Question:
CALLING ALL POST-OPS THAT HAVE PCOS

IF YOU HAVE PCOS PLEASE POST SOMETHING TO HELP US PRE-OPS. SOME OF THE STORIES THAT YOU WONDERFUL WOMAN WROTE HAVE GIVEN ME HOPE BUT, I KNOW THAT THERE IS STILL MORE OF YOU OUT THERE SO CALLING ALL LADIES DON'T BE ASHAME SHARE YOUR STORIES HELPS US OUT.. THANK YOU KAREN RANDALL YOU SHOULD START YOU WON WEB-SITE FOR PCOS. YOUR INFORMATION EXPLAIN A LOT OF THINGS TO ME MARLO    — MARLO M. (posted on November 25, 2003)

November 24, 2003
My wife had that pre op. Her start 2 years ago was 293 pounds 4 foot 10. She didnt get to goal but much healthier weighs in the 190s. Her endo doc reports her hormones are normal and she is fertile and ovaluates. this wasnt the case before surgery. That shopuld encourage ll of you PCOS victims out there.
   — bob-haller

November 24, 2003
Marlo, I had surgery on May 16th of this year. I was diagnosised with PCOS in 1989. Since then I was on BCP and glucophage. I stopped all meds 2 days before my surgery. After surgery I researched if going back on the meds would help or hurt my weight loss. It seemed as though there was conflicting information. I choose stay off the meds. Well here it is 6 months later and I have gone from 273 (pre-op) to 186#. At 5"8" and starting with a BMI of 42, I am considered a lightweight. What has really helped me is my exercise program. I am concentrating on it, working out at the gym 5-6 hours a week. The only symptom that I have really noticed since my surgery is the facial hair, though I am going to get that permanently remove by laser starting next month. Good Luck in your journey. - Janine
   — jmusser

November 24, 2003
Hi there... I was DX with PCOS before I had my surgery. I was pretty much a type 2 Diabetic as well. (tends to go hand in hand) I did not take any glucophage the day of surgery and have not taken any since. My blood sugars are normal as well as my cycle. The hair, well once it is in you can't ungrow it, but I am not getting more and it seems way more managable. My hormone levels (testoterone)have been checked twice since surgery and they are in normal range.
   — dimpkd

November 24, 2003
Hi Marlo! I was not DX with PCOS until 2 months AFTER I had LAP RNY. I've always had complaints, since my mid-teens with severe cramps, heavy bleeding, weight issues, and everytime I went to the doctor, I was told that it was because of my weight. Well, finally at the aga of 32, I found a GYN that would listen to me. By this time, I weighed 316lbs, had thinning hair, lots of dark, thick hair on my arms and stomach below my belly button, skin tags, and I had been having a period for 4 months, heavy at times, and sometimes very light, but it never stopped. Sometimes, I would go for months without a period. I went to a new GYN and he sent me to and Endocinologist. FINALLY, with the correct blood tests and an ultasound I was diagnosed in October of 2001, 7 weeks after surgery. I didn't have any cysts on my ovaries, but I did have severe insulin resistance and that's what was screwing everything up. It's very possible (my Endo told me) that I've PCOS since the onset of puberty and that it was a contributor to my weight gain. Of course, I helped with that too :o). It is hereditary too, my mother had it (reason for her hysterectomy) and so did her mother. Where am I today? I'm 2 years, and 3 months Post op, down from 316 to 157, periods are normal with the help of the Ortho Evra BC Patch and 1000mg a day of Glucophage. My hair (on my head) came back in very nicely after more loss from surgery, and the body hair is controlled by taking 50mg daily of Spirolactone. The skin tags have disappeared completely and I feel wonderful. Of course, with weightloss, the symptoms of PCOS are diminished greatly because we aren't storing as much estrogen as when we are heavy, so this really helps make things better too. Good luck to you! Denise 316/157
   — lily1968

November 25, 2003
After a lifetime of female problems. I had ovarian cysts removed, severe pains and abnormal periods. I had a hysterectomy at age 29. After all that, I was finally diagnosed with PCOS. Finally the puzzle ws complete. I began to take Glucophage and that seemed to be my only hope, and it was not effective. After years of fighting my weight and all the comorbidities of being obese (type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.) my wonderful PCP suggested gastric bypass surgery. After some research and soul searching I decided to give it a try. March 25, 2003 I had open RNY. It is now 8 m onths later, I have lost 105 lbs. I am considered "normal, as far as my BMI is concerned. I have no high blood pressure or high cholesterol and my blood sugars have been normal for several months. As far as the PCOS goes, it is hard for me to say what I would be like if I had not had a hysterectomy, but I feel completely normal. For me, this was the answer and I will be forever grateful to my wonderful surgeon!
   — lmaxwell

November 25, 2003
I have had PCOS all my life. I am 26 yrs old. My endo says its heriditary and I was born with it. I had WLS in January of 2002. I started at 274 and am down to 160. I do take Glucophage and aldactone. For me, the glucophage has helped my weight loss. I totally stopped losing weight a year out at 190 pounds. I then started taking the glucophage again and lost another 30 pounds. I had about 2 periods a year before and now they are every other week so its still not normal, but at least they are there! I do not take any birth control as I hope to get pregnant. So far it hasnt looked hopeful. This is the main reason that I had WLS My endo kept telling me that if I lost weight it would make it easier to get pregnant. So far nothing, but I am still hopeful. Email me at [email protected] if you have any questions!
   — Heidi B.

November 25, 2003
I have PCOS and had surgery in 3/03. I rarely had a period except when on BCP. I know ovulate every 28-30 days. It is amazing how much it has affected my cycle. I started at 440 and weigh about 285 right now. I still have a long way to go, but we are hoping to have a child soon and the regular cycles are encouraging. Good luck!
   — rpoepke

November 26, 2003
I have PCOS, post-op March 03. Not sure of total loss at this date. Diagnosis with PCOS helped me get approval for the procedure. BC helped regulate my cycles, I am no longer taking because they caused other problems. My PCOS history goes on..and on. I am a member and encourage all PCOS women to particiate in the PCOS Association. www.pcosupport.org - wonderful support and resources. Best wishes!!!
   — Tie C.

November 27, 2003
I was diagnosed w/ pcos when I was 18... I'd had it before, but it didn't get bad enough to need treatment. I have all the wonderful side effects like hirsutism, infirtility, insulin resistance and so on. Since surgery in April, I've dropped 85 lbs, and my cycles have regulated. I've also had less problems with the hirsutism.(I had a monster patch on my back I had to have waxed on a regular basis. I can also grow a man's beard and moustache. It was a nightmare). I've been seeing a specilist for a few years now, and we've decided to try having a family again in about a year. (I had a miscarrage about 2 years ago) I've got a lot of good information about PCOS on my website. You can access it by clicking on the hyperlink and then clicking on the web page link at the top of my profile. Before I had surgery the shrink wanted me to do a lot of reaserch on PCOS and present it to him. It helped me understand what I was dealing with a lot better. I've been loosing slowly compared to some of the post ops here, but I also have thyroid disease (underactive) Everything has mostly gotten closer to normal since surgery. The only complication I've developed is a hernia which the insurance company will fix, and I'll have a tt done while they're at it. I'll be honnest with you. It's not a cake walk, and having PCOS can make weight loss a lot harder or slower, but I'd do it again in a hearbeat. I wish you all the best of luck, and God bless!!
   — mellyhudel

November 30, 2003
Marlo, After about five years of trying to figure out what was wrong with me I was diagnosed with PCOS. After three years and many fertility treatments later I was fortunate enough to have a child. I was on Glucophase 5 times a day and had many episodes of passing out and weakness due to sugar levels. I had RNY on 5/9/03 and my blood sugars are normal and I am off all medications. I have now lost 87 lbs and feel great. Hang in there and good luck!
   — Mary Jo B.

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