Very Confused...

Tammi H.
on 10/23/09 8:43 am, edited 10/23/09 12:24 pm
before my wls I was on glucophage *insulin pill* and then had complete hysterectomy and haven't taken anything for my pcos, do you think I should since wls and hysterectomy does not erase pcos? Gained 60 pounds in less then a year, wondering if some of the weight gain is from pcos and pour eating choices. Hope some one can help. Thank
ads2e
on 11/2/09 7:58 am - Washington, DC
It is probably a combination of PCOS and poor eating choices.  The poor eating choices are probably causing insulin overload and your insulin resistance is helping you gain weight.  Below, I included a *very* simplied explanation of how insulin resistance in PCOS may be making you gain weight.  I would suggesting going back on your glucophage.  (Fyi:  My PCP put me back on Fortamet (the extended release version of glucophage) after surgery.)   

In a "normal" body, here’s what happens: 

(1)   When you eat a meal, whether it is steak, fish or vegetables, the body breaks it down into a usable energy form, namely glucose. 

(2)   Insulin then carries glucose across the cells’ membranes so the glucose can be broken down into energy in the cells. 

In an insulin resistant body (i.e., in most women with PCOS), here’s what happens:  

(1)   As with the normal person, the body breaks down food into a usable energy form. 

(2)   When you are insulin resistant, your cells don't allow the insulin to cross the membrane like they should, which means that the insulin cannot take the glucose in the cells.    (3) The excessive amounts of free-floating glucose remain in the blood stream, until it is sent to the liver, which converts it to excess body fat.
  (4)   Additionally, because your body recognizes that there is glucose that needs to be transferred to the cells, your pancreas thinks the reason the insulin is not carrying the glucose to the cells is because you don't have enough insulin in your body.  As a result, the pancreas dumps more insulin into the blood stream. 

Here is why glucophage is important.  Glucophage appears to work in three ways:
(1) It decreases the absorption of dietary carbohydrates through the intestines.

(2) It reduces the production of glucose by the liver. The liver uses the raw material in your food to create a reserve supply of blood sugar. When your body experiences stress, the liver releases the reserve glucose to supply your brain and muscles with an immediate source of energy to cope with the stress.  Glucophage suppresses the production of this reserve fuel.

(3) (erhaps most importantly) Glucophage fights insulin resistance, by increasing the sensitivity of muscle cells to insulin. Glucophage helps your body to transport glucose with relatively less insulin, thus lowering your insulin levels.   
Ara Keshishian
on 11/29/09 12:59 pm - Glendale, CA
 Hello,
Niether PCOS or poor eating habits are probably the cause of your weight regain. Hysterectomy can cause weight gain especially in the young pre-menapausea. Ovaries taken or not may place a role in this too. To often we all assume that uterus is just a muscle bundle yet it is very much hormonally active. 
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19445617
I remember seeing a graph on the NIH website a few years ago that showed the distribution of the hysterectomies done in the US and the incidence of female obesity. They were near identical match.
Glucophage can cause weight gain.
I would recommend getting back to you WLS surgeon.
You had nothing to do with your weight regain.
Good luck.
 Ara Keshishian, MD, FACS, FASMBS
[email protected]
www.dssurgery.com

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