I had my period the week prior to surgery. I'm on the birth control pill and have never had any problems. No co-morbidities, I'm the healthiest fat person you'll see. Anyhow, I wasn't allowed to take my bcp on the day of surgery but have been taking them ever since. But my period has started again, like a full blown period. Should I be concerned? I'm going to call my doc in the morning but just wanted to see if anyone else out there had this happen.

I had my period the week prior to surgery. I'm on the birth control pill and have never had any problems. No co-morbidities, I'm the healthiest fat person you'll see. Anyhow, I wasn't allowed to take my bcp on the day of surgery but have been taking them ever since. But my period has started again, like a full blown period. Should I be concerned? I'm going to call my doc in the morning but just wanted to see if anyone else out there had this happen.

I used to have a pretty irregular cycle, but have started on the 20th for the past several months, including April (had surgery April 30) but I have not had a period since surgery either. I know I am not pregnant. I wonder if it has something to do with the stress of surgery on the body? Curious to hear if any others experienced this. :party:

When was your surgery? I was banded 5/20. That day I had a light show that turned into a full week period. This was even though I take a BCP straight through (don't stop for a week) and didn't miss a day. Sometimes if I miss a pill, I will have some break through bleeding. Also, if I lose significant weight I can get a period out of the blue. It is something about estrogen being stored in fat tissue.

When I was 15, I had an appendectomy. I got a period out of the blue with that and they told me then that that is not uncommon with stomach surgery.

Here is how my doctor explained it to me…

It will take awhile for your periods to become regular.

First off women (especially obese women) store estrogen in there fat cells, so when you start losing weight the extra estrogen is released in to your system causing heavy or just irregular periods.

Secondly a dramatic decrease and sustained decease in your daily caloric intake can actually make your period stop or skip months.

My doctor said to expect my body to go through a variety of responses over the course of 1 year post banding. YAH ME L

Hope this helps

I have had 2 cycles since my band on 4/2/09- Both were major doozies and very heavy with bad PMS stuff- I never had this before.....:party:

That's all very interesting, thanks for the info.

I'm going to talk to my gyn about other methods of birth control. I hate my period and am past the age where I want to have kids (have one, love him dearly, but he's 21, I don't want another one now). I don't want a full blown hysterectomy or anything. Does the IUD stop you from getting a period? just curious.

I have had two heavy periods in a three week period now.........I was told it was the estrogen and shock of surgery. Never been so regular in my life thought!! Not sure I am liking it...........LOL.

That's all very interesting, thanks for the info.

I'm going to talk to my gyn about other methods of birth control. I hate my period and am past the age where I want to have kids (have one, love him dearly, but he's 21, I don't want another one now). I don't want a full blown hysterectomy or anything. Does the IUD stop you from getting a period? just curious.

I had the IUD Mirena, and it did not stop my period. Although it did lighten it quite a bit. I bleed 2-3 days instead of 5-7 days. I had a complication with it and it expelled itself over a three month very painful length of time where no one could find out what was wrong even after ultrasounds and x-rays. I have patients that ask about it and I always tell them about my experience (which there are a large number of) and let them decide. Good luck!

Once my band started working (took a while cuz I had a port leak and had to have it replaced), I went 6-7 weeks without a period and then it was really light.