Forced to be put on birth control after surgery?

[tfarr 270]

My friend just had the gastric by pass and was made to go on birth control

For he first 18 months. I totally understand why, we would never be able to take in enough calories to sustain the baby. I get it so please no negative comments. I was not told about this and we go to he same office.

I have children and do not believe in birth control.

Only 2 lol but, why was I not told about this on the beginning? I feel like I've wasted my time and money on this and I'm almost done my requirements.

Is this a requirement for everyone??

[Miss Mac 6,262]

I am past childbearing age, but just wanted to mention that there was nothing about it in my bariatric materials.

[jenngottaloseit 89]

i work in health care and i know that we are not allowed to make anyone take something they dont agree to. Now with that being said, i was not told i had to take birth control, i was just told that my husband and i needed to take measure to prevent pregnancy from taking place, so i took that to mean wearing condoms of which other forms people may use. I have not been able to get pregnant so i was pretty against taking the pill but when i stopped and thought about it, i knew that i would not be healthy enough early on to have a baby and make sure i did everything to ensure a healthy pregnancy. I hope that you are able to continue on with your surgery and that you can find a solution that works for you.

[beautysleeve559 69]

That's weird that they would not mention that part to you. As they do prefer you not to get pregnant the first 18 months post surgery I don't think it's a requirement to have to be on birth control. As long as you are being safe I feel it's ok. Me personally I would rather use protection and stay safe rather than use birth control because it throws my body all out of wack. But I wouldn't just give up on it either. You have already started your requirements I say you ask your surgeons office will it be required of you to take it or what are your other options

[BitterSweet* 835]

They can not force you to take anything you do not want to take after surgery. They can't even force you to take the things you ARE supposed to take for that matter, like Vitamins.

Your religious beliefs are your own. The protocols in place to qualify for surgery and those set forth for after surgery are generalized and intended to be the best practices for optimal outcomes.

If you've done all this work already, simply agree to take them and then simply don't take them. They won't be checking your estrogen and progesterone levels to see if you are or not. You'll have to figure out something though. Surgery by itself messes up your hormones; but weight loss surgery in particular will cause significant fluctuations because those hormones are stored in fat and get released as you lose weight. Your cycles and ovulation will be thrown off and the Rythmn Method won't be a reliable alternative.

[Kindle 8,667]

No doctor can force you to take anything even if it's in your best interest. But I guess he can decline to do your surgery if you don't agree to his conditions. And when you say you are against birth control, does this mean condoms and diaphragms/spermicides or just iud's, pills, vasectomies, and other hormonal or surgical methods? Just asking because getting pregnant too soon postop would be unhealthy and unsafe for both you and your baby. Short of abstinence, I wouldn't know what to suggest you do to be safe.

Edited August 17, 2014 by Kindle

[LipstickLady 25,682]

Forced?

[tfarr 270]

Thank you all very much for your responses.

It is odd it wasn't mentioned to me in the beginning either. I've been thinking only ride home tonight how awful I would feel if I did end

Up pregnant after surgery. I couldn't live with myself if i was unable to sustain life because of my selfishness.

I'm so lost now with this.

We have used condoms, that's it.

I'm 38 and feel as though I'm done having children. My son will be 4 in April and my daughter 2 in October. I had them late. I never thought I could have children, so they are my everything.

I have to call the office

Monday and get the low down on this birth control thing.

[JerzyTomato74 91]

No one can force you to take any kind of medication. They can suggest it if you are going to be sexually active but they can't force you to. I asked my surgeon how long to wait before trying to conceive and he said minimum one year. So we'll just have to take proper precautions.

[HalloweenBaby24 447]

Just putting it out there, It's not impossible to grow a normal healthy baby early on after surgery.. A few people I know got pregnant within the first 4 months, one was 6 weeks pregnant when she had the surgery (had no idea) and gave birth to a healthy child. I don't recommend it, but if it did come up don't feel as though you are guilty.

As far as birth control goes my surgeon didn't say anything about it, I emailed the insurance coordinator a few weeks back and asked if I should keep taking it or stop 2months before surgery like a lot of people online say they do. She said "You'll find out about that during the pre-op class, that was last Tuesday and it was never mentioned and dumb me forget to bring it up. I feel as though my surgeon breaks all these rules like my surgery is a same day procedure, none of his patients have a liquid diet before surgery or a drain afterwards. So he probably had no rule regarding birth control.

[motherof5 364]

I agree. I was told that I could not tke my mini pill after the surgery though and use an alternative.

[BitterSweet* 835]

@@HalloweenBaby24, real talk.........your surgeon scares me.

@@tfarr, if you feel as though you are done having children and don't believe in birth control (I'm taking that to mean any and all forms - including getting a tubal ligation), how do you intend to manage not getting pregnant for the next 10 years?

[HalloweenBaby24 447]

@@BitterSweet

I feel a little more comfortable with it now that I took the class and talked to the nurse practitioner that works with him.

He's been in business for a number of years and has a good reputation from other medical professionals and people I talk to on here who have used him.

I know other surgeons don't do the drain, but it was surprising to me that none of his patients have a liquid diet before surgery..He simply doesn't believe it them.

[BitterSweet* 835]

Thank you. I am so glad to hear that, I really am. I too am surprised by the lack of a liquid diet, but as this surgery becomes even more popular, that may become the norm. Who knows. You could always do the liquid fast for a few days even if it's not required. It does shrink the liver (as I'm sure you know!) and I'd feel better knowing my liver wouldn't be in the way as much once the sharp instruments were inside my body.

I'll be looking for updates for you HalloweenBaby24 and I wish you the fastest and easiest recovery ever!

[HalloweenBaby24 447]

@@BitterSweet

I plan on doing at least a week of the liquid diet on my own because of that very reason, plus might as well get into the flow of things beforehand..

I also just went ahead and ended my birth control on my own, I'll ask him about restarting it after surgery.

Thanks for thinking of me

Edited August 17, 2014 by HalloweenBaby24