Question:
How has WLS affected your symtoms of Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD)?

   — jules R. (posted on July 28, 2003)

July 28, 2003
Read my site!
   — Karen R.

July 28, 2003
I now have regular periods(which is kind of a hassle after being so used to having one or two a year). I have also noticed that the hirtuism(excessive facial hair growth) has slowed down. I still have frequent cysts but apparently they are smaller than they used to be accourding to my ob/gyn.
   — blank first name B.

July 28, 2003
Mine hasn't changed. I am only 8 months post though, so I'm still hopeful. I still have about 15 lbs to goal.
   — kandi S.

July 28, 2003
I too suffer from pcos. i had surgery 3/18/02 and I have lost 195lbs to date. i went 2 years without having a cycle. i was on birth control pills until february of this year and i have gotten my cycle every month!!! as far as the hair goes my doctor just recently put me on spironolactone for excessive hair growth. women with pcos hsould really watch their carb intake because some of us are insulin resistant. good luck
   — tameaka S.

July 28, 2003
Oh, and in case someone is reading this for the first time: I wanted to expand and say, it's not so much "WLS" that affects your PCOS! It is the "losing of massive amounts of weight" that helps our Endocrine Systems normalize. So, even just dieting on your own, helps. Surgery is just (to me) easier as it forces us to a lo-carb diet, which is extremely helpful to our PCOS. There are still skinny sisters out there; who still must lo-carb it and try other tricks to get "normal". So be aware, you will always have to be "treating" your PCOS at goal or not! I see quite a few carb-counting scoffers on this board; and I just want to point out that we MUST lo-carb, and it's not because Dr. Atkins tells us to! For us carbs turn to sugar, and our bodies cannot process them correctly. Another thing, PCOS is never cured- only maintained. Most of us will not see instant changes in our bodies; as it takes a while for hair to grow etc. so it takes a while for it to slow down. This is my second favorite site: http://www.inciid.org/faq/pcos.html
   — Karen R.