Does anybody know if Gastric Bypass works with us PCOSers? My neighbor down the street said that she has PCOS and had a Gastric bypass 10 years ago and lost all of her weight... I guess I assumed it wouldn't work with us because our problem doesn't tend to be overeating but how our bodies process foods..
I guess I'm just wondering if any other cysters had luck with gastric bypass.
I guess I assumed it wouldn't work with us because our problem doesn't tend to be overeating but how our bodies process foods..
For most people with and without pcos, the problem of obesity is due to inactivity and overconsumption of calories.
There ARE those who have other issues which contribute to obesity, but for MOST people, it's an imbalance of calories from lifestyle - not 'how people process foods.'
Well for me the weight gain was PCOS. I was seeing a nutitiionist and following a 1200 calorie diabetic diet. I wirked out with a personal trainer 3 times a week, and twice by myself. I walso am a teacher so I am on my feet all the time, as well as a mom to 4 kids. SO I was getting plenty of movement. Any how, for me the surgery has been a blessing. I had mine done 6 months ago, and am currently down 91 lbs with 40-50 mor to go to be at my goal 140 lbs, or my DR's goal 130lbs. Best wishes. BTW check out obesity help - they have a pcos board over there.
__________________ Dianne Wife to Bill 9/17/1994 Mom to Taylor 13, Morgan 9 , Eliana 7, and Ashlyn 3
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With an excess 140 pounds... 1200 calories per day + working out, should produce weight loss.
How did your doctors explain gaining and maintaining an excess 140 pounds with what you were doing? Because it's so rare that that would be the case, your doctors should have had a detailed explanation (and 'pcos' shouldn't have been part of the explanation...).
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Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
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My Doctor says because of my severe hormone imbalances it does make my body very very restistant to weight loss. He says it is not impossible but harder than for someone that does not have pcos.
__________________ JEM
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Treatment: Started Metformin and Yaz the BC Pill
TTC since August 2004
Stopped TTC May 2008, trying to regulate hormones and lose weight before trying again.
I really want to have a baby before the end of 2010. This means I need to lose alot of weight and get my PCOS under control.
Oh and on topic, I do have a friend with PCOS who had WLS and it worked for her. However I would want to exhaust all mu options before having this very serious surgery.
My Doc is pushing hard for WLS if I don't lose a significant amount in the next year. I don't want to though. I am working my butt off to try and do this naturally.
__________________ JEM
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Treatment: Started Metformin and Yaz the BC Pill
TTC since August 2004
Stopped TTC May 2008, trying to regulate hormones and lose weight before trying again.
I really want to have a baby before the end of 2010. This means I need to lose alot of weight and get my PCOS under control.
My Doctor says because of my severe hormone imbalances it does make my body very very restistant to weight loss. He says it is not impossible but harder than for someone that does not have pcos.
Next time you see him, ask for some literature supporting that, and please ask for specifics. Seriously.
If a doctor is going to tell a patient that they're 'resistant to weight loss' even with calorie deficit, they should be able to give more of an explanation than, "your hormones are out of whack."
Calories are units of energy, and the human body needs energy to function - even if you stayed in bed 24/7, your body would still need energy.
When your body is not being getting the amount of energy from food to maintain it's current weight, it has to get the energy from somewhere. That 'somewhere' is typically fat and muscle.
Kat, I am not trying to fight with you on it. I knew you would disagree I am just telling you what he said. I will ask for literature. He has been researching PCOS for years and is considered an expert in his field.
Hormones DO have an affect on weight and PCOS does seem to lower metabolism at least compared to our non-PCOS counter parts.
The bottom line is you are right that you have to burn more calories that you eat to lose weight. PCOS is not an excuse to not lose weight, however it seems PCOS girls have to eat less that most to create weight loss.
In the BL article he even sites how Julie had a slow start ( and I watched her struggle more than the other women all season.) The same with Brittany. So although we absolutely can lose weight, it is more difficult.
__________________ JEM
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Treatment: Started Metformin and Yaz the BC Pill
TTC since August 2004
Stopped TTC May 2008, trying to regulate hormones and lose weight before trying again.
I really want to have a baby before the end of 2010. This means I need to lose alot of weight and get my PCOS under control.
Kat, I am not trying to fight with you on it. I knew you would disagree I am just telling you what he said.
I'm not 'disagreeing' that hormones affect weight - please don't get me wrong there.
But there's minimal, if any, published literature showing that women with PCOS are 'resistant' to weight loss - when all the Rx's for weight loss are being followed consistently.
The 'energy' has to come from 'somewhere'. The question is: Where does it come from.
It's not really a point of debate until there's a response from your doctor to that specific question.
Doctors, just like consumers are guilty of not speaking 'from research' when it comes to weight loss. (I've interviewed hundreds of them over the years, and regularly had to push them for the source of their information, or the basis of their opinion.)
Quote:
In the BL article he even sites how Julie had a slow start ( and I watched her struggle more than the other women all season.)
I don't know that I saw her 'struggle more' - except from the fact that missing her family really made things hard for her. Everyone on that show was 'struggling' with the heavy duty work load.
That said, Julie made it to the final 3, so overall, her results were on par, if not better than the other participants.
Quote:
Originally Posted by scmjem
The same with Brittany. So although we absolutely can lose weight, it is more difficult.
Every year, there are participants who lose less weight than others. Most of them don't have pcos, so I'm not sure who you're comparing Brittany to...
IMO, it doesn't matter, anyway. Weight loss shouldn't be a 'comparison' game to other people. Who cares that some people lose weight faster, and some lose weight slower?
Interestingly, you never see debates about whether or not women with PCOS have the same 'fitness' abilities of women without PCOS...
We strive for maximum 'weight loss', but not towards maximum 'fitness' often enough.
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Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
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I like some of you have seen a new specialist for my PCOS...my other physician moved. The new physician specializes in PCOS and also works for a large research/teaching hospital. About 5 min after he had seen me he told me I should consider gastric bypass. I was not only discouraged by this but felt like I was being pushed to be part of his next research project. Prior to seeing him I had lost 25 pounds with cutting carbs & exercise but still have a way to go. My ex-husband had gastric bypass with a lot of complications so it is not something I am going to jump into.
First - I admit I have no read this whole thread - I have a bad back and before it gets worse just wanted to pop in and tell you a little about weight loss surgery.
My story started when I was 12 years old. Once my periods started my weight started to get out of control. With my periods being so irregular my mom took me to a gyn who told her I was just young, it would all work itself out and that my weight going up with the onset of the periods had nothing to do with each other. OH how I wish I had her name and when I was diagnosed and reality hit about everything I could have strangled her. I tried everything I was physically able to in order to lose weight. I hit 240 pounds about the time I turned 16-17 and stayed there until in 2000 I seriously injured my back and added another 40 pounds onto that. My weight had held steady at 280-290 after that. I tried every diet out there, and was always able to have some success with every diet involving low carb - but after six or so months the weight would come back with me doing everything correctly. I've done the soup diets, atkins, weight watchers, a cabbage soup diet, pills, soaps (yeah I was desperate the soap said it would melt fat away), and all sorts of other things, nothing would work long term. I saw a dietician who told me that due to my medications for pain, nerve pain, muscle relaxers, anti-inflammitories, add to that the fact that walking for more than 10 minutes and sometimes less sends pain shooting down my legs, then add degenerative disc disease, two ruptured discs that pinch nerves down each leg, and PCOS, and other crap the dietician said my loosing weight was like trying to climb a glass mountain in the rain. It wasn't going to happen.
Several doctors suggested weight loss surgery to me - but I saw that as the "cheater" method. Finally I realized I HAD to lose weight or I was never going to have a chance at carrying a baby, and my back was going to degenerate quicker than it already was. So I started looking into WLS (weight loss surgery). It took me two years to work up the guts and finally on Dec 6, 2007 (about six months ago) I had a gastric bypass Roux-en-Y done laproscopically.
Right now - I weight 180 pounds - I weighted 284 the morning of surgery. I fit into a pair of size 14 jeans yesterday and they weren't even tight. I'm having regular periods for the first time in my life - EVER. The dark patches under my arms and on the back of my neck are GONE. Yes I still have facial hair, but in my opinion it's coming in slower each time, but it could all just be in my head.
So yes, WLS does help PCOS. The thing is, weight loss helps PCOS, it's just some of us are able to lose weight the good old fashioned way, and some of us aren't. If I could have lost weight any other way WLS would NOT have been an option. However, I realized that cheating was ignoring I HAD to lose weight, surgery wasn't cheating. The surgery for me, has probably added years to my life, it's allowed my girly parts to start functioning like a regular womans should, it's also made me feel better.
The important thing is to know that WLS is not a quick fix, and it's not easy. For me the surgery was harder than any diet I've ever been on. WLS is tool - it helps you relearn how to eat, and depending on your sugery it has it's own "your eating bad" discipline worked right in. (With any surgery except the lap band if you eat the wrong food many suffer from dumping syndrome which is like the flu REALLY bad for hours). My surgeon's post-op diet involved eating nothing but clear liquids for two weeks, then for the third week I had all clear liquids with the exception of egg once a day. Have you ever looked at an egg and seen it as too much to eat? It was. Have you ever lived off of clear yucky liquids for two weeks? It SUCKS. It's not "EASY". WLS is also not something you can decide your going to skip for a weekend, or the holidays.
Also - you can gain your weight back after surgery. If you start making all the wrong food choices, or eating non stop, overeating and such - your weight will come back. The WLS is supposed to help you rework how you eat.
I hope this has given you some idea. Also, in the Diet/Exercise Buddies forum there is a thread titled WLS Diva's. It's a forum us WLS patients use to talk. If you are considering, planning, scheduled for, thinking about, having, or had WLS you are welcome to pop in and ask away. Also obesityhelp.com has a ton of information as well.
Good luck!
Feel free to stop and ask questions with us Diva's! There are girls there who have had all the surgeries, and quite a few who are soon to be mommies or mommies only because of their WLS.
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~Christopher Allen Doern~ Born July 4, 2009 @22 weeks to incompetent cervix.
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"The true measure of a life and love is not how long the flame burns here on Earth, it's how strong it burns in the heart. - Tammy Doern
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TDOERN,
Wow, I feel like I could have written that.
Kat- My DR really couldn't explain it, except that maybe there was a genetic issue. My sister has PCOS also, and has had the same issues with her weight. Honestly I don't understand it. I get that it is basic physics, Calories in and calories out. All I can tell you is MY story. My story is that at age 33, a mom and dad who both died in their 50's of complications to obesity, and having MANY MANY health issues, "normal" methods absolutely did not work for me. Do you know how discouraging it is to work you tail off for 14 months and half starve yourself, and at the end of that 14 months to have lost a total of 11 lbs. I too wish that I did not have to rearrange my inside to get healthy. However, I did.
I can tell you that I did weight watchers for 8 months, I did curves for that time. Then when I went to my DR. he sent me to the nutritionist, and she suggested a workout that was more involved. So I joined Bally's and paid $$$ out the backside for a trainer. I literally followed my diet more faithfully than anything else I had ever done. See my mom has just died, and I was so motivated to be healthier for my kids. After the 14 month time frame my family DR. recommended the WLS. The only explanation that he gave was maybe there was a genetic reason that my body was storing weight. I have had the body composition done, and the DR was impressed that even being overweight I do have a good bit of muscle mass. Anyway, the point is. Do I recommend this surhery to everyone, NO. It is very involved and there are certainly risks to it. BUT it saves lives. Morbid obesity is a disease process. Once your body gets to a certain point you do not loose weight like a normal person. The NIH has stated that the only PROVEN long term means of permanent weight loss in a morbidly obese person is Weight loss surgery.
It is difficult, I have not had any problems with the amount of food that I can eat, because honestly I am eating a bit more now then I was before the surgery. My DR did give me copies of studies, and I will do my best to see if I can find copies of them online.
__________________ Dianne Wife to Bill 9/17/1994 Mom to Taylor 13, Morgan 9 , Eliana 7, and Ashlyn 3
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Not sure if these are the exact ones, but hopefully these will help.
Wright, CE et al, Dietary intake, physical activity, and obesity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, Int J Obes Relat Metab Discord, 2004, 28(8):1026-32
Holte, J, Polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance: thrifty genes struggling with over-feeding and sedentary life style?, J Endocrinol Invest, 1998, 21(9):589-601
San Millan, S et al, Association of the polycystic ovary syndrome with genomic variants related to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and obesity, J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2004, 89(6):2640-6
Friedman JM, A war on obesity, not the obese. Science. 2003 Feb 7;299(5608):856-8
Havel, PJ, Peripheral signals conveying metabolic information to the brain: short-term and long-term regulation of food intake and energy homeostasis, Exp Biology and Medicine, 2001, 226:963-977.
Schwartz MW et al, Reduced insulin secretion: an independent predictor of body weight gain. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 1995, 80:1571–1576
Jequier E, Leptin signaling, adiposity, and energy balance, Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2002, Jun,967:379-88
Banks, WA et al, Triglycerides induce leptin resistance at the blood-brain barrier. Diabetes. 2004 May;53(5):1253-60
Wasko, R et al, Elevated ghrelin plasma levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, Horm Metab Res. 2004 Mar;36(3):170-3
Schofl C, Circulating ghrelin levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2002, 87(10):4607-10
Moran, LJ et al, Ghrelin and measures of satiety are altered in polycystic ovary syndrome but not differentially affected by diet composition, J Clin Endocinol Metab, 2004, 89(7):3337-44
Linden-Hirschberg AL et al, Impaired cholecystokinin secretion and disturbed appetite regulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, Gynecol Endocrinol. 2004 Aug;19(2):79-87
I hope those are helpful.
And AGAIN just to clarify, this is only MY experience. And these links are not the ones from my DR- they are however to an article that I found while I was researching what he was telling me when I was trying to make my decision.
__________________ Dianne Wife to Bill 9/17/1994 Mom to Taylor 13, Morgan 9 , Eliana 7, and Ashlyn 3
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"So yes, WLS does help PCOS. The thing is, weight loss helps PCOS, it's just some of us are able to lose weight the good old fashioned way, and some of us aren't" Great way of wording it TDOERN
PCOS and Gastric Bypass 
