PCOS and inability to lose weight

I posted this on the main board also: My cousin had been thin all her life, in her 20's she started to gain weight out of nowhere, she immediately tried to lose weight and get an early grip on it, but the weight did not come off, and she would gain more. A few yrs back she was diagnosed finally with PCOS and insulin resistance. It was nice for her to finally have a diagnosis to validate to people that her weight gain was an endocrine issue and not an eating one. She has tried so may diets, her willpower and drive to lose the weight is amazing, but yet as hard as she tries, not a pound comes off, although she is not gaining. She has spoken to a bariatric surgeon where she lives, and the surgeon is confident she will lose weight w/ a gastric bypass, he explained to her what type of diet she would follow and caloric intake post op, so she went home and did it for about 4 weeks, and still did not lose weight. The surgeon told her that somehow in feeling full after the bypass makes a difference. So my question is, I have seen lots of people w/ PCOS on the boards who have had results, but did anyone ever have as difficult of a time losing weight as my cousin did b4 they had surgery? Did it improve after? Can people tell me a little of their story, and results? Also the surgery involved? Lap Band or Bypass? It would be so nice to be able to get some insight from people who have experienced this, so my cousin can decide if it would even be worth it to go for surgery. Thanks so much! Heather

I'd be happy to answer any questions you or your cousin have. I was NOT diagnosed with PCOS until I was almost a year post op. I was about seven months post op when I began gaining weight. They finally figured out why. I began seeing a great Endocrinologist for proper treatment. She tested me for everything. She monitors me closely. The main test that are needed are: Insulin resistance (Which I didn't have), Testosterone (Mine was very high) and DHEAs. There are more... I am so happy to finally have a diagnosis. I feel that I lost a lot of rapid weight loss time because I was not diagnosed or treated for PCOS until so long post op. But at least I was diagnosed. Once the medications kicked in, the weight loss started again. I do feel like I work harder that other post ops for my weight loss, but I am able to lose. I work out six mornings a week, for an hour to an hour and a half. I am 2 1/2 years post op. I take a diabetic medication(Metformin), even though I am not Diabetic or insulin resistant. It brings down my testosterone levels and helps with the weight loss. Here are some sites with info about it: www.soulcysters.com and www.pcosupport.org Good Luck!

I was diagnosed at 22 with PCOS after suddenly gaining 75lbs in about a year. At 23 I was diagnosed with insulin resistance. I weighed about 175 when I went off the pill at 19 and jumped up to 245 where I stayed. I tried diet after diet without success. Some of the diets I tried are...Atkins, South Beach, The PCOS Diet, The Insulin Reistance Diet, the grapefruit juice diet, I watched carbs, calories, fat, I did Slim Fast, Weigh****chers, Dexatrim, Adepix, Meridia, Fastin, Phentermine (the last 4 are Rx diet pills). I even exercised before I broke my leg/ankle. I would loose a few lbs only to gain all of it back and more. At 26 I became diabetic and my weight went up to it's highest at 254 (I'm 5'3"). After a year of trying to loose weight and being diabetic I gave up and opted for surgery. I had my surgery on 8/3 this year and so far I am 62 lbs lighter and still loosing. My diabetes is pretty much gone (I find out for sure tomorrow) and I am no longer on my CPAP machine (for sleep apnea), also my blood pressure meds have been cut in half. Never in a million years did I think that I could loose this much weight and keep it off. If your cousin has any questions, I would gladly answer what I can. Kristy 248/186/140

Hello I was DX about 3 yrs ago now after gaining like your friend in my early twenties after my daughters about 100 lbs. I too tried everything and was told weight loss surgery would greatly improve my pcod and it did indeed. I am 9 mnths out down 102 lbs. I get my period on time every mnth since the mnthof surgery, that is somthing that has never ever happen before so I know weight loss helps alot. I was also diabetic because of it and I am now free of that. I do still have hair growth under my chin and that has not changed so I am going back soon to see where my levels are but I see major improvements already. I was blessed with 2 children but there are 5 yrs between them. I wish her the very best of luck. I think my weight loss has been extremely slow at times but I have lost a person, cant complain about that!!!!!

Heather, I was diagnosed when I was in my teens with PCOS. I am 34 years old now and things have gotten much better since I had WLS. I have had weight issues since my teens and no matter what I ate or how hard I tried the weight wouldn't come off. I do remember once I lost 80lbs but I had to go to the gym 7 days a week and work out 2 hours each day. and I lived off of salads at that time. I have had all the issue associated with PCOS. I have bad skin, overweight, painful periods, an unbeleivable amount of cystes on my ovary that gets to about the size of a pulm and then pops, and the worst thing has been infertility. I also had a 20lb ovarian tumor removed along with my right ovary due to PCOS. I have seen specialists had tried everything new that ha**** the market since the 80's with no relieve. I had my surgery in July of this year. I must say that my weight is dropping, blood pressure is back to normal, skin is clearer, cysts seems to be gone because my periods are regular and lighter since the surgery, and I appear to be ovulating. I don't mind sharing any information that I can with you but I have had this condition for so long it seems normal to me and I don't know what else to explain. If you have specific questions that you want to ask feel free to email me and I will respond. Best of Luck in your Search Traci Mac 07/22/04 Lap Rny 307/244/175

I had surgery almost 8 months ago and have lost 93 lbs. I haven't lost anything for about 3 weeks. I definitely feel like this is a direct result of my PCOS and I've struggled to get down here. I'm going to have to do some drastic dieting to get going again. I have another 80 to lose. For me, my periods started to be somewhat normal initially but then they started going wacky again. I was on my period for a couple months...lightly, then the mother of all period**** like as if it was a miscarriage. Now it's been a couple three months since I've had one again. I went to my PCP (an internal med doc) who told me going on Glucophage would not help me. I know different. I know it would but he is just ignorant. So I have to change docs and get someone else to treat me because this jerk isn't doing me any good. I'm going to have to go on the Atkins diet to see if I can get my period to start again. According to Mr. Ignorant it won't help as PCOS is strictly a problem caused by obesity and diabetes (moron!). Can't wait to prove him wrong. I think the only thing I'm going to see him for again is to go in and prove to him how wrong he is. Dina

Hi Heather - Here's my PCOS experience- Now I realize the PCOS symptoms were there when I was a teen (I'm 40 now). I would get a painful period only every 6 weeks. My family doc said I was "lucky" to be getting a period only every 6 weeks . Even then, I had a hard time keeping weight off and was always chubby dispite being very active in marching band. In my 20's the weight starting piling on. I would try and occasionally lose a little but nothing helped in the long run. By my 30's, I realized something was wrong and that I couldn't lose weight like most women with "Weigh****chers", "Atkins", etc. I tried them all. Meanwhile, my periods diminished to 3-4 times a year OR all the time . My OBGYN made no mention of PCOS despite my obesity, messed up menses and excess body hair . Only about a year ago did I first begin hearing about PCOS. I had my OBGYN test me for it, which came up positive for PCOS and insullin resistance. Then my OBGYN said the most discouraging words I think I have ever heard in my life......"You may lose a few pounds here and there, but no diet is ever going to work for you." I was devastated . Luckily, I was approved for WLS 2 months later . It's been 5 months, I've lost 91.5 pounds, my periods are getting more regular, and my insullin is normal with no meds . I do plan to follow up with an endocrine doc to make sure my miraculous loss doesn't stop. Good luck to you and your cousin, whatever you decide . Mea

Hi Heather, I could not lose weight with PCOS. I did Weigh****chers for 1.5 years, worked out, etc. My last shot was the RNY. I have lost 106lbs over 14 months, my PCOS has radically improved. I can only speak for myself, but I never wouldhave been able to lose the weight or get my blood sugars under control without it. Hugs, Maria 306/200/180