KeeWee

Thanks everyone, great ideas. I wish we had sugar free ice pops but they dont sell them here, so i will make my own using Gatoraid Zero.

Im sorry you are going thru such a hard time with your friend, but taking this journey is hard in every way but so special too. She is scared to be left behind on the fat road and is in heart ache to see you jumping on board the WLS bandwagon. Just be a great example a kind and loving one even if she is not. Fighting fire with fire doesnt work using cool Water does.

I have a 14yr old but could never get pregnant after him. I've tried fertility meds & 2 rounds of Ivf with no success. I had RNY on 1/28/13 and had my son 10/28/13. I got pregnant 17 days post op!

thanks....this would be great. I will do it...

I haven't had my surgery yet but knowing the issues I've had in the past, I sure thought I was going to get nothing but positive responses but NOPE!!!! I was shot down and the smile wiped right off my face with the reactions I got.



I even officially lost a friend over this. She feels like I should continue to suffer on yo yo diets with her forever just because her insurance doesn't cover it. She told me I don't need surgery we can fix this but your weight is from your 3 month old and can go away with work, mine is from a lifetime of damage and I need to lose way more than her lil 40lbs.



I've decided not to tell anyone else, I cried. It hurt to learn that people may only support you as long as your in a bad situation right along with them...smh.

@mskeekee01
If I cld do it all over again I'd go for the sleeve.
#1 there's no monthly adjustments searching for a mythical green zone I'm not even sure really exists
#2 w/the sleeve, restriction and your diet begins the next day, out of surgery
and yes, misery does love company...
I've been on the slippery slope of dieting my entire life. if I did muster up the discipline to lose it, I'd always always regain it all back....
so do what works best for you and no one else...don't let her influence your weight loss decisions.
I wish I'd done it sooner I'd probably be at goal weight by now instead of toying around w/this diet and the next.
also, which ever you decide, don't tell anybody, unless you're ready to explain the good and the bad (the bad is often harder to explain)
Just let them look up one day, and say hey!! You're losing weight...only then you can fill them in on whatever you had done...if you so choose...

I haven't had my surgery yet but knowing the issues I've had in the past, I sure thought I was going to get nothing but positive responses but NOPE!!!! I was shot down and the smile wiped right off my face with the reactions I got.



I even officially lost a friend over this. She feels like I should continue to suffer on yo yo diets with her forever just because her insurance doesn't cover it. She told me I don't need surgery we can fix this but your weight is from your 3 month old and can go away with work, mine is from a lifetime of damage and I need to lose way more than her lil 40lbs.



I've decided not to tell anyone else, I cried. It hurt to learn that people may only support you as long as your in a bad situation right along with them...smh.

I haven't had my surgery yet but knowing the issues I've had in the past, I sure thought I was going to get nothing but positive responses but NOPE!!!! I was shot down and the smile wiped right off my face with the reactions I got.



I even officially lost a friend over this. She feels like I should continue to suffer on yo yo diets with her forever just because her insurance doesn't cover it. She told me I don't need surgery we can fix this but your weight is from your 3 month old and can go away with work, mine is from a lifetime of damage and I need to lose way more than her lil 40lbs.



I've decided not to tell anyone else, I cried. It hurt to learn that people may only support you as long as your in a bad situation right along with them...smh.

Before you have your surgery take a few minutes to reflect on your life. What struggles have you been through? Why did you decide that weight loss surgery was right for you? What was your deciding moment? What steps did you have to take to get to your surgery day? Why are you making this change in your life?
While you reflect on some of these ideas write them down then write a letter to yourself. Put that letter away somewhere safe and include a before photo inside. After your surgery you will hit a point where you think that having this surgery was pointless and that you are stuck and you will be overweight forever, (insert pity party here).
When you get that feeling of helplessness open the envelope take a good look at the photo and read the letter you wrote to yourself. The letter will bring back the memories of your determination to get to your goal of being a smaller healthier you.
I unfortunately wrote my letter to myself online and lost it. I do still have my photos that I took of myself before surgery and each month there after.
Last week I steeped on the scale for the first time in a long time, because the scale can be your worst enemy. I noticed that my clothes were fitting a bit tight and wanted to make sure my clothes were not shrinking. The scale did not lie. I was lying to myself. I had allowed my mind and my mouth to take control again. I looked at my before photo and all of the memories came back to me. I am now determined to maintain my goal at being smaller and healthier.
I wish I still had the letter I wrote to myself. I had read it a few months post op and I realized how far i had come. I would sure like to read it again to remind myself where I came from and the struggles I endured.

Wow ! You guys rock with the "standing up for my self attitude !!" Great job ! I have never received a single negitive comment in the 2 yrs that ive been banded ( Dec 13th, 2011 ! ) , just great positive remarks and compliments . I put WLS in the same catagory as I would if ihad to get braces, if it was needed for my health and future to get braces , no one would think twice or say anything negative . Well you cant fix bad teeth by yourself and some times you cant fix a weight prob by itself either. I truly feel blessed that lap band was available to me as it literally gave me my life back, but im the one that exercises 3 -4 x a week, eats healthy 95 % of the time, and follows my drs orders. So its definetly not " the easy way out!" Down 65 lbs , 20 more to go ! Woohoo !!

most days I can't decided if I'm embarrassed or proud that I had weight loss surgery I have shared with a number of people that I had it.. mostly the females in my life.. and then others I choose to say I just changed the way I live and diet.. I was at a retirement party yesterday where there was food every where but I chose to behave and brought my Protein shake with me and happily sat and talked while I sipped on that. constantly being asked WHAT your not eating?
I told so many stories that I've lost track of what I told to whom.. I don't know what came over me I didn't feel that it was the right setting to truly share what I had done with people the party was not about me but then. back at my desk a coworker who knows came to ask advise and to learn about my experience as she is hoping her son who at 21 is over weight is considering having the lapband also. I was flattered that she would ask for my advise and experience. she is hoping to get her son to talk to me also as he is very shy but is intent on losing weight and very interested in the lapband..
I guess what i'm getting at.. why the hell.... should we be embarrassed? YOU ME ALL of us are taking control of our lives and making it better not just for us but for every one in our life's. I mean when people quit smoking the wear their Patches with pride... why should it be different for us food, drugs, smoking alcohol it's all addictive.. so no more lying.. if they ask they will get the truth - if they want to think less of me for it.. so be it how will it affect me? honestly NOT AT ALL I will continue to get healthy and slimmer so what they think really doesn't matter.... be strong no matter your choice the only one that matters is you..

well...sounds like it's not just chasing and myself who feel the same way. not surprising, that's for sure. we all have weight issues in common so why wouldn't we have similar thoughts about ourselves. again...that's why I like this site. it lets me know that I'm so not alone.

It makes me embarrassed too. But I know I couldn't have lost weight on my own because I had tried everything and I would lose weight but I would gain it back - nutrisystem, weight watchers, pills, weight loss shakes, cabbage Soup diet, grapefruit diet, cleanses - lol and everything in between !!! Lol
I also needed to lose close to 100 pounds and it makes me embarrassed that I got myself that big. But I am losing weight now and have taken control of my life and trying to win this battle. But to be honest it's whatever works for the individual and it doesn't really matter if you get healthy via wls or the old fashioned way, just as long as you get there!!!

I know exactly what you mean! I am often embarrassed that I had to resort to surgery to lose the weight. Just last week, I was at the pain management doctor for shots in my back. There must have been something under or in the table that allowed the doctor to see my insides in order to determine exactly where to inject the cortisone because I heard him pointing out my port to his new assistant. I was so embarrassed to hear him give away my 'secret'.
Now, don't get me wrong....no one who does know about the band says anything to me about taking the easy way out. I'm getting nothing but positive feedback. Doesn't mean I still don't think as you say....'she couldn't just walk away from the table. Nooooo...she needed to resort to surgery'. I hear that in my head all the time.
I'm also finding that I am so appalled at how heavy I was. I needed to lose 100 pounds to look normal. 100 pounds! I can't believe I was that out of control. I'm starting therapy next week to discuss some of these issues with a professional. I know that lots of folks on this forum do this and I think good for them...and good for me for recognizing I need to do this as well.

I've chosen not to tell people about my WLS...only my immediate family knows and 4 friends total. I've had many people recently comment and compliment me on my weight loss so far. Usually, I say thanks and keep on going. But there are always those people who ask "what are you doing". And I stumble a bit to answer. Sometimes I just want to say I had WLS...but then I think....sometimes when I say those words "weight loss surgery" I feel like it negates all my hard work over the past 2 1/2 months since being banded.
Its kind of like when you say WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY...you had surgery and now your weight is and will be fixed! It makes it sound so "simple"...that all the hard work and dedication, and all the rules to follow won't matter to anyone. They will say "oh she needed that surgery to lose her weight".
I'm not sure if this is making any sense...just something I have been thinking more about since people are now noticing and commenting on the 55 lbs I have lost. My attitude/mood has changed and I'm dressing differently and even finding 5 mins in the morning to apply some makeup. I feel so much better physically and emotionally and am more confident in myself and I just feel good about ME!
So, I often hold back and dont say anything about having WLS when they ask. I tell them high Protein and smaller portions and that is it. Sometimes, I feel embarrassed/ashamed that I got to the point in my life where I had to "resort" to surgery. I'm glad I did this and I regret not a minute of it...EVER! These are just some feelings I've been sorting through....
But I think maybe a better name would be ....IMPROVEMENT SURGERY!!

Almost to goal weight now..... Down 65 lbs in 6 months...

Today's my last day of preop have to have clear broths so I'm having tortilla Soup with nothing in it!!! Excited for 6:am tomorrow!!

My surgery is Nov. 20th and that's also my 35th B-day...I'm super excited for my B-day gift!!! I'm doing pretty well on my pre-op diet although I did cheat on Saturday for my early B-day dinner. I also recommend unjury products, they are so tasty BUT my NUT does not recommend the Unjury chicken Soup because it is very HIGH in sodium...check the sodium on the soup labels because although some diets allow Soups, not all soups are good for you.

Yes sir, no more over extension!! Time to teach your princess how to help dad change the oil...start em young!! Thanks for letting me know now that my normal super woman attitude just won't cut it this time..lol, I will just spew orders to the fam all day long like they do me, lol... Get better!!

18 lbs is a lot! I lost only 23 lbs in the first four weeks, and I'm 5'7. I eventually caught up though, especially size-wize. I'm at a higher weight but I look a lot smaller than most people in my weight range. Which is a shocker for someone with PCOS because we have a tendency to carry our weight in the most annoying areas -.-
I sometimes forget the person I used to be before the sleeve. All the painful, embarassing things that used to be a normal part of my routine. Reading the things you discuss brings back so many memories...I also used to carry a pad everyday and pantyliners for "fear" of my period sneaking up on me randomly. I used to shave twice a day.
I can't accurately express the amount of liberation I feel. I'm still paranoid though I no longer need to shave, because I've gotten used to waking up and removing it everyday. I can go days without hair on my face, and when they appear it's just a couple of fine strays that can be plucked out.
I don't understand why my body has to be so annoying sometimes though I'd like to lose the hair on my body not on my head!

Thanks to Madison for creating this thread and keeping it updated, and to and everyone else for sharing their experiences. I have had PCOS for many years and was sleeved on April 17th. Despite the fact that have been enormously overweight all my adult life, my main worry all along has been my excess hair.
If the long-term effects of having the sleeve can release me from the daily burden of dealing with the facial hair - about an hour a day, every single day of my life - it will have been worth it for that alone. It was one of the first things I asked my surgeon about. More recently, and only slightly joking, I asked him if there was anything I could do to ensure that I keep all the hair on my head while losing the hair on my face and body. Sadly not, apparently!

Hello everyone! I received some messages from "lurkers" that don't comment but are curious about updates. I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while...but my life has been so busy in a GOOD way.
I don't know where to start, because as I look over my past posts it doesn't even sound like the same person. It's been so long since I posted because I've been so active with my "new" life.
I have to reiterate this for everyone who might be reading this (I used to silently lurk on WLS/PCOS forums for a long time)...I had possibly the worst case scenario for PCOS. Extreme hair loss and excess body hair (required shaving 1-2 times a day and still wasn't smooth).
I'm not that way anymore. I'm going to tell you something that my fellow PCOS sisters will be shocked by: I'm on a weeklong trip, and didn't bring a razor for the first time in my life.
My results were astounding.
-150 lbs lost so far. I can shop in normal-sized stores.
-Excess skin not as much as an issue I feared it would be.
-Social life much more active, confidence level at incredible highs!
-Mood swings rarely occur, and are nowhere near as noticeable as pre-weight loss.
-Rarely get pain in ovaries.
-I still don't get my period, but my doctor is certain it's from the extreme weight loss because my labwork looks PERFECT.
-I still have the Vitamin D deficiency that comes with PCOS, but that is taken care of with a daily Celebrate Protein shake and sun exposure.
-I lost a LOT of hair after surgery. It is very thin and I have cried a lot over it. I don't have any bald spots, but I had such thick hair before it's very traumatizing to see it so bare and thin. However, it looks healthy and shiny. I'm VERY glad that I decided to keep it long and not cut it, because it looks beautiful now.
-Facial/body hair. For body hair, I started sugaring which keeps me hairfree for 3-4 weeks. I just had my fifth laser hair removal appointment and I no longer have facial hair. This is the biggie that most of us PCOS'ers are concerned about. I don't need to shave everyday, and I don't need to wear foundation anymore to cover the bumps/stubble. I have a light shave every few days, but even then it's not necessary and only out of paranoia. The laser type used on me was a pulsed diode. I went to a dermatologist center. I MUST STRESS THIS. American Laser Clinic is a giant scam and I regret wasting my time/money there. A real dermatologist gave me great results at a much cheaper cost.
I owe a lot of my success to extreme activity and very careful nutrition plan.
That's all I can think of for now. I will update again in a few months. If you have any questions, please message me!

I'm almost 3 months post-op and feel a HUGE difference!
Updates:
-My weight loss actually EXCEEDS my non-PCOS sleeve friends. I really attribute this to all the Protein I've been having. I've been very strict about only having Proteins, with certain fruits/veggies and maybe whole grains as a treat. I've also been swimming 4 times a week and boxing once a week.
-I don't have those crazy mood swings I had pre-op.
-My period seems more normal. it's not always on schedule, but I'm no longer "spotting" in between (TMI I know )
-I don't have any pain in my ovaries.
-hair loss: Last year, I had huge bouts of massive Hair loss. Nothing helped except reducing stress and taking a bunch of Vitamins. Right now, I feel a few more strands falling out, but nothing extreme. My hair looks very shiny and healthy, better than it did before surgery.
-The most important thing : THE EXCESSIVE HAIR has almost been resolved!!! This doesn't have to do with the surgery, but with the Dermatologist I went to. I went to American Laser Centers for a YEAR and didn't see any results, honestly I think they're a scam! I went to this particular dermatologist just ONCE and 2-3 weeks later I no longer have to shave everyday. The stubbly dots are mostly gone. Let me tell you, my excess hair was EXTREME. She said my results were the best possible due to my pale skin and dark hair. So if you tried laser without success, go to an actual dermatologist to try a different type of laser. At my next laser appointment, I will ask her what type she used so you can try it out to see if it works for you. I am so extremely pleased and grateful for these results. I can actually go swimming without makeup! I would have never gone out without make up/shaving everyday before laser treatment. The procedure itself actually hurt A LOT and it took my face 5-10 days to heal. I only started seeing results 2 weeks after, but they were unbelievably worth it.
As someone with severe PCOS (which meds like Spiro and Byetta coudln't help), I can honestly say there is great hope for a cure!!!
That's it for now. I hope this is helping anyone interested in doing the surgery. It was the best decision of my life, just make sure you do the best you can! Please message me if you have any questions.

I started this topic to keep track of my success with VSG surgery while having severe PCOS (all the bad symptoms including excess hair, Hair loss, bad periods, cramps, pain in ovaries, mood swings). I noticed that there isn't too many information on the VSG experience with PCOS, so I thought I'd post this publicly for future sleevers curious about what to expect.
8 weeks post-op (10 weeks "dieting" if you include pre-op) my period seems to have normalized. I think this is due to the weight loss (55 lbs) but mostly to all the exercise I did. I started walking daily for 30-60 mins 2 weeks before the surgery, and kept it up afterwards. After a few weeks, I lowered it to 4-5 times a week.
The first 3-4 weeks after the surgery, I actually had pain in my ovaries (probably cysts). Eventually this went way.
2 weeks after the pre-op diet (and a day after my surgery) I noticed that a majority of my mood swings were gone. It felt like the unsteady cloud in my mind had finally been cleared. I attribute this to all the exercise and lack of carbs. I've noticed that the white sugary carbs have very negative effects with my PCOS. My weight loss so far has matched others (and even exceeded non-PCOSers!) but I notice it stalling if I have bread/pasta. I limit myself to half a serving of toast/whole wheat wrap and one serving of either crackers/pasta/potato per day. I usually have less but never more.
When I have my period, I don't get horrible PMS like before.
I have an appointment for laser hair removal next week, I will keep you updated on the experience/success. My past experience with American Laser Center was a waste of time and money with no results, so I am trying a different clinic.
This is strictly my experience and it will vary among us, but I truly think that the activity is what's really pushing me towards greater success. It's hard but anything helps. I will post more under this topic in the upcoming weeks to let you know of further progress!

Great change! Even if you weren't eating a lot, it sounds like you were drinking your calories and those are just as bad with the added detriment of giving you no nourishment OR giving you the sensation of fullness.