I wasn't quite sure where to post this, but it's been on my mind for a while and I'd like some opinions.
One of my best friends was diagnosed with PCOS years (perhaps a decade, actually) before I was. Last year, she went through gastric bypass surgery. She's lost a lot of weight. I'm happy for her.
However, she now tells me she's "completely cured" of PCOS.
My question: Is this possible?
My doctors say it isn't. Not that it's an option for me (it's not, as I weigh far less than my friend ever did) -- but I can't help wanting to know if my friend is right.
As a side note, my friend wants to have a baby now, after gastric bypass surgery. I imagine it would be difficult to sustain nutrition for a baby after this kind of surgery? I'm worried about her and hope she doesn't have a high-risk pregnancy.
for one your friend is very mis informed simply because there is no cure for pcos.
That being said, there is ways to control the symptomes of pcos. Which is probably what has happened with your friend sence pcos is an genetic endoctorine. Most women get pcos basiclly by genetics.
By no means is a high risk surgey like that a cure of pcos.
And as far as gbs and pregnancy, i couldn't tell you, thought i do know you tend to eat more smaller meals, so if pregnant i would assume that you are going to make the best of the meals you are eating and get the nutrition you need for the baby.
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If losing weight "cured" PCOS, there would be no Thin Cysters.
__________________ Adrianne 31, DH 44 - married 6/01 - 2 DSDs (13 & 15)
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First of all, congrats to your friend for finding a solution to most of her symptoms. However, I have to agree with the person above me, in that there is no "cure" for PCOS; only ways to control the symptoms. That being said, it is well-known that long-term weight loss, no matter how it is achieved, is an excellent way to reduce (or perhaps even eliminate) many the symptoms of PCOS (e.g., menstrual irregularities, infertility, hirsutism, acne, skin tags, IR, etc.). However, the weight loss does not necessarily have to come from gastric bypass, and as you noted, many women with PCOS, while definitely overweight or obese, do not qualify for gastric bypass. With that being said, I would focus on healthful eating and exercise habits, regardless of how much weight you need to lose. I personally take a nondiet approach, emphasizing whole grains, protein, water, and fruits and veggies, but some people may prefer a more structured approach; it's up to you.
As for pregnancy and gastric bypass, I would visit www.obesityhelp.com and look on the forums. . .I'm pretty sure they have one about pregnancy and TTC after gastric bypass. From the little that I know about pregnancy and gastric bypass, patients should generally wait at least a year (preferably two) after surgery to start TTC, and will probably need extra vitamins/supplements during pregnancy. That being said, pregnancy after gastric bypass, while more high-risk than a standard pregnancy, is generally lower risk than in a woman who is still morbidly obese. Case in point is Carnie Wilson, who recently gave birth to a baby girl, but waited almost five years after surgery before becoming pregnant. Good luck, and congrats to your friend on her weight loss!
I wasn't diagnosed with PCOS until almost a year after my Gastric bypass. My symptoms were at their worst. I had already lost a majority of my weight. I had elevated androgens, unexplained rapid weight gain, acne, a never ending period and hair loss. I was miserable.
I was finally referred to a great Endocrinologist who ordered a zillion tests. I was never insulin resistant, and my glucose tests always come back normal. But she prescribed Metformin for me, and it has helped every one of my symptoms. PCOS is never cured, but syptoms can be managed. I believe that I must have some underlying insulin problems, because the Metformin helps so much, and I have a strong family history of Diabetes Type II.
All that being said, I don't regret having the surgery. It finally got me a diagnosis. I have lost almost 200lbs. I am amazed that my PCOS is stronger than a gastric bypass! I was literally starving myself (600 cal a day) and exercising- Still gaining weight!
I wish that it did cure my PCOS.
A gastric bypass patient can have a healthy baby, many become very fertile immediately after surgery. we are warned not to get pregnent during the rapid weight loss period.
I just went to a Gastric Bypass seminar yesterday, my husband is going to have it done.
They stated to wait a year before getting pregnant. That is when the most rapid weight los happens, and it would be hard to nutritionally sustain a pregnancy. Even after the year she would need to make sure she is getting all the required vitamins, follic acid etc she needs, but its perfectlly fine... they counsel to wait a year afterwards.
__________________ Darlene (25) Married to EJ (31) TTC naturally since 06/01, TTC w/ medical intervention since 04/05. Diagnosed: 06/02/05 ** All rounds of Clomid and Femara a big fat BUST! Furbabies: Mum to 4 beautiful Rat Terriers
Metformin 1500mgs Weight Loss: 338/167/170 -171bs
GOAL!!!!!!!!!!
TTC again after weight loss surgery on 03/20/06.
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There is another option to the bypass - the Lapband! (The "Adjustable Gastric Band") I will be having it next month - much less invasive than the Bypass, and is a 45 minute operation....people are back to work in a week.It is a band, with tubing, that is placed around the top of your stomach. The attached tubing leads to a port just under the skin. The best part is it is adjustable - for life! The band around the stomach, when placed, is flat like a firehose. Six weeks or more after the surgery, you go into your dr's office, and he inserts saline into the port located just under your skin. This is usually done with xray, and you then drink something so they can see the liquid go through the upper stomach to the lower stomach. The band is for life, and you continue to eat normal foods - just much less of them! That was what appealed to me about the band - no foods to avoid - just smaller amounts. There is a group on Obesityhelp.com for lapbanders.....you can learn more there. Several people have just announced their new pregnancies too! Evidently, you have the saline removed so that you can have more calories while pregnant. When you finally need to lose again, back to the dr's you go for a "fill" -
The main difference for me between the bypass and the lapband (besides death rates of course) is the rate of loss. It is true that I will lose much more slowly than a bypass patient. On average, I will lose 1-2 pounds a week. Bypass patients can lose lots more! The difference is I can continue losing for however long I need to, while the bypass has a "window of opportunity" they call it - the optimal losing time...once past this time, you might experience great difficulty losing. I have read a lot of patients profiles who have PCOS who have found their symptoms improved with the band - or with losing weight. I believe that really is the key. I can't wait to get rid of the metformin! Here's hoping next year I can write that I'm off all the pills...my dream! Anyway, feel free to ask me more about the band. I've been researching it for more than a year, and really feel it is the way to lose weight for me! By the way, I have a BMI of 39 - 5"6, 245 pounds....some days more, some a little less...you know how it is! The PCOS is consdered a co-morbidity, and is what helped get this procedure approved by my insurance company!
I have had doctors and other PCOS patients try and sell me gastric bypass (and other weight loss surgeries) as a "cure" for PCOS.
It's just not true. Weight loss itself may not even help alleviate symptoms. My PCOS symptoms were very severe when I was at my medically ideal weight. Obviously weight loss can be a good thing, but it will not necessarily make any difference whatsoever when it comes to PCOS symptoms. It oftentimes does, but there is no evidence to show that weight loss from ANY method is a "cure" or even guaranteed therapy.
For me, I could get down to my medically ideal weight range and it would have absolutely NO bearing on the severity of my PCOS symptoms. And I do know thin women with PCOS. Weight loss is obviously not a valid treatment for them...
Tracy
__________________ "Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo"....... H.G. Wells
Gastric Bypass as a cure for PCOS? 
