A few weeks ago I had posted here that I had been invited to be a guest on a medical talk show called The Doctors--the taping was a few weeks ago. 

If you watch the preview, I'm the one who they show who has lost weight...you can see a photo of me at different weights...  Here is the preview for the show. It airs on Friday, Dec 5th. Click here to check the local listing in your area if you want to TiVo/DVR me on Friday!

I had the sleeve done in September and I dont regret it. My cyles are still a bit off, but I am hoping with the more weight I lose, the more in sync they become. I find it best to try and avoid carbs as much as possible, but partly because they dont sit well with me. Some who have the sleeve have not had that problem, but eat carbs in moderation and are still successful in their weight loss.

I think that each surgery is a great option and you just have to go with what makes you feel the most comfortable. I didnt want my intestines rerouted and I wasnt keen on the band. So the sleeve made sense for me. Honestly I wasnt looking at it from a PCOS stand point. I was looking at it from being 200 lbs overweight, having IR and high blood pressure. I have quit taking my blood pressure meds and my glucophage. We will see how my blood work is at my 3 month check up next week. My blood pressure has been great.

I had an RNY 5 1/2 month ago and I am so far pleased with my decision. Some of the positive things I've experienced so far:

I no longer take metformin
I've had a menstrual cycle each month since surgery (no meds for this)
My carb cravings are under control
No more carb "foggy brain"
No more "deparate" food cravings
Fasting insulin level is normal
Cholesterol level is falling, LDL is down, triglycerides are down
I still enjoy food but it doesn't control me as much as it used to
I'm happier/less depressed/much easier to be around (according to my mom) since surgery
I've lost about 1/2 of my excess weight so far
I was a size 22 and now I'm in too big for a 12 and almost fit in a 10

Personally I wanted either RNY or VSG. I got RNY because I didn't have the stomach for an insurance fight, and ALSO because I felt that because I had a metabolic problem (insulin resistance/PCOS) that a combination of stomach restriction and mild malabsorption would be the most appropriate solution. (That 60 Minutes piece where a bunch of RNYers who all had type 2 diabetes pre-op and all had it resolve post-op really influenced me here--until then I've been considering a band and after seeing that I knew a band was no longer what I wanted).

Of course, I can't tell you what is best for you--you and your docs will have to do that together. Keep reading and researching. Also, each surgery has good points and bad points--they all have trade-offs. See which ones you think you can live with the most. And keep in mind that it is normal to be a little hesitant or unsure. It's major surgery and that should cause you to pause and thing things through!

I had the sleeve, so I am waiting for the beard to go away, too.

I shave it, as often as I think I need to.  Not everyday, and no, I don't think it has come back in darker/fuller.  And so what if it does - just shave that too!

Oh, and I just started using Vaniqua about a week or two ago.  It says it takes about 4 weeks to show results, and I am eager to let y'all know how it works out for me.  It is expensive, though.

Hi there!  I have PCOS and had RNY WLS in 8/04 so I'm just over 4 years out...man...make that almost 4.5 years out!  Having WLS done can potentially reverse your PCOS (although you'll always have it) and you can be symptom free, but this is not the case for every cyster.  Also different surgeries have different effects on PCOS.

I found that for me my RNY did reverse my PCOS and aside from the facial hair I'm symptom free. 

I went from...
* infertile/no ovulation/no periods
* insulin resistant/type II diabetes
* acanthosis nigricans (dark patches of skin)
* facial hair
* acne

to...

* fertile!  regular periods with ovulation & 2 post op pregnancies
* no insulin resistance or type II diabetes
* no acanthosis nigricans
* no acne

I'd gone through 8 years of failed fertility treatments prior to my surgery.  I was found to be Clomid resistant and I also responded poorly to injectable fertility medications.  I never had a period on my own without having to take Provera to induce one...and even then it was minimal.  At 1 year post op I went off birth control (the patch) and found that I had regular periods for the 1st time ever!  With taking my daily basal body temp (bbt) I found that I was also ovulating on my own.  After 3 months of monitoring (due to a medication I was taking that I couldn't get prego on...that's a whole other story) we went without protection and immediately got pregnant!  I had an uneventful pregnancy & healthy baby girl just before my 2 year surgery anniversary.  Then earlier this year we went without protection once again and immediately got pregnant again!  We're expecting our 2nd daughter in just about 2 weeks.  Frankly I believe (and so does my OB) that had it not been for my WLS & subsequent weight loss that I would have never gotten pregnant or gotten my PCOS in check.

Good luck to you!  BTW have you checked out www.soulcysters.com ?  It's an awesome support & information website specifically for women with PCOS.