Hi Gang,

As some of you know, I have/had PCOS.  This hormonal condition is frequently associated with obesity and occurs in 6% of reproductive women and is a leading cause of infertility.

 

For about 4 years, this condition has defined me, especially when my husband (who wants/wanted children of HIS own) proposed. I am not hyper-keen on kids but I would least like the option should I change my mind.

 

Well, I saw the endo yesterday, and there were two points: The first: my testerone level (free and total) is NORMAL, my estrogen is NORMAL, and my progesterone is NORMAL. While luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone were not measured, for the moment, my hormone levels indicate that "[I] beat PCOS."

 

Previously, I have wrote on boards and to others DONT have the surgery if your ONLY reason for surgery is to fix hormones, cure diabetes, or have babies.  It may not happen for you and the disappointment will be bitter.  I KNOW this from experience.  I still stand by this statement.  Fixing hormones/babies wasnt the ONLY reason for RNY but they were in the top 3. And sometimes, I cried a lot after endocrinology appointments because things weren't resolving. Literally, my body wasnt doing what it was supposed to do and I felt like a "misfit toy."  If I felt this way when kids are a low priority, how would I feel if they are a HIGH priority?

Indeed, it APPEARS it TOOK a YEAR AND A HALF for my hormones to straighten out.  So I stand by my original statement. However, if there are other reasons to have RNY and these reasons are ENOUGH to keep you motivated thru your journey, then I say "Do the surgery."  Even if you don't get the hormonal changes/baby you wanted, you will still have achieved your other goals.

Also, give it time. I have had to have VERY disiplined (sp) eating and exercise regimines for a year and a half for things to change hormonally.    Literally, my hormones went from bad to Ok within 6 months.  There did not appear to be a gradient where things were progressively getting better bit by bit.

This is my testimony and experience.  I hope that it gives a fair assessment of my experience (i.e. the reality that it MAY NEVER happen yet remaining diligent, giving it time, and having a delayed positive outcome).

I will cross post on the PCOS board

SkinnyScientist

Who is now 139 lbs.

And shouldnt be growing any chest hair in the near future.

What great news Skinny! Diligence truly is key in so many things in life. Thanks for sharing!

This is wonderful!!! Congratulations!!! Keep the hard work!

Congratulations! I think it's important for people to hear that they may not get instant results of any kind afree weight-loss surgery.  I just spoke with a woman earlier this week who is expecting her diabetes to be gone as soon as she leaves the hospital, and she was quite upset when I warned her that it might not happen that way.

I don't know much about PCOS but I know all about diabetes and it was the only reason I had RNY, and the only reason I would ever have a major surgical procedure to lose weight.  Why would you suggest not to have RNY to get rid of diabetes?  Unless you are suggesting they get DS instead which has a statistically better cure rate.  I would never have surgery just to lose weight.  As much as being morbidly obese was a nightmare to me, having major surgery is nothing I could of ever done without knowing the diagnosis of diabetes and knowing what my future held. The promise of years off diabetes meds brought me to RNY, and has helped me keep my eye on the prize of keeping it at bay as long as humanly possible.

HI!  I think you missunderstood my post.

The point was one should ahve multiple goals for the surgery. Just NOT curing diabetes alone. The main point of the surgery is to correct morbid obesity.   I have met many women in the community that hope their diabetes or PCOS will be cured from teh surgery.  As you said, there is a cure rate for diabetes.  Not EVERYONE is cured. So what happens if you have the surgery, curing diabetes was the only goal you wanted, AND your diabetes wasnt cured???

 

If one has multiple goals/desires for their outcome, if one of them doesnt happen (say a cure for diabetes) then the failure is not so bitter. For example, the goals of my surgery were: 1) weight loss 2) improved cardiovascular performance (i.e. being able to run or jog again) and 3) Resolution of PCOS.

 

Well my PCOS did not resolve for a year and a half post op. But I met my other two goals.  2 out of three ain't bad!

 

-L

There is no cure for diabetes.   RNY and DS will sometimes put diabetes into remission but there is no guarantee that remission will happen and if it does, that it will not return.

I look that way with PCOS.  My hubby is like "Does that mean you can eat bread?"  And I am like "No. The dragon is sleeping now. I refuse to kick at it to wake it up."

Either way, can you imagine the disappointment if one went for the surgery with the expectation/belief that remission/cure would happen and it doesn't?  I would be devastated.

Congrats, I'm so happy for you! But wow, your post definitely highlights how outlooks can be so vastly different with varying life goals. I have PCOS, but it's never really bothered me. Last summer, I was in the ER with what turned out to be a very early miscarriage. My husband absolutely does not want kids. I was on birth control and was more angry than anything, thinking, "wasn't PCOS supposed to prevent this even WITHOUT the birth control?" With the pre-surgery weight I've lost though, my hormone levels have improved, and my skin and hair are noticeably less greasy, which has been a nice unexpected bonus. I was kind of counting on my greasy skin to help keep me wrinkle-free though, hahaha.

Please print this out and hang it somewhere to remind yourself of this in the future. You are doing awesome but are only 15 months out. When you get 3+ years out, it gets so much harder.

A friend of mine had surgery the same time as I did and also got down to about 140. PCOS was her motivation. She is now back up to 230. She was highly motivated just like you but somehow lost her way. I hope the same does not happen to you.