Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

I was just wondering if there's any other women out there that have this? I have it and due to it I don't ovulate at all and I have darkening of my skin on my neck and armpits and around my waist line. I'm just wondering if this all changes after having the band and losing the weight.

Symptoms of this are:

• infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods, and/or irregular bleeding
  
• infertility or inability to get pregnant because of not ovulating
  
• increased growth of hair on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes
  
• acne, oily skin, or dandruff
  
• pelvic pain
  
• weight gain or obesity, usually carrying extra weight around the waist
  
• type 2 diabetes
  
• high cholesterol
  
• high blood pressure
  
• male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
  
• patches of thickened and dark brown or black skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs
  
• skin tags, or tiny excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area
  
• sleep apnea―excessive snoring and breathing stops at times while asleep

I'm sorry if this is a reaccuring topic. I didn't see anything about it. Does having this make it harder to lose the weight even with lap band? Any insight would be great.

Thanks!

Hi there. I was put on metformin to help with the blood sugar, and the doc said that he'd prescribe clomid when I want to fall pregnant to encourage ovulation. As for the beard, IPL laser hair removal is doing the trick. Slowly - you have to go for lots of sessions, a few weeks apart - but each month there's a few fewer hairs.

Good luck!

ok I have PCOS all the symptoms. well my question is when they balance out the hormones and sugar levels do you lose the excess weight?

It can make it easier. I have a friend who went on metformin and the weight just fell off her. It wasn't directly because of the blood sugar balance, but it was because her blood sugar was more stable, so she wasn't craving sugary food any more, and wasn't getting ravenously hungry, so she just ate less, and more healthy stuff naturally.

Me, on the other hand, I went on metformin and the pill at the same time, and just put on weight! Then I got the lapband

Metformin didn't help me at all except to give me horrible diarrhea. I used it while trying to get pregnant in conjunction with fertility shots/IUI. I was lucky to have a baby girl after 4 years of fertility treatments. Metformin works differently on each person, and it's more for the insulin resistance portion of PCOS rather than just using it for straight up weight loss. The Lap Band has been the only thing that has helped me, thank G-d.

I found out I had PCOS when I was about 26. After ttc for a year on our own my ob/gyn referred me to a specialist. We did some fertility treatments and nothing worked on helping us have a baby. My ob/gyn put me on metformin and it helped drop some weight at first. I was always in the bathroom when taking it though. My doctor just kept saying lose the weight and you will get pregnant. I had tried everyting, diets, pills, and everything else. I have never had regular periods my whole life. So...I am hoping that my lap band will be my assistance that I need to get healthy. PCOS is such a mystery for some people. it is different in everyone.

I was diagnosed in my late teens. I would only have my cycle about 4x a year and it was incredibly heavy and excruciatingly painful - so much so I passed out a couple times and I would vomit from the pain. I finally went on bcp to regulate things and it was the best decision. Not only were my cycles regular, they were shorter, lighter, and pain free.

I'm hoping the band will make it so my pcos symptoms can abate without bcp and that my facial hair - I call it my Fu Man Chu - will go away or at least become less pronounced.

I have PCOS as well, been diagnosed since Jan of 07 but definitly had it longer than that. I am one of the no period girls and then a sudden period for months. It sucks. I just got my band on the 5th so I am hoping everything works out and maybe help me become fertile. I am no longer married, I am actually a widow, but I do eventually want to have a baby, wether I can meet a nice man or not. So I guess only time will tell.

I created a PCOS Bandster group so we can have a place to share with each other and so thers may find us more easily. If anyone would like to join I would greatly appreciate it. I felt that we all have a lot in common with the PCOS alone and we could really offer each other support and insight.

I have PCOS. I'm lucky though.... I have the dont-get-my-period-except-with-medical-intervention-kind!

I'm hoping with some weight loss it should even out again. I lost a bunch of weight on Atkins once and got my periods back normally. Sad to say I'm looking forward to my period, eh?

Same here. My Gyno is the one that suggested to me to have the lap band surgery. I have to take medication to get my period, tried fertility drugs to get pregnant and never once ovulated. So now, lap band surgery is done. I'm having alot of complications with it right now, and hope the doctor can get everything under control and get my band working so I can start losing weight. I'm not getting any younger and really really REALLY want to have a baby. <fingers crossed> Hope my appointment tomorrow is promising as far as healing I just hate the rule my doctor has about waiting 18 months before trying to get pregnant!

I have PCOS and was banded March 9 (2012). In order to get pregnant, I was on 2000mg of Metformin and would only get my cycle with medical intervention. However, the past two years, I would go several months without a period and then one day (with no warning) I would have a period for months. And when I would get the period for months it was so heavy, I would become anemic. (aka using up a heavy duty overnight pad every 10 minutes). I am currently on jolvinette b/c they gave me a high dose of BC to stop the bleeding and it caused blood clots in my legs and phlebitis as well.

I have PCOS too. I have had many of the symptoms for years, but was recently diagnosed. My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for four years. Had my insulin tested but was normal. Hoping the band will help me loose enough weight to get pregnant, I'm already 35 years old. Was banded 4/12/12 and have lost 24 pounds since I started the process in February.

oohoooh I do I do! Lol, hate the crap. I have PCOS with insulin resistance. I have had a complete hysterectomy and no longer have the hair issues. Just my humongus apple belly.

Hello. I have PCOS and was diagnosed when I was 20 something now I'll be 39 in one month. I have the insulin resistant PCOS. My GYN explains that I still have it small or large, but it's more difficult to ovulate when heavy and it's a precursor for me to diabetes. I am suppose to take metformin but it has an unpleasant effect on me and I can't take when working. I lost weight 8 yrs ago, got pregnant because my cycle started again and now I've gained and no cycle in months.

I have PCOS too. I have had many of the symptoms for years' date=' but was recently diagnosed. My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for four years. Had my insulin tested but was normal. Hoping the band will help me loose enough weight to get pregnant, I'm already 35 years old. Was banded 4/12/12 and have lost 24 pounds since I started the process in February. [/quote']

I lost 40 lbs. had a regular cycle and then got pregnant. I had my son @ 31yrs old when I was told I would NEVER get pregnant. My friend was the same way she just had her second child at 37 and her first at 35. She said she took mucinex because it helps thin the mucos linning. She has two boys and she's a nurse so it may be some truth in it!! Good luck!!!

I have PCOS and Husband and I have been TTC for almost 2 years. Was banded a week ago and excited for when we can't start TTC again :-D Very Positive