A Question for the Female Banders

[designgrrl 0]

I've had some female issues since being banded on August 11th. I've read up on common issues and most of them are lost of menstrual cycle or often women become MORE regular.

2 weeks before my cycle began unexpectedly. Then it quit after a week and I had a week off before my surgery. THEN, the day after my surgery my cycle began in full force again and has lasted for over two weeks. :biggrin: My normal cycle should have began next Monday.

I was like clockwork before! All my life I was like clockwork. What is going on?

I feel so tired and weak and surely this must play some role in it all.

Has anyone else had this problem? When is enough, enough? I'm not sure what my gyno can really do... I was going to wait it out because I thought it was all weight-loss related, but perhaps it's not?

[honk 780]

By all means talk with either your PCP or Sugeon's office. My personal thought is it could be due to the blood thinners you got pre and post surgery. While I have not had any cycle changes yet banded 2 weeks ago; I have had issues when on oral blood thinners. I had a bloodclot a year ago (mini stroke) and was put on bloodthinner for 9 months. At that point I was take off them and put on asprin so they could run a special test. In those 11 months my cycle moved back entire month! Basically kept moving back several days every month. I am back on bloodthinners for now to see how my clotting changes as I loose weight. Not happy becuase they make me drowsy and my periods are worse (more painful and stronger.)

[Twinkles 7]

It could be all sorts of things. I would run it by your Dr because if you bleed too much, you run the risk of anemia and with the reduced Vitamins and minerals already in your diet due to surgery, it is probably best to have it at least checked out.

My first period came out of left field after surgery. It started when it was supposed to, but I usually have a headache, backache, sore boobs, cramps about 4-7 days before. I had no symptoms whatsoever, so kind of thought it would be delayed due to the stress of the surgery. Nope, showed up when it was supposed to, I just didn't think it would due to the lack of all my typical symptoms.

[marykb 0]

I had an ablation last year, so while mine were regular, they usually only lasted a couple of days and were very light. I noticed after the surgery, I either haven't had one at all, or they are even lighter than before. Plus, they aren't regular at alll. I'm not complaining that they are lighter, but I did enjoy them being regular.

[Manda87 3]

I had my period a week before surgery. Then a couple of days after my period, I got it again and it was very heavy. It lasted for 2 weeks. I think the anesthesia had something to do with it. 4 months after my surgery, my periods are pretty normal.

[stefaniwg 172]

If you are feeling weak you may need to up your Iron intake with how frequent your cycles are you may becoming anemic. I'm not sure why you are having this problem but I would talk to your gyno, your surgeon probably won't be able to do anything for that. I am about 5 weeks post op. My last day of my cycle was the day of surgery. I had my next cycle about 3 weeks later and it was very different. Like someone else said, I had no symptoms when I normally do. It was also very cloudy looking and lighter which was weird since it's normally heavy. Are you taking any type of b/c? Since that is suppose to even your cycles out maybe your gyno will put you on some.

[spoiltmom 44]

I'd go ahead and call your gyno. 3 years ago I started dieting and lost 40 pounds. My cycle got very irregular and my Gyno said it should have been more regular and not less regular. It lasted 2 weeks out of every month.

[mumof2boys 71]

I used to have very regular cycles that were on time, light and about 3 days. I was banded in April 2007 and during my weight loss I switched birth control and was taking the bill where you only have a cycle every three months and that worked well. Well, I have not had a cycle since August 2008, despite the fact that I am on regular birth control and should be having a cycle every month. My gyno says it's alright but I am starting to worry a bit. When I go back in a couple of months I'm going to discuss it with him more.

[honk 780]

Started 3-4 days early first cycle after surgery. Off course today was my first post op with the surgeon so I up about 1.5 pounds from Water retention. Grrr.

[clohse 0]

I was banded on Aug 13. After the surgery, my period came about a week early and was slightly lighter and shorter than normal. (I have been charting mine because of some irregularity way back in March.) I hadn't thought about the blood thinners causing it to start early. Interesting. If it is troubling you, or you are feeling anemic, you should definitely talk to one of your doctors about it.