LapBand/PCOS

I have a lapband that has never worked for me...My Daddy has one and he has lost over 100lbs and just loves his band. What is the deal with the band not working if you have PCOS? I wish I had known this before I had the band put in...I am having a revision to RnY in a few weeks and am hoping for much better results. Please tell me about the band and PCOS

I had heard that the band was much less effective for PCOS sufferers, but I never heard the whys of it. I hope someone else can help you with this info!  Congrats on getting a revision, I wish you much success.  :)

This is guessing .... but it's possible to eat around the band - sugar is our enemy.  With dumping and RNY - the side effects help you eliminate those foods.  Nothing with the band is forcing you to eliminate ice cream and chocolate.  Therefore because PCOS'er typically have sugar related problems anyway .... you simply aren't going to lose as much because there is no malasborption going on.  It is entirely possible for a PCOS'er to lose a lot of weight with a band - I've lost over a 100 lbs.  It amounts to self-discipline and breaking that sugar demon.

I have PCOS and the band has worked for me.  Bandsters are always getting blamed for saying that a person fails the band, the band doesn't fail.  I disagree and think that in some cases, the band doesn't work (was installed incorrectly, etc) but I do know that the band is hard work.  You really have to follow the band rules religiously to be successful.  It only helps with portion control - and does eliminate some bad carbs that would swell and get stuck from your diet.  If you gorge on chocolate, dairy, and other junk then it isn't going to work. So then..... the band sure does work for people who have PCOS.  PCOS'er should always stick to a low carb diet anyways ... because of the insulin resistence problems and the middle weight we carry.  For me, the band made it easier to eat less and make good food choices. 

Thanks for your post... Is your PCOS in remission? Good luck on your journey!

My periods have been regular since getting pregnant and having a child and that was 3 years before having surgery.   I still have facial hair growth (thank heavens for waxing!) and my DHEA levels are still high.  So no, I don't think PCOS ever really goes away.  The symptoms lessen though.

You are so right, Leslie!   It's not so much how much we eat - but what we eat and unfortunately sweets and carbs go down easy!  I have lost 130 pounds with the band and have PCOS.  I still need to lose another 25 pounds or so - so I definitely need to steer away from the carbs and stick to protein. 

I too know a lady with PCOS who did fabulous with the lapband.  Now...it did take her much longer to loose the weight than with RNY...but she did loose it with strict adherance to the lapband 'rules' and exercise.  On the other hand I also know 2 ladies with lapband & PCOS who after a year struggled to loose 40-50lb (which I understand is typical weight loss for the 1st year).  Another thing is that for reasons I don't quite understand the whole insulin/glucose regulation thing is easier managed with RNY than with lapband so that also could atribute to faster weight loss with RNY than the band in PCOSers (aside from the malabsorbtion). Good luck with your revision.  Did you have to self pay for that?  Or did your insurance cover the revision.  One gal I know wants to revise to RNY but since she's already had the band her insurance refuses to cover it.

Thanks for your post. I also paid for the lapband out of pocket. My insurance does not cover any bariatrics at all. Good luck getting pregnant! I am hoping that I too can have a child but I am not getting any younger and it has not happened yet. I have been trying for about 13 years! Thanks again

I hadn't heard about the Lap Band being less effective on women with PCOS. That scares me. I am torn between the RNY and LB and this may make me go with the RNY. I don't want to go through all of this and then not lose weight.... Thank you for posting this!  Melissa