Best surgery option for PCOS patients

[teedsg 250]

Hi,

I am 37 and I started my weight loss journey on July 28th. I attended my first nutritional visit on 8-11-16, and i had my psychological visit.

I am a new vegetarian. I weighed in at 5'4, 234 with the surgeon, and 241 with my nutritionist.

So far I've only lost 3 lbs with this new lifestyle. I have PCOS symptoms of acne, weight gain, irregular periods, mood swings. I'm so frustrated with all of this!

Which surgery option is best for my situation? Is there anyone out there with success with PCOS and weight loss surgery?

I'm also thinking of going to another surgeon, because every time I call or email them, I get their live voicemail and they won't return my call or email.

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[KristenLe 5,979]

@@teedsg Many people have had WLS with PCOS and have been successful. I would speak to your Team about what one is best for you - especially being a vegetarian. I would think the malabsorption with Bypass would be more of a problem with a vegetarian - but I don't honestly know for sure. It will depend also on your eating habits and medical history. The best people to help you make this decision are your surgeon and nutritionist.

Congrats on the steps you've taken to get healthy! PCOS sucks - I'm pre-op sleeve and hope that many of my PCOS symptoms resolve with surgery.

[teedsg 250]

Thank you! I'll try not to get discouraged. ☺

[Hiraeth 515]

I have PCOS and I got the gastric sleeve. I've already lost 23 pounds in 3 weeks. I stopped my birth control and I was a month late on starting my period; I started yesterday. I think this WLS will help your PCOS. I'm hoping it helps mine.

[teedsg 250]

@hiareth

Thanks for your response. How long have you had PCOS? I just recently got diagnosed about 6months ago. But, I've suspected symptoms since December 2015.

[Hiraeth 515]

@hiareth

Thanks for your response. How long have you had PCOS? I just recently got diagnosed about 6months ago. But, I've suspected symptoms since December 2015.

I think I've had it since I started puberty at age 11. The reason is because, my periods have always been so horrible. The cramping is almost like a knife going into my ovary. But, I started gaining weight and getting a lot of blonde hair above my lip at age 16. The hair isn't that dark, but it's noticeable because I'm kinda pale. I think my PCOS reached its peak when I turned 17 and has been just as bad ever since.

[teedsg 250]

@@Hiraeth geez! I feel your pain. I'm glad of your progress though. I haven't been able to lose that much weight in 5 years. But, I feel more confident in my decision knowing that some one else has gone through a similar journey with success. ????

[daniotra 298]

My doctor didn't recommend one surgery over the other due to my PCOS. Losing weight should help a lot. I do know some skinny people with PCOS, but weight loss typically helps regulate your hormone levels. (After the rapid weight loss phase at least).

With being a vegetarian, make sure you get some one on one time with the nutritionist. We have a vegan lady in my group. She counts Protein grams, but doesn't worry about carbs like many post-ops do.

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[Cervidae 2,389]

Hello! I have pretty severe PCOS and have suffered virtually every symptom possible of it since right when puberty started. I don't think one specific surgery is particularly better than the other, especially when you aren't supersized. I think your bmi is low enough that you could have success with either, unless there is some medical reason your doctor finds that would indicate one would be better for you than the other. As for my own experience, I had the bypass a little over a year ago and I'm down 182 pounds since the day of surgery, and I've had great success. The darkened skin, the intense cramping, the irregular or simply missing periods, the skin issues/acne, the fatigue, even the extra hair growth have all lessened or completely resolved. I am still on a hormone-containing birth control and spironolactone, but I honestly don't mind even a little. I would do anything to retain this kind of normalcy and health that I've been dreaming about for most of my life. All worth it a thousand times over!

[teedsg 250]

@@daniotra,

That's good information. When I meet with my nutritionist again, I'll bring it up. At my first meeting with her, all she said was to follow the 2-1-1 rule. Make sure I pay attention to the food labels and get foods with at least 2 digit Protein, 1 digit fat and 1 digit carbs. And, I've been following that.

[teedsg 250]

@@Cervidae,

Congrats on your weight loss. You have given me hope that it will work for me too. I do have a concern about mild, regurgitation.

Sometimes I have that in the back of my throat after I eat. This is a new symptom for me. And, my body aches real bad after I sit or lay down for a while and then get up. My body is changing and it's weird because I'm not that old, but I feel like I am.