Hi everyone! My name is Pamela and I am 27 years old. Oddly enough, I was very thin through most of my teenage years, and very athletic. I played a lot of sports in high school. As I got closer to my senior year, I noticed that I was putting on a little weight. I didn't think much about it at the time.

About a year after I graduated, I got married to my high school sweetheart. By that time I had gained over 50 lbs and was at about 200 lbs. I was very concerned about how fast the weight came on. I was also having some female problems too. I went to my doctor and he did several test on me to find out if anything was wrong and the results shocked me! He diagnosed me with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). I had never heard of this before. He told me it was a hormonal disorder and one of the side effects was weight gain. He also told me that I would probably have trouble getting pregnant. My heart dropped when i heard this. I always thought when i was ready i would just be able to have a baby. It took 6 years before we were able to get pregnant and by the grace of God we now have a beautiful, healthy boy.

I've tried every diet there is, I think, and nothing ever worked for me. I was 330lbs at my heaviest. I have been blessed with the opportunity to get the band. I've been banded for about 10 days and i am doing great. I am sooo excited about the journey ahead. I lost 13 lbs on the pre-op diet and have lost 16 lbs since my surgery. I know i rambled but i just wanted to introduce myself and see if anyone else has PCOS that has been banded and can tell me about your experience. Thanks for listening!

Pamela

Banded 9-20-07

330/299/150

:rose:

Slimshady, just wondering how it's going. Hope you feel up to posting soon and Happy Thanksgiving.

I was diagnosed when I was 16 I am now 35. I was a part of so many studies that when I turned 25 I was totally frustrated and decided to ignore the PCOS. I stopped taking the medicine and decided thats it I've had it. I stopped seeing the doctors and taking the tests over and over again. Nothing was going to change.

In the last few years I've gained so much weight. I am 5'2 and I am carrying over 100 lbs of excess weight, I am tired, my hair is falling out, and I am depressed. I can't take this anymore. Every few years I become interested in the PCOS and I see my doctor and follow their recommendations. This year I spoke at length with one of my doctors and he asked me if I had considered the lapband. I started researching it and I think this is something I can do.

I know it is not the solution. It is a TOOL to help me develop good eating habits and change my lifestyle.

Eyd,

I can completely empathize with you. I too have PCOS and it really, really sucks. I have a dull pain on my right ovary most every day of the year. I have probably lost at least 50 percent of the hair on the top of my head too. And don't let me get started on the teenage acne! I gained weight and went completely cystic when I got off the pill a couple years ago to get pregnant (that never happened) and I had to get back on the pill to straighten out my hormones. Thank God for the forum at soulcysters.com. I would have lost it otherwise.

I had resigned myself to a life of metformin and birth control when my friend got banded. I really hope this band will help me get the weight off so that my symptoms will subside.

I was diagnosed when I was 16 I am now 35. I was a part of so many studies that when I turned 25 I was totally frustrated and decided to ignore the PCOS. I stopped taking the medicine and decided thats it I've had it. I stopped seeing the doctors and taking the tests over and over again. Nothing was going to change.

In the last few years I've gained so much weight. I am 5'2 and I am carrying over 100 lbs of excess weight, I am tired, my hair is falling out, and I am depressed. I can't take this anymore. Every few years I become interested in the PCOS and I see my doctor and follow their recommendations. This year I spoke at length with one of my doctors and he asked me if I had considered the lapband. I started researching it and I think this is something I can do.

I know it is not the solution. It is a TOOL to help me develop good eating habits and change my lifestyle.

Hey eyd!

I have been going for years now untreated. I got so fed up because nothing was helping me so I stopped taking everything. I go to an endocrinologist next Tuesday, so I hope she can help me. I deal with acne, mood swings, excess body hair. Do as much research as you can and if it is something you want to do, go ahead and start making steps toward this new lifestyle. I wish I could say that it has been easy, but it hasn't. It is definitely easier than having to do it on my own. I can't believe how my lifestyle has changed. I make good food choices and I exercise regularly and I am seeing the weight fall off. I hope everything works out for you. Check out the PCOS thread in the General Lapband Surgery Discussion.

Here is the link http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/those-who-have-pcos-44999/

I am doing fine, a lot sore, but excited that it is done. I am on liquids for another 3 weeks, but I am not hungry.

I thought that the recovery would be easy, but I am really in pain. I will keep you all posted

I wish you much success on your journey.

Have you had your surgery?

I was band on Oct 30th. I have not had a fill yet.

I have not had any complications or pain at all. Everything went well.

I am from Alabama. I was banded at Trinity Baptist Medical Center. My surgeon was fantastic.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.

Follow your doctor's orders and I know everything will go well.

Take Care,

Lottie

I was banded on Nov.14th, 2007. I know how you feel, there's no comfortable way of sleeping, other then an a recliner. As of Nov.21, my pain has eased. Just hold in there, theres light athe end of the tunnel.

I am doing fine, a lot sore, but excited that it is done. I am on liquids for another 3 weeks, but I am not hungry.

I thought that the recovery would be easy, but I am really in pain. I will keep you all posted

I am sorry you're in so much pain, but in a few days, I'm sure you'll be feeling much better. I started feeling better on day 5. Hope you feel better soon. Get plenty of rest and take care.

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! This Thanksgiving was so different from any other. I was very proud of myself. I completely stayed away from the sweets (which was my biggest downfall in the past). The band has totally changed my life.

Morning everyone. Headed to the hospital. I will post an update as soon as i feel up to it. Have a great day and wish me luck.

Yippee!! Good luck Buttercup! I know things are going to go great for you. Let us know as soon as you can how you are doing!

I have had the worst day ever. Today is my last day of recooperation before i go back to work. I got up brght and early and was making aa sandwich for my dd's lunch. Not even thinkig I popped a piece of ham in my mouth barely chewed it and swallowed it. I have never felt such pain. I walked laps around my house until i remembered someone had mentioned pineapple juice to clear u anything you may accidentally get stuck after a couple of sips it worked and the pain was gone.

After the kids left for school i was driving to the grocery store when a sweet little old lady pulled her land yacht out in front of me across both lanes of traaffic I had o slam on brakes and the seat belt caught me right across my port. I had to pull into a parking lot to cry. I really hope tomorrow is better and i hope you are all having a better day than me. Thanks for letting me have my pity party.

Morning everyone. Headed to the hospital. I will post an update as soon as i feel up to it. Have a great day and wish me luck.

Congrats Buttercup! Hope everything went well. I hope you feel up to posting soon and hope you have a speedy recovery.

I have had the worst day ever. Today is my last day of recooperation before i go back to work. I got up brght and early and was making aa sandwich for my dd's lunch. Not even thinkig I popped a piece of ham in my mouth barely chewed it and swallowed it. I have never felt such pain. I walked laps around my house until i remembered someone had mentioned pineapple juice to clear u anything you may accidentally get stuck after a couple of sips it worked and the pain was gone.

After the kids left for school i was driving to the grocery store when a sweet little old lady pulled her land yacht out in front of me across both lanes of traaffic I had o slam on brakes and the seat belt caught me right across my port. I had to pull into a parking lot to cry. I really hope tomorrow is better and i hope you are all having a better day than me. Thanks for letting me have my pity party.

Jeannie,

You can vent to us anytime. If you're anything like me, if one thing goes wrong, everything goes wrong. I know that probably sounds negative, but it's true. I hope your first day back at work goes well. Just remember to take it easy and don't over-do it.

I'm glad to hear that the pineapple juice works. I'll have to get some to keep at home. I have not had the "stuck" experience yet and hope that I don't. But I was reading another thread the other day, and there is a chewable pill called "Super Papaya Enzyme Plus" that works as well, and it would be easier to carry in the purse. I ordered a bottle yesterday by Puritan's Pride. It's worth a try and the bottle only cost $1.42 plus shipping.

Hope your evening has gotten better and good luck tomorrow!

buttercup,

Good luck! Can't wait to see you back here.

jbrad,

I know how you feel. Some days nothing seems to go well. I'm glad we have this forum to vent. Why does real life keep getting in the way of our fantasy existence?