lap band and insulin resistance

I am working on getting the Lap Band. This is my 2nd time in the process. The first time, however, I was not aware that I had insulin resistance, PCOS, infertility and everything that seems to go along with that.

Here is my question. With the insulin resistance, I have developed some dark spots on my neck and face, as well as some excess facial hair growth. I wanted to see if anyone else with these issues had a noticeable change after losing the weight. Did the dark spots go away? What about the excess facial hair? I am blonde and everyone says they do not notice it, but I notice it and it is definitely worse than a year ago or even 6 months ago.


I originally started this process with a million questions and thanks to the wealth of information on this website, almost all were answered.

I have the same problem.  I had dark spots on my axilla, neck and on my face all from insulin resistance before surgery.  I also had the excess hair growth, and I'm a brunette. All of those symptoms of PCOS have either gone away or have greatly improved since I started losing weight.  Everyone has remarked that the spots on my face are so much better.  Have faith.  It can get better.

Let me know if you have any questions.  There is a PCOS forum on OH, but not many people frequent it. 

Christina

I have PCOS also and have had to take Metformin 500mg a day for many years in order to have a regular period.  Well after getting the Lapband and losing the weight, I am now happy to say I no longer need the Metformin.  I still have some facial hair, but it is much less and the dark spots on my neck and other places have disappeared.  Truly PCOS is a mystery - which comes first the weight gain or the PCOS?  They aren't sure.  But we know that PCOS does cause us to gain weight easier.

PCOS here too... infertility... check.

My doctor had me stop my Met before my surgery.  I was on 1500 mg a day and just stopped it cold turkey.  But what's totally cray cray is that when I started seeing Dr. Mancini and looking into this whole thing, I almost immediately started my period as well.  And I've been on a clockwork 35 day cycle ever since (and that was in October of last year).

So I haven't even gone back on my met post-surgery...

I was on metformin 1000mg and Actos before surgery. The last day I took them was the day before my surgery 3 years ago. My A1C has been in the normal range ever since. The dark spots on my neck have lightened. The facial hair *shrug* I still hate it, it looks as dark as it ever did, maybe it grows a bit slower, I don't know. That is the most embarrassing part of it all to me :(

On a side note:
I also have PCOS. I have been on birth control since I was 14 to help regulate my period. I stayed on it through my surgery and just stopped it just back in late January as we want to start trying for a baby. To my extreme surprise I had my period 2 days ago. When I was a pre-teen I would have my period once every 6 months or twice on one month. To the say the least I was ecstatic. I cried...on the potty, lol.

Thanks, ladies! I am starting to feel a little better about it. I understand now that more than likely the facial hair is here to stay. Thank goodness I am blonde! lol

My metformin does the opposite of what everyone says. I have never had carb cravings UNTIL I started and each time they up the dose, the cravings get worse and worse. It's bad. I didn't know until researching it a couple months after I started taking it that most people have the opposite.

Thanks, Christina, I will definitely check out the PCOS forum!