PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)

Hello all! I was told before I had my surgery that I had PCOS What are the symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)? These are some of the symptoms of PCOS: infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods, and/or irregular bleeding infertility or inability to get pregnant because of not ovulating increased growth of hair on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes acne, oily skin, or dandruff pelvic pain weight gain or obesity, usually carrying extra weight around the waist type 2 diabetes high cholesterol high blood pressure male-pattern baldness or thinning hair patches of thickened and dark brown or black skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs skin tags, or tiny excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area sleep apnea―excessive snoring and breathing stops at times while asleep Have you heard of WLS patients with this before? I am wondering how it has been playing a role in my WLS. I think I am going to ask my surgeon. Any input. I am curious. You would think that I would have asked duh Thanks! ~Norma~

I have PCOS too. PCOS symptoms are amplified by obesity... as you loose weight, the symptoms disappear, or begin to... I first learned about PCOS reversing itself when I got pregnant with my son. I was "infertile" (no periods or one every 6-8 months) I was put on fen-phen and lost about 25 pounds, my cycle started back up, one month later I was (accidently) prego. The symptoms I had were: >>>>>>> NOW infrequent / no periods >>>>>>>>>> they're back infertility >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> on birth control (depo) diabetes >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> gone high BP >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> mostly gone... I stress & worry too much high cholesterol >>>>>>>>>>>>>> gone skin tags >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> none sleep apnea >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> usually sleep like a baby facial hair (chin & neck) >>>>>>>>> still fighting this one acne >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> mostly gone inability to loose weight >>>>>>>>> I think I found a way around that one I think once you have it, you'll always have to concern yourself with the symptoms, and be on the watch for any of them reappearing, but if you keep the weight off, I think your chances of any of the actual condition returning are pretty low. There are lots of websites... you can learn a lot about it... Millions of women out there have this and don't even know it... a lot of Drs still don't think it is a real condition. I think I had it for about 5 years before I knew what it was... I believe I've had it for about 15 years. since I was 20, I remember those things coming on about then, along with a slow but steady weight gain... though I had always been chubby. Not sure if this will help you any... maybe it will, just to know you are not alone... Much love, Angela

Norma, I have A LOT to say about this ... I am off to the docotr so I will send you a message later this afternoon or tonight. God Bless! Jen

Thanks, Jen & Angela, I have lived all my life feeling gross and less of a woman. So I am glad to hear I am not alone. I have the skin tags still on my face and want to get them removed. I am going to see my doc about this cause they are ugly! The black marks on my neck and armpits are slowly going away. I remember one time getting a scrubber and scrubbing my neck til it was raw. I always felt dirty. Now like Angela said they are disappearing as my weight drops. I can't wait to feel normal. When I was 16 I went to see an OB about no periods and she said that if I did not lose weight I was going to become a man. At 16 I was practically suicidal as is I felt ugly and she just put the icing on the cake. She said I was going to have hair on my chest, a beard, etc. She was a real idiot! She was the uneducated doc who did not know how to diagnose PCOS. Anyways I don't want to go on a rant so I will just drop it. Talk to you soon! ~Norma~

It's not funny, but it's funny that your OB said you'd turn into a man... It's not so far from the truth... because your testosterone levels increase... (((part of my facial hair problem))) I don't remember all the hormonal stuff I was told, but its just a big imbalance... and with the weight, your body can't correct itself... I'm glad that my words were some comfort to you... I was desperate when I found the skin tags I had, on my shoulder and arm pit... I used a nail clipper and took it off myself... I was young and stupid. I am glad that I didn't cause more problems, but luckily that wasn't something I had a lot of... and they were mostly hidden... I never had the skin patches, either, but I know women who do, I know how frustrating it can be, and the feeling of being "dirty". That is almost how I feel with the "whiskers" on my chin... It really makes me feel less like a woman... how could anyone see through them and find me attractive... I am forever plucking them, I am psychotic about it... I can't help it... Once again, I'm glad I could at least let you know you are not alone. And I am super glad to hear your symptoms are going away. Keep the Faith! Much Love, Angela

Hi Norma, I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was about 18 years old. I had been having symptons for years before I was diagnosed. infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods, and/or irregular bleeding ~~I never had regular periods. At one point in my life, I went four years with out a period. Often I would go for a year at a time and not have a period. I bet in my entire life I have had less than 50 periods. I am 35 and had my first period when I was about 13. infertility or inability to get pregnant because of not ovulating ~~We went through 13 years of infertility. I did all of the fertility treatments up to the point of invitro. I conceived Gracie when I went on a severe diet, took diet pills and glucophage. This time I lost 117 pounds before I got preggo. increased growth of hair on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes ~~Yes, yes, yes. I have spent somewhere between 8 and 9 THOUSAND - yes thousand dollars on "permanent" hair removal on my face. I would have a full mustache and beard had I not gotten those treatments. I could spend another 20K on the rest of my excess hair ... but I am a stay at home mom now and do not have that type of disposable income. acne, oily skin, or dandruff ~~I have an oily t-zone and am prone to blackheads in that area. pelvic pain ~~no weight gain or obesity, usually carrying extra weight around the waist ~~Well, hell yes!!!! In sixteen years I gained 150 plus pounds. PCOS also makes it hard for for weight loss. I think that most WLS patients have a slower rate of loss than those who do not have PCOS. type 2 diabetes ~~I have insulin resistance, thus the glucophage. My AC1 tests have been pretty good so far since surgery. high cholesterol ~~mine is high - still - this is probably from all of the meat and cheese I eat high blood pressure ~~mine was always low, the only time it was high is when I was pregnant with Gracie. male-pattern baldness or thinning hair ~~ do not have this patches of thickened and dark brown or black skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs ~~My skin in more yellow than dark, around my neck and under my armpits. skin tags, or tiny excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area ~~under my armpits too - seems like I have an armpit problem! sleep apnea―excessive snoring and breathing stops at times while asleep ~~I do not know if I had sleep apnea but I did snore alot before surgery. PCOS is a disease, you cannot control it, you did not choose it and it does notmake you less of a woman or more of a man for that matter. It is a medical condition that needs to be treated as such. I see and endocrinologist and he monitors my thyroid and PCOS. I strongly suggest that you go see an endocrinologist. There is a prescription called Vaniqua that can help slow the hair growth in unwanted areas. The problem is that until the PCOS is under control the hair removal methods are only temporary - which is why I spent so much $ on hair removal. OH has a forum for PCOS and there are a lot of websites that will give you more information. God Bless! Jen

Thanks Jen, I also struggled with infertility for 10 years! I had my son when I was on metformin and weighed 430 lbs. I had preeclampsia, bp was 210/110 and have a 12 inch c-section straight down my belly. I had so much fat in there that there was no other way to get him out. I had him at 33 weeks. He weighed 4 lbs 12 oz. I was in ICU for 2 days. I was given magnesium sulfate to flush the toxics out of my system. It was such a difficult pregnancy. Now thank God I have a healthy 3 year old. I am so blessed to be able to have people like you who share my experiences. Thanks for being there. You are truly a blessing. Lots of Love ~Norma~