Do I have this?

Hi everyone, I will hopefully be having WLS this year and have a questions for you all.  I have had 3 prior Laparoscopies due to endometriosis.  This last time when they did the surgery, the surgeon said I had multiple cysts on both of my ovaries and did  cystotomy (removed fluid from one). I asked him if I had polycystic ovarian syndrome.  All he answered was, "maybe, but I think too much attn has been given this"  However, when I look at the other symptoms, I have them.  Like sl. facial hair, weight issues, and the obvious, mult. ovarian cysts.  SO what does everyone think.  I know we aren't doctors, and can't diagnose this, but if I do have this, its not being treated.  Also, does it go away after weight loss?  Any info or suggestions would help. Thanks everyone! God Bless! Lucy

Lucy,

     I have been diagnosed with PCOS and I do not have any cysts on my ovaries. I just have enough of the other symptoms. I have facial hair, that I must shave everyday, otherwise I am embarassed by it. I have had irregular periods my entire life, which doctors my entire life said was normal if it always happened to me. I have sleep apnea, dandruff, and a lot of excsess weight with no rhyme or reason to the gain.          I got married in Nov '98. In May '99 I became violently ill and remained that way for a year and a 1/2 with no rhyme or reason. No one was taking me seriously. At one point I was sent to get an evaluation, which came back that I was sane, and something was wrong that they did not know about yet. Then it disappeared. It came back again '03 - then went away 6 months later. It came back in '05 after a cruise with my husband. Finally dr.'s started to listen and sent me to an OBGYN. I would never go because I don't like being looked at and was mollested at age 16, which is another story.       My OBGYN looked at all my symptoms and thought I might have endometriosis, so sent me to surgery to see if I had it. While he could not find it, he still thought that I might have it. I was also seeing my regular doctor in the meantime. I continued to look on webmd for thing that bothered me the most, which is the facial hair. They did some blood work (which can detect PCOS) but everything seemed fine. He was not convinced that everyhing was fine and sent me to an endocrinologist. She said while I didn't have the cysts, I had many of the symptons and diagnosed me with PCOS. I am on Metformin, and a blood pressure pill that should take 6 months to fix the facial hair. My in\surance covered that, but not the facial cream. I told her that I was thinking of getting the WLS, and she highly recommended it for me. She said it would most likely make all my PCOS symptoms go away.       After talking with my surgeon about it, I told him about the PCOS, which I thought would prevent me from having the surgery, stated that it would be a great reason to have the surgery. At first I wanted to have the Lap Band surgery, because it seemed to have less risks involved. The surgeon told me that while the lap band has less risks up front, they have more in the long run. He also sated for the PCOS the RNY would be a better option because of the nature of it. I also have a hiatal hernia and have problems with acid reflux. He said overall it would be my decision, but for my problems that RNY seems to have better results.      If you are not getting the diagnosis you need from your Dr. ask to be referred to an endocrinologist to further discuss your symptoms. They suspect 10% of women have it, and most are not diagnosed, because Dr.'s don't know all the stuff about it. I have been claiming symptoms of it since I was 14, and did not get diagnosed with it until I was 28. God Bless, Robyn

 

Thanks Robyn for your imput. The more i have been thinking about it the more I believe this might be a heatlh issue for me.  I do have sl. facial hair issues ( little whiskers on my chin, and it seems to be more recently), the cysts, my ongoing weight issues.  I am chronically tired and not sleeping well at night.  I have bad GERD and hiatal hernia (which I found out from a CT scan done a while ago, i got a copy of, my dr never told me).  Endometriosis etc....  SO  I am going to think the surgeon will hopefully agree with this as being well enough reason for surgery .  Plus I have family history of both parents haveing diabetes, my dad has been dealing with esophageal CA ( He had severe GERD) Both parents are overweight.  Heart problems, hypertension etc.   I never considered the lap band, but from what i have read, I think the RNY is our best option anyways.  Especially with that hernia, and GERD, I would be concerned how the band would work with that.  It also sounds like a lot of upkeep to me as well. Thanks so much for answering my post.  I think I may go to a endocrinologist and see what they say while I am going through this process of getting ready for surgery.  I didn't care for my GYN's response.  Feel free to PM if you have any questions/ need to vent etc... God Bless! Lucy

I can so see where you are coming from. My dad has the GERD, he has had gallstones, he is WAY overweight and can never seem to get in under control. My older brother has the same problems. They both snore. Diabetes runs on both sides of my family.  I know this is very dangerous, but I wouldn't even go to a Gyno because I was so embarassed about my weight and hair everywhere. I stopped going to the dentist, because they use their magnifying glasses to look in your mouth, and I knew they could just see every piece of stuble. I just wanted to feel like a normal person.  My mom used to pick on me for my weight all the time, but when I told her that I had PCOS, she seemed a lot nicer about it, unless sh was mad. She even thinks that a cousin of hers had it as well. Overweight, unable to have kids, facial hair... just the things my mom knew about. When I talked to my surgeon we discussed the lap band (my first choice) with the RNY (which I thought I would never want) and we weighed it against my problems. Three of my problems I was told would be better handled by the lap band 1.) GERD 2.) Hiatal Hernia & 3.) PCOS. I hope to see him again real soon, (as soon as they or I get a copy of the approval letter) to go over any last minute questions, and set my surgery date. While he told me I could choose which surgery, I have decided on the RNY, and feel very confident in my decision. I hope this helps. I would love to talk to you anytime you need someone :)

It sounds like it.  To completely diagose yourself....go see an OB/GYN & have them run FSH & LH levels...women with PCOS have levels that are out of sync.  PCOS is genetic...and they still don't know the exact cause of it.  It will not go away...but it will get better.  My cysts are gone, I ovulate & have regular cycles...for the first time in my life.  And...even after Clomid & injectable fertility meds failed...I'm finally a mom now after 10 years.  So it does get better...good luck! Kristy

Dearest Lucy,  How I feel for you Woman! I'm forty, have been a PCOS patient for about three years - have had two surgeries done at a major medical facility (Roswell Cancer Institute in Buffalo NY) to make sure I'm okay.  Had WLS about three weeks ago - darling, will sure let you know how this goes - and if it goes anywhere.  Where are you in the WLS process? I'd like to help, if I can.  Hugs - and much love, Lila

I can relate!  I was off all birth control for more than 5 years when I got preg. wtih my son.  This was after a binge of diet pills and losing 30 lbs, BAM preg out of the dark!

fast forward 2.5 years later we want another one; 4 years of fertility treatments showed I have mild PCOS with the hair, dark coloring in places and the biggest part, insulin resistance.  Fasting I was fine, 1 hr I was fine, the 2 hr mark I was barely over the allowable limit.

I did clomid, shots, sonograms out the wazoo, artificial insemination.....nothing.

Finally I said I"m done trying to get pregnant, I will get skinny, THEN see if my body starts working efficiently on its own and maybe get preg then. So here I am!