Lori Harvey's Decade-Long Health Battle: The Untold Story of PCOS and Endometriosis
Lori Harvey Opens Up About Decade-Long Battle with PCOS and Endometriosis: "I Felt Like I Was Dying"
The stunning model and entrepreneur, 28, has finally found answers after years of suffering from painful symptoms that left her feeling like she was being gaslighted by the medical community.
In a candid interview on SheMD with Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi and Mary Alice Haney, Lori revealed that she spent more than a decade battling unexplained symptoms, including wild weight fluctuations, intense bloating after eating, acne, rosacea, and facial hair, which left her wondering what was happening to her body.
"I've been so frustrated," Harvey confessed. "I've been going to my gynecologist because I've just been feeling like something's off in my body. But every time I go to her, she's like, 'You're fine, you're fine, you're fine.' And I was like, 'But I don't feel fine. I feel like something is just off.'"
Harvey's story is a stark reminder of the devastating effects of PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and endometriosis on women's lives. According to thescholarlynote.com, PCOS affects around one in 10 American women of childbearing age, with symptoms often going undiagnosed for years.
The model recalled that she first experienced symptoms at just 16 years old, but it wasn't until she visited Dr. Aliabadi, a renowned OB-GYN known for treating A-list patients, that she finally got answers.
Dr. Aliabadi was shocked by the severity of Harvey's condition and told her that her ovaries were so swollen and inflamed that it would be "impossible" to get pregnant if left untreated. An emergency surgery was performed just two days later to remove a massive cyst on Harvey's ovary, which was caused by endometriosis.
"We're talking about Lori Harvey," Dr. Aliabadi emphasized. "That's what hurts me. That's why I have you guys come here. Because if you cannot get someone to listen to you and diagnose you correctly, do you think other women have a chance? They don't."
Harvey's experience is not unique. Many of her friends suffer from PCOS in silence, with the condition often being stigmatized and misunderstood.
"So many of my friends struggle with PCOS," Harvey shared. "And it's something that none of us were educated on, and we all kind of were just suffering in silence because we didn't know what it was."
After her diagnosis, Harvey began taking Metformin, a diabetes medication that also helps regulate hormones in PCOS patients. The results were dramatic, with Harvey noting that she has finally found relief from the debilitating symptoms.
"Completely changed my life," she revealed. "My weight has stabilized, my hormones are balanced, and I finally feel like myself."
But Harvey's story is a stark reminder of the wider problem in women's health. Dr. Aliabadi emphasized that PCOS patients often develop disordered eating habits as they try to cope with their condition.
"Diet doesn't work," Dr. Aliabadi stated. "You're exercising, you're killing yourself, and your skinny friend is eating whatever she wants. So, it's so frustrating."
The good news is that Harvey is now taking control of her health, and planning to freeze her eggs within the next year as an "insurance policy" for her future fertility.
As she reflected on her journey, Harvey emphasized the importance of women speaking out about their experiences and seeking help from medical professionals who truly listen.
"I feel like I'm finally at home in my body," she said. "And it's a feeling that I should have had at 16."
A Silent Epidemic
PCOS affects around one in 10 American women of childbearing age, with symptoms often going undiagnosed for years. The condition can impact fertility and has no outwardly observable signs.
According to Dr. Aliabadi, PCOS patients are often misdiagnosed or dismissed by medical professionals, leading to a "silent epidemic" of suffering women.
"If you cannot get someone to listen to you and diagnose you correctly," Dr. Aliabadi emphasized, "do you think other women have a chance? They don't."
The Symptoms
- Wild weight fluctuations
- Intense bloating after eating
- Acne
- Rosacea
- Facial hair
The Treatment
- Metformin: a diabetes medication that helps regulate hormones in PCOS patients
- Emergency surgery to remove cysts or endometriomas
- Fertility preservation through egg freezing
The Message
Lori Harvey's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of women speaking out about their experiences and seeking help from medical professionals who truly listen.
As she reflected on her journey, Harvey emphasized that PCOS patients often suffer in silence, with many experiencing disordered eating habits as they try to cope with their condition.
"I feel like I'm finally at home in my body," she said. "And it's a feeling that I should have had at 16."
The Solution
Dr. Aliabadi emphasizes the importance of education and awareness about PCOS and endometriosis.
"If you knock on the doors of these eating disorder centers, a lot of these PCOS patients are sitting behind it," Dr. Aliabadi stated. "We need to educate women about their bodies and encourage them to speak out about their experiences."
By sharing her story, Lori Harvey hopes to raise awareness about PCOS and endometriosis, and encourage other women to seek help from medical professionals who truly listen.
"I feel like I've finally found my voice," she said. "And I hope that by speaking out, I can help others find theirs."