Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Success With PCOS



Recommended Posts

I started this topic to keep track of my success with VSG surgery while having severe PCOS (all the bad symptoms including excess hair, Hair loss, bad periods, cramps, pain in ovaries, mood swings). I noticed that there isn't too many information on the VSG experience with PCOS, so I thought I'd post this publicly for future sleevers curious about what to expect.

8 weeks post-op (10 weeks "dieting" if you include pre-op) my period seems to have normalized. I think this is due to the weight loss (55 lbs) but mostly to all the exercise I did. I started walking daily for 30-60 mins 2 weeks before the surgery, and kept it up afterwards. After a few weeks, I lowered it to 4-5 times a week.

The first 3-4 weeks after the surgery, I actually had pain in my ovaries (probably cysts). Eventually this went way.

2 weeks after the pre-op diet (and a day after my surgery) I noticed that a majority of my mood swings were gone. It felt like the unsteady cloud in my mind had finally been cleared. I attribute this to all the exercise and lack of carbs. I've noticed that the white sugary carbs have very negative effects with my PCOS. My weight loss so far has matched others (and even exceeded non-PCOSers!) but I notice it stalling if I have bread/pasta. I limit myself to half a serving of toast/whole wheat wrap and one serving of either crackers/pasta/potato per day. I usually have less but never more.

When I have my period, I don't get horrible PMS like before.

I have an appointment for laser hair removal next week, I will keep you updated on the experience/success. My past experience with American Laser Center was a waste of time and money with no results, so I am trying a different clinic.

This is strictly my experience and it will vary among us, but I truly think that the activity is what's really pushing me towards greater success. It's hard but anything helps. I will post more under this topic in the upcoming weeks to let you know of further progress!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm almost 3 months post-op and feel a HUGE difference!

Updates:

-My weight loss actually EXCEEDS my non-PCOS sleeve friends. I really attribute this to all the Protein I've been having. I've been very strict about only having Proteins, with certain fruits/veggies and maybe whole grains as a treat. I've also been swimming 4 times a week and boxing once a week.

-I don't have those crazy mood swings I had pre-op.

-My period seems more normal. it's not always on schedule, but I'm no longer "spotting" in between (TMI I know rolleyes.gif)

-I don't have any pain in my ovaries.

-hair loss: Last year, I had huge bouts of massive Hair loss. Nothing helped except reducing stress and taking a bunch of Vitamins. Right now, I feel a few more strands falling out, but nothing extreme. My hair looks very shiny and healthy, better than it did before surgery.

-The most important thing : THE EXCESSIVE HAIR has almost been resolved!!! This doesn't have to do with the surgery, but with the Dermatologist I went to. I went to American Laser Centers for a YEAR and didn't see any results, honestly I think they're a scam! I went to this particular dermatologist just ONCE and 2-3 weeks later I no longer have to shave everyday. The stubbly dots are mostly gone. Let me tell you, my excess hair was EXTREME. She said my results were the best possible due to my pale skin and dark hair. So if you tried laser without success, go to an actual dermatologist to try a different type of laser. At my next laser appointment, I will ask her what type she used so you can try it out to see if it works for you. I am so extremely pleased and grateful for these results. I can actually go swimming without makeup! I would have never gone out without make up/shaving everyday before laser treatment. The procedure itself actually hurt A LOT and it took my face 5-10 days to heal. I only started seeing results 2 weeks after, but they were unbelievably worth it.

As someone with severe PCOS (which meds like Spiro and Byetta coudln't help), I can honestly say there is great hope for a cure!!!

That's it for now. I hope this is helping anyone interested in doing the surgery. It was the best decision of my life, just make sure you do the best you can! Please message me if you have any questions.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you SO much for the info and follow-up! I, too, suffer from extreme hirsutism, along with all the other symptoms, and it so helps to know there is light at the end of this tunnel. Yes, if you can let us know what type of laser was used, that would be GREAT!!! Thanks again, Madison!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello everyone! I received some messages from "lurkers" that don't comment but are curious about updates. I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while...but my life has been so busy in a GOOD way.

I don't know where to start, because as I look over my past posts it doesn't even sound like the same person. It's been so long since I posted because I've been so active with my "new" life.

I have to reiterate this for everyone who might be reading this (I used to silently lurk on WLS/PCOS forums for a long time)...I had possibly the worst case scenario for PCOS. Extreme hair loss and excess body hair (required shaving 1-2 times a day and still wasn't smooth).

I'm not that way anymore. I'm going to tell you something that my fellow PCOS sisters will be shocked by: I'm on a weeklong trip, and didn't bring a razor for the first time in my life.

My results were astounding.

-150 lbs lost so far. I can shop in normal-sized stores.

-Excess skin not as much as an issue I feared it would be.

-Social life much more active, confidence level at incredible highs!

-Mood swings rarely occur, and are nowhere near as noticeable as pre-weight loss.

-Rarely get pain in ovaries.

-I still don't get my period, but my doctor is certain it's from the extreme weight loss because my labwork looks PERFECT.

-I still have the Vitamin D deficiency that comes with PCOS, but that is taken care of with a daily Celebrate Protein shake and sun exposure.

-I lost a LOT of hair after surgery. It is very thin and I have cried a lot over it. I don't have any bald spots, but I had such thick hair before it's very traumatizing to see it so bare and thin. However, it looks healthy and shiny. I'm VERY glad that I decided to keep it long and not cut it, because it looks beautiful now.

-Facial/body hair. For body hair, I started sugaring which keeps me hairfree for 3-4 weeks. I just had my fifth laser hair removal appointment and I no longer have facial hair. This is the biggie that most of us PCOS'ers are concerned about. I don't need to shave everyday, and I don't need to wear foundation anymore to cover the bumps/stubble. I have a light shave every few days, but even then it's not necessary and only out of paranoia. The laser type used on me was a pulsed diode. I went to a dermatologist center. I MUST STRESS THIS. American Laser Clinic is a giant scam and I regret wasting my time/money there. A real dermatologist gave me great results at a much cheaper cost.

I owe a lot of my success to extreme activity and very careful nutrition plan.

That's all I can think of for now. I will update again in a few months. If you have any questions, please message me!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I love this topic! I have PCOS, and to have both of my children I had to have a lot of fertility treatments. I know that even after weightloss I may still need fertility treatments to get pregnant (I have issues beyond PCOS), but it's so reassuring to know that others are getting help.

I'm excited!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you so much for doing this topic :). I have PCOS for years now. I am 3 months post op and I am not longer insulin resistant. For the first time in 7 years, my insulin levels are normal yay!! My periods are normal,they were irregular and really painful before. I am having some Hair loss but I always had hair loss, I am lucky that I have lots of hair. I had 1 baby prior surgery,I have many cysts in my ovaries. And now I have my left tube blocked :/ I am not looking to have more children. But there is hope to get pregnant without fertility treatments. I lost about 40 lbs prior my pregnancy and that helped me to get pregnant. So after your VSG there is hope that you won't need fertility treatments even if you have cysts in your ovaries :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you all for reading and participating! PCOS is a really emotional subject and not a lot of people come out to discuss it frankly. I forgot to mention that I was also no longer insulin resistant very soon after the surgery! I think it has a lot to do with eliminating junky foods high in carbs/sugar. I'm so happy for all of you, I know it's scary but you will have so much success! I've been waiting a long time for a solution to these problems and I'm still in shock that I'm vastly improving. I encourage anyone with questions to message us! Congratulations on your pregnancies, I'm happy it's still very possible to have children with PCOS!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for posting this. I have pcos and the trouble I am having is the weight actually coming off. I will be one month post op on Tuesday and am only down 18lbs but keep bouncing 2lbs back and forth. The weight just won't come off no matter how much I work out or follow the diet (which I'm doing both religiously). It's very frustrating and I wonder if the scale will ever move and if I will ever lose this weight. I get very discouraged.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

rodswife, I had only lost 20 lbs my first month, and 10 my second. I remind myself it's not a race. Also how tall are you? That can affect it too! Remember it's your journey, no one else's and using their data to gauge your own isn't fair to you!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

rodswife' date=' I had only lost 20 lbs my first month, and 10 my second. I remind myself it's not a race. Also how tall are you? That can affect it too! Remember it's your journey, no one else's and using their data to gauge your own isn't fair to you![/quote']

I'm 4'9 lololol. You are right, it isn't fair to me but doesn't make me want it any less. Lolol I'm just ready to see results with how hard I've been working.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

18 pounds is a lot for someone as tiny as you! that's awesome! (PS I'm 5'0"!)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

18 pounds is a lot for someone as tiny as you! that's awesome! (PS I'm 5'0"!)

Yea he said I'm on track but you know how it goes. We always want more. I need to exercise patience as well as my body. I'm glad I'm not the only short person here. Lol

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm 3 months post op and my periods have completely sorted themselves out. I had my first period one week after my surgery, after an 8 month no show, and I don't know about them being regular cos I havent marked dates but I've now become one of those girls that knows when they'll get their period?

Sounds silly but that was never me, I pretty much walked around in fear of getting my period on the spot, to the point where I always had a spare pad in my bag and at one point wore panty liners EVERYDAY.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks to Madison for creating this thread and keeping it updated, and to and everyone else for sharing their experiences. I have had PCOS for many years and was sleeved on April 17th. Despite the fact that have been enormously overweight all my adult life, my main worry all along has been my excess hair.

If the long-term effects of having the sleeve can release me from the daily burden of dealing with the facial hair - about an hour a day, every single day of my life - it will have been worth it for that alone. It was one of the first things I asked my surgeon about. More recently, and only slightly joking, I asked him if there was anything I could do to ensure that I keep all the hair on my head while losing the hair on my face and body. Sadly not, apparently!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

18 lbs is a lot! I lost only 23 lbs in the first four weeks, and I'm 5'7. I eventually caught up though, especially size-wize. I'm at a higher weight but I look a lot smaller than most people in my weight range. Which is a shocker for someone with PCOS because we have a tendency to carry our weight in the most annoying areas -.-

I sometimes forget the person I used to be before the sleeve. All the painful, embarassing things that used to be a normal part of my routine. Reading the things you discuss brings back so many memories...I also used to carry a pad everyday and pantyliners for "fear" of my period sneaking up on me randomly. I used to shave twice a day.

I can't accurately express the amount of liberation I feel. I'm still paranoid though I no longer need to shave, because I've gotten used to waking up and removing it everyday. I can go days without hair on my face, and when they appear it's just a couple of fine strays that can be plucked out.

I don't understand why my body has to be so annoying sometimes though :P I'd like to lose the hair on my body not on my head!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×