Ok, so when my insurance approved my surgery at the end of July my surgeon said I had to be off of my birth control for 30 days before I could have my band put in. I am assuming that has something to do with fear of blood clotting or something. The problem is that I have been sooooo moody the past couple of weeks! :cursing: I've been so ill AND....I've been starving, which has REALLY screwed up my pre-op diet! Has anyone had this experience and does anyone know when/if I can start back after surgery?

Thanks

Ok, so when my insurance approved my surgery at the end of July my surgeon said I had to be off of my birth control for 30 days before I could have my band put in. I am assuming that has something to do with fear of blood clotting or something. The problem is that I have been sooooo moody the past couple of weeks! :cursing: I've been so ill AND....I've been starving, which has REALLY screwed up my pre-op diet! Has anyone had this experience and does anyone know when/if I can start back after surgery?

Thanks

I'm definitely curious about this as well! I turn into :huh2: when I'm off the pill.

I thought they wanted you on BC. I had my son almost 9 months ago and I had an IUD put in. That was $600. I'll be upset if I have to have it taken out and put back in again!

I had to go off of my b/c for a month for the surgery, but my problem was bleeding. I bled non-stop till a month after surgery.

I guess the only answer is really.. get through it? This is just a blip of time in the scheme of things.

Focus on your pre-op diet, that is extremely important. When you feel overwhelmed with hunger, grab something allowed on your list.

In the seminar I was told the same thing. I take the pill to regulate my monsterous periods.. I got worried and talked to the surgeon before the surgery (months before) He assured me that it would be fine continue taking it. I never missed a pill leading up to or after surgery..

Thankfully he let me continue or it takes months to get back to being regulated and normal flows. My surgeons office is always available to answer questions. Pick up the phone it's a quick call to see what they say :cursing:

Good luck!

I thought they wanted you on BC. I had my son almost 9 months ago and I had an IUD put in. That was $600. I'll be upset if I have to have it taken out and put back in again!

I have an IUD (mirena) as well and my doctor said no, it did not have to be removed.

Well ladies, here I am different. I was never told to stop taking birth control even before surgery. they new i was on it and i have had no complications because of it. i wouldn't say just start taking it again but let your doctor know whats up.

I have been taking the same birth control pill for years. I was never told to stop taking them for my lap band surgery.

I was not told either to stop taking it in fact they even told me it was ok to take the day of my surgery..

I was told that I had to stop it for 30 days also or I could stay on it and give myself injections of something for blood clots. I chose to go off of it for the month. I think that I started back on it as soon as I was done with the surgery. Like within the next week.

The pill carries a risk of blood clots. Talk to your surgeon if you feel you must take it; but realize you are increasing your risk of clots post op.

Not to be a fearmonger, but it's really a good idea to go off of it, even if your doc OK's it.

Blood clots are a serious risk.

I also had to do the injections...

This Friday a co-worker of mine went home from work and found his wife dead in bed.. she had a hysterectomy a couple months ago (she is only 35) and a blood clot went to her heart and she had a heart attack Friday.

I just think it's way better to suffer for a month and get it over with, and reduce the risk. Blood clots aren't something to mess with.

I would talk to your dr. about it. My surgeon said under no circumstances was I to stop the pill. I even took it the morning of surgery. Make sure you're using a back up method of birth control!

Edited August 27, 200818 yr by kdlee

It is VERY dangerous, per my surgeon (haven't researched it) to get pregnant the first year postop. It is also Dangerous to take the pill when you are going to have surgery because of blood clots.

We people do many dangerous things every day. The best bet is to talk to your surgeon and make an informed decision.

It's only "very dangerous" to get pregnant post-op if you had RNY due to malabsorption.

There's no serious risks for pregnancy with the band aside from, you wouldn't want to get pregnant right after any surgery with stitches I guess..

Emotionally you probably wouldn't want that change, but there are other ways to avoid pregnancy..

Just saying if you're scared of risks of problems with pregnancy vs. blood clotting...

NOPE I rechecked notes. Our surgeon says no pregnancy with the band for 1 year, risk of death etc is too big. I'll go with what he says; however, it's not an issue for me personally.