I went to a siminar regarding the lap band surgery. During the siminar, the Doctor mentioned that the lap band surgery can "reverse PCOS" leaving you without PCOS symptoms.
My question is actually regarding weightloss as a result of diet and exercise. If you lose weight, and get down to a goal weight, or healthy BMI, with diet and exercise, will you get the same result? Meaning, will you "reverse PCOS" and/or no longer have the symptoms of PCOS?
I was considering the surgery because I would love to reverse PCOS. Although, if I could do it on my own with diet and exercise (which I have been very strict with and I'm losing weight finally) I would rather do it that way then with WLS. I am not only looking to lose weight, but my other MAJOR symptom is facial hair growth (that is out of control) and I would love to get that under control.
Does anyone have any knowledge on this subject?
Thank you!
__________________ Diagnosed w/ PCOS in 2006 ~ Took 2000mg of Metformin up until 10th week of pregnancy.
BFP 4/15/07 EDD 12/24/07
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I have been slowly losing weight for over the last year. During this time, I actually started to O on my own. I also have noticed that my symptoms have started to decrease. When I had surgery for ectopic pg in April, the dr did not see any cysts on my ovaries - which I had plenty of the year before.
I say try diet and exercise first. There are many other cysters who have used this to decrease their symptoms as well.
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Many cysters who have lost weight and seen an almost complete reduction in their symptoms will not attribute it to weight loss, per se.
Typically, it's the adherence to a reduced calorie diet that is high in nutrition coupled with a mix of cardio and strength training that turned things around.
Calorie restriction (even before weight loss is seen) has been demonstrated to improve the labs in some women with pcos.
Same for exercise...even one bout of exercise can help insulin resistance.
Too often, women use the scale as their only measure of 'success' and if it doesn't move the first week, they give up. The cysters how see the biggest success stick it out for the long haul, and really work on developing the habit of healthy diet and regular exercise. (regular meaning 5x per week, in upwards of 60 minutes per day.)
Whatever you choose, I wish you the best.
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Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
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There's a difference between being anorexic and eating a highly nutritious, calorie reduced diet and being physically active. Anorexia is a serious illness. The hair you're referring to is lanugo and is a serious sign of malnutrition, not the result of a little extra test or too little progesterone...
I'll echo Kat's statement... In my experience, it's NOT just about the weight loss. It's the healthful lifestyle modifications that improve PCOS symptoms and weight loss is a happy side effect.
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Last edited by TheBumbler; 10-15-2008 at 01:33 PM.
Thank you all so much for your responses. This really helps me in making a decision. So, as I understand thus far, It's not the weight loss that reduces PCOS symptoms.
A healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet and exercise is what reduces the symptoms. It can also cause weight loss. So, it's a win win situation. Am I understanding correct?
Also, a healthy diet along with exercise is just as likely to reverse PCOS as lap band surgery? Does anyone know? Thx!
__________________ Diagnosed w/ PCOS in 2006 ~ Took 2000mg of Metformin up until 10th week of pregnancy.
BFP 4/15/07 EDD 12/24/07
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Last edited by DecemberDream; 10-15-2008 at 01:46 PM.
A healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet and exercise is what reduces the symptoms. It can also cause weight loss. So, it's a win win situation. Am I understanding correct?
Correct.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DecemberDream
Also, a healthy diet along with exercise is just as likely to reverse PCOS as lap band surgery? Does anyone know? Thx!
My hunch is to say yes, but that's simply a hunch based on annecdotes from cysters who have radically changed their diet, and really stuck to a regular fitness program.
Of course, discuss your options with your doctor. Many women have critical health issues that warrant getting wls because their immediate health depends on it.
Even if you choose WLS, there's plenty of time between now and then to improve your daily nutrition, and pick up a regular fitness program. In fact, fitness is one of the key factors in predicting success from wls: Weight Loss Surgery: Exercise is one of the best predictors of success
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Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
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There's a difference between being anorexic and eating a highly nutritious, calorie reduced diet and being physically active. Anorexia is a serious illness. The hair you're referring to is lanugo and is a serious sign of malnutrition, not the result of a little extra test or too little progesterone...
I'll echo Kat's statement... In my experience, it's NOT just about the weight loss. It's the healthful lifestyle modifications that improve PCOS symptoms and weight loss is a happy side effect.
As someone who at one point had lanugo and PCOS facial hair at the same time, I concur. They are different in appearance, texture, and causality. And during my eating disorder, I became under weight, but my PCOS symptoms were still horrible. weightloss in and of itself is often not the solution, but HOW you lose the weight can be. A healthy diet and exercise routine will get you much further than just losing the pounds.
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Thanks so much for clearing that up! I've always wondered about that. I was anorexic once, when I was 20, but never noticed any facial hair till I was 35. I think what I had wasn't anorexia - I think what I had was a nervous breakdown. I quit eating for a whole month and lost 50lbs. I wonder if that did any permanent damage to my body. I don't even know how I survived. All I had every day was hot tea with cream and sugar, and cigarettes.
As someone who's had WLS (the RNY...not lapband) it's the combo of eating healthier & exercise coupled with the weight loss that helps reverse the symptoms of PCOS...not that the WLS itself causes the reversal. WLS should definitely be the last resort to loosing weight as it's not an easy road to take (regardless of which procedure is done). Many cysters here have had success (as Kat stated) with diet & exercise in loosing weight & maintaing it...unfortunately I was not one of them and was at the end of my rope before opting for WLS. For me it was the right decision and all of my PCOS symptoms except for the hirsutism have gone away. I still have the facial hair and unfortunately because once the hair is there....my only option now is to have it laser removed of which I just don't have the funds right now. So...I shave it. BUT...my IR/diabetes, skin tags, and AN are all gone. So are my fertility issues. I went from ultra infertile (clomid & injection resistant) to fertile mertyle (got pregnant 2x the 1st month ttc). I have regular 27-30 day cycles now as opposed to none at all. So yes...the weight loss that I had that was aided by WLS reversed my PCOS symptoms...
Good luck!
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Kristy (33) & Adam (36) & DDs Alice Kay & Amanda Kay Founding WLS DIVA - RNY 8/3/04
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Ditto what Kristy said.. WLS is a last resort .. and Kuddos to you for making your healthier lifestyle work. I had WLS last year and have had fantastic results - but the facial hair is still an issue. Maybe even a little worse because after having my surgery I started taking Biotin to help regrow the hair on my head that I lost after surgery.. and guess what the hair on my face grew more too.
__________________ TTC since 12/01 3 years on clomid, 1 letrezole cycle - no pg ovarian drilling 12/04 Finally BFP on 3rd cycle of follistim - our Triplets were born 10 weeks early and are home after 5 weeks in the NICU - Thank you GOD for our Triple Miracle!!
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Reversing PCOS? 
