Pcos Support
Please Tell us about youself, and your story
Hi I'm Kelly. I'm 32 years old and I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 16. My mom asked me one day if I had gotten my period yet. I guess it was a little late asking, but maybe she just thought I was handling it myself. I told her no and she made an appointment right away. I went on birth control pills which ended up giving me palpitations, and then to help with the insulin resistance I went on fortamet/metformin/glucophage all of them screwed my stomach up. I have had probably 5 or 6 periods my whole life. Now I take Provera. Not like I should, but I take it. I hate pills. I just know that if I get rid of the weight the symptoms will go away, I feel like since it's just a chemical imbalance that if I could fix the chemical part I'd be ok, but the weight it's the HARDEST part, and apparently the key.
Last year I went on a medically supervised liquid diet for 7 weeks, and I dropped 35LBS, but had to stop to have my gallbladder removed. Apparently I dropped weight too fast. Talk about a lose/lose situation. I ended up putting back on the majority of the weight, and feel like I'm on a hamster wheel. I feel like I'm at a crossroads here thinking of WLS. NOW or NEVER Kel! I've been to the seminar and the doc that took out my gallbladder even told me to look him up if I want the surgery. My insurance will pay all but the deductible, so why am I still looking for other answers?
Last year I went on a medically supervised liquid diet for 7 weeks, and I dropped 35LBS, but had to stop to have my gallbladder removed. Apparently I dropped weight too fast. Talk about a lose/lose situation. I ended up putting back on the majority of the weight, and feel like I'm on a hamster wheel. I feel like I'm at a crossroads here thinking of WLS. NOW or NEVER Kel! I've been to the seminar and the doc that took out my gallbladder even told me to look him up if I want the surgery. My insurance will pay all but the deductible, so why am I still looking for other answers?
I Have Arrived to Chase My Dreams...
WOW, what's up with all the Jens??? So add another to the mix...ME!!!
I'm 41 and just had Laproscopic RNY on June 30th. I had my first period around 16 yrs old and never had a normal cycle EVER!! I'd never heard of PCOS until a co-worker read an article in Prevention magazine and brought it to me to read and I was so happy to have a name for what was wrong with me!! I went to a highly recommended Endo and HE told me that I just had irregular periods and not to worry about it unless I wanted kids. nice. I even brought the article to show him and he brushed me off, he wouldn't even consider it. Around the time I had got new Health Ins and needed a new PCP and that's when Karen came into my life, at my first appt I mentioned PCOS and she said "that's exactly what I think you have!!". She ordered the ultrasound and VOILA!! that was 18 yrs ago and she is still my PCP and has always stayed on top of the latest research on PCOS and treated me accordingly. So, when she mentioned WLS I had to at least consider it. I started the program 2 yrs ago with 4 monthly appointments...1 on 1 counseling, group pre and post-op meetings, nutrition counseling and a medication management specialist for my depression/anxiety meds. SO MANY APPOINTMENTS!!!! I don't have children and don't plan on ever having any. I have my Engish Bulldog. I've been with my boyfriend for 7 plus yrs and he has been FANTASTIC about my surgery and taking care of me since. My 10 day post-op appointment with the surgeon is tomorrow and I can't wait to get my first post-op weight check!!!! I started at 222 lbs (my heaviest ever) and all through this process I've heard people say "you don't look big enough for this surgery", well I didn't think so either but PCOS is nothing to take lightly and if this will lessen my chances of becoming Diabetic and having heart desease than it's well worth the sacrifices!!!
I'm 41 and just had Laproscopic RNY on June 30th. I had my first period around 16 yrs old and never had a normal cycle EVER!! I'd never heard of PCOS until a co-worker read an article in Prevention magazine and brought it to me to read and I was so happy to have a name for what was wrong with me!! I went to a highly recommended Endo and HE told me that I just had irregular periods and not to worry about it unless I wanted kids. nice. I even brought the article to show him and he brushed me off, he wouldn't even consider it. Around the time I had got new Health Ins and needed a new PCP and that's when Karen came into my life, at my first appt I mentioned PCOS and she said "that's exactly what I think you have!!". She ordered the ultrasound and VOILA!! that was 18 yrs ago and she is still my PCP and has always stayed on top of the latest research on PCOS and treated me accordingly. So, when she mentioned WLS I had to at least consider it. I started the program 2 yrs ago with 4 monthly appointments...1 on 1 counseling, group pre and post-op meetings, nutrition counseling and a medication management specialist for my depression/anxiety meds. SO MANY APPOINTMENTS!!!! I don't have children and don't plan on ever having any. I have my Engish Bulldog. I've been with my boyfriend for 7 plus yrs and he has been FANTASTIC about my surgery and taking care of me since. My 10 day post-op appointment with the surgeon is tomorrow and I can't wait to get my first post-op weight check!!!! I started at 222 lbs (my heaviest ever) and all through this process I've heard people say "you don't look big enough for this surgery", well I didn't think so either but PCOS is nothing to take lightly and if this will lessen my chances of becoming Diabetic and having heart desease than it's well worth the sacrifices!!!
Hello my name is michele. I was diagnosed back in 2001. My husband and i had tried to have a baby for five years, then i found a specialist that put me on metformin and one year after that i got pregnant with my first daughter she was born nov 2007, then when i went in for my check up I found out i was pregnant again with my second daughter born dec 2008. I was on birth control when i got pregnant with my second daughter. Well the pcos is kickin my butt. it is so hard to loose weight. I work my butt off just to maintain my weight. So now i am in the process of wls. I have to do 6 month diet and exercise program for my insurance. which two down four to go. so in april they will submit my stuff to the insurance company for aproval.
Hi all!
I'm Nicole, 27 nearly 28 and I also have PCOS. I've been overweight since the age of 3, was 76lbs by 5yo. Started my period at the age of 10. Never ever been regular. Tops 4 maybe 5 a year, never kept track, never really cared. I should have been diagnosed when I was 12, but Dr.s can be stubborn cusses...I was just a fat kid that needed to stop eating. One endocrine Dr. did take note and admit I was actually a extremely healthy and fit fat kid. But could not pin point exactly. At the time I didn't have much in the facial hair division, no IR, never did US but never asked about other major clues. Even when my testosterone came back way high. So years later graduate weighing 285lbs fluctuating between 270-300lbs all through out HS. Only reason I never got larger was I was extrememly active and didn't eat much. My days M-F during school was school till 2, weight lifting till 5, shot and discus practice till 6:30, then working at a stable till 9-10pm. Sat & Sun was 10 am till 7pm working at the stable. I was not lazy, built to the hilt I could lift a small car with my legs (till I blew out my knee at a state qualifying track meet). Could bench 230, quat 540lbs with reps, dead lift 350lbs, all the while still look like a girl. HAHA LOVE IT. That all came to an end just 2 weeks before graduation with said blow out in the knee. Weight ballooned at about 25lbs a year. My health was diving quickly with it, nearly diabetic at this point...completely forgot about my cycles. So that led me to get WLS. Specifically the DS, with my history and knowing my body, it would be the only one that would work. So met the surgeon in 2004 weighed in at 402lbs....if its any clue for how im built I still could fit into size 30/32W jeans thats had no elastic at that weight. Had the DS in Aug 2005, and have not looked back. I've lost 180lbs, I hover around 219-223lbs wearing a size 10-12 and L/XL shirt depending on cut. I lovingly refer to myself as a line backer because I have a large shoulder span 22" big rib cage 40" and still have boobs DD. But don't look like I weigh more than 175, aslong as I'm not layered up in clothes and Cartharts in the winter, lol.
I finally was givin an offical PCOS diagnosis in Sept 2010. Yes folks 5 years post-op! For my first 2 years post-op my symptoms cleared nicely, facial hair will always be but it was shave every other day, not multiple times a day. I never TTC (single gal TYVM) and not trying to anytime soon, but I will have a hell of a battle a head IF/when I do. Not only because of PCOS, the idea of quite possibly I have never ovulated, and a smaller than normal uterus (on surgical report). Well slowly over the last 3 years symptoms were comming back with some new ones. Luckily with having the DS, IR will never be an issue again and weight wont play an issue either, but other things were not right. The hot flashes, loss of sex drive, hair getting thinner again, facial hair growing fast again, my cycles were only normal because I was on the NuvaRing. It caused me a unaccounted for 30lb gain over these years, thank you DS for permanent malabsorption as it never did inch any more than that. So now I'm playing the medication game...a semi strong BC and spiranlactone, 150 currently Dr. wants to raise it even more and I agree, my testosterone levels were really high back when I was young. The chin hair growth is slowing pluck every couple of days, I kicked 20lbs of that 30 in less than a month of starting the meds (TY DS for continuing to work). When it comes down to it, I have the endocrine system from hell. My body adjusts super quick to just about everything, so my med doses are going to have to beat out my body.
Ok kinda long but thats where I currently stand. And I don't want to be a downer but don't expect your PCOS to vanish just because of surgery. During the first couple years of fast loss you dump hormones big time, which does help correct. I really do wish a study would follow PCOS WLS peeps for more than 2 years. There are no long term studies out there that I can find.
I'm Nicole, 27 nearly 28 and I also have PCOS. I've been overweight since the age of 3, was 76lbs by 5yo. Started my period at the age of 10. Never ever been regular. Tops 4 maybe 5 a year, never kept track, never really cared. I should have been diagnosed when I was 12, but Dr.s can be stubborn cusses...I was just a fat kid that needed to stop eating. One endocrine Dr. did take note and admit I was actually a extremely healthy and fit fat kid. But could not pin point exactly. At the time I didn't have much in the facial hair division, no IR, never did US but never asked about other major clues. Even when my testosterone came back way high. So years later graduate weighing 285lbs fluctuating between 270-300lbs all through out HS. Only reason I never got larger was I was extrememly active and didn't eat much. My days M-F during school was school till 2, weight lifting till 5, shot and discus practice till 6:30, then working at a stable till 9-10pm. Sat & Sun was 10 am till 7pm working at the stable. I was not lazy, built to the hilt I could lift a small car with my legs (till I blew out my knee at a state qualifying track meet). Could bench 230, quat 540lbs with reps, dead lift 350lbs, all the while still look like a girl. HAHA LOVE IT. That all came to an end just 2 weeks before graduation with said blow out in the knee. Weight ballooned at about 25lbs a year. My health was diving quickly with it, nearly diabetic at this point...completely forgot about my cycles. So that led me to get WLS. Specifically the DS, with my history and knowing my body, it would be the only one that would work. So met the surgeon in 2004 weighed in at 402lbs....if its any clue for how im built I still could fit into size 30/32W jeans thats had no elastic at that weight. Had the DS in Aug 2005, and have not looked back. I've lost 180lbs, I hover around 219-223lbs wearing a size 10-12 and L/XL shirt depending on cut. I lovingly refer to myself as a line backer because I have a large shoulder span 22" big rib cage 40" and still have boobs DD. But don't look like I weigh more than 175, aslong as I'm not layered up in clothes and Cartharts in the winter, lol.
I finally was givin an offical PCOS diagnosis in Sept 2010. Yes folks 5 years post-op! For my first 2 years post-op my symptoms cleared nicely, facial hair will always be but it was shave every other day, not multiple times a day. I never TTC (single gal TYVM) and not trying to anytime soon, but I will have a hell of a battle a head IF/when I do. Not only because of PCOS, the idea of quite possibly I have never ovulated, and a smaller than normal uterus (on surgical report). Well slowly over the last 3 years symptoms were comming back with some new ones. Luckily with having the DS, IR will never be an issue again and weight wont play an issue either, but other things were not right. The hot flashes, loss of sex drive, hair getting thinner again, facial hair growing fast again, my cycles were only normal because I was on the NuvaRing. It caused me a unaccounted for 30lb gain over these years, thank you DS for permanent malabsorption as it never did inch any more than that. So now I'm playing the medication game...a semi strong BC and spiranlactone, 150 currently Dr. wants to raise it even more and I agree, my testosterone levels were really high back when I was young. The chin hair growth is slowing pluck every couple of days, I kicked 20lbs of that 30 in less than a month of starting the meds (TY DS for continuing to work). When it comes down to it, I have the endocrine system from hell. My body adjusts super quick to just about everything, so my med doses are going to have to beat out my body.
Ok kinda long but thats where I currently stand. And I don't want to be a downer but don't expect your PCOS to vanish just because of surgery. During the first couple years of fast loss you dump hormones big time, which does help correct. I really do wish a study would follow PCOS WLS peeps for more than 2 years. There are no long term studies out there that I can find.
DS Aug 15th,2005 @ goal, living life and loving it.
"An Arabian will take care of its owner as no other horse will, for it has not only been raised to physical perfection, but has been instilled with a spirit of loyalty unparalleled by that of any other breed."
Hi ladies, I am very happy to have found this place. I post on a TTC w/ PCOS board but since I have decided to have WLS and not TTC for that reason . . . I feel a little lost. Anyway, my name is Kandie and I am 31. I have suspected that I have PCOS since about 18-19 years old because I had a friend that knew she had it and her symptoms were so much like mine EXCEPT I have always had pretty regular periods. Add this to my thinking of "I don't want to have kids" and I never really looked into treating it. About 6-7 years later when my BF and I decide that we want a child, we started having the struggle of not being able to conceive. The OBGYN that I was seeing at that time wouldn't consider any treatment until we had been trying for a year. I mentioned PCOS and he blew me off, pointing to my regular cycle. Not long after that I was in severe pain, discovered that I had a large cyst (turned out to be 14 lbs, I just thought I was getting fatter) that became twisted and had to be surgically removed. 7 months after that we got pregnant without any medical assistance. Since we had difficulty conceiving we started trying again when our daughter turned 6 months and no success yet. My baby girl is 3 1/2 years. I have been on Met, Clomid, Soy Isoflavones, temped and charted . . . I have had high blood pressure for years, so finally I said ENOUGH with all these stinking pills. I decided to look into WLS. I have only been to my initial consult (and seminar). I go back this week for lab work and other testing. The end of this month will be my first appointment with the nurse practioner. My PCP is behind me and my current OBGYN is too. I am so ready! I am hoping to have VSG but I haven't discussed that with my WL doctor's office yet, they have me down as Lap-band but as of January 1st my insurance picked up the sleeve!!!!
Good luck to all of the PPs.
Hi everyone. I am 30 and I too suffer with PCOS. I've had it ever since I can remember but wasn't diagnosed until I was 22/23. I HATE it!!! and it makes me feel ugly. 
I used to take Metformin for it but was taken off because of elevated liver enzymes. I've never been able to get pregnant. My periods haven't been normal since I was 16 years old. Currently, I haven't had a period in over 4 month's!
I used to take Metformin for it but was taken off because of elevated liver enzymes. I've never been able to get pregnant. My periods haven't been normal since I was 16 years old. Currently, I haven't had a period in over 4 month's! Ber
HT: 5'0 ~ 1st GW: 199 "My journey starts within myself."
HT: 5'0 ~ 1st GW: 199 "My journey starts within myself."
(deactivated member)
on 12/5/11 11:22 am
on 12/5/11 11:22 am
Sooo my name is NOT Jennifer or Jenny. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was about 24 or 25. I'm 28 now. Always had irregular periods. Had 3 miscarriages as a teenager (don't ask... sigh), had a but of a mustache as I got older but I thought it was the Hispanic thing to do so I didn't worry. Then I started having some beardish hair and I would bleach it. It was soft and no one ever said anything. Again, I guess I just thought it was normal. I gained weight rapidly through my teens and adulthood. i was eating poorly and doing drugs so I just figured it was a normal part of my lifestyle. Then one day when I told my dr about my mustache and that I thought I had diabetes, she said PCOS. She tested me and my testosterone was pretty elevated and I was insuline resistent. After that I went on every drug known to man... oh yeah, and my hair started falling out like crazy. I developed OCD as a result of counting hairs that fell from my head and plucking hairs from my face and body. Soulcysters.com and Heralopecia.com .... LIVED there. I now take metformin, yaz and flutamide (way stronger antiandrogen than spironolactone which i was allergic to). In the meanwhile I ended up gaining 60 MORE pounds than when I found out about the PCOS. SOoooooo here I have about to get VSG in a week in hopes that I can be done with this PCOS and crazy hormone **** and MAYBE have a baby some day
Hi, My name is Toni. I was diagnosed with PCOS about 7 years ago. When I was finally told and researched it -- it was like a lightbulb went off in my brain and I realized wow...that explains everything! In a weird sort of way, PCOS sort of confirmed for me that I was never going to have kids, and I used it as an excuse to explain to my family that I couldn't and didn't want any -- that was the only GOOD thing my PCOS every gave me. I also suffered from severe endometriosis, so I no longer have a uterus, (hysterectomy in Sept. 2011) and therefore don't have any "period" related issues. I still have the rogue facial hairs popping up and that's annoying, but I know there are so many people out there that are worse off with this sydrome, so I try to count my blessing on that front as much as possible. I am 24 days away from WLS, I am having an RNY in Toronto, ON. I am so excited to get going with 2012 and get on with the new me! 
Toni..."Bravery is not the absence of fear, but the will to overcome it"
www.fatgirlchangingherworld.com 
Twitter:@fatgirlchanging
Surgery JAN. 19th, 2012 - Down 120 lbs & 75 inches @ my last Weigh in!!!! 
Hi everyone. I'm super excited to have found this group! I am 33 and have been diagnosed since I was 13...so 20 years now. I'm amazed at how far the medical community has come with knowledge regarding our wonderful syndrome...but then I'm flummoxed that it's still so unknown by so many medical professionals. I've been blessed to conceive twice and have one beautiful 6 1/2 year old daughter. My hubby and I are ready to grow our family...we've had no luck. My ob/gyn suggested I look into WLS. About a year ago I did. I decided for my own peace of mind I really needed to give WL my all before resorting to surgery. I worked hard at WW for 1 year...and lost 9 pounds...lol. I'm now 4 visits in with my PCP and 2 more to go. My surgeon and I are hoping to get me approved and have surgery in mid August. Then I'm hoping to conceive just before I turn 35. I'd like to lose at least 100lbs...I'm currently 281.6. My surgeon says with the PCOS he wants me to lose 75lbs...I really want to get back into onderland though! I'm excited to spend time reading everyones stories!
