ladybugchaser

Hi all.... I have been banded just over a year and this surgery saved my life. I did it to 'trick' my body into making hormones again which thankfully it did 48 hours after the surgery. I have a precious friend who is violently ill hormonally speaking with PCOS/IR like me...I KNOW the band will correct this side of her illness... My question to you...anyone out there see improvements with OCD/depression? I know it's all tied together. But my searches haven't provided the real people data I am looking for. Your information could be saving the precious life of Mandy. Thanks for your comments... LB:thumbup:

Hi Cyster Bandsters! I am one week out from surgery and ALREADY am seeing major positive changes in hormones. I have severe PCOS/IR...so severe that my actual body odor has been changed significantly among many other gross things. My body also STOPPED making a few hormones completely a few years ago. ~~ I am proud to report I am on NO supplemental bio identical hormones and my body odor...although not normal...is SIGNIFICANTLY, SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED! Wishing everyone the best...we can do this! :tongue2:

Hi all.... Just wanted to post an update. I was banded just over a year ago....9/19/08... my PCOS/IR still in full remission. This surgery saved my life. STILL was seeing positive hormone changes even a few months ago...it's interesting how messed up one can be and HOW LONG it takes to reverse what happened. Hope everyone is doing well... MY PCOS Timeline... On a scale of 1-10 (10 being feeling normal) 1999-2006 - Getting diagnosed (23 stupid docs) = -7 (yes, negative) 2006 - One hormone doc knew something = 5 2008- Lapband = 9.8 I still say there is something majorly whacked about being able to manipulate your stomach to trick your body into making hormones...

Hi Shelly! Lapband doesn't make PCOS go away...a better way to describe it is...it puts it in remission or on hold. All of my symptoms are significantly gone but can be back if I did an unfill. I had/have severe, severe PCOS and learned this summer where I 'have' to be fill wise to be at my hormonal best. If I get a fill taken out, I am curled up in bed and a hormone wreck. On a scale of 1-10 (ten feeling OUTSTANDING)....before diagnosis I was a -7, working with a hormone doc brought me to a 5, and lapband restored me to a 9.8...which I am happy to be at. This surgery has been a gift to many....I hope it is for you as well. Ask any other questions, we are here for you. :thumbup: LB

Ahh...I was needing to hear this. I have been doing a tough bootcamp for the past month and really struggling with energy...so I increased my Protein and that worked for a little while but I was still dragging. I started tracking what I was eating and on average...EKKK!!! Not enough calories. I have been trying to eat more frequently and force myself to eat (not hungry). Hope I can get back on track...sure would like to start losing again! :tongue_smilie: Anyone have other suggestions? food wise? cheese and crackers, apples and Peanut Butter are getting old for Snacks. Thanks for the wisdom people.

ha ha....I only weight when I go to the doctor. Which is in two weeks so I can tell you the weight in my signature IS NOT current. lol...I can get very discouraged by being so tied to the scale. I have found I am happier by not checking so often...everyone is different..have to do what is best for you. :frown:

I haven't had a problem before a fill but my doc has me do liquids for the next day or so.

Precious Sweetbean!!! You are not a freak. You are SOOOO BEAUTIFUL and you have gifts that no one else in this world does!! :confused: Anyone of us could have written your post and how sad is that...you know? That so many doctors either blow us off, make rediculous statements about us/our situation...when in reality...they themselves don't have a clue how to best assist us. You are home here with us...we know EXACTLY what you are feeling! I struggled for 8 years with this crap...and I think it was finally year 5 that I figured out most doctors don't care...you are a number, move you in or out of their office...I started to do my own research and be my own advocate and THAT is when true healing began. THAT is when I learned about PCOS and being BANDED...no doctor EVER mentioned it. Glad to have you here girl!!!! Happy Friday!

You literally cannot predict what you will be able to eat and not eat afterwards. I have a friend who has to let her salads sit covered in dressing for 15 minutes before she can eat it...I on the otherhand have no problems with salad. Good luck!

To be asked questions regarding why you are overweight and why you want the surgery.

It's different for all of us based on your doctor, based on your insurance or if you are self pay.

Sounds like LB is the surgery for you.... I had SEVERE PCOS and IR...I won't bore you with my detailed hell but it literally was so severe that it almost killed me. And I am not kidding. My body stopped making hormones all together for many years and 48 hours AFTER surgery, it felt like a major rainstorm inside my body...I knew it was hormones flooding back. I felt alive again. I literally haven't had ANY of the at least 40 symptoms I did before...migraines, blood sugar issues...all gone. And just so you know (I am baffled that you doctor doesn't know) LB according to doctors prevents/stops Insulin Resistant, Type II Diabetes...that rocks...our IR will never turn in to Type II. WOOHOO!!! Good luck in your decision. LBC

HELLO!!!! I was diagnosed with SEVERE HELLISH PCOS almost 3 years ago. Suffered for 8 years...getting progressively worse. I heard about PCOS/BANDING last summer and began researching the heck out of it as my last resort (been to 23 doctors trying to get some relief). My PCOS was so awful that I was calendaring my symptoms daily on the calendar...severe mood swings, severe hormone migraines, different body odor, extreme fatigue...just to name a few. I wanted to die. Literally....48 hrs after my surgery it felt like it was RAINING on the inside of my body and I knew it was making hormones again. I haven't calendared a PCOS symptom since!!!!!!!!!! WOOHOOO!!!!! What's cool...if you go to your doc and have a vaginal ultrasound 3-4 months after being banded...PCOSers are being told the ovaries are no longer covered with cysts. GOOD LUCK to us all!!!! LB

I went in with a LIST of dates I was open to have my surgery and ALL were open...I could have been on the table that next week if I wanted but I wasn't mentally ready. :tt2: My surgeon is a top surgeon in town too. But like others have said...it will depend on your specific doctor. GOOD LUCK! LB

ME TOO!!! 3 pounds from being in onederland!!! LET'S DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOOD WORK GIRL!! :tongue2:

My doc gave me my first fill 10 days post op because I was starving. Maybe your doc will too. You will survive this...and it goes soooo fast. Good luck!

You can probably very easily get your tests done faster than you think. I had my mental eval and chest xray done on the same day. Different docs require different tests...I thought I needed a heart test (luckily I had one from the year previous) and I provided a copy to my doc and he said thanks...but I only require those if you are 50 or older. :biggrin: LBug

Hello.... My doc said in the seminar...if you are self pay, you can be 'on the table in 3wks...' I was under the knife 6 wks later but by my choice. GOOD LUCK!!! It will change you forever! LB

Yes. Not with coffee. But after surgery...I have no desire to eat many of the things I did before. I, as you, found it very interesting!

Keep us posted on your progress and healing Babe! So VERY excited for you!! It's life changing... Peace, Ladybug

Babe, In the end it's your choice but here's my opinion... :thumbdown: PCOS in simple terms is a hormone imbalance...why get back on Met and freak your body out again? Especially when you are within DAYS of being banded and putting your body through ANOTHER roller coaster? If I were in your shoes...I would stay off the Met and get banded...watch your body, your PCOS symptoms...etc. Many get off Met once banded anyway. Your hormones will be changing for the better for MONTHS after surgery. I am 5 months out and STILL on a MONTHLY basis am seeing visible positive hormonal signs. I am off all meds and caught myself practically RUNNING down some stairs the other day...lol...it was so funny...pre surgery I didn't have the strength! Oh...and about having your period at surgery... lol...I had mine too...was sooooo embarassed and they said they see it all the time and have a plan for it. It's not a big deal. GOOD LUCK!! You can do this!!! Ladybug

DITTO!!! I haven't gotten a bug yet but came close and my doc wrote me a script for phenegran. Felt better in 20 minutes. I will NEVER travel without it or be at home without a current bottle of it...just in case. Gotta protect my investment.

I tried the waiting as well and I couldn't get my Water in...let me tell you...when your body starts showing you signs of dehydration...it's not good. So I told my doc...sorry but I am cutting down the time at meals to drink and oh by the way...using a straw at times to get water in my faster. He laughed and said it was fine...just to watch myself for anything out of the ordinary. I drink all water except I have 20 oz. of gatorade to keep things in balance...he okayed that too... But every doctor is different!! Good luck!

I still drink these because they are LOADED with Protein (42g)...EAS Myoplex. Lots of flavors. Sold at grocery stores and helath food stores.

No pain...good luck.. Just listen to you doc and don't lift anything for a month or whatever he directs you to do!!