I was reading through the binder I was given on Friday at my consultation. There is mention about stopping all medications...including Birth Control??? :biggrin::eek::biggrin:

WAIT WHAT???

Did anyone else stop taking their BC for 90days before and after their surgery? I NEED my BC otherwise I am an emotional train wreck plus the stress of the surgery and new life style... Please please please tell me I don't have to give up my BC....:biggrin:

I have never been told to stop my birth control. I took it the day of surgery. I can maybe see for a few days maybe before or after because of the risk of blood clots but not for 90 days.

I think it is probably because these type of meds cause an increased chance of clots forming at/after surgery. However I would have thought that the risk was minimal and the risks if you become pregnant are far greater.

This is one you should discuss with your surgeon.

I had to stop mine as well. It is very important you do what your doctor tells you. My surgeon said it is because it can cause you to "bleed out" during surgery... his words exactly.

I was emotional, pissy, all of those things, but its the sacrifice we have to make. :biggrin:

Yep! Mine was 30 days prior...but 90 days is better. And the risk of clotting IS NOT MINIMAL like the other poster said. It is a serious risk in the first place because you will not be moving around much immediately after surgery, and oral birth control methods increase this already existing theat.

My doctor told me I could restart my birth control at my two week post-op appt.

I had to stop some meds, but BC was ok. Be very specific when you ask your doctor because not all brands are made the same.

I had to stop aspirin a week before and BC two days before, but started BC back up the day after. Discuss with dr. Doesnt seem there should be such drastic differences.... but when all is said and done, you gotta do as they say...

hmmm my doctor didnt say anything to me about birth control when I had my surgery. He knew I was taking it but I guess wasnt concerned. Just my luck that I lost my pack of birth control for about 2 weeks around the time I had surgery so didnt take it anyways lol

I have to stop 2 months before and 2 months after. It increases the risk of blood clots, which is the main cause of death in this type of surgery. This is something I wouldn't mess with. I'd rather be an emotional wreck than get a blood clot and die.

My doctor requires you to be off birth control a month before and a month after surgery because it increases the risks of blood clots.

I was never told I had to stop taking my BC pills...

Every Dr is different...

My surgeon says to stop BCP 14 days before surgery. I would definitely bring it up w/your surgeon because he/she may be able to vary the amount of time you have to be off of it depending on how high or low of a dose you take. Or, maybe you could go on a really low dose hormonal contraception (like nuvaring) and maybe that would give you enough hormone so you feel OK, but not so much that it puts you at risk for the surgery. I hope your surgeon can work w/you on this. Best of luck to you!

Since everyone here is on BC can you tell me if the pill is small enough to take whole after you have the procedure?

I have the Mirena (IUC) and there was no discussion of concern.

OK so .... I am working on all of my preop stuff... I go in on Feb 18th for surgery (Wahoooo) BUT... the whole no BC thing is really freaking me out. I am emotionally unstable without it. It SUCKS big time... I can do 30 days before ok no problem but NINETY days after, I really don't think so ... I really wish I could talk to my surgeon about this I still haven't had a one on one with him. So frustrating... I had surgery to remove a tumor in my nail bed and it was a similar length procedure no issues with having to give up my BC... It's just really frustrating. I am giving up my emotional eating day by day but if I cant be on my BC I am REALLY going to have problems...

Wow. I really didn't know that. My doctor knows (or should know) that I'm taking medicine. Two are for depression and one is Nuvaring. No one is supposed to just stop taking depression medication.... I guess I'll email the doctor tomorrow...