weightloss surgery with PCOS

I just like to know how many of you had the weight loss surgery and what surgery did you have and how you doing with it along with pcos?  You still on medication?  I'm new and learning about the WLS.
Im looking into dr spencer, looking to meet him but heard wonderful news.  I'm,looking to go to the seminar, but as i see the earlist is feb 4 or the 16.
What site can i check out,
i know there bon something and tidewater... something..
I need some help here.
Jennifer

Hi Jennifer!  I had the RNY (Roux-En-Y) typically referred to as gasrtic bypass surgery.  I'm 5.5 years post op and doing well.  I lost 114lbs to get to my goal weight of 140lb and reached goal at 1 year post op. I had 2 kids post op which was my dream come true as I was infertile before surgery.  I went through 8 years of failed fertility treatments before my surgery and after I was able to get pregnant both times the 1st month not using protection.  My insulin resistance & diabetes are gone, so are my cysts, dark patches of skin, & skin  tags.  The only thing left is the facial hair but unfortunately that won't go away without treatments. 

I'm happy with my decision...my kids wouldn't be here if I hadn't had surgery. 

Kristy

Jennifer!!

Amazing questions..
however i can not answer any of them because i have not had surgery yet
however that is one of the main reasons that i am having surgery on Friday...is because of pcos and how hard it is to get the weight off.. i want to be healthy and be able to get pregnant...


I will be using this today as our "topic of the day" these are such great questions

hugs to you

Jennifer...

5 weeks ago I had this surgery and let me tell you what I have noticed. My hormones are wacky, but I have had 2 periods... crazy! I was never put on medication besides birth control, mainly because I didn't want to get any closer to diabetes by touching Metformin, so I tried my hardest to regulate my insulin resistance with my diet and by being closely followed by an awesome internal medicine doc.

I have noticed that my facial hair isn't coming in as fast and as much as it had before surgery. I still haven't gone and gotten waxed, which I used to do atleast every 3 weeks...

This surgery is such a blessing... it is tough and there will be times that you will question yourself, so do your research and listen to EVERYONE. You need to read the good and the bad, because it will help you prepare yourself for all the possibilities!

Best of Luck to you in this amazing journey.

I had RNY almost 5 months ago and am off medications. I was taking Met. had been dx'd with type 2 diabetes (early stages) and everything blood sugar wise is back to normal levels. I have noticed that excess hair does not seem to be growing in as fast or as thick as it was before surgery. I have about 24 pounds to go to hit my goal (personal goal as Dr. didn't set up a goal he wanted to see me at). Best wishes on deciding what will work best for you surgery wise (there are four different surgery types, so check them all out).

Katie

Hi.. I had Lap Band Surgery almost 2 months ago, down 28 pounds since surgery, but down 102 pounds since I started my journey....

I picked Lap Band because PCOS is always going to be with me.. so I picked Lap Band as it will always be with me to control my weight.. 

I was never diabetic before, but I still took Metformin everyday, along with BC pills, and spironolactone   I am still taking my BC pill and the spironolactone.  I dont take the Metformin due to personal choice right now, as the pills are huge and I wouldn't be able to get them down even cutting them in half. 

I see alot of people on here and the PCOS board who had RNY done, but not many who had Lap Band..  I would be interested to hear if any other woman had Lap Band done that have PCOS and if they have noticed any difference in their syptoms since surgery.

Brenda

Hi Brenda!  I know a few ladies who've had lapband and unfortunately in what I've seen the ones who do very well with the band...do NOT have PCOS.  On my support thread on another website the lapbanders there have varying successes.  I know of one lapbander who is revising to RNY next week, another is waiting til her 2 year mark to revise to RNY and others are still working hard in the earlier stages of lapband.   I'm not saying that the band doesn't work for PCOSers...it's an individual process and for some it may not work as planned.  Part of it is to not give up on your band until you've done ALL you can do.  The one lady who is revising next week did that.  At 2 years post op had only lost about 50lb despite eating well, getting multiple fills, becoming VERY active (she became a triathlete & marathon runner)...so it's not like she didn't try ya know?  Anyway I wish you the best of luck with your band and I hope that you don't have to revise later.  GL!

Really good questions. I myself am not like most others. I have had PCOS all my life, I managed to have 3 live births, two premies and one full term. I have been prego many times never carried them all though for long. When I was 25 I had a partial Hysterectomy due to the PCOS and other problems. SO alls I have is my ovaries (not for long tho!!)
 Since surgery I have experienced ups and downs, more downs as of recently, the one ovary is VERY active, and I have also noticed a increase in hair growth in non-femanine areas.. I have been told by the docs that this is not the norm, with weightloss 90 some percent of people recover from the PCOS.

I haven't had surgery yet but I did lose almost 100lbs when I was ttc.  I did get pregnant (with IVF) but had an ectopic the first time and a mc the second time.  After that I did not get pregnant again and I was so angry that my body let me down that I kind of gained weight not so much on purpose but I suppose out of retaliation for how hard I had worked and how little it helped with the pregnancies.

I did not notice tremendous improvements in my PCO at that time but now that I am a little older I am seeing changes (periods getting closer together, etc) so I have high hopes that I can get off my met after surgery...  we'll see...

Hi, 
I am about 10 months post-op from having a DS.  I had been on Metformin, Actos, birth control pills, Byetta injections prescribed by my gyno and endo in order to try and regulate my cycle.  Nothing ever worked and usually gained more weight.  I could lose weight if I worked super hard but my cycle never regulated.  I averaged about 2 periods a year.  My gyno told me that I probably would never be able to get pregnant since I couldn't get a regular period.  

I have had a regular period every month since surgery.  I haven't been that way since probably high school (I'm 37 now).  I am not on any PCOS related medication and I am nearly off my blood pressure meds.  My skin is no longer oily and my acne has greatly improved.  I still have to pluck some chin hair (pretty!) but not with the frequency of the past.  My dark skin patches have faded.  

Part of the reason that I chose my surgery type (the DS) because it changes you at a metabolic level and has the greatest likelihood of keeping the weight off.  Some may feel like it is too drastic of a choice but I couldn't be more thrilled.  I feel good and I feel normal.  I'm so hopeful for the future.  

Good luck to everyone in their journey!