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Hi Teresa!
My name is Amanda and I am 33! I wasn't diagnosed with PCOS until I was 28 and I had never heard anything about it. After 3 years of failing to get pregnant I saw a fertility specialist and he diagnosed me. 5 years later plus 2 miscarriages I started learning more about PCOS and how it  works with fertility. It's only recently that more information about this disease has become available.
I have finally decided to get LAP BAND. I'm scheduled for my surgery in June. My doctor suggested this website and it's wonderful to find other women who not only have had WLS surgery they have PCOS too. It's comforting to know I'm not alone.
I'm excited about my surgery and a little scared too. Has anyone else in this group had LAP BAND? If so, how did you do with it? Any advice or tips?

Thanks so much! I hate that we are stuck with the facial hair but you know there really are worse things when you get rid of so many.  Thanks again for all those tips and congrats on your success, I will be there with ya soon!

I didn't loose anything on my pre op diet because I went from authorization to surgery in 3 weeks...and the earliest nutrition appt before my surgery...was the day before. So there was no intentional weight loss but I did manage to loose 6lb with the bowel prep.

As for my PCOS symptoms...wow...WAY BETTER! Pre op I had acne, acanthosis nigricians, IR, Diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, skin tags, no periods or ovulation (even with meds) and facial hair. Well...now all I have is the facial hair because sadly once it starts...the only way to get rid of it is to have it done professionally and yeah...I'm a nursing student...I'm broke! All kidding aside WLS changed my life. I'd gone through 8 years of failed fertility treatments. Twice after surgery I was able to get pregnant the 1st month not using protection. I never had periods before...even with progesterone/provera...minimal effect. I would be lucky if I would spot for an hour. By 1 year post op I was having regular periods AND...I was ovulating on my own!! The dark skin, acne, skin tags, IR, Diabetes...all gone. Even the facial hair stopped progressing. All of my hormonal labs are 'normal' now...yay!

Good luck with your upcoming surgery! Remember to do the following!

1. take pre op measurements & full body pictures in fitting clothing (you'll hate them now...love them later)...keep these clothes and retake pictures each month on the 26th so you can compare and really see the weight loss because you won't see it when you look in the mirror.

2. get a 30ml medicine cup and start sipping 1/2 of that...then wait a minute and then finish. This will be your new post op sip (don't worry...you'll get to sip bigger later...)

3. get a toddler plate, fork & spoon...use these to eat off of as a little food on a little plate looks big and does wonders for the mental aspect of surgery. if you're worried about drinking too big of a drink and don't have a 30ml cup...get a toddler sippy cup...drink out of that. Also the Propel bottles with the twisty top are good too.

4. lastly...go to a local support group where you can talk face to face with other post ops...it helps a lot since they've 'been there...done that' and can offer lots of support, tips and most of all understanding to the mental side of being postop.

Lastly...not to draw you away from here...but have you been to www.soulcysters.net ? It's a free information/support website for women with PCOS. If you decide to join...once you hit 25 posts you can view the buddy groups and there's one I run called WLS Divas and we're quite active.

Good luck!

OH yeah...keep you BIGGEST pair of pants. I know you'll be tempted to rid yourself of everything but they'll come in handy later. Eventually you'll get into one leg...take a pic of that. Also when you've lost 100-150-200lb...and you're having a major fat day...put those on. It'll quickly remind you that you're not that person anymore...

Kristy

Well I was only looking into 2 surgeries and thats the RNY and the lapband because my insurance only covered them. I dont want the lapband for sure so it was definately the lapband. Well now my insurance is approving surgery for VSG and DS as well so I am looking into those but I am still pretty sure I want the RNY. I like my surgeon and he recommends the RNY. I have between 150 to 200 to lose and I just am seeing if anyone had lost that much after surgery and has PCOS. Congrats on your weight loss and I am glad to hear after 6 years it is still off. My aunt had surgery and she sisnt do exactly what she was suppose to so and is gaining some back. I am learning from her mistakes because I dont want that to happen to me. I want to make sure I have the best results as possible. I am working my butt off already and I am just 2 months in my supervised diet. I took everything to drink out of my diet excep****er. I took all the surgar out of my diet, well almost all some things still ahve a little surgar in them but if I can help it I make sure it doesnt have any. I am watching my fat, calories, and carbs. I am doing all of this and only lost 2 pounds so far. I feel like I am not going anywhere because the doctor was hoping for 4 pounds a month and I am doing around 2. Thank you to the both of you for replying and good luck with your surgery, I cant wait for mine.

I had RNY almost 6 years ago (will be 6 years in August).  I had 114lb to lose and lost 100lb in 6 months, then my weight loss slowed down but I was at goal by 1 year post op.  Since then I've had 2 babies and I'm still 100lb down.  I'm very happy with my RNY and my results.  Which other surgeries are you considering?  I know a few PCOSers who have had the lapband done (on another website) and only 1-2 of them have done decent.  One has already revised to RNY and one is in the process of revising to RNY.  Good luck in your decision and good for you for doing your research!

Kristy