Sleeve surgery and PCOS

[RedDirtRoads 64]

Hello ladies, I am so glad I found this forum! I have my first appointment to get started toward a sleeve Friday. I have to have 6 months of supervised weight loss visits, probably another sleep study and EGD. I started this process about 4 years ago but I backed out when I finally started having appointments with the surgeon. I did not like him at all. :-( Through the whole process I had been seeing his nurse practitioner and at the end I started seeing him and we totally clashed. Presently, I have a new job that is very sedentary and I am packing on more weight. Almost 20 lbs in the 6 months that I have been here. I've had PCOS since I was a teen and I am 35 now. I battled infertility and WON. I have a 6 year old and a 1 year old. We started the whole drug/tracking/ surgery process again when our daughter was 6 months and it took us 5 years to get pregnant again. It was a long, frustrating process and pray that each of you that want to have children will! Anyway, I wanted to introduce myself and stay involved with the progress on this thread. Best of luck to all of us.

[Krystal0528 118]

Well ladies I am also on this journey with you. I was sleeved in 5/28 an everything us going good as for the loosing weight but my periods still aren't regular, it's all over the place. I think it will take a while due to the body changes. So far so good, I'm excited to be on the path to being healthy an having babies!!

Edited August 6, 2014 by Krystal0528

[amorga 35]

So I have a question for you ladies. I have been attempting to get pregnant for two years prior to my surgery and agreed to pause my efforts for awhile. I would like to know how long everyone waited and if they wish they had waited longer or tried sooner. I want to lose more weight so I can be a healthy mommy, but I want to try as soon as possible.

Edited October 1, 2014 by amorga

[Bec101 227]

I was given the ok by my surgeon to start trying for a baby 9 months out. I'm now 15 months post op and will be doing my 6th IVF cycle next month. All u need to do is ask ur surgeon when they are ok for u to start trying

[amorga 35]

Well there seems to be conflicting ideas on that. The surgeon says 18 months, but the main physician that follows the bariatric patients post-op says that there's no evidence that a fetus or mother are harmed if she gets pregnant fairly soon. He said they had a patient who they believed got pregnant right before the surgery and they turned out great. My OB-GYN even said she had a patient 3 months out get pregnant, continued to lose weight throughout, and had no complications. Not saying I want to press my luck, but wanted to hear everyone else's thoughts and experiences. Thanks!

[Ava324 413]

You'll hear a ton of different answers. My doctor doesn't recommend pregnancy for 18 months after surgery. He said that pregnancy under 6 months could be dangerous, and if I were to get pregnant before 6 months, I should consider termination for my safety. Also, he warned that even if the pregnancy was uncomplicated (although miscarriage is common), developmental delays were very possible if under 6 months. I'm happy to be out of that zone, but I'll be waiting at least 18 months before discussing trying with my husband.

[xraymomma 19]

Hi all newbie here. Just got sleeved Oct 1 and I have suffered with PCOS since my teens. I was reading earlier posts and I'm curious what the hair thing is that several people are talking about. Are you referring to facial hair or losing the hair on your head? Just curious because I was never told that this was a side effect.

[amorga 35]

@@xraymomma As I'm sure you know, many PCOSers have issues with facial hair. Many of us hope that it will get better once the weight is off. But losing the hair on you head is a possible side effect post-op. Not sure how it affects those who were experiencing this prior to surgery, but if you weren't, then it should only be temporary and will fill back in once you are eating more and getting in all your Protein and Vitamins. I have been blessed with a full head of hair so some thinning isn't really noticable, however that "blessing" is extended around my upper lip, chin, and neck as well! Haha! Hoping one day for laser treatments, but oh well, just happy to see the weight coming off.

[xraymomma 19]

I have tons of hair ... everywhere! So a little off the top won't be so bad I hope. I have noticed my re growth is already slowing down and I'm only 10 days out. So I'll take that as a plus

[Dislexicon 10]

Hi ladies, I'm about 10 weeks away from being sleeved.

I have had PCOS for over a decade, at this stage I have a pretty terrible problem with facial hair and I am also balding. I'm really worried about the additional Hair loss post op.

While I'm hoping to have children in the next few years my main area of interest/concern is with excess unwanted body hair and scalp hair loss.

Has any other PCOS sleever got a success story to keep my spirits up?

[MzGee 65]

Hi ladies, I'm about 10 weeks away from being sleeved.

I have had PCOS for over a decade, at this stage I have a pretty terrible problem with facial hair and I am also balding. I'm really worried about the additional Hair loss post op.

While I'm hoping to have children in the next few years my main area of interest/concern is with excess unwanted body hair and scalp hair loss.

Has any other PCOS sleever got a success story to keep my spirits up?

I have experienced all of the affects from PCOS! I was sleeved on 8/18/14, I still have excess facial hair and it's growing fast I'm used to it now being diagnosed as an adolescent. But my hair has grown back in a bald spot on my head I did see a dermatologist so he gave to steroids for my scalp, before surgery I started taking Biotin pills and I do that everyday which is limiting my hair loss. I stopped taking my birth control and I've been having a normal period for 2 months now which is new I think that has to do with the weight loss. I want to have a child as well, and so past posts here gave me hope!

Edited November 14, 2014 by MzGee

[Dislexicon 10]

Hi @@MzGee thanks such for your reply.

Everywhere I go for PCOS info the focus is on fertility and pregnancy, and I feel mean but I feel like saying "enough! There are other forums out there for this!".

PCOS is such a complicated health issues (Dr's don't even fully understand yet) and each individual has a variety of different symptoms present in varied degrees.

I'm so glad to hear your hair is growing back in. Was your bald spot from losing hair before or after surgery?

At the moment I take Biotin daily and use a biotin special Shampoo and conditioner.

I also take a whole host of other pills and supplements but it doesn't seem to help me much.

I just do want to be bald AND have facial stubble .... Is that too much for a young woman to ask? Haha

At least I could probably join the circus xx

[Susanjoyce392 66]

I am 38 and was diagnosed with PCOS 20 years ago as a college freshman. I have dealt with all of the issues (no periods, infertility, facial hair) except thinning hair. I am really hoping I don't lose my hair from getting sleeved. I am about 9 weeks out and no problems yet!

I do want to recommend laser hair removal. I had my facial hair removed and it has been the second best gift I have given myself (after the sleeve, of course)!

[MzGee 65]

Hi @@MzGee thanks such for your reply.

Everywhere I go for PCOS info the focus is on fertility and pregnancy, and I feel mean but I feel like saying "enough! There are other forums out there for this!".

PCOS is such a complicated health issues (Dr's don't even fully understand yet) and each individual has a variety of different symptoms present in varied degrees.

I'm so glad to hear your hair is growing back in. Was your bald spot from losing hair before or after surgery?

At the moment I take Biotin daily and use a Biotin special Shampoo and conditioner.

I also take a whole host of other pills and supplements but it doesn't seem to help me much.

I just do want to be bald AND have facial stubble .... Is that too much for a young woman to ask? Haha

At least I could probably join the circus xx

Sorry so late haven't been posting I've been consumed with my pregnancy!!!

I actually lost my hair before surgery in certain areas they said it was a combination of PCOS, and stress. The hair follicles were there still the dermatologist said and sure enough it was grown back as if nothing ever happened. I haven't had anymore bald spots since vsg. Are you on birth control? I ask because I took it to help regulate my hormones and balance that testosterone.