fifth grade. But then from fifth grade on, I lived in Atlanta. So like, where am I from? I don't know. Okay, like I say from like, child, you know, like, right, right, right, whatever. But yeah, I don't know,

wait, what is Delaware people called? Like Delawareans? Oh, it is. Is that right? Yes. Yes, I'm getting head nods. Pennsylvanians. Yeah. Okay, for sure. Okay, so we've waited to do this podcast for sure. Well, we've actually, this was planned last minute. No, I know, but I'm saying like, we talked about not talking about it. Yeah, so that we could be together and talk about it. Quite some time. And then also film about it for Teen Mom. Yeah, PS, we're filming for Teen Mom also. How do you even like want to talk about it? Okay, so I think we've just prefaced this by saying we talked about some stuff on the podcast that you guys have followed up with a lot and pretty much on a weekly basis is like, I talked about super heavy periods and just like having some

like issues with like bleeding and female reproductive. Yes. Yes. And so that being said, I have like some stuff to catch you guys up on and I did tell Lindsay and talk to Lindsay about it. But before I kind of get into it on the podcast, I want to preface that I'm not a doctor. I'm not giving medical advice. This is my own personal experience. And I'm not telling anyone what they should or should not do with their bodies and medical situations. Is there anything else I should specifically say, explicitly say? Okay. So you guys convinced me to go get my period problem checked out. And for those of you who are new here, I was having such heavy periods that I was bleeding through three and four changes of clothes per day during my period. And no,

that's not an exaggeration. And I would bleed through my mattress. I would bleed through everything. And I really didn't think anything of it. I guess it started that specifically started after Lux was born. But it was also like multiple periods a month and you couldn't figure out like when your cycle was later. Yeah, the heavy periods started after Lux didn't think anything of it. I just thought like a heavy period, I was just having a heavy flow. Yeah. And then when I started talking about it on the podcast, I started when I was talking about it, I was like kind of thinking of other things that I was going through. And so with everyone saying like, Oh, I really need to get that checked out. I was like, All right, fine. I scheduled with my GYN. And he

ordered the lab work and the ultrasound. In the ultrasound, he found on my right ovary, I had multiple cysts. I want to say almost 10, like somewhere around that number. And then on the right ovary, he found a cyst that was half the size of my ovary. Wow. And it was weird because I didn't have the results. But I got the lab work online. And then my doctor went out for medical leave. So I'm googling symptom, like I'm googling the lab work and what they mean. And the first thing that came into my mind, I'm like, Oh, my God, I have cancer. Like I'm like crying. I don't want to die. Like I was going through this whole thing because I didn't have answers. Nobody called me. I got the lab results online. And I just sat with it for weeks until someone called me,

you were freaking out and it happened over a weekend. Yes, we were actually talking about this off the podcast about how I have never gone to my doctor and had any type of labs sent to me over a weekend. And especially, especially if it was abnormal to be sent labs and then not to get the call first, and then you're just like sitting with it. Oh, nobody called me. They're not the doctor, not the nurse, not an on call person. Nobody called me. So then I'm texting Kristen, and I'm like, Hey, like, what does this mean? What does that mean? What does this mean? And then what do they mean together? We're playing WebMD at this point. Pretty much. Yeah, I'm just like googling, you know, what is what all all of this is. And the first thing that did come up was a

form of cancer. And so then I literally cried myself to sleep and was like, I don't know what I want to do here. Um, so fast forward, I don't think it was actually weeks. I think it was several days before someone called me and was like, you know, he really wants to do some follow up stuff. It felt like weeks. Yeah, it did feel like weeks. And then I had gone to the gym and I felt this like really weird. I can't describe it. It was like some it wasn't like a pop. It was like almost like think of like guitar strings. And if one like pops off, like what that would feel like or like, like a rubber band. Yes. And it felt like that in my like abdomen area. And I had like, they some cis bursts. So I go get another ultrasound and there wasn't the one big one on

my left was not there. So I'm thinking it bursted. Oh, wait, you have to tell the story a word burst burst it burst. So wait, rewind, tell the story about how you were contemplating on going to the ER or not going to the ER. Oh, yeah. I was when that happened, I was contemplating going to the ER or not going to the ER because I've never had like, cysts that I know of, or any really like medical problem in that way. So like, I'm like, is this poisonous? Like in my like, could this like make me sick? And so just to be sure, I ended up going because I just I've never experienced anything like this. And I also don't think I had answers at this time. Or did I have answers? I didn't really have answers at this time. But at this point, Kristen, she I showed

Kristen my labs. And she said, I missed it. She said that in the like notes, polycystic ovarian syndrome. Oh, it did have it in there. I didn't see that. We missed it for several days. But Kristen was like, kill. And I was like, Oh, wow. But like, no, Dr. Captain David Ho again. So I was like, okay. So then they I find the doctor finally calls me and basically confirms over the phone that I have PCOS, we do more labs, or they're testing more hormones. My testosterone was really high, among other things. And I guess like getting a diagnosis, I was like, I knew before he told me because Kristen was like, everything is adding up, right? Like, though my weight, first of all, let me just start by saying, I really believe that me being unhealthy,

not taking care of myself, not taking care of my body was where it really manifested itself. And again, I'm not a doctor. This is how I feel in my own opinion. I don't think I was taking care of myself. I got to a point where I was overweight. And then all the other things started coming with that. Now I have creed, and I cannot get the weight off. So I like did a 180 with my diet, really started taking care of myself because I realized I got to like a really high weight that I wasn't comfortable with. And I started going to do these intense fucking workouts like you guys saw them remember when I was posting about them and they were on I was talking about it on the podcast with the bands on my legs. Well, and then you would text and you would be like, I

am doing these hard workouts and I'm like really putting forth the effort, but I'm gaining weight. Like I'm not dropping one single pound and you kept going through the motions of like, am I not doing enough cardio? Am I not doing whatever? And then you were having this bleeding like simultaneously and all these other things going on. So it was just like weird how everything it's like all these different things like coming together to be hindsight. Yeah. And then it all made sense. Like I can't get the weight off my periods were super heavy. Now it's weird because from the time I got the diagnosis till now, I have no longer had super heavy periods. Now I just bleed. I spot randomly throughout the month. So it was and it's so crazy too because

I may see from Team Mom OG sent me a TTM package when we were in Philly in October and one of the shirts was a green like a teal PCOS shirt likes from TTM and I've been wearing it consistent. Like I know this is all crazies talk, but I've been wearing it. That's so crazy. And it says PCOS on the sleeve and it's just like weird because I feel like everything is like there's like a thing going on, you know? I don't know if you know the answer to this question, but with PCOS is it hard to get pregnant? So for some people, so that's the thing. I don't fit like the typical quote unquote criteria for someone who has PCOS. Yes, in the overweight and the OB situation, but as far as like the periods and getting pregnant and all of that, I don't fit the typical

like when I sat down with the fertility specialist for something for the egg freezing situation, which I did tell you guys on the podcast I was doing, he said that he's never had someone in his office that was wanting to go through this process that already had four children. Wow. But in my research and he also wrote a book on PCOS, you can really develop it at any time and they're not really sure why or how. Like what causes the development? Right. Is it environmental, genetic, a combination? Like what is it? And so for me, I definitely feel like it was, this is my opinion, um, environmental and something that I got from not taking care of my body. Um, so people who don't know what it is, like what is like the,

I guess, I don't really know how to ask the question. Like what is PCOS like polycystic ovarian syndrome where really Patrick is saying it's polycystic ovary syndrome. Okay. So I don't really know too much about it since the diagnosis is super new. I know that some people have trouble getting pregnant on it. It affects fertility, it affects your insulin resistance. You're predisposed to diabetes and other things, heart disease. And it can be very, very difficult for people who have PCOS to lose weight. Um, it's definitely, and it, I've gained so much weight that it's like, I can't hide it anymore. And it's one of those things where it's like, I knew something was wrong because my weight

does fluctuate, but that was one of the things that I was like, this is not normal for me. And my doctor really didn't want to believe that I had it until all my hormone, hormone slope, all of my hormone levels came back and my testosterone was high. It also affects, um, for some people muscle mass, um, which is crazy because my muscle mass is really insane. Like it's not like normal. Even if I go to the gym for two days, it's like, really? Yes. It's weird. That is really crazy. So, so I mean, is this diagnosis normal? Like, are a lot of people diagnosed with this often or?

From what I'm told and what I've read, um, the fertility, the fertility specialist that I talked to said that a lot of people, a lot of women have it, um, and don't even know it, but it is fairly new. Like it's only about 70 years old. Um, and nobody really knows where the rise is coming from. That's so crazy. Cause I mean, I've heard a couple of people that have it, but it, I guess until you went through it seemed kind of rare. Yeah. I mean, even, I mean, I know Macy was, um, she's an advocate for PCOS awareness. And I really, that was the only little bit that I knew about it. I didn't know anything about it prior to that. And, um, once I got that diagnosis, I was like, part of me was thinking like, okay, yes, I have four kids. I don't really

fit the criteria and that kind of goes into like why I wanted to do part of the reason why I wanted to do the egg retrieval process was because I don't have a partner right now. It's not some, like, I don't know if I could meet someone that wants to have kids of their own. And I, you know, I could, I would potentially think about doing that, but then I'm older and I have PCOS. I may not be able to conceive naturally now that I have the diagnosis. Like I know, do you know what I mean? Cause I don't know when it developed. I don't know when I got it. So I don't know if I have the pregnancy, the infertility issue or trouble getting pregnant. I'm not sure. So I went to the fertility person and, um, so that I'm going through that whole process.

So did you have any signs of PCOS before having creed? I would say aside from the heavy period and the weight gain, um, I was always tired. Like I was always tired. Really? And I think that having PCOS can affect your sleep. And then high cortisol. Is that right? Stress. And once you have cortisol, you can't sleep. And then that also affects the weight gain and not being able to lose weight. Oh, wow. Yeah. So it's like all connected. So, um, that's why last week when I was on the podcast, I was saying like after this trip, like I need to change my diet. I was prescribed metformin that I hasn't, I have not started yet. So that's supposed to help regulate my periods, balance my hormones,

and then it may or may not help with weight loss. Um, but that's something that I'm going to, I'm willing to try. My doctor wanted to put me on. So we're going to see how that goes and kind of go from there. So it's just basically trial and error at this point? I think so. So, but I truly believe that I need to do the work on my emote. 99% of the work needs to come from me and it needs to be me taking care of my body from the inside out, eating well, um, working out, um, all of those things. If I'm not doing those things, I can't rely on like meds to do everything else. You know what I mean? So I definitely want to really focus on that. It's just, it's so hard. I, I don't know. And then I also think of you saying that you just like don't want, you didn't

want to know what was wrong. Remember, you got through that part because you didn't, if it was bad, like you would just rather not know, but does it not feel better to know and like to be able to take care of yourself? Yeah. I mean, I definitely think it feels better to know. I, I don't know why I felt like that. Like now that I know, I don't know why I felt like that because now that I have an answer, I know what I can do to fix it or at least try to minimize symptoms, take better care of myself, um, all of those things. I don't know why I would ever not want to know. I think that it was, you were so scared of cancer. Oh my, Lindsey, I bawled my fucking eyes out. Like I am not ready. Like I don't want to do this. I don't,

like I can't even tell you the things that were going through my mind. I couldn't sleep. I was just constantly thinking about cancer. When you were thinking about how it would affect your kids, you know, like who would take care of them? Like obviously they have dads and stuff. Right, right, right. But to live a life without their mom, like you immediately jumped to that. Like you went from I'm not going to the doctor because I don't know what it is to I went and had labs and now I'm convinced that I have cancer. But I think a lot of people probably do that. I think that's probably a normal thought process. You don't want to come off the internet. Like we should probably not have WebMD anymore. No, like self-diagnosing from WebMD is literally the dumbest thing that

any human could possibly do. Like googling. I literally was googling my labs and like what does this mean if it has this and this and this and then like low this and like all my labs were, it had like certain things on there that was like abnormal, low, high, abnormal, whatever. I don't know exactly what they were at this point. But it didn't have everything was off though. Yeah. And I was like, what the hell? There was like one normal thing. I feel like there was like something that was normal. Yeah, there might have been a couple things that were normal. But then once I did like the the hormone thing, he was like, your testosterone is high. So I was like, cool, great, awesome. So I'm going to get hair in places. I don't want it. I feel like my nose hairs have

gotten longer. That's a real thing. Like your pits, like, oh, my B.O. is like a man. Kale. What? Is that real? But like, I don't know. It makes sense. I feel like it makes sense. Is it like afterlux? Like that was one thing. So maybe I, oh, I've had it for a long time and not really known, but now because my weight gain is so severe, I'm noticing other things. Yeah. You know what I mean? So that like makes sense to me. But again, it's like, I have to watch what I'm eating. I have to watch what I'm doing. They did test me to see if I was diabetic because that's like one of the things that it can cause or lead to. So I was like, I don't want to, like, I don't, this was like a reality check. I think so many people that are listening to this can probably relate to going

and feeling like something's wrong, going and having labs done, and then just the waiting game. Of no answers. Of no answers. And wondering how like things are going to come back. Yeah. Or that they've loved someone that has gone through something like that and just not knowing what the outcome is going to be. That's so scary. It was, it was really hard, especially because I was like, this is the worst time my doctor could have take leave. Yeah. I mean, just like the worst time ever. I just, even the fertility, because my GYN and my fertility doctor are two different doctors, both, well, my regular GYN didn't want to believe that I had it because I was telling him, like, I have the symptoms for PCOS. And he was like, I don't think so. I don't think

so. I don't think so. Called me to confirm, you know, after taking another look. Yeah. And then did the labs. And he was like, you definitely have it. So we should get you on the meds or whatever. And then the fertility doctor, same thing. Like he was like, that's not, you don't really fit the normal criteria, but I beg to differ. I feel like I definitely do when I google the symptoms. Like the periods are either irregular, you don't have one, or they're super, super heavy. Right. So I don't know that aside from having four children, I think that I fit pretty much all of the criteria. And then remember, we were also like, again, not doctors, but webmd and everything. And like, Oh, is it? What was the endometriosis like

cancer? Like we were thinking all of the things like all of the words. Well, and so the fertility doctor actually said something to me about like having the super heavy periods or the random bleeding is could be a uterine issue. But when I went to go have my ultrasounds when I, they do ultrasounds when you're not pregnant to see how things are. Yeah. My uterus came back normal. Okay. So it's, it's, it is weird because it's like the internet says one thing. And then I have two doctors that are kind of saying similar, but still different things. And then like, how long does it take to develop something like this? Like, is it, I think it's unknown. They just don't know. And is there any hereditary factors? Like,

I don't believe for me, no, but again, I'm not a doctor. Yeah. But yeah, so I think I'm still going to move forward with the egg retrieval and all of this because the doctor believes that, you know, I could potentially respond really well to the meds for ovulation. And then I kind of just told him, even if I decide not to use the eggs at all in the future, I would at least have a backup, a backup chance to try a way to get pregnant. If I can't do it naturally, I have that option. And, but if I never use them, that's okay too. Wait, so can we talk about that? Because I feel like you've just like entered a new phase of your life where you're, um, just call me Khloe Kardashian. Yeah.

Where you're making these decisions, like you're in a, in a place in your life where you're focused on your career, you're focused on the kids that you do have, but you're not closing the door to more children in the future. But has that been more so because of PCOS or just like the place that you're in in your life? A little bit of both, but more because of PCOS, right? Like I feel like it's easy for anyone to say like, Oh, I'm, I'm choosing to be done having kids. But when the option is completely taken from you, and I'm not saying it has for me, but I feel like I'm speaking for a lot of people. Like it feels like it's not fair, right? Like it feels like it makes you want it more. It makes you like, we always want what we can't have. And now you're taking the option away from

me to decide on what I want. Um, so I have like, I have a family member who had a situation and she said the same thing. Like she, she knew she was done, but now that the option was taken from her, she, she's thinking, well, would I have more, would I have more kids? Yeah. So it's, it's kind of one of those situations. And like I said, I don't have a partner. So who's to say, I won't want to have kids with somebody or they want to have kids of their own. So I just, and I'm still young enough to do that. So the whole process is, yeah, like I'm still, you're not even 30 yet. And you have art, you have four kids and they're still potential there. Yeah. Like I could really have until I'm like 40 if I wanted to, I feel like that's normal now, right?

Yeah. I mean, people have kids so late these days. I feel like starting to have kids at 30 is 35 is like normal. Yeah. Versus like a long time ago, you know? Yeah. I feel like we're both kind of abnormal. I had one at 23 and Isaac was born when you were 17, 21, 25, 28. So young. Yeah. Like that's so young to have kids. Yeah. So like, wait, do you, will you talk about the egg? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So I had the appointment. He was like, this is very rare for me. I've never had someone in my, in front of my face with four kids. Why do you want to do this? Like give me your story and I'll give you my spiel. And I was like, okay, well, I explained, I don't have, you know, somebody, I don't know what I want to do, you know, moving forward. I have PCOS. I don't know how that's

going to affect me in the future and wanting to have kids if I want to. And he was like, okay. And he kind of went through the thing, the process. Insurance doesn't cover a lot of it. It only covers the initial labs. And then I'll start like, ovulation meds, I'll get ultrasound, ovulation meds. I'll go in for it's not really like a surgery, but you do get sedated, not like full on anesthesia. But they will like, you know, yeah, sedate you and then they take a needle and retrieve your eggs and each load is six to eight eggs. And it's a combination usually of mature eggs and immature eggs. And then, you know, you decide how many, how many cycles do you want to do? And actually, it's funny that you say that you mentioned this for me to talk about because

what was that? Like this now turns to true crime. Right. Like, be right back. Hold the story. Chloe Kardashian just did an interview where she said that she had two, I guess cycles worth of eggs that did not make it through the freezing and thawing process for her IVF. And that I didn't know that she did IVF at all. Yeah, it's true. I don't know about with true, but I know that like even on the show, she started went through the process of egg freezing. And that was something that the fertility doctor told me was like, I do have to warn you that even if you go through this process, you could freeze eggs, you're paying to go through this process paying to freeze your eggs.

And then there is a 15 to 20% possibility that you could freeze them and thaw them and they will not survive. So I was like, Oh, I said, well, that's, you know, that's interesting. Like, thank you for letting me know or whatever. But I still said that I wanted to move forward just because I feel like again, I don't know where I'll be at and who I'll be with and, you know, all of those things. But each load is about six to eight eggs. You decide how many cycles you want to do, how many eggs you want to freeze. And then when that when you're ready, you would go in and you would, you know, go through the process of IVF and they would create embryos with the sperm, either from a bank or from your partner. And then they would do that whole process, which I

obviously have not there yet. But I go for my follow up ultrasound and blood work next week. And then what happens from there? Get on the meds to do to trigger ovulation. I'll do a trigger shot. And then I will, they'll do the egg retrieval a couple weeks after that. I mean, are you nervous at all? Or you feel like at peace with it? I feel okay because I, I, and he also was an advocate for really like taking care of your body from the inside out with like the PCOS diagnosis. So I really want to take this time to really listen to my body and know, like, take care of it. I've, I've done some research on like dieting. The Mediterranean diet is supposed to be really good. And then like plant based, obviously, or supposedly keto, like a variation

of keto, I don't know that that's sustainable for my lifestyle. But those are some things that I kind of want to look into. I don't really eat fish, but I feel like I could maybe adapt to some variation of a Mediterranean diet to like take care of myself and do that. I think the diet thing in anybody's life is like lifestyle. Yeah. But I think that's so relatable to so many people because it's a hard thing to do to just like up and change all of your ways, like your habits, your everything, like you're talking about changing a diet, working out, doing all of these things. That's hard. Yeah. And then I've heard that the adjustment period on metformin, which is what I was prescribed, I've heard is, is can be really hard.

Like emotionally or probably both. I've heard some people experience like it doesn't mesh well with carbs like hard, a high carbon take. And so that can cause like a lot of like stomach pains, GI issues, like so you want to be really careful with that and obviously not mix it with high carbon take. And then I've heard like a couple weeks of like real sluggishness and just like adjusting to that. It's not like a life sentence. I don't have to be on it for the rest of my life. I think it's just like, we're going to try it, see how it goes and then kind of go from there. That's what I was going to ask, like how long do you have to be on the medication? I got two refills. Okay. So I think we're going to see where I'm at. And the fertility doctor that

I talked to says that he does not have enough evidence to see like he hasn't read enough studies or research to back whether or not it's helpful or doesn't do much for obulation. Some, if you like look online and stuff, there are some people that have like good results from it. But I think it just very much varies by person, person. Yeah. Yeah. It's just so weird that you don't have the aspect of not being able to get pregnant or maybe, or maybe I didn't always have it, didn't always have it. And then, which is just crazy not to know like when something developed. I definitely know it was in the, at least in the last year, maybe, maybe longer because this weight gain has been so significant for me. And I know it's just not normal for me. Yes, my weight has fluctuated,

but this is not normal. And then also like my periods have been all of a sudden they went from heavy changing my clothes three to four times a day to nothing. Yeah, which is and like randomly spotting throughout the month is so weird to me. And you would be at like football games or we were in Atlanta. Yeah, I bled for two days, but like not period bleeding. And then all of a sudden it's gone, which is, but like I have an app where I track track my periods and it's just like random spotting throughout the month. It's like, this isn't normal. This is not and is it getting worse? Like, is there a spectrum kind of thing? Like, I don't know. Yeah, I don't, I don't know.

So now what, like, you're just going to do the meds. Yeah, I'm going to try to take care of myself. You're committed to taking care of yourself. Yeah, I'm nervous because I feel like if I eat a lot of plants right away and I'm just like shitting plants, well, like vegetables, I'm scared of like shitting all over the place. Yeah, that's a big thing for you. Do you know what I mean? Like closet shitter just like shitting if I'm like out in public and I have to poop because I ate so much spinach or like I had broccoli or like I'm trying to eat like lots of green things. Yeah. And I'm going to have to poop a lot. Like I'm very scared of that. Closet shitter and fart. Even though you say that you've never done that you have never like it's something that you

have done for sure. Do you feel like you have to shit now? No, I don't. Yeah, so I don't know. This is all new for me and I don't, other than Macy, I don't know anyone with PCOS. I don't know anything about it. There's listeners that definitely have it or have symptoms of it. Yeah. It's just, it's wild how it just like went from not knowing anything to like now knowing all of this. Yeah. And like, I mean, it seemed like a long time because it seemed like you had to wait for so long to like find out. Yeah. But then it was kind of like a short time. You know, I would definitely want, I would be curious to see if any of our listeners would be interested in like kind of following my journey if I like vlog any of this. Yeah. Cause I definitely, I want first and foremost

want to be healthy, but I also want to go on this like, like weight loss journey a little bit and like fitness journey and try to take care of myself and see if it would help anyone or if anyone would be interested in that. But I think that could be like a cool. Didn't you vlog your Accutane? I did. I mean, I did at least videos on that. That was another thank you for pointing that out. That is another huge symptom that triggered all like, I guess not triggered, but like what made me realize was that my hormonal acne on my chin and my jawline came back and I was on Accutane for six months after the Accutane. It's back. Oh, I don't know. Oh yeah. You do have a, I mean, not a lot, but like, no, it's definitely less than what I had. Yeah. But I shouldn't, like I started

breaking out again. And I don't feel like that, like why all of a sudden now? Yeah. And it's all hormonal. And then it's like, okay, the periods, the weight gain, the pimples, the, you know what I mean? Like the sleep is even worse than it was in the beginning. Like obviously I have kids, so I'm never going to sleep again. But I mean, even sleeping less, right? Yeah. So yeah, you're never going to sleep again. Probably not. Regardless, like, whatever. But yeah, so that's my story. That was my diagnosis. That's all of the things kind of that I can think of. Kristen, can you think of anything else that I like was experiencing that led to or like that makes sense for me? I know your sleep issues are huge.

Yeah. Oh, that's a good point. I don't really have the hair symptom, which I know is a symptom for many women is just like, because the testosterone is high. So sometimes you'll get hair in places that you don't really want it to be, or it's darker or thicker. I don't have that issue. That's not something that I'm experiencing right now. And I knock on one. I hope I don't. And I feel I really feel for the women who get that because I feel like that's so hard to deal with. And you also remember that thing with the sleeping like where you were going to do that sleep study? Yeah, I never did it. No, I never did it like any association with like all of this stuff

that like you think about it. If I'm overweight, if I'm so overweight and I can't get the weight off, naturally, that's going to lead to sleep issues. So PCS or not PCOS or not, it makes sense. So I just wonder how many listeners that have wrote in with the questions and stuff, because the amount of messages that we've gotten in DMs about endometriosis, PCOS, like all of the things. I just wonder how many people who have also experienced a similar journey with this, you know, like, yeah, with like trying to find out like what's going on. Because I don't know how you would, if I didn't have the period problem that I was having, how would I have ever known to be like, if it was truly if it wasn't for our listeners, I would have never went and got labs and blood work

and any of that. Like I truly wouldn't have, I would have not thought anything of it. Oh, I have a heavy period. What do you fucking do? Like, I know it's not really normal, but not really normal. But not so like not so abnormal that it would be like, that I would think that I don't need to that I need to get it checked out, you know what I mean? And so it's, it's crazy to think about that part of it is like how many women are living with this and have no idea. And you won't just like, I couldn't just go to the doctor and be like, I can't get this weight off. Like even my doc, like, but you are the type of person that wouldn't. But I'm sure there's plenty of listeners. But nobody, I would want to, but like my doctor literally didn't believe I had PCOS,

like he didn't want to believe it. Yeah, he would be like, okay, well go on a diet. Like, what do you need from, you know what I mean? So if it wasn't for the period, I would have never in my, I couldn't go to the doctor and be like, I can't get this weight off. It's not making sense. They would be like, go to the gym. But I also wonder how many listeners are in scared situations like you that would just like rather not know, you know, like I wonder how many people have gone through that part because I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum. If like my fingernails bleeding, I think something's happening. So I just go to the ER, you know, like there's like some people that are like that, like hypochondriacs. And then there's like some people, they're like,

I know there's a problem, but I'm not going to get help. I just didn't think it was going to be a problem that was like, like I said, my GYN wasn't really concerned. But yeah, I can schedule you an ultrasound and labs if you want kind of thing. So I just, I don't know, like I just didn't think it was a problem that was going to need a solution. Like it was just kind of like, okay, you're happy. Yeah, like it'll subside in time or we'll get you on birth control. And that was the original answer was let's get you, let's just get you on birth control so that your periods are lighter. And I'm like, okay, but that's a bandaid. And if I'm not having sex, which I'm not, I don't want to take birth control. Like I just don't like, why am I putting that in my body if

I'm not having sex too? Does that make sense? Like that's just how I feel. And maybe definitely make sense. I think to that point that I also don't take it because I just don't believe in putting the hormones and if you're like, if you're not having sex, if you don't need it, why are you doing it? Yeah. However, I mean, I definitely could have used it in the past. But but with that being said, again, it's a bandaid. I think that's a general thing with you go to the doctor. When I first started my period, they were regular. So that's the first thing they say, oh, get on birth control because it'll regulate you. It'll cause your periods to be consistent. It'll help the breakouts. It'll help all of the things. But really, it's just a bandaid to a

bigger problem. But then that led me to think about labs with your annual checkups. Are they not checking for these levels on our regular? I never had lab work with an annual. You never did. No, like I would get like my annual pap, but it wasn't like a blood test. I will say the hardest part for me in all of this is very superficial, maybe the comments that I get about my weight gain on social media and being on the show and stuff like that has been the hardest part for me because it's out of your control. Yes. And that's where I get emotional because it's like, I didn't expect it and it's not something I have been able to control. I've tried. And so when people comment and they're like, oh, pig, cow, this, that, and third, I'm like, well,

fuck, like I something is wrong. Like I ate a salad and gained a pound. Yeah. Yeah. And that's well, especially like right after I had creed, it was like, and I don't really normally I don't care this much just because my weight has fluctuated. So I've always been like, Oh, I'll just lose the weight and it'll be fine. And like, I'll feel better about myself. But like now for eight, a little over eight months, like I have gone through, I'm like, do I get surgery? Do I like what is wrong with me that I can't lose weight? Those workouts, I was like dreading. I loved it at first. And then I started to dread it. You know what I mean? And then I'm like, I'm because it wasn't sustainable. Not wanting to eat. And then I'm trying to eat healthy. And I don't

normally eat these things. And like that was the hardest part for me. It was like the comments on Instagram. And I know that like my friends and stuff, like they've noticed the weight game, it's undeniable. That's been the hardest part for me being on TV and in the public eye. But I think every person can relate to a degree with social media. It's just not real life, I guess. Yeah. But I see it in myself, like my, I feel it, like my, the weight gain in my face. And just like my body, I don't want to get in a bathing suit. Well, and how many eyes are on you right here to like magnifies like what I'm already going through. So I just been like, it's been hard in that way. But like, I'm, I just want to take

the time. I'm kind of glad that like this season is kind of coming to a close. So I can take some time off and focus on like my weight loss and getting healthy. What are you going to do? Turn into a gym rat for two months? No, I don't even want to turn into a gym. I really think, even if I don't go to the gym, if I eat right and like try to heal my body from the inside out, I don't think it'll rule. I don't think it can reverse PCOS, but it can definitely lessen the symptoms. I think, um, you know, just being very mindful of the things I'm putting into my body and and things like that. I think also because of social media,

everyone can relate to the fact that you want the instant gratification of I want to wake up and like look more like this or whatever. And it's, you have to put in the work long term and it's not, you're not going to notice an immediate difference tomorrow. And I think for me, it was like time, like we, I mean, I went to that gym, I was working out five times a week and driving an hour out of my way to get this workout in because I knew I would burn X amount of calories and then on top of it, eating, right? Why am I fluctuating? Like I think in the total like process, I'm, I don't really think I maybe a pound or two. I don't even think I lost that. I don't remember, but I remember just feeling so defeated. Like what is going on,

but I never connected to the dots until now. Like the diagonal, everything makes sense. Like everything. I hope that when people listen to this episode and listen to someone who is as followed as you, um, and does have these types of struggles, these are real life struggles for real life people every single day and you're a real life person. I hope that, um, they think about going on your Instagram and putting those types of comments because people don't understand how one comment like that is so hurtful and then to have to see it over and over and over again, just magnifies the issue and it's a huge problem with society. It's a huge, um, social media can be so great, but it's also so hurtful and so damaging in so many different ways that, um,

look at how successful you are and how far you've come. And then you have to be beat down every single day anytime you post something. Well, and it was hard too when I didn't know. And then it's even harder when I'm not at all these months. What's been like, it has been like two months, Kristen, since I found out roughly two months. Yeah. Or even like two months since we started trying to figure it out. Either way, it was like, it was hard when I didn't know, but I didn't really connect the dots too much. It was just like, okay, I'm beating myself up over what I'm doing. And then I get the diagnosis and now I'm not only suffering in silence, being quiet about it, because I didn't want to say anything until, you know, I was feeling ready for it. But now I'm also

getting the comments, I mean, still and suffering in silence, not saying anything about why I can't lose the weight or why I'm bigger or why people are like, are you got, you got work done or you've gained weight or you just, you look really different. And it's like, I'm fully aware of the weight gain. So just call it like you see it or don't say anything at all. But yeah, it's been, it's been a rough little ride for, for this little period of my life, but I want to get it under control. And I want to focus on that. And that's what I'm going to do in the next several months. Well, I'm proud of you for sharing your journey with us. It's really brave. And for everyone who's listening, make sure that you guys tune in. What will this probably be like the last episode of

Teen Mom 2? Something similar. Tune into the season of Teen Mom 2. And you guys will see the behind the scene footage of this. And we're just so thankful for our listeners for encouraging Kale to take care of herself, go in, see her doctor. And again, this is not medical advice in any way. This is just her sharing her story. And also just that all being said, if you know something is wrong with your body, listen to it. If you even think that some, you know what I mean, something could be wrong because it's better to know and to be able to take care of it than suffering again in silence because you also were suffering in silence by not doing anything. Yeah, I agree, because it was still on my mind, even though I didn't want to know at the time. So I think that's

all for today. If you guys have any questions that Kale maybe can answer, maybe we can do something in a story, no medical advice, but just maybe her experience with it that was not covered. Or if you want to share your stories, then you can either call in, we have a number on our Instagram, or you can send us a DM, of course. And if you have not followed us on at coffee combos podcast, you can do that on Instagram and make sure you subscribe to us by using the purple podcast app if you're an Apple user or on Spotify or we're on any other podcast app. We hope you guys have a great week and we'll chat with you soon. See ya.