Womenly Stuff

Ok, here's a question for the ladies.  Sorry for the men folk among us.   I had heard that for some women with PCOS that right after surgery they start a period.  Have any of you experienced this?  Also, I was reading some where either on the MD board or somehwere else about how some women have a large amount of hormones stored in the fat cells and as they lose weight those hormone start effecting them.  Have any of you all experinced this?   Right now, I don't have a period at all and haven't had one in years.  It is actually something I am looking forward to getting becaue at some level it would indicate to me that I was a normal woman.  For years now, I have felt as though I have lost that femine side of me because I don't have a period, have been losin my hair, and have hair in places women shouldn't have hair.  :(   I know it's all indicators from PCOS, but it sometimes gets to me.  I'm looking forward to wearing nice sun dresses and being more girly.    These are questions I'm going to ask Dr. Kligman and Mary B when I see them on the 4th, but thought I would post here as well. 

I have PCOS.  I have since I was a teenager.  I didn't get my period at all for a few years, but then about 2 years ago I started getting it about 4x a year.  They'd be crazy heavy insane.  I actually had to wear Depends because it was so heavy.  It was awful. About a week or so after surgery I thought I was getting my period.  But it was just some light spotting for a couple of days and then went away.  I don't know if it was a period or if it was something related to the blood thinners (I also have psoriasis and it was bleeding like crazy).  I'm a little over 5 weeks out now and no period yet.   I hear you on all of your complaints.  I am not looking forward to getting my period back, though!  I just want my PCOS gone in 1 year, 4 months and 3 weeks when I should be able to start trying to get pregnant (not that I'm counting or anything!)

I have PCOS, It took me 5 years to have my wonderful little girl.  Now after RYN I am very fertile and I get my cycle like clock work.  They say RNY cures 84% of diabetes, I can tell you if you want to get pregnant or want PCOS gone this is the cure for that as well.  I hope I could help. Hugs Kristen

Hi Sorry I can't help you on this.   Just a question, what is PCOS I guess I never had it or I would know what it is.   I had a hysterectomy in 2003 so I hope I don't get my period again after this  LOL!  The best of luck to you and I hoping your surgery helps you.   Take Care Terri

Hi Teri, PCOS is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.  Here's a little info. PCOS is a health problem that can affect a woman's menstrual cycle, ability to have children, hormones, heart, blood vessels, and appearance

The cause of PCOS is unknown.  Insulin plays a big part in PCOS. Insulin is a hormone that controls the change of sugar, starches, and other food into energy for the body to use or store. For most women with PCOS, their bodies have problems using insulin so that too much insulin is in the body. Excess insulin appears to increase production of androgen. This hormone is made in fat cells, the ovaries, and the adrenal gland. Levels of androgen that are higher than normal can lead to acne, excessive hair growth, weight gain, and problems with ovulation. What are the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?

Not all women with PCOS share the same symptoms. These are some of the symptoms of PCOS:

• infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods, and/or irregular bleeding
• infertility (not able to get pregnant) because of not ovulating
• increased hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes—a condition called hirsutism (HER-suh-tiz-um)
• ovarian cysts
• acne, oily skin, or dandruff
• weight gain or obesity, usually carrying extra weight around the waist
• insulin resistance or 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
• pelvic pain
• anxiety or depression due to appearance and/or infertility
• sleep apnea—excessive snoring and times when breathing stops while asleep

I've suffered from PCOS for about 10 years.  My gyn and I had it controlled with 1800 mg of metformin a day, which produced about 4 periods a year.   My surgery was July 6, 2007 and I had my first post op period on August 9, 2007.  And now, it's been arriving every 34-37 days like clockwork.  Hair growth is down, black rings around neck and elbows are gone and we think I'm more fertile, but I'm on the patch and I'm not trying to conceive right now. There is also a PCOS forum here on OH.  Not a very active board, but there is alot of good info: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/polycystic_ovarian_syndrom e/ Good luck and I hope that you have a great gyn who has some experience with WLS patients.

Thank you so much for the information, you have certainly done your homework which is excellent by the way!!!  I am so a happy for you that you are doing well and wish you the best of luck.   I am going to share the information with my daughter she struggles with hormonal issues and very heavy periods.  Terri

I tried for 5 years to get pregant and then after my divorce found out that I had PCOS. the doctors put me on Metformin and I did great on it for awhile. I lost 60 pounds while I was on it. However I had very bad dirreha (sp) problems on it. so they took me off and said that i was allregic to it. Then they put me on birth control pills to make me regular.



After the metformin stopped working was when my endrocrlist (sp) starting talking about RNY. I am 4 months into the 6 month diet now and I have lost almost 28 pounds. I will be finishing up the diet in July. I hoping to have surgery in October once I have vacation time at work.



I am so looking forward to surgery adn the hope to be a mom one day when it is safe for me to start trying again. I hope to start trying in 2010. In case you are wondering I am engaged to get remarried to a wonderful man that is by my side through this all. So we will see what the furture holds with the surgery and a new man in the department of trying for a baby.



I will keep you all posted on the pending surgery date..

I too have PCOS and struggled for 3 years to have my daughter.  I can not say that having the surgery has done much to help in that department, well at least not yet.  I have dropped 88 pounds and still have not had a change in my cycle.  I just started the pill again to bring it on.  Hopefully as time goes on it will come on its own.  I want to feel like a NORMAL women too. I wish you only the best!

Deena:  I also had PCOS, that left me unable to bear children.  I developed Uterine cancer and had a hysterectomy in my early 30's.  I hope that this surgery cures this for you and that you are able to overcome your PCOS and be healthy!!!