[00:00:47] Megan. Hello. Thank you so much for joining me today.

[00:00:55] Thank you for having me. .

[00:00:57] I'm really excited to [00:01:00] just be hearing from you today because you have a really inspirational story and you're in a really exciting time in your life. So thank you for being open to share.

[00:01:12] I would love to first talk about what were you most frustrated with or struggling with before you and I were working together?

[00:01:26] Gosh, this is a loaded question. I have struggled with a hormone imbalance for 20 years. And, you know, as a teenager, my cycles were never regular. I was told at 17 I had endometriosis, so, you know, you go down the path of treating that.

[00:01:43] I was put on birth control for a couple of years. That didn't seem to help anything except for maybe regulating my periods, but I was having tough periods. So it was just like two decades, honestly, of... Being really frustrated with my own body. Like, why isn't [00:02:00] it, you know, working the way that it was designed and created to work?

[00:02:04] And, almost 10 years ago, my husband and I got married and, you know, we wanted to start a family. It's always been my dream to be a mom. And, I started with a new OB GYN and They were like, you have PCOS, and I was like, what's that? So, I immediately Google, and I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm gonna gain a ton of weight, I'm never gonna be able to have kids, and I'm gonna live with this disease my whole life.

[00:02:30] And I felt so hopeless, and I'm not trying to knock the, the physician that diagnosed me, but there was no information given to me, so it was kind of up to me to go and find out. You know, what PCOS is and how can I live with it? And how do you cure it? Is there a cure? What symptoms can I expect and when?

[00:02:49] And, and so it just kind of led me on this journey of like research of my own body. I was lucky enough, I will say, I [00:03:00] got pregnant naturally, which was very surprising to me and amazing and had a healthy birth and a healthy pregnancy. So, you know, everyone would think like, oh, that's great.

[00:03:10] But, you know, after I had my daughter, I was back to irregular periods. I was back to symptoms. I was back to feeling hopeless. We would love to have more kids and. It was like, okay, I'm trying this doctor. I'm trying that doctor. I tried different OB GYNs and, you know, it's like, oh, we'll send you to a fertility specialist or we'll get you on the pill to regulate your cycles.

[00:03:33] And it just felt like there was no solution. To my symptoms, like my irregular periods, was I even ovulating, things like that. So I would say I was really hopeless, I was getting depressed, honestly, frustrated because, on my own research I'd try a new supplement, or I would do this, or eliminate gluten and dairy, because I heard that could help.

[00:03:55] So trying all these different things, but having no [00:04:00] real outcomes. And then when I found you, I was, Randomly looking up a PCOS podcast, I had a long drive and you were the guest on a podcast and my mind was so blown because I felt like I learned more about PCOS in 35 minutes than I did in 10 years.

[00:04:19] And I was like, I have got to know more. I felt like this spark of hope opened up. So that's how I came to you.

[00:04:26] Oh, wow. I really resonate with you getting this dismissive information from all these doctors, because that's one of the most common stories that I hear and. So talk to us a little bit more about, you know, when you first got diagnosed and your doctor wasn't really helpful, or at one point you were told, Oh, just go back on birth control.

[00:04:50] Like, how was that in your mind and in this fertility journey for you?

[00:04:57] Yeah, I felt like, you know, I [00:05:00] love how you call it a fertility journey, because a few years ago, I started switching my, you know, seven year gap of infertility to my fertility journey, because we were designed and created to be fertile.

[00:05:12] I truly believe that. I think stuff along the way can hinder that, or it needs to be aligned for it to happen. It just felt like, we make all these advances in healthcare. And yet there's no information. My doctor, who is a doctor of women and the body, she's supposed to help me and to know, and I was just kind of like, if they don't know who, who can help me, who's gonna help me, you know, my ultimate goal wasn't to necessarily have another baby, although that would be an amazing outcome.

[00:05:48] It was more like, how do I regulate my cycles? Because you know, they say that your menstrual cycle is your fifth vital sign. And mine wasn't happening, so I'm like, [00:06:00] I, you know, I love health and wellness, and it's a hobby for me, it's a lifestyle. And I felt like, I'm doing all these things right, but something's missing and no one can help me.

[00:06:11] You know, it's very lonely to feel that way, and, you know, hearing other people or seeing people post about PCOS, I just want to like, scream on the rooftops, like, there is hope, like, someone can help you. Don't just keep getting like simple answers from your doctor, like get a second opinion, research a PCOS fertility specialist.

[00:06:32] I didn't even know someone like that existed.

[00:06:36] Yeah. Yeah. Oh, I'm just, I'm just so grateful that you're here and you know, we're going to get to this part of your story in a minute, but you know, you're carrying your next baby. Like it's super exciting. But when you were in that space of still. Trying to figure out what your body needed to at least regulate periods, but you know also to get pregnant again [00:07:00] How is this affecting you you've shared a little bit, but can you dive into that some more?

[00:07:07] I think I would wake up every day and be like, okay What can I do today to like I felt like I had The control over my health, like I'm doing something wrong. Everyone else is getting pregnant around me. Everyone else has a regular cycle. Like this is my problem. And I started to get so frustrated with my own body.

[00:07:27] And so it was such a struggle to be like, to find hope again. And also like, believe like my body can heal. It's designed to heal. It's, it was depressing, honestly, because like, why can't I just be normal? I want my body to be normal. I've dealt with this for 20 years and like, why can't something just click?

[00:07:47] Like what's the magic supplement diet? What is it? And I just wasn't sure, you know, what to do next. And then, you know, after working with you, I just had learned so much [00:08:00] about my own body and, and I'm sure we'll get into that too, but yeah, it was. I think it's probably the most alone I've felt in my life because, you know, your friends, your, my sister has four kids.

[00:08:14] She never dealt with this. And I'm like, Does anyone know what PCOS really feels like? Or, not to mention just, like, the absence of a period or ovulation, but it's like, you're tired, your cortisol levels can be off, your blood sugar is off a lot of times, there's inflammation in the body, stress trapped in the body.

[00:08:34] There's so many pieces of it that I just didn't know, and I felt like I was, I don't know, trying, trying to fight off all these little things, but really had no basic knowledge about what to do. And I was so desperate. As soon as I heard your podcast, , I remember crying, talking to my husband and I'm like, I don't know.

[00:08:53] Like, you know, I know IVF is expensive. I don't know what's next on our fertility journey. But I said, I [00:09:00] feel like I have to explore this. And he was like, absolutely super supportive. And I think that was the first time too. I kind of let my guard down, even with my own husband who I love and trust.

[00:09:11] Because it's almost like an internal battle that you have with yourself. Like I'm supposed to love my body. I'm supposed to do this. I'm supposed to do that. And I'm supposed to be happy. I already have a kid, you know, that's huge. Like some people don't get that opportunity. So I'm being ungrateful if I think that I need more, you know, so it was just such an internal struggle.

[00:09:34] Well, you know, thank you so much for sharing that because there are so many other women who are struggling with that and are feeling like they have to keep that internalized. And particularly when they're getting this information from their doctors, like, Oh, you know, just go lose weight or go get it back on birth control and that's supposed to fix it.

[00:09:56] And so that's just perpetuating. [00:10:00] It doesn't address all of the other. Aspects and I'm sure I'll talk more about, like, the other pieces, not even just, you know, work what's changed after working with you, but there's just a whole, there's just more options than you think, like, it's not just about losing weight.

[00:10:16] It's not just about. Cutting something from your diet. And it's not complicated, honestly, I never felt super overwhelmed or frustrated working with you. I felt like everything kept getting better. I started feeling better. And so it was more motivating to like keep doing what I had to do and, and all those things.

[00:10:35] But I don't wanna give away too many spoilers yet, .

[00:10:38] Well, no, I mean, that's a great transition. Can you share with us what's changed for you since we've been working together?

[00:10:47] Yeah, I think, you know, I had gone to other natural doctors before and I will say that was really helpful addressing some maybe like mineral deficiencies and just overall [00:11:00] improving my health.

[00:11:01] When I started working with you and getting the labs done and I don't feel like you ordered anything too crazy, but looking at the levels You know, there's such a range when you get blood work back and they're like, Oh, looks normal. Like, let's move on. But you explaining what optimal levels were for my fertility, just kind of blew my mind because, like, but I'm in the range, right?

[00:11:23] Like, that should be good. And I loved how you, like, step by step, we addressed nutrition and blood sugar and then we addressed supplements and you kind of slowly added things in. So I didn't feel like my whole, Life had changed overnight. , it's definitely changed, but change for the better. So I think a, I have more energy and I feel good, but I feel so empowered to just keep going.

[00:11:49] Like I know that that health is possible and. After about a month and a half of working together, I got a regular cycle for the first time in years and I was like, [00:12:00] what kind of voodoo is this? This is amazing. You know, like it's working. But I also knew and was realistic that I had to be patient. Like the body does take time to heal.

[00:12:10] Some other things. I had a lot of trauma when I was a teenager. And after some of the tests, you were saying like your, your mind isn't telling your, your brain isn't telling your ovaries to ovulate. And I had felt like, Oh, I have a lot of stuff that I haven't released or let out. So I started going to a counselor again.

[00:12:30] And I think that was even a piece of, of this journey for me was healing through some of that trauma and kind of like just opening my body to function the way it was meant to without blockages, if that makes sense. And so, after my first normal cycle, I was so excited. I was ready for my next cycle, and I was like, Oh my gosh, I think I ovulated.

[00:12:51] I really do. You started cluing me in on signs of ovulation, and we started talking about how to get my eggs in a healthy place, but you [00:13:00] definitely were like, It takes a couple months, three months for your eggs to get, you know, into a healthy space. So I was like, Totally. Like, I'm gonna be so patient. This is great.

[00:13:10] So, I'm waiting for my next period. So excited that I ovulated. So excited that I had a period the month before. And no period came. And I was like, Okay, don't be defeated. Like, it takes time. And then... You know, like every month for the last seven years, you know, you take a pregnancy test because that's what you're hoping and wishing for.

[00:13:31] And for the first time in seven years, I had a positive pregnancy test. So I'm almost 21 weeks pregnant right now.

[00:13:41] I've said this to you many times before, but Congratulations. Like, I'm just so excited. And your story gives me goosebumps. And for where you were when we first started working together to where you are now, it's, it's just really an honor to be here with you on this journey. [00:14:00]

[00:14:00] Thank you. It's, I'm so glad that you're. Walking with me and, you know, obviously this was the desired outcome, but even the fact that I had that regular cycle and was feeling better and sleeping better, and it makes me more excited for my postpartum journey to know that I can get back to that, my body can get back to that, and I can thrive after this pregnancy too.

[00:14:23] But also have a healthy pregnancy because I think a lot of times to people with PCOS or hormone imbalance or infertility, whatever it might be, you know, the goal is like just get pregnant. Just get pregnant. I just want to get pregnant and I know that feeling like seven years of looking at tests with only one line instead of two like it's hard.

[00:14:47] I am not gonna downplay that at all. It's devastating and I think with you, your approach was like, yes, that's the goal, but how do we get your body in a place where a [00:15:00] can get pregnant, but sustain it as well and have a natural, healthy pregnancy. And I will say like this pregnancy, it's been hard, like normal, hard, like, you know, a lot of nausea, vomiting the first trimester, but.

[00:15:15] The baby's healthy, I'm good, like, everything's going well, and I'm just so thankful that even in the short time that we work together, that my body... Was in a healthy place to have, you know, to accept, this egg and fertilize it and turn it into a baby. So I'm just really, really excited. Yeah, that's so cool.

[00:15:39] And I love that you bring that up because that is a big shortfall in the PCOS fertility world is that most of these doctors are just saying, okay, well, let's get you ovulating. Let's push ovulation. Which yes, it's the goal, but we have to take a step back to figure out, okay, why are you not ovulating? What needs to happen in order to help [00:16:00] you ovulate? And so as you and I were working on that together here you are, you're having a healthy pregnancy. Can you talk to us about what else has opened up for you as we've gone through this, this journey?

[00:16:19] You know, I have a couple of friends dealing with infertility or on their fertility journey, and I feel like I've kind of found my voice in this process because People would assume like, Oh, just one and done, you know, with our daughter and they make comments and it just helps you realize like everyone's journey is so different and you know, I know people were never meant saying those things to be cruel or mean, but you don't know how lonely this journey is and what people are walking through.

[00:16:51] And I've always felt like, gosh, there's gotta be a way, like even when this. I always felt hope, I guess, in the back of my [00:17:00] mind that something would shift, that we would have another baby. I would journal about it. I actually found journals last night, from four years ago, where I'm like, I will have another baby.

[00:17:09] I was declaring it. I will have another baby. And. I just feel like being able in this platform and you, sharing my story is something that I've always, had the desire to do, but I'm like, what am I going to do, a Facebook Live? Like, I don't know, what is this going to look like, but, I know what it's like to be hopeless, and now I know what it's like to have hope again, and it makes me emotional thinking about it, but, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's,

[00:17:38] I'm sorry.

[00:17:39] It's okay. I just want to encourage anyone listening, like, don't lose hope. Your body is designed to heal. It is designed to function. And it, and you have to be patient, but, you know, be grateful for those little healing moments when you're like, gosh, I really feel like my blood sugar was balanced today, [00:18:00] or I slept so good last night, that's so good for my body, or I took a nice walk today and that relieves so much stress.

[00:18:07] I just think like, don't lose hope. Don't go to that dark place.

[00:18:11] That's, that's so powerful. Megan

[00:18:16] really didn't expect to cry. I mean, I thought maybe I would, but maybe it's the pregnancy hormones.

[00:18:22] It's okay. It's okay. Thank you so much for sharing those words of hope to others who are in the same place as you were just, you know, months ago. Yeah. Well, Megan, what are you grateful for?

[00:18:42] So many things, honestly. And part of my I recommend this to everyone is, you know, write down, start with three things every morning that you can be grateful for. I think getting your head in the right place is key when you're dealing with your fertility journey. [00:19:00] And you'll see that list will grow and it, and it expands and some things might be repeats, but I try to start my day with that.

[00:19:06] And it's just a huge practice and part of my life, but I'm so grateful for knowing that my body was, is designed and created to function and it's on, you know, it's, it's happening for me. I'm so grateful. I get to share my story and I just am so thankful for renewed hope

[00:19:25] and for you, for, for that podcast. I randomly listened to one day. I don't know if I would be. In this position that I'm in today, so I'm so grateful that we connected and I was able to work with you. And like I said, like, I am so, so thankful. I'm pregnant and having a baby boy and it's such a blessing, but even before that, like.

[00:19:50] Finding out that my body could heal. So even if fertility isn't someone like end goal, but you're struggling with PCOS and you're like, I'm [00:20:00] suffering, you're suffering from symptoms. Just find hope that your body can heal from that too.

[00:20:06] That's wonderful. Thank you. Thank you for sharing that. You know, you were reading four years ago that you were declaring that you would get pregnant one day and sharing your story now is this beautiful place to be in, because you've gotten there, you've reached it. So being in this space, being able to share your story with others, is there anything else that you want to share?

[00:20:38] Maybe I sound like a broken record, but don't lose hope. Find ways to find gratitude with your day, with your body, the way it is functioning for you, and know that your body isn't fighting against you. I think that just creates this struggle. Internally, where you're like, you know, I've been there.

[00:20:55] I've been so frustrated, like doing everything right. I'm not eating anything bad. I'm [00:21:00] working out. I'm doing this. I'm drinking water. I'm taking supplements and it's not working. And I get it, it's exhausting. It's like being on a hamster wheel, like, you just keep going and going and hoping for a change, but I want to encourage you, like.

[00:21:17] Change is possible, but sometimes you have to tweak the process a little bit or consult a new doctor or You know, whatever it might be I think Empowering yourself with knowledge to about PCOS like I didn't even know there were different types of PCOS until I heard your podcast And I have had it, you know, for 10 years, I think probably longer, honestly, but since I was diagnosed about 10 years, and, you know, there's just always information and knowledge, and I just think, like, empower yourself with that knowledge because you don't have to suffer.

[00:21:56] Yeah. You know, [00:22:00] you. You shared that in the past seven years you've done a lot of research for yourself and I certainly have seen that with working with you. You're like, look, I'm, I'm doing all these things that I've read should help and nothing's working. And can you share what that was like doing that research for yourself and trying to just fit together the pieces in comparison to what it was like when we were working together and how things just kind of.

[00:22:32] Yeah, I think, you know, doing the research would give me glimmers of hope, you know, like, Oh, I've never tried Berberine before. I heard that's good. Or Inositol. I should try Inositol. But I think, and maybe those, those are the two things Helped a little bit, but I think after working with you, it's like, what does anositol actually do?

[00:22:54] When should I take it? You know, should I be taking berberine? Like, depending on the type of PCOS you have, [00:23:00] depending on your labs, depending on a lot of things, like Yes, there's a lot of things that are good for people with PCOS, but it might not be right for you. So I was kind of just guessing and you really can't guess at something like this.

[00:23:17] And I knew it as soon as my supplements were dialed in with you after all the labs and things like that. I just felt better and I was like, gosh, I don't remember feeling this good for years. So it kind of felt like even though it was glimmers of hope and I do encourage people to to research or follow people with PCOS, but know that it's not like one size fits all.

[00:23:41] And find that trusted person, that trusted physician who can really guide you along the way. Because yes, your knowledge will come into play. And I feel like it's helped me, you know, kind of understand, you know, some of the supplements that I was on, I didn't know about and some I [00:24:00] did. And I like that I did know some of them.

[00:24:02] But I think, just guessing is honestly not going to get you the outcome, and it didn't get me the outcome that I was hoping for. And, you know, getting that regular cycle a month and a half later, I was like, ah, that's what worked, you know, it was so dialed in on what my body actually needed to thrive and to get my hormones.

[00:24:26] Balanced and like, I had a, you know, not that this is a protocol for maybe every patient, but I did a cortisol test. I'd never even heard of that before for hormone imbalance. I, and I would pride myself on doing a lot of research and that was nothing that came up. And then I was like, Oh, it's just a cortisol test.

[00:24:45] Nothing, nothing's going to show. And then, you know, sure enough, I get the results and my cortisol was off the charts in the morning. And so addressing that, so there was just so many pieces of the puzzle that I would have never been able to put together. [00:25:00] Without your guidance.

[00:25:03] Yeah, that's so cool. I remember when we talked through that test and you were like, what?

[00:25:09] I was like, wait, I think I'm off the chart. How does that happen? A lot of like fight or flight when I woke up in the morning and you know, I think The great thing about working with you is like you're looking at the whole picture and you even encouraged me you know, like maybe talk to someone about some of the trauma and stress and Address it.

[00:25:32] And so it's not just like you were like coming to address my symptoms. Like we're looking at root cause here. And I think that is, you know, I'm going to boldly say the issue with the healthcare today. Sometimes we just address the symptoms and don't look at the root cause, but that's only like masking what's actually going on.

[00:25:54] You know, it's the tip of the iceberg and it's just so important to, [00:26:00] to truly find the root because that's how you can heal.

[00:26:05] Yes. Megan, you are wonderful. I am just again, so honored to be working with you and to be sharing in this joy with you of your new baby boy. Thank you so much for being honest and real and raw and vulnerable.

[00:26:28] Because you So many other women who are struggling are going to walk away from this with this newfound sense of hope. So, thank you so much.

[00:26:41] Thank you, and thank you for inviting me on here. I just, you know, it's kind of coming full circle that I just have been wanting to share my story and wasn't sure how or when.

[00:26:51] And, you know, sometimes it's easier to share it with strangers that you don't know are listening than people in your neighborhood. But [00:27:00] I'm just so truly grateful for the work that you do and for all the women that you help. And just thank you for just dedicating your career to this. It's, it's truly amazing.

[00:27:12] Oh, thank you so much, Megan. Blessings to you. Go put your feet up. Okay. Get some rest after this. Yes. All right. You have a beautiful day.