Gastric Bypass & PCOS

melsreturn · 03-17-2008, 01:57 PM

I have lost 135 lbs after gastric bypass October 2006. My question now is: where do I go from here? How did it help/effect my PCOS problems?

Before surgery:
*Took Actos for Insulin Resistance
*Took Spironolactone for Hirsutism & to block male hormones
*Took Lexapro & Wellbutrin for depression
*Took birth control for periods
*Used Vaniqua for Hirsutism

After surgery:
*Removed from Actos as losing weight helps with the insulin problem
*Removed from Spironolactone
*Could use Vaniqua but dont
*Use birth control patch for contraceptive purposes and also to help with period problems (such as moodiness, cramping, etc.)

Anyway, I have noticed that everything is going great, except for hair growth again. The Spironolactone helped tremendously and I had laser hair removal treatments.

Last Thursday I visited my gynecologist to discuss PCOS "now" as compared to "then". He said he did not think I needed any medication such as Glucophage or Actos, but that it was a great idea to stay on the Spirnolactone since that nasty male hormone has reared its very ugly head... it will once again take effect on that hair growth (facial).

I am interested in hearing from others who have lost weight from gastric bypass and how it effected you longterm. I know its not a "cure" for PCOS, but there are surely positives that it has made on the condition.

*What meds did you take before? After?
*What helped? Anything worsened?

Thanks! Hope to hear back from you soon.

goddess819 · 03-17-2008, 02:22 PM

First of all...congrats on your weight loss! I too had lap RNY and have lost 111 lbs. I'm 3.5 years out though. You should join me and other post op cysters over on the Diet & Exercise buddies forum on the WLS Divas thread.

As for my medications I was on Metformin for IR which later turned to diabetes and Labetalol for hypertension. I wasn't on anything for the male hormones or the hirsutism. I've found now that all of my hormones are normal now and I have regular cycles. I did go from zero cycles a year (took Provera on occasion) to regular cycles with ovulation after surgery. I was even able to get pregnant the 1st month trying with my DD. Now we're ttc#2. I do still have the hirsutism...but because the hair growth has begun...nothing can stop it now aside from laser hair removal but I can say that after surgery it stopped getting worse. My IR/Diabetes is gone too. Last time I had labs drawn to check it both my fasting glucose & fasting insulin were in normal ranges. I was weaned off of my Labetalol and was medication free until DD was 3 months old and then for some reason my hypertension came back and I'm currently on Atenolol. But it's very easily controlled now as opposed to before. Before I was on 300mg of Labetalol & still had blood pressures averaging 150s/90s. Now on 50mg of Atenolol I average 100/60.

So...to break it down like you did...

before WLS:
Metformin 2000mg for IR/Diabetes
Labetalol 300mg for Hypertension
CPAP machine for severe Sleep Apnea
Provera (on occasion) to induce AF (as I never had cycles)

Now:
Metformin (not taken since day before surgery)
Atenolol 50mg for Hypertension
No more CPAP
No more Provera (I have regular cycles now and used an IUD for BC after I had DD)

I love my RNY.

Kristy

melsreturn · 03-17-2008, 08:55 PM

I'll come look for you on the diet board... thanks!