My lap-band/PCOS/pregnancy story

[Connorsmom 1]

Hi All

To those of you who have had trouble conceiving or told it is because of your weight, I share my story.....

2002

I was 29 and my husband and I decided we wanted to start a family. I knew I would have problems because I was very irregular and had been diagnosed with PCOS. At the time my weight was around 280. I had gone to a fertility specialist and told I needed IVF - started my meds and my cycle was cancelled - told to lose weight (try weight watchers) and then I can try IVF again

Onto the next fertility specialist - she was kind and understanding regardless on my weight - we moved quickly to IVF and had a great cycle, unfortunately it failed. We then used my frozen embryos and again - failed - Doctor was stumped. We decided to try one last artificial insemination and that too failed. Doctor decided that I should take a break and try to diet - maybe weightloss would improve my chances of success.

Ok, so.....I decide that I want Lap-band surgery, my weight had creeped up into the 300's and I was tired. We bought a puppy and started to purchase our first house. Well the next month after my last failed cycle I was pregnant!!!

I had a wonderul, easy pregnancy and my son was delivered November 10, 2003.

Fast forward to January 2004. I had my lap-band surgery - yeah!!

June 2007 - we have been trying without success to have another baby. I go back to my fertility specialist. Now I am down 70 lbs (260), feeling great, on Metformin for my PCOS and ready for IVF..

August another "perfect" cycle - we were sure this was it - but sadly this cycle failed. Now my doctor is looking for answers - I have testing done and test positive for natural killer cells - they kill the embryo - we plan my treatment but while waiting for my period I discover I am preggers!!

Ok, so IVF failed - 4 weeks pregnant, but found out not a viable pregnancy - so I am told to wait for my period and we will start up treatment again.

This was not September - we go away to Florida and I am waiting and waiting for my period - no show. We come back from Florida, no period.

I can't say what made me decide to take a pregnancy test but I did and it was a BIG FAT POSITIVE!!! HUH?????????

I run to the doctor the next day and it was confirmed 5 weeks pregnant.

So I ovulated right after the first pregnancy failed but before I had a period - strange I know, but true.

So here I am 11 weeks pregnant with a healthy little bean - feeling great.

My doctor calls me her miracle patient!

I hope my story is encouraging, never give up, anything is possible.

lauren

[mbanja 1]

That is soooo wonderful, snif snif, where are the tissues! Congrats!!!!!

[tonya66 13]

Congratulations on your pregnacy! What a wonderful story!

[msvaldez 0]

That is soo encouraging. I am 29, I have PCOS and I just got the lap band a few weeks ago. A huge reason was because I want babies and it has been so hard and I want to be healthy... Thanks for sharing your story...:thumbup:

[roodboi 0]

omigosh!

i just stumbled upon this and its eerie how much i can relate. i'm 29 yrs old and i weigh 282lbs. i was diagnosed today with PCOS. i initially got on the pill when i was 18 and recently got off last year because i was sick of being on it. but i went back to having irregular periods (which is why i got on the pill in the first place). my gyno tells me i have PCOS.

meanwhile i've been wanting a baby for such a long time. but i've been patiently waiting till all my ducks were in a row. go back to school, check, get a job (after school), get a house (when i get a job). so the only thing stopping me now is my weight. all my doctors say the same thing.

i'm so sick of hearing that every single little thing thats wrong with me is because i'm fat. i'm sick of coming out of the doctors office and feeling subhuman. unworthy of being a mother. i feel...like i'll never be normal. i'll always be judged. its a horrible feeling.

people always say "have you ever thought of surgery?" but i just think thats the absolute last resort. i have had such bad experience with doctors that i'm scared to death of it. plus i feel like it will cause other problems and i might end up regretting it. i dunno. but i really wanna have a baby!

at this point...(you know i've tried everything) i will do anything to have a child. and if that means getting the lap band....i'll do it.

i would really appreciate any advice or guidance you all can give me. i'm still not convinced. i want to hear the real stories from you guys.

also, is it true you can't get pregnant for 2 yrs after you get the lap band? because i can't wait that long.

[LAL 0]

It's not sugested that you get prego for at least a year to give your body time to loose weight. truely though once your body looses the weight they say your cycle levels out and bing bada boom it happens. thats what I am praying for. Its why I had the surgery and I feel WONDERFUL so far.

[roodboi 0]

really? i'm glad you're having a good experience. i'd love to hear more about it.

are there any draw backs?

i can wait a year. 2 yrs is alot. but a year i can do.

[elyon 0]

I am 34 years old. I have tried everything to get pregnant. I have PCOS as well, I had a cyst removel and I got a hernia from surgery. It's been over 2 years now and I still have a huge hernia, I am going to see yet another Dr. They do have me down for the lapband surgery too, and I also have another cyst too.

after this surgery, I am so hoping to have a baby as well. But I do have to wait a year too.

I love your story, it caught me right away.

[torrie 0]

I am 26 years old, 318lbs, and currently trying fertility meds. I am on 100mg of Clomid, along with 75mcg of Synthroid. Just found out my (super skinny) sister is pregnant....again. I want a baby more than anything, but I'm beginning to doubt that the fertility meds will work. Can't afford IVF.... I'm thinking of taking a break and getting the Lap Band surgery. I have no one in my family to discuss this with, as they're all skinny (I was adopted, and missed out on those genes!! =p), so I'm hoping maybe someone on here has some advice?? Good Luck to all of you!

Torrie:tt2:

[elyon 0]

Hi Torri,

This is estella, I just had the band surgery, hernia repair, and the cyst removel. Everything went well, I had surgery on October 15th. I have lost over 25 pounds so far! Have my first fill appointment today.

I would get the surgery, the band that is, they say, with the band, after the year wait, you can get pregnant fast. That is what I am hoping for.

I have done IVF, but in the CR and it was so much less than in the states, but for your health and the baby, I would do the band first.

estella:blush:

[KikiVal315 4]

wanting to start a family was my (our) main reason why i had lapband surgery. my husband now only confessess he thought it wasnt going to help me with my PCOS and getting my reproductive and overall health back to normal. i started out close to 280lbs when we decided to try to get pregnant...nothing; and more nothing. i went online and did a little research. thought maybe i should start some sort of fertility meds. but then i stepped back and actually thought about it; it just wasnt for me and not to mention not fair for the baby with all my extra weight and possible complications that come with being pregnant and morbidly obese.

so the next couple of months that went by, i started looking into weight loss surgery, in nov 2007 i made my decision to get surgery done for may 2008. surgery came and went;lets skip to the time i was at 240lbs,i think, i started getting my periods THANK GOD! (when you dont get your cycle you miss it. i think we take this for granted...we really do,until its gone.) i lost a total of 70ish lbs, this was back in late feb 2009. when i thought i may be pregnant. i didnt think so, i thought maybe i skipped a month because my cycles were getting back to normal. but then march came and nothing. i was feeling crampy all this time but again, thought nothing of it.

i told myself if i dont get my period by my birthday weekend, take a PG test. well my bday was on 3/15, but early morning of 3/14 i woke up, and grabbed a test on the way to the restroom. and guess what???!!! BFP!!!

pregnancy was a blast & easy, except for the last 2 months i was uncomfortable. but i didnt get any complications because of my weight. i did balloon to 275lbs (EEK!) but again, nothing was out of the ordinary. i was however diagnosed with a blood disorder the day i was admitted into the hospital, but thats a different story.

now im a proud mommy to my 19 day old son. i cant believe this all happend to us. a year and a half ago i NEVER EVER TRULY thought i would be here, now blessed with this wonderful new addition to our family.

i want to say for all of you trying with PCOS, it is possible to loose this weight and get pregnant. be patient and you will get there soon enough.

best of luck :confused:

[MissWhitzel 0]

That is soo encouraging. I am 29, I have PCOS and I just got the LAP-BAND® a few weeks ago. A huge reason was because I want babies and it has been so hard and I want to be healthy... Thanks for sharing your story...

Same story here, 28 and just got banded 11/10 and want kids someday! Gotta start focusing on me and get healthy and get in shape. :frown:

I agree, connorsmom is an inspiration to all of us struggling with PCOS... :frown:

[kiedas26 0]

Hello everyone...I was banded 2 years ago and have less than 2lbs to lose and I've reached my 100lbs. I first decided to have the band surgery after my 1st son was born and I popped a blood vessel in my eye bending over to tie my shoes I weighed in at 269lbs. I did lose 50lbs before getting pregnant with him with the help of doctor prescribed phentermine. It helped but was not a long term solution for me. I to have problems with cysts in fact I've had two very large (melon sized) removed which contributed to the removal of one of my fallopian tubes. So it was difficult getting pregnant and a true blessing that I did. I will tell anyone contemplating getting the band, it is not a miracle pill kind of thing you have to work at it to lose the weight but you at least see results unlike going it alone. Well worth it though, I'm at 171 right now in a size 8 and I'm ecstatic and working out regularly 3-4 times a week. They told me I had to wait 2 years to get pregnant after getting the band mainly to realize your full weightloss potential but technically you can get pregnant after a year. I didn't want to wait that long, 2 years seems so long but it's flown by for me and I've concentrated long and very hard on getting healthy so I can be around for my kid. I am also "blessed" with skinny siblings so, Torri anytime you need someone to discuss your decisions with...I was 32 years fat with a very skinny sister and brother. Even my mother although she was obese she underwent a GB when I was in my early teens so I didn't feel like she could relate well since her battle with her weight was so far behind her. I've had my battles with my weight and with getting pregnant and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to get banded and the blessing of my son he's really a gift. I was banded in Mexico by Dr. Ortiz at the Obesity Control Center one of the best experiences with medical care other than the birth of my son. I'm hoping to become pregnant this year, my son is now 3.

[sweetsarita 0]

I am considering having lap band surgery soon. I need to have my insurance approve it first, though. My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for over a year. Did many of you find that it was your weight that was causing you not to be able to conceive? Do you consider lap band surgery a good choice in hindsight? Thanks for your thoughts!!!

[gypsysouls 0]

hi, my name is melanie. i am 26 years old, about 125kg (275 pounds), 5 8" and have a bmi of about 39. i have had depression from an attempted rape 2 years ago and am on 37.5mg of exeflor xr, down from 150mg. i have polysistic ovarian syndrome, very erratic periods, 4+ miscarriages, sleep apnoea, and am pre diabetic.

i have had 4+ misscarriages in the last two years and my periods can be up to 10 months late. right now i am almost 2 months late and am not pregnant.

i have just kept putting on weight since i started my periods at age 14 and havent stopped. i have gone from from a size 12 to a 22/24.

i have tried the gym, weight loss shakes, weight watchers, daily excercise, excercise buddies, diet meals and more and just havent been able to shift the weight. the most i have been able to loose is about 10 kilos and that is it.

i want to be healthy, be around for my adopted kids and live a long and healthy life with my family. i dont want to get diabetes or any other health conditons that will shorten my life and not give me quality of life.

my husband also has a brain tumor and leukemia and we want so desperatly to have a child. we can still concieve naturally in spite of the cancer - well except for the fact that my body wont.

your stories have given me much comfort that even if i do not end up having a child, if i can loose all this weight, i will be able to live a long and healthy life with my family and be able to watch my kids grow up.

melanie