Question:
Does PCOS improve?

I have never been diagnosed with pcos, but I am almost sure that I have it. I do not have periods, I have had a miscarriage, and I have lots of lttle hairs that grow out of my chin! I have looked up the symptoms after reading about people who have had it on the Q & A. I have been on birth control to help with the periods. I am off of them now because my surgery is in 12 days. My question is, does this go away or improve after weight loss surgery? I really want to try for another baby in a couple years. And I would love to not have to PLUCK my chin every other day!! lol. Any info is appreciated!!    — jennifer S. (posted on July 7, 2004)

July 7, 2004
I was diagnosed with PCOS and had all the symptoms that you have. I had WLS in Nov.03 and with the weight loss most of the problems have subsided. I have very regular periods now (UGH) and the hair growth has slowed but hasn't stopped. Sorry! I haven't had any pregnancies, but hopefully that will come easier for you in the next couple of years when you're ready. Best of luck to you!
   — JaimeO

July 7, 2004
I am an OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner. The basic answer is yes!! The insulin resistance decreases with weight loss and periods often return to normal. There are some lab tests that can be done to determine if you have PCOS, but they aren't abnormal in 100% of the cases. I have a girlfriend {my brother's friend's wife} who I diagnosed with it (all lab work was normal). She had been seeing her GYN Doctor who gave up on helping her to get pregnant and wanted her to see an infertility specialist. I begged her to let me try, to help her and told her all she had to lose was time. She reluctantly agreed and we (Hubby and me) had her pregnant with in 6 months. It took so long b/c she was not following my direction to the letter for three months. I hope this helps.
   — Kerijohnson

July 7, 2004
I've lost 250 lbs and do not think my PCOS has improved, but not 1000% sure because I am on Depo shots and have been since 1995. I know there is still some major hormonal imbalance in my body. I have been on 6-week and then 8-week injection cycles since 1996. It took that closer frequency to get the breakthrough bleeding to stop. Bottom line is my body craved the higher levels of progesterone. We always assumed the problem was that because of all the fat on my body there was such a high level of estrogen to be balanced out. <p>When I was down 150 lbs we decided to slowly start increasing the distance between shots to see if we could get me to the normal 12-week interval. 9 weeks went okay but when I went for 10 weeks I was back to bleeding, so I said the heck with it and went bck to what was working. <p>I have very significant chin, neck and mustasche hair growth. It is somewhat exaggerated because of the Depo I am on, but it's an easy trade-off to be rid of the bleeding nightmare I used to live through. I pluck it unless I get lazy, then it's a shave job and a couple of days later I am cusing myself for being lazy as it comes back so much stiffer etc. I long ago accepted I would always be dealing with facial hair growth. <p>I do know that at about 3 months PO I could tell my body was going through some major hormonal shifts. Could have sworn I was pregnant by the symptoms but that was literally impossible at the time. It did settle down after about a month. I would be willing to bet I still would not have anything close to normal for periods. I really never did from the start and while I was overweight back then I wasn't classified as MO or SMO. My body has just been screwed up. All of my blood work comes out normal except for a slightly elevated testosterone level (less than 10 points high), but when they do the free testosterone test it comes up normal. So there is no good explanation for why my body has been like it has, but basically my OB/GYN gave me about a 1/4 of 1% chance of ever getting pregnant and that would be with the strongest fertility drugs out there. At 43 I have no desire to go down that path and had my tubes tied. I still continue with the Depo shots as I need it to keep my body in check and happy. <p>I think most people see an improvement in their symptoms, but no guarantees it totally goes away.
   — zoedogcbr

July 7, 2004
I was diagnosed with PCOS almost 10 years ago. I had my surgery on Dec 23rd 2002 and have lost a total of 158 pounds. I somehow thought that the pcos was caused by me being overweight and that I would be rid of it once I lost the weight. But I recently asked my endocrinologist if I still had pcos and was told that once you're diagnosed you have it for life. I now have regular periods, but the hair growth on my face and other parts of the body hasn't decreased. I have never been pregnant and desperatly want to be, but was told that if I was ever to conceive I may miscarry. I wish you all the luck on your upcoming surgery. 12/23/2002 345/187
   — tat1997

July 7, 2004
Unfortunately there is only one real cure to PCOS and that is to have a baby. This surgery will help relieve the symptoms of PCOS but will not cure it. I am having the Laser thing done to get rid of my facial hair on a permanent basis. Getting and keeping the weight off is a way to control this disease. I wish you the best with your upcoming surgery. May you have a speedy and easy recovery. Good Luck!!
   — Sherry S.

July 7, 2004
My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for over a year now....just a month ago I went to a fertility specialist and he diagnosed me with PCOS...I was totally shocked that my other doctors hadn't even found this. I don't know how long I've had it but I do know my periods have been hellish for the past 8 months. I've never ever been irregular when it comes to my period so my doctor was perplexed. However, I am overweight and have facial hair which I HATE! The doctor said he could get rid of that no problem.....Ask your doctors about glucopage and spernolactin(sp?) Both of these meds help with insulin resistance and also facial hair or excessive hair. My best friend has been on these meds for 2 years now and the excessive hair has totally diminished and her Dr said she would be able to have a baby. I still have a few more tests to do before they determine if I am totally insulin resistant....and I so want to have a baby. We'll see...hope this helps!
   — Heather D.

July 8, 2004
I was not diagnosed with PCOS until almost one year post op. I began gaining weight at seven months out, and had some other PCOS symptoms. The best doctor to treat PCOS would be an Endocrinologist. I am not insulin resistant, but I am takng a diabetic drug, Metformin. I have had great results with it. I also take spironolactone for the hair loss. My sister was diagnosed after her second child. I actually diagnosed her :) and sent her to the endocrinologist. There is some great info on www.pcosupport.org and www.soulcysters.com I feel like I lost many months of rapid weight loss time, because I was not treated for my PCOS. I am happy that I was finally diagnosed. My doctor feels that PCOS will not keep me from conceiving. The metformin helps some people conceive. I continue to lose weight at 2 yrs 3 months post op. -172lbs Good Luck!
   — Allison M.

July 8, 2004
I was diagnosed with PCOS about 12 years ago. I went through the fertility drugs for over a year and later on (1999) found a Dr. in Atlanta GA through a Christian website (www.hannah.org). Dr. Jean Lucas (no longer in Atlanta) helped me by putting me 1st on Glucaphage (upset my stomach) and then changed me to Metformin. I was on this for about a year. I have been on Spiranalactone for 12 years and could see some difference in the facial hair - but Dr. Lucas said to stop plucking (which took me 45 minutes or more every morning) and start shaving. I lost some weight on the Metformin (about 40 lbs) and began to have regular periods (which I had never had) and in August of 2000 I got pregnant after 13 1/2 years of trying. I weighed about 315 lbs when I found out I was pregnant. My daughter is now 3 years old. I had my gastric by-pass surgery on April 20 of this year. I really think the weight lose after going on Metformin really made the major difference for me to be able to get pregnant. I do believe that weight lose will help with the PCOS and my doctors seem to think that if I want to have another child that I shouldn't have any trouble after my weight lose has stablized. Best of luck!!! The Lord Jesus Christ does still answer prayers!!!
   — dawnsams

July 9, 2004
I've been diagnosed with PCOS for the past 14 years. Yesterday I had an appt with my PCOS doctor. SInce surgery (May 17), I have not been able to take my spironlactone or my prometrium (both causes upset stomach). I am now on a vaginal progestrone (crinone 8%) to help with my periods. The doctor did tell me that with the weight loss I would eventually get my periods on my own. As for the facial hair, I'm cursed--once there--it will always be. But I can say in just the 7 weeks since surgery, I feel so much better and I'll deal with the PCOS stuff--I have for the past 14 years.
   — Betsy H.

July 21, 2004
I was diagnosed with PCOS in 1999. I was told that I would not be able to conceive and if I did I would not be able to carry. I had numerous health problems related to PCOS including big weight gain, miscarriage, absent mensus, infertility and those pesky hairs on my chin. However, I had GB 2 years ago, lost over 100 pounds and have freed myself from the misery of PCOS. I no longer have any of the horrid symptoms of PCOS except for maybe a few hairs on my chin every once in a while. The best part is I am now a MOMMY to a beautiful 6 month old baby girl, after 8 years of trying so hard with PCOS holding me back. So my personal answer to your question is that I think that GB is a big plus for PCOS patients.
   — jonigirl

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