So, short version: I was vegan for a few years and reached my optimum health, then changes in life made me fall back into my old, unhealthy ways. I went back to being vegan about a month ago, and started feeling better almost instantly.
But I've been on my period for almost 3 months straight now, and I'm worrying about my iron levels and my wellbeing in general. I have iron supplements, but often forget to take them (I need to get better at this). I think a lot of it is stress induced, and I just can't seem to relax. I'm a cancer survivor who also has PCOS, so my hormone levels are all out of line. When I was vegan the first time, it was the first and only time my hormones were balanced and the PCOS was actually gone for a while.
I don't know if I'm just not giving it enough time, but I'm really concerned that something is seriously wrong since I'm still menstruating after three months. This isn't the first time this has happened, but this time I feel like it shouldn't because I've been eating so much healthier than I have in a long time... am I just being impatient?
I've also been experiencing crazy headaches (though mostly they seem like tension headaches caused by stress, which just makes me stress more), esophageal spasms, and these random shooting pains in my legs. Because of my medical history, I tend to be prone to a bit of hypochondria and I know it, but that kind of just makes me stress out even more because I don't know if it's something I should actually be concerned with or if I'm just freaking myself out.
Unfortunately, I won't have medical insurance for another couple of months (waiting for open enrollment at work, since I didn't sign up in time when I started my job a little more than a year ago), so I can't see a doctor about any of this until January.
I feel like a lot of this would subside if I could just relax, but it feels like a vicious cycle--the harder I try to relax, the harder it is to relax. I feel lost and alone right now, and just wish I knew what to do.
But I've been on my period for almost 3 months straight now, and I'm worrying about my iron levels and my wellbeing in general. I have iron supplements, but often forget to take them (I need to get better at this). I think a lot of it is stress induced, and I just can't seem to relax. I'm a cancer survivor who also has PCOS, so my hormone levels are all out of line. When I was vegan the first time, it was the first and only time my hormones were balanced and the PCOS was actually gone for a while.
I don't know if I'm just not giving it enough time, but I'm really concerned that something is seriously wrong since I'm still menstruating after three months. This isn't the first time this has happened, but this time I feel like it shouldn't because I've been eating so much healthier than I have in a long time... am I just being impatient?
I've also been experiencing crazy headaches (though mostly they seem like tension headaches caused by stress, which just makes me stress more), esophageal spasms, and these random shooting pains in my legs. Because of my medical history, I tend to be prone to a bit of hypochondria and I know it, but that kind of just makes me stress out even more because I don't know if it's something I should actually be concerned with or if I'm just freaking myself out.
Unfortunately, I won't have medical insurance for another couple of months (waiting for open enrollment at work, since I didn't sign up in time when I started my job a little more than a year ago), so I can't see a doctor about any of this until January.
I feel like a lot of this would subside if I could just relax, but it feels like a vicious cycle--the harder I try to relax, the harder it is to relax. I feel lost and alone right now, and just wish I knew what to do.