Experienced RNYers w/PCOS - questions

I am currently 3 months out .... and I have PCOS.  My husband and I tried conceiving for a number of years before I had the surgery ... did 4 months of chlomid w/insemination and it didn't work.  My periods were never regular ... have only had 1 since my surgery.  It was less than a month ago... so it is unknown as to whether I will have one on time or not ...  My questions are: How long after surgery did it take you to become regular? The dreaded hair growth.... does that ever go away?  If so... how long was it before it stopped.  I think mine isn't growing as much or as fast... but it's still there. Thanks in advance!

Hi Susan, I was taking 1600 mg of metformin per day (800 2x a day).  I was told to stop 48 hours prior to surgery and based on my checkup 5 days after surgery, I've never had to take them again. Even taking that much metformin, I was only having a period about every 3-4 months (improved from once a year!). My surgery was july of 2007 and I'm six months out.  I had my first period post op in September and they've been regular (every 31-35 days) since then.   I've noticed the hair growth on a my chin has slowed just a bit.  I'm hoping that will improve more in the future.   I'm interested to hear what some others who have been post op longer have to say.

I also have PCOS and am 3+ years post op RNY.  I was on the bc patch until I was a year out from surgery.  So I'm not sure.  I do know that before surgery I never ever had cycles and tried for 8 years to get pregnant using clomid, injectables & IUI...all of which didn't work.  When I stopped the patch I was 1 year post op, at goal...and found that I had regular 36 day cycles with ovulation.  After monitoring my cycles for 3 of them we didn't use protection and immediately got pregnant.  I'm now the proud parent of a beautiful 17 month old daughter.  And...we'll be trying for #2 next month.  I have an IUD right now and will be having it removed on the 17th. As for the hair growth...it didn't stop, but it did stop getting worse.  I still have to shave it  nearly daily. Good luck!  Kristy

I havent head my surgery yet but for the hair problem i have to hints that are helping me some, i got one of those epilater things and use it faithfully on my chins (LOL) and It does seem to be a little less hair growing there after using this for a year, but the epilstop lotions do deter regrowth a few days I asked my gyno about it he said nothing short of lazer removal is gonna totally cure it, but Im totally up to hear alternate opinions, because i have hyper pigmentation also and im terrified if i got lazered id end up with giant brown patches wherever they tried it as all my other sores seem to leave them Wylde

I'm getting laser hair removal right now... well, not RIGHT now, but I've begin them. I also have darkish olive skin and can sometimes get hyperpigmentation from acne and ingrowns. If you go to a good clinic that has multiple types of lasers, they can match the laser and pulse duration to (drastically) minimize the risk of pigmentation and they always do a test spot in an inconspicuous area first to see how your skin will react. A "face" package that includes the mustache and beard averages about $500 for 6 treatments (once every 7 weeks) at most reputable clinics I investigated. 

I haven't had the surgery yet. But my endo puts me on spinolactone(sp?), it's helps with histrium-excess hair growth. The only problem I have is the beauty mark/mole of my face grows hair quite fast. The same med is to help with balding too.  Kristin

Not an RYN'er but my hair growth is still the same after a huge loss.  Ladies, you have to wax it - don't shave!  Go get these: http://www.sallyhansen.com/product.cfm?product=137 .  I use them once a week.  Barely any tweezing required! But, here is a hint - use your hairdryer to heat the strip up before applying it.  Rubbing it between your hands doesn't get the wax hot enough in my opinion.

I love those wax strips!  I've tried everything on the market (waxes, creams, etc) and these are the most user friendly and the most effective! I've thought about getting laser treatment, and still would really like to some day, but I'm just not ready to spend the $$ on it yet, in the meantime...these wax strips are my staple!!!

I also struggling with infertility for 6 years.  After having ovarian drilling my periods returned.  I started taking Actos about 6 months later and I got PG.  Then stopped the Actos for awhile and went back on it after she was born.  The I found out 2 weeks before my daughter's 1st birthday that I Was pg again.  I truly believe it was the Actos both times.  Then my periods went away again several years later due to weight gain.   I had my RNY 7/25/07 and my periods came back the first month after surgery and have been regular every month.   The hair growth is has not changed.  BUMMER! 

I used to go 3 months with no period and every month it was at different times. I've never had regular periods. The day of my surgery I started my period...happens often because of stress of surgery, etc. I have had regular periods ever since, I am a year out. I lost alot of weight the first month with the surgery. I lost 48 lbs the first month so I think that's why my periods became regular so quick. My hair issues are the same as they were. I don't have more hair...but it hasn't gone away. That seems to be what most people report. I've never taken medications for PCOS...if I started taking metformin I would probably lose some more weight. I need to schedule an appointment with my specialist to see what he wants to do.