Question:
PCOS and WLS...

I have read some of the Q & A from 2002 about WLS and PCOS. I was diagnosed in 2000 and have since lost 100+lbs. I still have a major series of hurdles to go. Women with PCOS and have had the surgery...did it actually help the symptoms and for the ones that had non-existant periods and did not ovulate, did you become regular and begin to ovulate. Any bit of info will help and in advance, thank you very much.    — Angela P. (posted on May 30, 2003)

May 30, 2003
I am about the same place you are, down 102 lbs. I had surgery Feb 3rd. I have about a 25 year history of severe PCOS with almost as many years of no periods. I went on Depo-Provera in 1995 after spending 9 months with continuous bleeding after a new doctor decided he needed to get my body to function "normal" with the use of BCP's. It was 9 months of he!!. <p>I have had no periods since 1996 due to the Depo and no surprise ones during or after surgery. However, the past 2 weeks or so I know something is changing hormonally in my body. My breasts have been so tender and sore. The only time I have ever experienced this is when I was off Depo for 4 months. I could not stand to have clothes or anything else touch my breasts. I got the shot and within 12 hours was so much better and by 1 week later totally symptom free. Currently I am on shots every 8 weeks instead of the typical 12 weeks, because that's what we found brought the bleeding and my headaches under control and we just haven't messed with it since. The logical would be that as I lost weight I could space the shots out more but what I think is happening is that so much estrogen is circulating in my system right now as the fat comes off that the level of Depo I am on is not enough to off-set the circulating estrogen. I probably need to go back to 6 week shots for a while till my body settles down and more fat is gone. These symptoms started at about 6 weeks after my last shot. The symptoms are ones that I have heard of being associated with pregnancy but the only way that is possible is if it is an immaculate conception. LOL <p>So while I do not have any proof for you I am fairly confident that significant fertility will return, and is trying to start already in me. I lost 200 lbs back in 94/95 and suddenly after 15 years of no periods I had 3 in a row. Then we started messing with BCP's and the rest is history. You may not become "regular" by the book definition but you may very well develop something that is regular for you. My friend, after years of being on BCP's, finally settled at about 6 week intervals as being regular for her. Nowadays if you want to use BCP's a lot of thinking is that you take the pills continuously for 3 months and then go off for a week to have a period. They are realizing that the need for monthly periods on BCP's isn't typically necessary. Personally I like the no periods of Depo Provera. Be aware though that BCP's especially can fail you after WLS as they are not as well absorbed. People keep getting surprises on this and other sites more and more lately. Pregnancy in the first 18 months really should be avoided, so double up protection if you are using BCP's.
   — zoedogcbr

May 30, 2003
My wife Jen a post op lost over 100 pounds. She is off birth control pills that she took to be regular. Her PCOS hormone levels are normal and she is ovaluatting. All thanks to WLS. Less facial hair too:)
   — bob-haller

May 30, 2003
I have PCO too. Never had normal periods in my life even when I was on the pill. (I had lots of breakthrough bleeding.) Now my periods are every 28 days like clock work. I told my doctor that since surgery it's been like going through puberty (the right way) all over again. Before I could skip months even a year here and there and then it would be VERY heavy and last weeks. WLS has been great in helping my PCO. Lisa open rny 4/26/02 - 145lbs
   — LisaTaz

May 31, 2003
I have pcos also diagnosed in 2000. I had wls 3.3\27 and before then had a period in Jan, skipped Feb and March. Then April it came and is here again for May. I haven't had my levels tested so I don't know if I am ovulating. The facial hair is still there and actually seems to grow back faster. However, with me doing low carbing it is helping the over-all symptoms.
   — Monique W.

May 31, 2003
Hi Angela, I was diagnosed with PCOS at 11 months post op. I stopped losing weight at nine months poast op. I had lost 122lbs at that point. I started at 400, so that was not acceptable. I had a period for three weeks. I had pelvic pain. I went to a Ob/Gyn and had a sonogram done. My left ovary is polycystic. I did research and asked for a referral to see an endocrinologist. Finally someone who is helping me. My testosterone levels were high and so was my DHEA. I have been taking Metformin (Glucophage) for the last two months. I feel wonderful. I have had two normal periods in the last two months. My Testosterone levels dropped 60 points! I am now within normal range. I am not insulin resistant but this medication will not effect your insulin levels if you are in the normal levels. Please do your research, I beleive that I have suffered from this for over 20 years with out a proper diagnosis. It is genetic. My sister is being tested for it. I believe that my mother and grandmother had it but were never diagnosed. Both developed type ll diabetes and high blood pressure. Good luck
   — blank first name B.

May 31, 2003

   — Renee A.

June 2, 2003
Since I'm post-op, I can no longer tolerate glucophage *at all*, and pre-op I didn't notice that it made a huge difference for me personally (although many cysters swear by it). I have noticed a big difference in my symptoms post-op though, and at my last gyn visit, my gyn stated that she thought my ovaries felt fine, not cystic at all (yay!). The abdominal pain that I used to feel from my PCOS is completely ~GONE~! I can't believe it--I used to feel like my ovaries were trying to bust out, it was terrible. I still take yasmin bcps (so those keep me regular) and spironolactone. For some reason, I've noticed that my weight loss is faster when I'm taking the spiro, so I keep taking it. Good luck to you!
   — Laurie A.