What if the problem isn’t that nothing is working… but that your body is stuck in a state where it can’t respond? In this powerful episode of PCOS Unfiltered, Lindsie sits down with Bianca DeLuco to explore her 13-year journey to a PCOS diagnosis—one marked by dismissal, confusion, and being told everything was “normal” when it clearly wasn’t. But this conversation goes deeper than diagnosis. Together, they unpack the real reason so many women feel stuck in their healing: chronic stress, nervous system dysregulation, and a healthcare system that often overlooks the full picture of women’s health. Bianca shares how she shifted her approach—from chasing quick fixes to building sustainable, supportive habits—and the profound changes that followed, including improved energy, mood, and hormonal balance. This episode is a reminder that healing isn’t about doing more… it’s about supporting your body in a way that actually allows it to respond.
Healing isn’t just about what you’re doing—
it’s about the state your body is in while you’re doing it.
⚠️ Podcast Disclaimer
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health routine.
(0:00) It was because my husband and I had just gotten married and we really wanted to try and have a baby and (0:06) My new OB did blood work right there (0:09) Scheduled me for a transvaginal ultrasound (0:12) You know all the things that she was supposed to do to like help get this figured out (0:17) I come in for my follow-up appointment and she says yeah, everything's normal (0:20) So you're all set and I'm like, no everything's not normal (0:23) I'm 28 years old and I have a period once a year like that's not normal (0:30) Hey, beautiful, welcome back to PCOS unfiltered (0:33) I'm your host Lindsie and today's conversation is such an important one because we're not just talking about PCOS (0:40) We're talking about what happens when your body is trying to get your attention and no one is really listening (0:45) Today, I'm joined by Bianca DeLuco whose journey is one that so many women will recognize (0:50) Years of symptoms being dismissed being told everything is normal and having to advocate for herself over and over again just to get answers (0:59) In fact, it took her 13 years to receive a diagnosis (1:03) But what makes this conversation so powerful is where it goes next (1:07) Bianca brings such a beautiful perspective through her work in mind-body-spirit healing and we really dive into the deeper layers of what's actually going on (1:16) Beneath the surface not just physically but emotionally and energetically as well in this episode (1:22) We talked about the gaps in women's health care and why so many women feel dismissed (1:26) The connection between stress the nervous system and hormone health (1:30) What polyvagal theory actually is in a way that finally makes sense? (1:35) how your daily habits like sleep movement and even your phone impact your healing and how to start shifting out of a (1:41) Survival mode and into a place where your body can actually begin to heal
(1:45) This conversation is going to help you understand your body on a completely different level and more importantly (1:51) Give you tools to start supporting it in a way that actually works as a reminder (1:55) The content shared on PCOS unfiltered is for informational and educational purposes only (2:01) The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are not intended to serve as medical advice (2:06) Always consult with a qualified health care professional before making any changes to your diet exercise or treatment plan (2:12) The information shared is based on personal experience and expert interviews and is not a substitute for professional medical guidance (2:19) Now, let's get into it. Here's my conversation with Bianca DeLuca (2:31) Welcome back (2:32) And welcome to Bianca because I I'm super super excited for this (2:39) I can't wait to dive into your story. So let's just kind of start there (2:46) So tell us tell us from the beginning (2:50) Your story, you know your symptoms that you were experiencing to diagnosis and then even just you know (2:56) What you learned and how you felt along the way (2:59) Yeah, it's really interesting because as we've been connecting (3:03) Regarding PCOS.It's made me reflect a lot in my journey and I just recognized in our most recent conversation that it took me (3:11) 13 years to get a diagnosis which is (3:14) Kind of insane and incredible all at the same time (3:17) But so back when I was in high school as a teenager (3:21) All my friends were getting their menstrual cycles like a normal part of what was happening in girlhood and it wasn't happening for me (3:27) And I wasn't super upset about it (3:29) But then as I got to about 17 is when I had my first menstrual cycle and it was incredibly heavy (3:37) incredibly painful I passed out in the school bathroom from pain and (3:41) My mom brings me to my OB and my OB is like well, you don't really need periods unless you're trying to get pregnant (3:47) So it's fine (3:48) And like as a now 30 year old woman, I look back. I'm not guidance. I'm like it is so backwards and so (3:57) actually insane (4:00) But so they were like if you want you can go on birth control birth control help get your cycles regulated (4:05) And so I was on birth control, but I was like an irresponsible 17 year old (4:10) So I would sleep in and forget to take it or stay out late and forget to take it (4:14) and so at that point it was like (4:17) You know random spotting here and there and then this period and then just a complete and total mess (4:23) And then finally they said well, why don't we put you on the nuva ring? (4:26) Which I think was one of the worst decisions because it was so (4:31) Uncomfortable and kept falling out and I was like does this happen to anybody else because I can't imagine that this is normal
(4:39) So from there, I just stopped going to the OB and it wasn't until I was probably like 28 that I finally went back (4:48) My OB was also incredibly insensitive was like downright mean to me (4:55) So (4:56) Which is another thing that's so bizarre to me (4:58) Like how do you expect young women to get comfortable and feel empowered and something so important if you're going to treat them less than? (5:07) so when I finally went back it was because my husband and I had just gotten married and we really wanted to try and have (5:13) a baby and the my new OB did blood work right there (5:18) Scheduled me for a transvaginal (5:21) Ultrasound, you know all the things that she was supposed to do to like help get this figured out (5:26) I come in for my follow-up appointment and she says yeah, everything's normal (5:29) So you're all set and I'm like, no, everything's not normal (5:33) I'm 28 years old and I have a period once a year like that's not normal (5:37) That's actually far from normal the fact that you're sitting here and telling me that this is normal (5:43) It's kind of insane.So I was really lucky because my sister-in-law (5:48) Married a PA who took special interest in hormones and women's health when he was studying (5:55) And so I was I was discussing with my sister-in-law our frustrations and like our fertility journey (6:00) He was like listen, I'm not, you know, obviously your provider (6:04) I'm not specialized in this but if you're comfortable and you want to send me over your stuff
(6:08) I would love to take a look at it (6:10) so I sent him my my files when I got home that week and (6:14) He goes yeah, you have PCOS like no doubt not a question in my mind about it (6:18) I'm gonna send it to a colleague who's in fertility (6:21) To get like a second opinion (6:23) But I really think that you know (6:25) You're a classic case and then she comes back and says the same thing like classic case PCOS not a doubt in my mind (6:32) And so their recommendation was to try a nosotol. And so I started doing (6:37) a nosotol twice a day and (6:40) At that point after doing the nosotol twice a day (6:43) I started menstruating almost like quarterly. So from going to (6:48) Every once a year is usually about July (6:52) To quarterly was a pretty big improvement (6:57) And so I had brought these concerns to my primary as well (7:00) and he (7:02) made a referral to (7:05) One of the major hospitals in our area where I could see someone who was an OB that more (7:10) Specialized in this and within my first appointment with her.She gave me a formal diagnosis of PCOS and that was just (7:17) like three months ago, so (7:19) My informal diagnosis from like my brother-in-law was a little over a year ago (7:25) But having like an actual diagnosis from like a practitioner (7:30) Was only within the last three months. So it's been kind of (7:34) Ever-changing and growing and learning a lot along the way and learning like how much like our diet is like (7:41) impacted in
(7:44) You know our hormonal health learning about our stress levels and our hormonal health (7:49) It seems like there's so many factors that are not talked about (7:54) So, yeah, it's been quite the journey (7:57) Yeah. Yeah.Oh my gosh (8:00) so (8:01) Did you did they like did you have cysts as well? (8:06) So my ultrasound showed that I had bilateral (8:10) follicular cysts, so (8:12) Yes (8:15) Funny part to me because when you know, I got the (8:20) the (8:20) clean bill of health from my first OB (8:24) Which was a different OB than when I was a kid, I think is an important distinction (8:27) So this is not the first person that I've seen who said like you're fine. Don't worry about it. No big deal (8:33) and (8:34) She was the one who did the ultrasound and read the report to say that it was fine (8:38) So then to see it with my own eyes (8:40) I'm like, I'm not a medical professional and I can read this and see that it says oh, I forgot this too (8:45) This is really funny (8:46) I think that you'll enjoy this when I was in the ultrasound the ultrasound tech says have you been diagnosed with PCOS? (8:52) And I said no I suppose I was just wondering and so immediately even from that conversation (8:58) I was like well (8:59) She didn't say that for no reason like that (9:01) She saw something that made it indicate that that was probably what was happening and actually from her comment was what made me go (9:08) Into like Facebook groups for PCOS and start learning about well, what the heck even is this? What does this mean? (9:14) What does this look like like how are you know? (9:16) What are other people experiencing as far as I'm learning that a lot of women have like facial hair (9:22) Which is something I've had my whole life and I just thought I was cuz I was Italian even though it was getting worse
(9:26) As I was getting older (9:28) and (9:29) things like you know inability to like manage weight really or you know, obviously the misperiod is like a major red flag, but (9:37) yeah, a lot of different things that were just like (9:40) Seemingly normal because they were my lived experience that I was like listening to other people and being like oh (9:46) So this isn't as normal as I maybe thought it was so yeah (9:51) Yeah, yeah, I mean I appreciate you sharing that too because especially the (9:58) You know the kind of being dismissed (10:02) you know being told that (10:04) You only need to have your period, you know (10:06) If you're trying to get pregnant like no, that's your your body should be going through that and if it's not (10:12) like that's yeah, like (10:14) Your body's trying to tell you something right if you're not going through that monthly because that's what our bodies are supposed to do (10:22) you (10:23) Know it's just amazing being brushed off like that.I mean, I don't know if you can answer this but from your experience kind of (10:30) What do you like? Where do you think the breakdown is happening? (10:34) with these physicians that are (10:36) Like they just don't know it just seems like a lot of them just don't know because you're not the first person that has (10:42) No said anything (10:44) I actually really love that you've asked us because right (10:49) PCOS is something that only affects women, right? And so both of those all three of my OBS have been female (10:56) and so like so you're working with a female in a female dominated field that serves only women and
(11:04) You don't know anything about this that seems to impact a lot of women (11:10) Simultaneously the two people that really advocated for me and supported me and getting answers (11:16) Was my brother-in-law who's a male and a different state who isn't like (11:23) indirect care of me at all and my primary care provider who is also a male who (11:29) advocated for me and pushed for me to get referrals and (11:33) Answered questions and seem to know more about PCOS than my female OBGYN whose specialty it is (11:42) if I'm honest (11:45) Speaking about the medical system as a whole and I think this has been shown a lot more research goes into (11:54) Things that affect men's health than it does women's health, right? There's not a lot of research or (12:02) Conversations happening around PCOS or even I have a lot of a lot of yoga studio and a lot of (12:08) women in my studio are between I mean (12:11) I have wide ranges but I have a (12:13) group of women that are about their 50s right who are starting to go through either premenopause or menopause itself and (12:20) They're like, yeah, it's just is how it is (12:22) And then one woman's like no other countries don't just treat it like this like we treat this like we treat it (12:29) We don't just say like live with it. You're stuck with it (12:31) We like actually support women on their journey as they're going through these changes (12:35) So I think in the US specifically there's a big gap between women's health and men's health (12:42) unfortunately (12:43) and I think that's playing a big role and probably why we have to fight so hard to be (12:48) Advocated for and fight so hard to get answers and fight so hard (12:52) for anything so I (12:55) Think it's the system as a whole. That's kind of failing (12:59) women in my opinion (13:01) Yeah, yeah, and you're not you're not the first first one to point that out, you know, unfortunately either (13:09) I (13:10) Think PCOS is becoming more prominent, you know more more.I don't want to say common because it still shouldn't be (13:17) Still shouldn't be common, but but there's definitely more cases out there than I think we even you know realize and maybe back in the day (13:25) It wasn't studied, you know like it is now (13:29) but yes, there has been some some research out there that I (13:35) Think it just women's health in general hasn't been studied until (13:39) Until you know somewhat more recently I think coupled with probably, you know
(13:43) If you see it too, but but for women just we're the caretakers, right? (13:48) So it's just kind of always like do do do, you know, you're fine (13:52) There's nothing like crazy, you know life-threatening going on like, you know (13:56) So if you've been living with this, you're just gonna continue living with this if it gets worse, you know, let me know (14:01) and it's just like (14:02) you're just (14:04) Pushing through at all. And I think I see that with a lot of women too. I was actually listening to a podcast where (14:12) this woman was talking about blood work specifically and for women specifically and she was stating that like (14:20) Normal range is like (14:23) Range isn't that is different than like optimal range (14:25) So when you go in and your blood work shows that everything's like normal like that doesn't and you're like, well (14:32) Then why do I feel like crap? It's because those ranges aren't designed to like help us really thrive (14:37) It's like oh you're surviving good enough.Like you're not dead. That's fine (14:40) which I think for most of us is like discouraging right like we're constantly fatigued or we're like (14:47) Having like mood swings or we're like just not feeling like ourselves and I think we almost internalize it
(14:54) Sometimes like there's something wrong with me. That's like making me go through these experiences (15:00) Well, everybody else is just like thriving and living these like radiant lives and like why is it that like that's not true for me? (15:06) Even though everything's normal.I think that conversation around normal needs to change to like because when we're told that (15:14) Everything's operating fine, and we don't feel fine (15:16) I think it makes us feel like there's something directly wrong with us and there's a problem with us individually (15:23) Yeah, yeah, that's yeah, that's an excellent point. I know like, you know on my own health journey, too (15:28) That's when I kind of learned about the optimal ranges, you know, I see a functional medicine (15:34) Practitioner and yeah, and she focuses on the optimal numbers (15:39) Because it's true and then that's especially when it gets frustrating I think for women because you're going to the doctor and (15:46) You know, your labs are fine. Maybe the ultrasound is fine (15:50) But you're like, I know something is wrong, you know (15:55) To go into an OB at 28 years old (16:00) Without periods and be told everything's normal.I'm like, no, that's not normal by definition. That is not normal (16:07) Everybody else in the same age group is having a polar opposite experience to me (16:13) So to sit here and tell me that everything is normal (16:17) It's just fundamentally wrong. You like (16:19) Yeah, yeah (16:23) Yeah, so where are you kind of at with your journey, you know right now like since even just from a year ago (16:31) You know suspecting that it was PCOS now getting the diagnosis like how how are you approaching? (16:37) So I've definitely put a larger emphasis into a whole foods diet (16:44) I do eat a plant-based diet and a lot of that has been in making sure that I'm (16:51) consuming enough protein (16:54) I (16:55) Am a snack girly.I am a pizza girly (16:58) so I've had to be increasingly mindful of like how much of those types of things I'm (17:06) Consuming because I know that while I enjoy them they might not be fully supportive and even in some places finding alternatives that (17:15) Both support me, but I also enjoy like I found this like chickpea crust
(17:19) Recipe that I love and so sometimes I'm just dabbling in that instead (17:23) so a lot of thinking about like (17:26) Taking what I want and adding what I need kind of mentality to feel more supported in my journey with food specifically (17:33) Also being incredibly more active like being mindful of (17:38) You know, like walking after meals to help with that insulin resistance (17:42) I've started adding weight lifting to my like movement routine (17:47) I'm still taking the inositol and have also started taking like magnesium at night (17:53) Being more mindful of omega-3 consumption, especially because you know, one of the main sources of omega-3 is fish and I don't eat fish (18:00) So it's like well, what other sources can we like bring these in? So a lot of it has been learning about (18:07) And I will say that it's not my plant-based diet that caused us because I've only been plant-based for about 10 years and like I've said (18:13) It's been you know, I was a teenager and when this was happening originally, so a lot of it was like looking at (18:20) is looking at like my diet and my lifestyle choices and (18:25) Considering like what things I can do to greater support myself (18:29) As you know, but your listeners don't yet like I've been practicing yoga for 10 years teaching yoga for 10 years (18:34) Breathing exercises meditation journaling things like that. So that was already kind of a regular part of my (18:40) wellness routines, but adding in (18:45) More (18:46) consistent practices and even different practices (18:48) So once I started learning about like polyvagal theory and nervous system states and things like that adding (18:53) You know different types of tools and resources and from like that perspective (18:57) So I think it's very like multi-layered (19:01) in (19:02) My opinion. Um, I also was researching like teas and things that are supposed to be supportive.So they're drinking like experiment tea (19:09) and (19:11) I am now at a point where I am menstruating quarterly instead of annually (19:16) so obviously not the ideal like 28 day cycle, but a significant improvement from (19:23) Where I previously was (19:25) My energy levels are a lot better, so that's really cool. Um, I (19:32) Haven't had significant changes in my weight, but I think weight is kind of like a weird subjective thing (19:37) Like I know I have much more muscle tone now than I previously had. So (19:41) You know (19:44) And then I'm on the scale isn't really representative of much.I don't think when you especially when you're building muscle. Um (19:50) Yeah more energy (19:52) Has been honestly that one of the bigger things for me sex drive to my libido like (19:59) Pretty much like non-existent for like a while and now that's like happy to say that that's returned (20:06) Yeah, like a lot a lot of factors
(20:09) Yeah, a lot of positive change over the last year and definitely my moods to like (20:15) Even with all of the yoga and the meditation and the journaling and the whatever (20:21) And just definitely a lot more (20:24) regulated and like (20:26) not as easy to (20:28) anger or (20:30) Anything like that. So yeah a lot of positive (20:33) Changes and it wasn't all like at once (20:35) I'm like I woke up the day after I started taking a nose at all and was like (20:40) It's been like like a year of like very consistently like making conscious choices (20:46) um (20:49) as easy as it is, I think sometimes to just like (20:54) Take my pill and wake up the next day like miraculously better (20:59) um, I think PCOS for me personally has been a journey of like (21:03) constant change and constant learning and a constant like willingness to like (21:08) get closer to myself and listen to myself and notice how my body is like responding to things and (21:14) continue make (21:14) choices that (21:16) Bring me in the direction that I can go (21:19) Yeah, yeah (21:20) I mean you said you said so many good things there because you know (21:23) Especially with like taking a nose at all, but you're still doing all these other, you know things still to help (21:29) You know listening to your body.That's super important (21:32) You know, the awareness piece is just like really the first step, you know when you think about it (21:37) We're aware of what you're putting in your body and you know (21:40) How those things can serve you and you know strut other stressors in your life and all that stuff (21:44) And I always say, you know, yes, listen (21:48) No judgment and just you know be open to it, right? (21:52) So then you can you know make the changes but there's definitely ups and downs (21:56) I'm sure you probably have some, you know, high highs and you know, low lows along the way, but (22:05) Yeah, I (22:06) Think to something that's really really helped me is not having like an all-or-nothing mentality, right? (22:11) Like so I just got back from like hosting a retreat right and while I was there I didn't run (22:16) I didn't lift any weights like you don't I mean like all of these things I've been doing to like consistently support myself
(22:23) But it's like I think some people like feel really bad when they come back from like a trip and they're like, oh well (22:27) I didn't do the things I said I was gonna do and whatever so it's like I know I can stay consistent this time (22:32) It's just like these stories I tell ourselves (22:33) When in reality if you can just like be more gentle and compassionate yourself to say like, hey (22:40) It's totally fine that you know (22:42) I've fallen off track like give myself space to whether that's today or tomorrow or in a couple of days get back on track (22:48) Like I think the more we like criticize and shame ourselves for not doing the right things or the healthy things (22:54) that's where we like (22:56) fall off track completely so (22:59) I'm getting re (23:01) on (23:02) like getting back on track since coming home from that trip has been a little more challenging than I anticipated but (23:08) I'm like being gentle with myself and that's what's helping me (23:12) Not fall back into old habits, which I think is super important (23:15) Another thing that I forgot to mention is sleep hygiene like something I've been really really good about (23:23) I no longer bring my phone into the bedroom (23:25) it either gets plugged into in the kitchen or the bathroom, but it does not come into the bedroom anymore because (23:30) I noticed if I bring it to bed even now like since months of doing this if I bring it into my bedroom (23:37) I wake up more in the middle of the night. Like it's like this subconscious. Like I don't know like something about it being nearby.I (23:44) Don't know if it's like I don't know what it is about it (23:47) But there's something about having it nearby that significantly disrupts my sleep. I've also been doing like the magnesium before bed and (23:54) And (23:56) Years ago I was talking to one of my like my head of mental health therapist (23:59) I was talking to her about you know that I sleep all night, but I wake up like really exhausted (24:03) So I'm just like well, you might not be getting deep sleep (24:05) Even if you are sleeping, I was like well every time I put lavender oil in my diffuser. I wake up feeling much more refreshed (24:11) She's like then do that.Like why is this? Why is this a conversation? So I've been like really (24:17) Consistent about making sure that that's something that happens every single night and I (24:21) notice a huge difference in my energy levels and I think it's so intertwined right because it's like if you have poor sleep and you (24:28) Wake up feeling fatigued (24:29) You're not gonna have like the energy and capacity to prepare a meal
(24:33) That's as nourishing for you or to then go exercise and lift those weights or take that walk or whatever it is (24:38) You're doing to support yourself which and it just like snowballs, right? (24:42) So it's like does if you can start with like the smallest most basic things to like support yourself (24:48) I think that that like they're building blocks, right? (24:50) Like when you eat like crap and you feel even more exhausted and then you're moving even less and then it drops us deeper into those (24:56) shame cycles (24:57) and so it's like you might think that putting lavender in your diffuser is something so small and (25:02) Significant that it does not matter or bringing your phone to bed versus plugging in a different room is so significant (25:07) It does not matter. But if you look at how it impacts like one (25:12) Aspect of your life and how that snowballs into the other aspects of your life. It's like no, this is essential (25:18) Yeah, yeah, it becomes a vicious cycle for sure (25:22) And so yeah (25:23) Just making one small change like even just try it for like a night or a couple nights, you know (25:28) And see if you notice notice the difference, you know (25:31) What one thing I of course talk about too is turning off the devices, you know before bedtime (25:36) Ideally an hour would be great but even like maybe 30 minutes to start, you know
(25:41) Just try it like once or twice and see how you feel (25:44) Just to kind of like you said break that cycle because it (25:48) It can just snowball (25:51) You know from there (25:53) Something I've really enjoyed and appreciated (25:56) outside of the health benefits of leaving my phone outside of my room is that my partner and I are connecting a lot more like (26:03) We are having conversations before bed and like connecting with each other (26:08) And I think in such a busy fast-paced lifestyle where he's working and I'm working and you know, we don't have kids (26:14) Yeah, but like meeting our household and spending time with friends and family and prioritizing (26:18) Well, it's like all the things that comes with being an adult (26:22) there's very little small windows of connection between partners and so like even just that one act has like (26:31) opened up space for us to spend time with each other which sounds like so silly like but (26:38) I don't know.I think that there's I think your whole life changes when you really start to be mindful of like how your behaviors are (26:46) Impacting your whole life like it makes sense that you're feeling dissatisfied (26:50) physically mentally emotionally financially (26:53) you know, etc (26:55) environmentally when you're making consistent choices that are (26:59) Not aligned with the life that you desire for yourself. So yeah (27:05) Yeah (27:05) Yeah, yeah (27:09) If there's one thing I hope you take away from today's episode, it's this (27:13) Healing isn't just about what you're doing. It's about the state your body is in while you're doing it (27:18) Because you can be eating the right foods taking the supplements doing all the things
(27:23) But if your body is stuck in stress in survival mode in that constant fight-or-flight (27:28) It's going to feel like nothing is working and that's why this work matters (27:32) Learning how to regulate your nervous system learning how to listen to your body (27:36) Learning how to support yourself in a way that actually feels sustainable (27:39) That's where real change starts to happen.And like Bianca said this isn't about doing everything perfectly (27:46) It's about finding what works for you and building from there. So maybe today your step is simple (27:52) Take a few deep breaths (27:54) Go for a walk put your phone down before bed or just get curious about what your body is trying to tell you (28:00) You don't need to overhaul your life overnight, you just need to start paying attention (28:05) If you loved this episode make sure to subscribe so you don't miss what's coming up next (28:09) Share this with someone who might be stuck in that stress cycle and leave a review so more women can find these conversations (28:16) And as always if you're ready to go deeper into your own healing journey (28:19) You can find all the ways to work with me in the show notes (28:22) I'm sending you so much love and I'll see you on the next episode of PCOS unfiltered nourish heal thrive