Ovarian Cysts?

[Veritas 0]

Actually, I just had 2 cysts removed just a couple of weeks ago. Totally unexpected too! One of them was the size of a small orange and the other one was pretty small in comparison. It was emergency surgery cuz they basically had one of my ovaries in a corner and were threatening it! :couch2:

The hardest part for me was that they did a full incision to remove them. So I basically have a scar like a C-Section would be but no baby to show for it. I was in the hospital for 2 days and it was about 4-5 days before I could get myself in and out of bed.

The unfortunate thing is that I'm sure my weight made it harder to get around. The good part is that 2 weeks later I am almost back to normal.

I hope things go well for you and if you have any questions or need encouragement, please let me know!

[cher3150 0]

hello all

PCOS is a chemical or hormone imbalance,which can make it very difficult for sufferers to lose weight. Your body can be insulin resistant and unable to process certain sugars or carbohydrate foods. Your diet should be based on low-sugar, low-carbohydrate, low-fat and Protein, but be rich in B Vitamins in order for you to be successful.

Some PCOS sufferers have to take medication which, after a period of time, can deplete the body of B Vitamins. It is important that you get a well-balanced diet, rich in all vitamins, particularly, B.

Doctors recognise that PCOS sufferers have a slower metabolism than non-sufferers, and recommend a personal diet be prepared to suit your individual metabolism.

30% of PCOS sufferers can also be carbohydrate sensitive and need a personal low-carbohydrate, low-sugar, low-fat, Protein diet preparing, to help them lose weight successfully. In our experience we have found that standard diets do not work for PCOS sufferers.

Will my PCOS symptoms reduce if I lose weight or eat healthily?

Yes, if you need to lose weight, please do so and your symptoms can be reduced. Eating healthily will always be of benefit to your health. Our research has shown that PCOS sufferers with a weight problem, who lose 24 lbs or more, find that their PCOS symptoms can start to reduce.

Because of your PCOS, there are certain foods that your body cannot tolerate. When you eat these foods, your body cannot handle them, so a signal is sent to your brain that you have not eaten, hence the feeling to eat more.

If you eat healthily, avoiding all the non-permitted foods, you will feel so much better and will not be hungry. Having home-made Soups and splitting your meals into small ones will help satisfy the hunger. You can always eat a little extra protein to satisfy the hunger

The polycystic ovary contains many small cysts 2 – 6 mm in diameter. In the past, it was diagnosed during surgery when the ovary could be seen. Now, an ultrasound examination can reveal the polycystic nature of an ovary. Since using ultrasound, polycystic ovaries have been observed in 25% of normal women. Hence, it is important to distinguish the findings of polycystic ovaries and PCOS. Polycystic ovaries are a common finding in patients with PCOS, but do not define the condition. For example, a running nose is a common finding of a cold, but does not mean that a person with a running nose has a cold. Other conditions can cause one’s nose to run, such as allergies, sniffing pepper, crying, etc. An individual with a cold can present with a multitude of symptoms. Women with PCOS also present with a variety of symptoms. Polycystic ovaries are merely one feature of the polycystic ovarian syndrome.

The syndrome is a result of a functional hormonal disorder that disrupts normal ovarian function. It is best thought of as an imbalance of hormones that control the ovary’s ability to mature and release an egg. Normally, the pituitary gland in the center of the brain releases follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) which travels through the blood stream to the ovaries telling them to mature or "grow" an egg. An ovary complies by stimulating a follicle’s growth. A follicle is a cyst containing an egg and many "nursing" granulosa cells. The follicle begins as a small cyst less than 2 - 6 mm in diameter. As it matures, the follicle fills with Fluid until it measures over 20 mm in diameter. This takes approximately 14 days. This time frame is called the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Once mature, the follicle sends back a signal to the brain indicating it is ready for ovulation. The pituitary gland then sends out a pulse of luteinizing hormone (LH), telling the ovary to release or ovulate the egg. The follicle ruptures (i.e the cyst pops) releasing the egg to the surface of the ovary where the fallopian tube should pick it up. PCOS occurs when the hormonal signals are not carried through. Thus, follicles do not grow and release the egg, but instead stay small 2 – 6 mm in diameter each month. Over time, these small follicles build up resulting in an ovary packed with multiple small cysts.

The reason why the ovary fails to respond to the FSH is not well understood. It is believed that there are elevated "resistance factors" that inhibit the ovaries ability to function normally. Some of these resistance factors are the androgens and insulin-like growth factors. These hormones raise the threshold at which the ovary will respond to FSH. If the FSH does not reach that threshold, the follicles become stalled in the early part of growth. The ovary stays in a steady-state of no ovulation which is the hallmark of PCOS.

These resistance factors are manifested in other areas of the body. Androgens in the skin cause hirsutism or male-type distribution of hair growth on the face, chest and abdomen. Increased activity in the oil gland of the hair follicle may also result in oily skin and acne.

Nearly 70% of patients with PCOS have some degree of insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone released into the blood stream by the pancreas. It works to drive blood glucose into cells . Insulin resistance means that more insulin is needed to achieve the same result as a person without PCOS. Patients with type II diabetes have the same condition. Indeed, PCOS patients are at a higher risk of developing type II diabetes. The reason for this insulin resistance is an intense area of research. Currently, it is believed to be related to an inherent defect within the cells signaling mechanism to allow glucose to come into the cell. Due to the cellular resistance, PCOS patients have elevated levels of insulin and/or insulin-like growth factors which can then adversely affect the ovary. In addition, insulin promotes growth or body mass/weight retention. Because of this, PCOS patients have a very difficult time losing weight regardless of how much they exercise and diet. Excess body weight and obesity are commonly known stimulants to both elevated androgen levels and insulin resistance. Since insulin resistance results in elevated insulin levels which then promote further weight gain, an overweight individual becomes trapped in a viscious cycle. The more weight she gains, the worse the condition becomes. All the symptoms of PCOS, including hirsutism, anovulation and difficulty losing weight become more difficult to reverse. Consequently, excess weight can exacerbate PCOS and in some individuals can even be the sole cause of the condition.

good luck

Cherie

[NeenBand 7]

hello all

Because of your PCOS, there are certain foods that your body cannot tolerate. When you eat these foods, your body cannot handle them, so a signal is sent to your brain that you have not eaten, hence the feeling to eat more.

good luck

Cherie

I have PCOS, in fact, it was my endocronologist who suggested this surgery.

I wonder what foods are the ones that don't register?

[Zoe 6]

I had a massive (cantaloupe-sized) cyst removed, along with one ovary and the attached fallopian tube, years before being banded. Actually, I think my obesity prevented me from identifying the problem early on; I assumed the newish protrusion was just a symptom of uneven weight gain.

I'm sorry to tell you that you won't lose much permanent weight if your cyst is the size of mine or smaller. This surgery was done before I got my band, so I don't have any band-related tales to report. But last year, one year post-band, I had a hysterectomy. The band did not get in the way at all, and in fact the surgeon reported that my recovery would be easier than with the first surgery since I was nearly 70 pounds lighter this time around. I lost about 6-8 pounds in the first weeks after I left the hospital, due not to the weight of the fibroids (etc.) that left my body but to my lack of appetite. That little side effect didn't last long, though.

Good luck to you. The surgery is no fun -- band placement is a lot easier on the body -- but you'll feel much better without that grapefruit pressing on your internal organs.