Ruth9454

I cannot lose weight which I'm told is likely because I have PCOS. I don't mean I can't stay on a diet, I mean I can eat very small amounts of food and not lose weight. Supposedly surgery will change hormones enough to allow weight loss, but I'm terrified that I will have surgery, eat next to nothing but still not lose weight.

I need some straight talk. I'm considering getting the sleeve, but I'm worried about whether or not I will be able to live with it. while I do want t lose weight, I can't even imagine it so it is hard to have an attitude that I will sacrifice anything for it. One concern is the food. If you are a foodie like me (I love food but I'm good with small amounts of it), how hard is it to live with this surgery? There is a lot of confusing information around. My potential surgeon says after 2 months, you can eat "normally" just smaller amounts. That sounds fantastic, but it doesn't jive with a lot of what I've read/heard. Some people indicate that they can't have carbs like bread. Others talk about having the kind of meat they eat severely restricted. What is the truth? I'm fine with restricting calories, etc., but I still want to be able to enjoy food. Another concern is "accidents". One lady I know talks a lot about all of the diarrhea accidents she had after surgery, particularly in the first year. She did have the full bypass, so maybe that is part of it, but I also know a woman who had the sleeve and talks about how she can never be far from a bathroom. I already have some irritable bowel issues (which is part of why I am considering the sleeve rather than bypass), and I really won't be pleased if that is going to get even worse. I want to have a realistic view of what life would be like post surgery. I really appreciate anything anyone is willing to share.

I haven’t had surgery yet - I’m scared!

It does seem incredibly high. Is the problem finding alternatives you like?

What part is bothering you, if you don’t mind me asking.

Can I ask what specifically is causing the regret? I’m still on the fence so I genuinely want to know - no judgment.

I'm scared too. I have a great psychiatrist who I saw today and she really made me realize that I need to do this if I want to live a productive and comfortable life. I've been dieting for thirty years and I'm extremely uncomfortable in my body in this world. Continuing to be able to eat the foods I want isn't enough to make it okay to continue living this way. At the same time, you need to do what is right for you.

And congratulations on quitting smoking for 3 weeks already!

Do you only have to do the pre-op diet for one week? I have to do it for 3 weeks I think. Which of the drinks you're allowed are the easiest to get down?

I'm so sorry for your loss. I had an ectopic pregnancy before I had my daughter, so I feel your pain to some degree. Allow yourself to grieve and then move forward when you're ready. Take care of yourself!

Yes, I so hate all the presumptions about why we are the weight we are when we have PCOS. Some doctors don't even believe in it. I'm so tire of people saying it's mathematically impossible to not lose weight if you eat the right number of calories. This is such a cruel disease. I hope you are all doing well!

I did buy a couple of bariatric surgery cookbooks so I thought I might try some of the recipes. Thanks for that suggestion!

Wow! Thank you so much everyone for taking the time to write such thoughtful replies! I have been working with a psychiatrist for years to get rid of binge eating disorder, and she thinks I'm ready, because bingeing is no longer an issue for me. The thing is, I could give up bingeing because I could still eat good tasting food just in limited quantities. The thought of never eating good tasting food sounds terrible to me. I'm glad to hear that after the first few months, I will be able to incorporate good tasting food into my diet in limited amounts. i have a 30+ year history of trying every diet under the sun and not succeeding. I could never lose more than a few pounds and my body would just stop giving up weight, and then I would regain what I did lose and more. Apparently it is because I have an underactive thyroid and PCOS. My body immediately goes into starvation mode. Surgery is supposed to somehow reset the hormones to make it possible to lose weight even for those with PCOS, but I have a fear that I will be the one exception and that it won't work for me. If I could get myself to believe that it would work, I could do what's needed, but I just can't get myself to believe. Too many promises made and broken by diet programs!

For anyone looking for a temporary way to deal with hair loss, there are various types of full and partial wigs at wigs.com (and likely many other places but that is where I've shopped). I have invested in a great (but expensive) human hair wig which attaches with suction from Freedom Wigs, but you wouldn't want to do that if you are just looking for something temporary. I also have some light hats from head covers.com that I wear when I don't feel like wearing my wig. I plan on wearing those at the hospital (if my funding is approved).

That's the perfect description of it! I've been reading that it affects 10% of women so you'd think it would get more medical attention. How can doctors justify telling patients that the "treatment" for PCOS is losing weight when one of the major symptoms is an almost complete inability to lose weight? Anyway, I agree it would be great to keep this thread going to encourage each other.

I lost the vast majority of my hair from Hypothyroidism and/or PCOS and started wearing a wig 6 years ago. At least there are good wigs out there. The weight bothers me a lot more.

Wow - I'm so sorry you have all had to suffer with PCOS, but how encouraging that you have found help at last! I hate it that there is so little help for women suffering with this. One of the worst things for me is that no one believed me for so long. I finally have a doctor now that does even though she really doesn't understand it. Hey something I noticed - we are all short (I'm 5 feet 0") - does that have something to do with PCOS? Did any of you consider having a gastric bypass or a mini bypass? Some people say that the bypass has more metabolic effect than the sleeve, but I would really prefer the sleeve.

I'm still at the undecided stage. One of the things that is making me hesitant is that I'm afraid with such an incredibly low calorie daily intake, I won't have energy to work or do anything else. That is based on my experience with the Dr. Bernstein diet (ketosis diet). I was so hungry all the time I couldn't even sleep let alone think straight. They said once a person is in ketosis there would be no hunger, but that was not my experience. I don't want to go through that again!

Wow! These responses are making me so hopeful! Thanks so much everyone for taking the time to respond.

Thank so much for your response! It is reassuring.

Of course you should do whatever you feel is best, but you look amazing just as you are! If I looked like you, I would save the money! Another factor I've heard a lot about is the pain and difficult recovery that comes with skin surgery. But, again, I'm a firm believer in everyone's right to do whatever they want with their own body to make them feel their best. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous pictures and amazing transformation!