Question:
Seeking PCOS Insilin Resistent Post Ops....

Did your insilin resistence go away or subside? Pre-op if I eat any amount of sugar I can feel the chemical change in my body and will literally crave sugar for several days. I'm not planning on eating alot of sugar post op, I was just curious if the surgery does allow you to eat a Small amount of something and Not engulf you with cravings. Some post-ops state that once they make their goal that they essentially eat anything they want in moderation. (True Moderation) I get that, I'm just wondering if any PCOS postops have experience that as well.    — Kimberly J. (posted on July 12, 2003)

July 12, 2003
I have PCOS and my insulin resistance became true diabetes, but still low level. They expect it to go away again once I have surgery later this month. However, if you are having the RNY you should expect to have no sugar - have you heard of dumping? Some people don't have dumping, and the DS procedure pretty much cuts that out, but if you are having traditional RNY I would expect to say goodbye to sugar.
   — bethybb

July 12, 2003
I'm 11.5 weeks out, and have insulin resistant pcos. I havn't had it checked since surgery, but will do that when I go to the gyno in Sept. I have had very little sugar, but the few times I have, I've dumped on it pretty badly. Usualy shakes, dizzyness, sweating, dry mouth, fatigue and very bad stomach cramps. The only things so far I have found that triggers craveings are strangely enough sweet peas. I crave them, and if I have them that's all I want to eat (could be worse. could be craveing chocolate LOL!). I also do the same with potato chips. I had 3 at a birthday party at work. I found myself wanting to set down with the bag for 2 days after. The 2 times I have had a bite of sweets I've been able to stop afer 2 or 3 bites, and don't want anymore. In fact, they don't seem to taste as good as I remember from preop. Chocolate doens't seem to taste as good either :( As to what I'll be able to eat once I hit goal, I don't realy know. I'm about 90 lbs from goal (I hit the -50 lb mark today, and today was one of the few times I've tried sweets. My husband took me out to celebrate and got a caramel sunday for desert. He ate all but the 3 bites I had.) Hope this helps! Good luck!
   — mellyhudel

July 12, 2003
According to my nutritionist insulin resistance is based on the amount overweight you are and generally clears up as you lose your weight. I personally still can't eat the carbs without craving more but it is nothing like it used to be.
   — Carol S.

July 12, 2003
IMHO, that IS our disease. Insulin resistance. Much like pica (iron deficiency that makes you eat things like ice, laundry detergent, potting soil), insulin resistance gives us unnatural carb cravings. AND the more we get, the more we have to have. And we will always have the disease. We get some remission at first, maybe 2 yrs, then it starts creeping back. Many, many of us have reactive hypoglycemia (part of the I R package), and most of us have trigger foods we simply dare not touch. I have a freind who cannot eat any kind of corn chip. I can have 3-4 with a sandwich & am fine. I have other triggers that seet me off on a down hill (or should I say uphill, on the scale?) slide. I consider popcorn a "safe" food. And for me it is. But for others, it's a trigger and sends them into that spiral. Is it gone forever? I don't htink so, regardless of type of surgery. It's a malfunction. It's kinda like saying that because you drive a better car now, you'll never have a flat tire again. Probably not the case.......... Let me also add that I am not MISERABLE with cravings, because I understand it better and use various tools to beat it back down. But it is still there.
   — vitalady

July 13, 2003
I have PCOS with insulin resistance. Since my rny I have tried to cut my carb level down to about 30grams a day. Some days I get more and that usually comes from eating too many carbs. I have tried sugar but only 5 grams or less. I will get nauseated if I eat too much. The lack of sugar and low carbing has helped me lose a tremendous amount in a short period of time. I have not had my levels tested since surgery either, but can feel the difference. I use to crave carbs, now I look at the nutritional value of everything. My pcos symptoms have dropped dramatically-except the hiritism. Good Luck-- rny 3/27/03- 296/224/175
   — Monique W.

July 13, 2003
Hi@ My insulin resistance is GONE... and in fact, I too feel the "sugar" rise when I eat something with real sugar in it...so I just don't eat anything super high in sugar, or if I do, like REAL chocolate (lol), I only eat itin moderation. Yes, you get those emotional sugar cravings the next day, but I'velearned to combat them mentally and don't get them anymore either! :~) Also... watch out... I just discovered I'm pregnant at 19 months post op... PCOS apparently doesn't mean infertility-bound after wls! LOL!! I was told many times over that I would never have my own kids and I am pregnant with TWINS!
   — Sharon M. B.

July 16, 2003
It is best not to try sugar at ALL! Once you have the surgery- sugar is a BIG NO NO. I am 17months out and 186lbs off- I can eat small amounts of sugar, but if I eat just one bite to much, I dump!!! Once the sugar is out of your system the best idea is to keep it away from you.. They now have sugar free candy, ice cream etc... good luck:) I know you will do great
   — robin P.