Hey ladies! So Im about to have my VGS in June and the number one factor has got to be because of my PCOS! I just wanted to know if anyone else out there in VGS land have these same issues and if anything has changed since surgery? So Im currently 277lbs and knockin on 300's door. ( uhg) but ever since I graduated highschool I began gaining weight without even eating bad and didnt know why. I would have chronic migraines , irregular periods ( sometimes 2 times a month or not at all) pains in my lower abdomen, acne breakouts,back pain etc and no answers! 2 years ago I finally was diagnosed with PCOS AND WAS PUT ON BIRTH CONTROL TO CONTROL My symptoms and issues. I gained weight on the pill in order to have a regular period but Im still dealing with headaches and migraines EVERY SINGLE DAY, my cysts rupture causing extreme cramping, pain and bleeding! I was told that I cant have kids as of right now. although not physically on my period, I get all of my period symptoms and craving so its causing me to gain more and more weight. Now my knees hurt, my back hurts ( Did I mention Im flat footed as well?) I cant work out because of my constant migraines and pain its horrible! I feel like a failure! I was losing weight and at 190lbs when I developed this and it caused me to go down hill now I feel like a complete freaking failure.When I heard about this surgery I was ALL OVER IT! They told me that getting this surgery and losing this weight will make my PCOS go away, no more chronic migraines, no more infertility, no more cysts rupturing! I couldnt believe it! Im praying to God it works! Its taking such a toll on my life, physically, emotionally and even my schooling. Can anyone out there relate to my pain and able to testify that this surgery helps make PCOS go away!??!?!?!?!?! Advice needed! thank you!!!!!!!!

- Ashley

HI Ashley-

I was diagnosed with PCOS back when I was 16 and was also told that I could never have kids without medical help. After 12 years of being on the pill I decided to stop and see what my body, then 220 lbs would do. Well... I got pregnant about a year after I got off the pill! With PCOS I was ovulating only once or twice a year, and each time you ovulate you have about a 20% chance of becoming pregnant. So since PCOS girls rarely ovulate it is extremely hard but NOT impossible. Sadly, I gained 70 lbs since having my son and decided that I finally needed to get my weight under control and will be sleeved at the end of May. I am 33 now and will be trying to have a second kid naturally in a couple years.

This was a long way of saying that just b/c you have PCOS doesn't mean you can't get pregnant. I too hope that the surgery and weight loss will help my battle with PCOS.

-Liz

I was told I had PCOS when I was 18....I've gained and lost weight over the years, and was also told that I would not be able to have kids without medical help, but I was over 300 pounds and it was unsafe for me to have kids anyway....I've had 2 knee surgeries because of my osteoarthitsis in them....

I had revision surgery to VSG in June 2012, and it has changed my life....my ob/gyn told me that I needed to lose 100 pounds before even considering children....I'm 0.3 pounds away from 100 pounds lost!!! Knee pain is nearly non-existant....but the PCOS is still there....she told me that it would not go away, but losing weight helps manage the side effects, which it has....I still suffer from PMS symtopms every month like clock work....

thanks ladies for the comments! It very helpful being able to get advice/insight from others who have been in my shoes

*** sleeve master - Ill probably still have it too once losing weight but it gives me hope that it gets easier like you said to manage

also, how did you get that weight/bmi tracker at the bottom of your comment?

Hey i have PCOS too though the reports say its mild. I have irregular periods too. Before surgery I used take deviry every month without which i cannot get my periods. I decided to stop taking them to see if i get my periods naturally . I had to wait 4 months to finally conclude that i can't menstruate naturally

I then went to an OB who prescribed the same pills and referred me to an endocrinologist. He said i will have a very hard time losing this weight( i was on a diet and exercising)and also conceiving; even if i do I'll have a hard time staying pregnant. He is the one who suggested bariatric surgery , said was the only solution to most of my problems.

I was sleeved on 18/02/2013 and got periods 2 days after surgery! My doc says it is normal and i should not worry about periods ever!

I know the pain (i have flat feet too). My knees,feet and back hurt the most. It is unbearable especially because of the weight. I am an engineering student and am on my toes all the time.

All of this affected my school too. I was very depressed and thought i would have to live with this. I am really grateful for this surgery. I have already lost 27 lbs which would take me around 4 months which my usual diet and gym regime! I am really looking forward to getting my life back by becoming healthy and fit

Good luck to you too!

@indiangirl When did you have it done? LOL you put 18/02/2013 ...how long did it take you to lose the 27lbs?

Hi! I just joined today, this is my first post. My sleeve is scheduled for April 3 in Mexico (getting nervous) and I also have PCOS. I am hoping and praying for a good outcome from the sleeve as well.

Hey! I was sleeved on the 18th last month! It will be 5 weeks tomorrow. It took me 4 weeks to lose 27 pounds. I will weigh in tomorrow . After the first 3 weeks i have lost 1kg per week.

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was trying to get pregnant. I had to see a specialist, and 3 kids later, I'm good in the kid dept.

Since surgery, I have been on a regular cycle. It is awesome even though 3 periods a year was kinda nice

I also stopped getting that awful side pain and haven't had any migraines.

When I used to workout my knees, feet, and back hurt! My surgeon says that our bones take on an impact of 3x our weight which is why it hurt to workout...now I am down 50+ and run, jumprope, do burpees and nothing hurts! My feet get tired but I am not in any pain.

Good luck to you! I feel your PCOS pain!

PCOS makes it impossible to lose weight doesn't it? I always thought I had it but my blood tests always came back "normal". How does the sleeve work to help lose the weight when diet and exercise hasn't in the past? Curious. Xx

well, I am not a nurse or dr, just someone who has seen it almost resolve itself since the surgery. I would think it has something to do with the portion of my stomach being removed that had the horror-mone grehlin? Also, my diet has DRASTICALLY changed from crap and carbs to mainly protein, water, and low-carb foods. In addition my calorie intake is probably a third of what it was before. My body did fight (stall, if you want to call it that) for a couple of weeks but then it caught up and I started losing again.

So I posted this pic in another forum...but here it is again!

It is what medical issues are commonly resolved after VSG!! Makes me hopeful with my PCOS!!

I also have pcos. I have most of the same symptoms as you. I had my first child at 17 weighed about 190. Then about 6 months later my husband and I started trying to conceive. My first was a surprise blessing no trying involved. Anyway I gained about 70 pounds and could not get pg it took 5 yrs and me losing 30 pounds.

I wasn't diagnosed with pcos until about 8 yrs ago my baby is 11. I knew I had it all along but wasn't diagnosed. Wanted to get bypass yrs ago but insurance denied I feel like this is my time.

thanks Im glad Im not the only one who has to deal with this crap! llol...Im so hopeful as well that it will help and thank you for that statistic picture above ^^^ it got me really excited reading it! lol

I, after many painful years of wondering and worrying, was finally diagnosed with PCOS in December of last year. I'm 29 (I will be 30 in August). Weight has been an issue my entire life. I also had my first cyst rupture when I was 12. I got pregnant with my first child 5 months after I turned 20 and the weight really packed on then. Had her Sept of 2004. Then I had my son in August of 2006. I had my tubes tied at that time (fullishly) and my periods seemed semi normal. No crazy irregular bleeding, my cramps had basically disappeared, it was amazing. Then in 2010 I started getting the sharp pains in my lower belly, bleeding became a force to recon with, and I suddenly became too moody for words. (Ohhhh I forgot to mention that in 2009 I lost a ton of weight using those special little crack pills from the doctor. I went from right about 240 to 191 in about 5 months) Ok, so Decemeber 2010 I was miserable. One doctor thought it was endometriosis and sent me to a specialist who told me the only way to know for sure was to do surgery. I said ok, well while your in there just untie my tubes as well. I was getting remarried and my current husband has no children of his own. Feb 2011, exactly 6 weeks before my wedding, I went in for a 6 hour surgery. Woke up, tubes are open great, no endometriosis, oh and we cleaned about 19 cysts of your ovaries, but we STILL don't know what's wrong with you....

Time went on and things only got worse. I would bleed to the point of passing out. I would miss work because of cramps and still no answers. UNTIL I went to this amazing doctor. He did one ultrasound, said you have a 5" cyst (yes that says 5 inch) on your left side and atleast 5 small ones on your right side. You have PCOS. Here's some metformin and birth control. And whala pain is gone, bleeding has stopped, now to fix my weight.... I gained 100lbs from Jan 2010 to now and most of it I contribute to PCOS. I'm uncomfortable, unhappy, unhealthy, and still have not been able to conceive with my new hubby. I'm sooooo ready for my life and my body back.

Sleeve Date: March 28, 2013 First Goal 50lbs: July 13, 2013