Hi everyone! I am new here. I am in the beginning stages of WLS. I have had my initial consultation. It included my psych eval, nutritionist, exercise physiologist etc. Basically, we are putting the info together for my insurance company.

Anyhoo, I am 36 years old. I was thin all my life. Underweight really. Then when I was 18, my periods just stopped. I had never been regular but they did show up. They stopped completely and then I gained a whole bunch of weight. I went from 130 to 170 in a matter of months. My doctor tentatively diagnosed me with PCOS. Well, 18 years ago, there wasn't a whole lot of information to be found about it. Basically, all I could find out was you went on birth control pills to regulate your periods. Several years went by. My weight went up and up. I tried diets but could never stick to them for very long. Finally, at the age of 25, my husband and I wanted to have a baby. I had never taken any sort of prevention so we knew right away we would need fertility help. We went to a reproductive endocrinologist. She finally confirmed through bloodwork I had PCOS (my gyn was really just guessing). We did an IVF. It failed. I overstimulated on all the drugs. Not fun. It was determined my eggs weren't in very good shape because my insulin was out of control. My endo sent me to an exercise physiologist to reduce my insulin. He put me on a diet and exercise plan. I followed a moderate carb/ low fat plan for 10 months. I worked out with a trainer for 2 hours a day. 4 days a week.

I lost 47 lbs. I went from 211 down to 164. But more importantly, my insulin dropped from 37 to 6. My periods had returned, regularly! My skin was better, my ovaries were even less polycystic on an ultrasound. I saw my endo and really wanted to lose more weight but she wanted to cycle then. She was happy with my results. We did an insemination to get the timing down. My twin boys are now 8.

So flash forward. My weight is now 239. I can lose weight. I have been successful with nutrisystem in the past. I have been successful with moderate low carb programs on my own. I can't keep it off for any meaningful amount of time. So here I am. I chose the band because I know I can lose weight. And I feel the band will keep me on that right path until I get to my goal and keep me there!

I can't wait to get to know all you girls here. I think I am in the right place!

Hi Healthy-Me-In-Az,

I'm new here too, and not yet banded. I'm self-pay so I've got to go to Mexico to be able to afford the banding. I'm seeing Dr. Ortiz and I'm scheduled to be banded 7/3/09. I too am so looking forward to meeting other PCOS ladies that are banding. I'm VERY thankful to have been able to give birth to two beautiful, healthy children - a girl 19 years ago and a boy 9 years ago. I was 17 when I had my daughter and had no PCOS. I am 5ft. 1 inch tall and weighed between 105-108 lbs. all through high school. I only got to 140 at the time of delivery and by my 4 week post-partum check up I was back down to 115 - with absolutely no effort. But slowly, over about 6 years, I really gained. I'm now 220. I was 200 when we were trying to conceive our son. It took us 3 years to conceive without medical intervention, but we were able to do so. It was only when we were trying to conceive our son did we find out I had PCOS. Luckily, by the time we were able to see the infertility specialist, we were already pregnant, we just didn't know it yet. I'm glad you were able to conceive finally too! I can't wait to get my band and get this weight off. It's great that we can all support eachother!

Hi Tish! Nice to 'meet' you! Good luck on your journey here.

Hey

I also have pcos who new it could create such havoc in or bodies. I have begun the process to have the band done. I'm going through Dr. Schram in Ypsilanti, MI. I have lost about 300 pounds in the past ten years. The same twenty even up to fifty pounds over and over. This is so discouraging. :rolleyes2:

seems like we are in somewhat of the same boat. PCOS and all...im starting my journey too. GOODLUCK.

hey everyone... I am glad I found this thread... I was banded Nov 08 and have had moderate success. I am pleased with my results and my surgeon is as well. I went in last month for my yearly female check up and my dr had some concerns with my irregular periods, and a couple other symptoms... he suggested I go through some testing for PCOS. I go in day after tomorrow for an ultrsound. (not thrilled) and some bloodwork. I don't know much about PCOS... but have tried to do a little research. I am 27 and have no children yet. I am getting married in January and I know my fiance and I are wanting to start a family soon. I am glad to know there are others here that I can relate to. Good luck to you all who have not been banded yet. it was the greatest decision of my life!

Good luck to you all!!! May God bless you with this surgery.