Hi everyone,

I have been on the fence about gastric and lapband. I have PCOS-polycystic ovarian disease. Which means my metabolism is slow and stores fat like I eat candy bars even when I don't. I am afraid of gastric and I am going to my appt's towards lapband. the nurse practitioner told me I wsould only lose up to 30 pds on lapband. Has anyone seen success with lapband? thanks! Tanya From NC

I have PCOS. I got diagnosed 12 years ago, and I have struggled with my weight pretty much my whole life. My doctor told me that yes, having the lap band WILL help with PCOS; because the deal with PCOS is it's a vicious cycle in that we need to lose weight to be healthy, but we can't lose weight easily, and the band does help.

He told me that I may become fertile after having the band long enough and losing enough weight. Since starting on this journey a couple of years ago, I have lost some weight before I started my pre-op diet. I've lost a total of 60-ish pounds since last Christmas, and I have had much more regularity in my cycle, and not as may of the secondary symptoms. I no longer take meds for PCOS anymore.

I haven't had the band long enough to really tell for myself, but I do trust my surgeon. Hope this has helped you somewhat!

I am in the process of being diagnosed, I have the same problem, Dr.'s thought it was Cushing's Disease or PCOS and I too am considering Lap Band, I have almost all my paperwork together to submit to insured, hoping this week coming up we can send it in! Its very hard to have this kind of disease (and similar ones as I have not yet been diagnosed) and I wish you the best!!!

Thanks Kozy and Kat for your comments. I have doen about 1/2 of my preop appts. I have my gallbladder out next week and I can have lap band in about a month. I still have to submit all my aperwork too. thanks and good luck. Tanya

I have PCOS and I'm banded. So far so good! Does make it even harder to resist carbs, though...

In all honesty if your nurse practitioner told you you'd top out at losing 30 pounds with the band, she/he likely doesn't have a clue about the band. The band is considered to have been successful if a patient loses at least 30 pounds, but if you work with the band you can lose much much more -- but be aware the band is not a magic wand. The work ahead is intense.

I was diagnosed with PCOS years ago...no idea if it's helping wet. I'm down 32 pounds (1/5th of my way to goal!!!). since i;m done having kids, my only way to judge if my PCOS is getting better will probably be based on cycle regularity & mood swings. But, losing weight SHOULD help with PCOS and so many other health issues.

Deciding between the band and bypass is really personal, just be sure to do your research. :-)

Best of luck!!!

I have PCOS..was diagnosed about 22 years ago. I am losing weight on the band (I'm still a newbie) but PCOS isn't as simple as I thought it was. I just had to have a complete hysterectomy (A large benign tumor was found when I was undergoing testing to be approved for the band) and even though my ovaries are GONE apparently I can still have aspects of PCOS. Bizarre. I dont' even completely understand it....I think it's because it's metabolic..not just gynecological.

But I AM losing weight...and so it's possible.

good luck.

e

I have PCOS and the band has been a huge help to me in getting the weight off. But like stated before, the band is just a tool. I have to put the work in by watching what I eat and I am at the gym 5/6 days a week.

My surgeon said that in his experience, banded women with PCOS tend to lose weight a little more slowly than those without PCOS, but that we cysters can lose as much weight long-term. And he's banded himself, so when he says it's all about the long-term, anyway, I believe him!

I have PCOS and have had the band over a year total.

My highest weight was 225-230 maybe. I got banded at 210 and was down to about 170 by my 4 months post op.

I am no at 150 lbs though I would love to be at 140 but I am not sure if I can get there. I might just settle for 150 which isn't bad for 5'6. Is life with the band easy? well no but if you work out and eat right you can do this!