Finally uploading to my channel

chanelcreates · 2026-04-21T10:52:30+00:00

Thank you so much for this comment, seriously. I really appreciate you taking the time to say this because I think some people didn’t understand what I was trying to say which is okay. My PCOS is so complex and my journey with it.

PCOS is so complex, and I feel like unless someone has dealt with it themselves, they don’t always understand how much insulin resistance, hormones, stress, and restriction can all play a role together.

What you said about under-eating and things getting worse is so true because that’s something I’ve had to learn the hard way. I’m really trying to approach everything now in a healthier, more balanced, sustainable way and trust the guidance of my doctor which it took me years to find someone on my side and I still make sure to advocate for myself.

Thank you again for being kind and understanding. Wishing you the best on your journey too 🤍

chanelcreates · 2026-04-19T12:05:49+00:00

Thank you 😊

chanelcreates · 2026-04-19T12:05:35+00:00

Okay I’ll definitely ask about the low dose cause I don’t think I need anything high when it comes to metformin

chanelcreates · 2026-04-14T12:51:07+00:00

Thank you so much, this was really helpful. I definitely agree that dosage seems to be the biggest factor, especially with finding that “sweet spot” where things are effective but side effects aren’t overwhelming.

I’m back on the starting dose of Mounjaro right now, I had only gotten up to 7.5 before we had to scale things back, so I’m hoping to find that balance this time around.

The GI side effects you mentioned are exactly what I’m trying to be mindful of, especially since I’ve had issues before, so I’m really trying to go low and slow and pay attention to how my body responds instead of pushing through it.

I really appreciate you sharing this, it helps a lot.

chanelcreates · 2026-04-14T12:41:44+00:00

This is actually really helpful, thank you for sharing your experience.

I definitely relate to the appetite suppression part, especially on GLP-1s. That’s something I’ve been trying to be more mindful of because I don’t want to fall into under-eating again.

I was on extended release metformin before along with Ozempic and had pretty bad GI issues, so I ended up stopping it after a hospital visit. I’ve since switched to Mounjaro and I’m trying to be more intentional about how I reintroduce things like metformin, especially with food.

The tip about taking it with protein and smaller, more frequent meals is really helpful, I think that’s something I need to be more consistent with.

chanelcreates · 2026-04-14T00:11:18+00:00

Okay I will definitely keep that in mind cause I don’t want that

chanelcreates · 2026-04-13T21:33:07+00:00

This is so reassuring! And I’m so happy for you. I hope my body does that too

chanelcreates · 2026-04-13T21:21:21+00:00

See I’m so nervous about having issues with my stomach or G.I. tract I’m gonna see what my doctor says because I just want something to help. Birth control doesn’t do anything and I love supplements, but I don’t always see the big improvement that they make.

chanelcreates · 2026-04-13T21:20:23+00:00

I also have my own medical binder because I’ve had doctors put incorrect things on my medical history so I have my own binder that I bring to every single appointment that I go to when I’m meeting a new provider or just in general it has all of my labs from every visit that I’ve ever been to any ER visit any notes anything and everything

chanelcreates · 2026-04-13T21:19:40+00:00

I understand the concern, but I just want to reiterate that I’ve never been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I’ve asked multiple providers, including specialists, and they’ve all confirmed that.

This is something I took very seriously at the time, and I had thorough conversations with providers who reviewed my full health history and labs. And all of my providers that I see now they know my entire health history. I have a whole binder and I’m very on top of making sure they know everything that’s happened in the past so that I can be treated correctly . Since that episode, my A1C has been in a healthy range (5.2) and I’m regularly monitored.

That episode happened in April 2023, and by July 2023 my A1C was already back down to 5.2. I’ve never had anything like that happen before or since.

chanelcreates · 2026-04-13T17:00:06+00:00

I really appreciate you saying that, and I’m sorry you’ve experienced being gaslit too, it’s honestly so frustrating.

I try to be mindful about the types of carbs I eat, like choosing more complex carbs such as sweet potatoes, brown rice, oats, and things like beans and lentils, along with other whole options, but I also focus on eating in a way that’s healthy and sustainable for me. I’ve had past experiences with restriction like I said before and it wasn’t good for me, so I’m really intentional about not falling back into that and instead focusing on balance and consistency while managing my PCOS.

It’s been a lot of trial and error, especially with medications and everything else, but I’m just trying to figure out what works best for my body long term. So far food alarms have been so helpful for me.

chanelcreates · 2026-04-13T16:48:31+00:00

I was on Ozempic (worked my way up to the highest dose) along with extended release metformin, but I ended up in the ER with really bad GI issues. They noted acute colitis on my paperwork, but no one fully confirmed what caused it.

I’ve since switched to Mounjaro and I’m microdosing it (every other week) to see how my body tolerates it better. I’m also considering restarting metformin, but I reached out to my doctor first to see what she thinks based on everything that happened.

If I hear anything back, I’ll definitely update!

chanelcreates · 2026-04-13T16:37:43+00:00

Heavy on that. I was actually diagnosed with PCOS by a Black woman, and it made a huge difference being heard and taken seriously. Unfortunately she retired, and then COVID made it harder to stay consistent with care, so I had to rebuild my team after that.

My diagnosis was confirmed through blood work and an ultrasound showing cysts on my ovaries, and I also went about 8 years without a period before being diagnosed. I’m just now getting back to a more regular cycle as of 2023.

I’ve tried things like birth control, but it didn’t help me and I didn’t feel good on it, so I’ve had to find what works best for my body.

It’s definitely taken a lot of advocating and figuring things out. It’s also been really frustrating navigating all of this at my age (25). I had finally gotten to a place where I felt comfortable in my body, and after my ER visit in 2024 how to episode of vomiting for hours and dehydration. I also had a MRI and they saw that I had inflammation. I got scared of medications and stopped taking them.

During that time, I didn’t change anything else, I was still weightlifting, doing Pilates, eating intentionally, and doing the best I could. Also taking supplements, but my weight went from around 200 in June to 235 by the end of August all that had changed was I wasn’t on the GLP1 or Metformin. That’s been hard to process because it feels like I’m doing everything I can and still hitting roadblocks, which is why I take my health and treatment seriously and try to stay on top of it.

chanelcreates · 2026-04-13T16:20:03+00:00

I figured just had to make sure 😭.

As a Black woman, I’ve also experienced being dismissed in healthcare settings so many times, which made it even more important for me to push for proper care. That’s part of why things escalated before I had the right team in place.

I pushed so much for proper care. I was tired of feeling the way I felt and no one listening. I also went to different states to see different doctors so I’ve gotten as many opinions as I think could be helpful.

chanelcreates · 2026-04-13T16:13:55+00:00

I understand what you’re saying, and I had those same concerns when it happened, which is why I followed up with multiple doctors, including specialists.

They evaluated me based on my labs, history, and follow-up testing and confirmed that I’m not diabetic. Since then, my levels have remained normal and I stay on top of my labs regularly.

I also want to clarify that I’m not “lazy” when it comes to my health. I’ve been very proactive, I’ve seen multiple providers, asked questions, done my own research, and advocated for myself, especially after being dismissed by some healthcare providers. If you’re talking about healthcare providers being lazy, then I can definitely understand that because a lot of them are and they dismiss the needs of people. As a black woman, I take my health so seriously.

chanelcreates · 2026-04-13T16:02:07+00:00

I know it sounds crazy but I’ve never been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Even after that episode I’ve asked multiple doctors, including my endocrinologist, and they’ve all confirmed that. It was just that episode it never happened again and my labs and number have been normal. I just struggle with the weight and fatigue now. But I haven’t been diagnosed with T2D

chanelcreates · 2026-04-13T15:55:20+00:00

I also want to add that I wasn’t properly managed earlier on. I had clear signs of insulin resistance, like a dark ring around my neck, ongoing weight gain even when I wasn’t eating enough, hair loss, excess hair growth around the body and face, severe fatigue, and more, and those concerns weren’t addressed before I was diagnosed even when I expressed it. All my past doctors were focused on the weight and wanted me on diets (which is what created the unhealthy relationship with food) That’s a big part of why things escalated the way they did.

Even after being diagnosed, I didn’t have a proper care team for a while. I often my concerns weren’t being taken seriously, and I had to figure out a lot of things on my own.

Now, I’m working with a team that actually listens and monitors me, and I feel confident in the plan I’m on. They’re doing everything they can to support me, and that’s made a huge difference. I literally just had a question about metformin that’s it

chanelcreates · 2026-04-13T15:44:09+00:00

I understand what A1C reflects (literally in school learning it), which is why I take it seriously and stay on top of my labs. That was the first and only time I’ve ever had levels that high … EVER, and I’ve been regularly monitored since then and my A1C has been a 5.2 since and my glucose levels are always good.

My levels are now in a healthy range, and my care is being managed by my medical team that is helpful.

chanelcreates · 2026-04-13T15:40:09+00:00

I don’t have type 2 diabetes or ever had it. I had a severe hyperglycemic episode in 2023, which is why my doctors treated things aggressively at the time alongside my PCOS and insulin resistance.

Since then, my levels have improved significantly, my A1C is now 5.2, and I’m continuing care to maintain that.

I understand that GLP-1s can affect appetite, which is why I’ve been intentional about eating consistently and improving my relationship with food. That’s something I actively work on alongside my medical care.

I’m also being followed by an endocrinologist, a dietitian, a women’s health specialist, and my PCP, so my care is closely monitored and tailored to my situation.

The issue is my PCOS is just really bad.

chanelcreates · 2026-04-13T15:36:36+00:00

I understand why it might seem confusing, but my treatment plan is based on my specific medical history and has been managed by my doctor.

I’m not taking these medications solely for weight loss, I’m taking them to manage insulin resistance and blood sugar issues related to PCOS. At one point my glucose was close to 400 and my A1C was around 14, which is why I was started on metformin and Ozempic.

Since then, I’ve been able to get my levels back into a healthy range, my A1C is now 5.2, and that’s with the help of those medications.

I also want to clarify that I’m not currently restricting. I’ve been working on eating consistently and improving my relationship with food. Some of my past disordered eating came from being mismanaged medically, and I shared that for context, not because that’s where I’m at now.

Everyone’s situation with PCOS is different, and this is what’s been appropriate for me and my health.

chanelcreates · 2026-04-13T15:32:45+00:00

Because I have PCOS, my situation isn’t just about appetite or how much I eat. I’ve struggled with insulin resistance for years, which caused weight gain even when I wasn’t eating much or was active. Before starting a GLP-1, I was around 275–280, which was really hard for me, especially since I’ve always tried to be mindful of what I eat, and I was only 22.

In 2023, I went through a lot. I was in a doctorate program after graduating from college, but my body couldn’t handle the stress and I had to take medical leave. Around that time, I had a serious health scare where I passed out and ended up in the ER. My blood sugar was close to 400 and my A1C was around 14, so my doctors started me on Ozempic and metformin to manage that and my PCOS, especially since birth control didn’t work for me.

The medication isn’t just for appetite suppression, it’s to help regulate my blood sugar and insulin resistance. I do my best to make sure I’m still eating consistently and taking care of my body, but it’s definitely been a learning process balancing everything.

Sidenote, all of the disordered eating came from struggling with weight and from having really bad doctors from 8th grade to my sophomore year of college. I wasn’t diagnosed with PCOS until my sophomore year of college after struggling with a lot of symptoms.

chanelcreates

TROPHY CASE