Ladies-HELP!

[Kelsey Marie 49]

Okay, so some basic information up front.

• I'm 24
• I started taking Seasonique birth control the October after I turned 18.
• I've always been very regimented about taking it, only missing about 5 pills in all that time.
• I haven't had sex since March.
• Before I had the RNY, both a urine and blood test confirmed I wasn't pregnant.

So okay, with Seasonique, you get your period once every 3 months. I started my current pack in the beginning of August, so I should have my scheduled period at the end of October. That's how it's always worked for me. And they are always short, light, simple periods that last 3-5 days.

I had my surgery on August 27. Two weeks after that, I got a period. At no time did I miss any of my pills. My surgeon said that my surgery was late enough in the day that I could take the morning of the 27th and it was small enough that I could resume taking it the next day. The period lasted a whole 7 days; it was bloody, like a scene out of Carrie, I was an emotional wreck, and the cramps! I thought the cramps were going to kill me. I talked to my mom and a friend who's a nurse, and we all agreed that since I just had a huge surgery, it messed with my hormones, overrode the birth control and caused the period. I could live with that.

Then, another 2 weeks passed (this is the time of the month I would get a period if I wasn't on birth control; in the past, I have spotted during this time for a few days, which is totally normal). I got another Carrie-worthy period, well, still am. I just started my last month of birth control, which I'm hoping will end it. But I also know that it means that in two weeks (if everything goes as it normally would), I'm going to be an emotional wreck with horrible cramps. I don't know what the period will act like.

I'm just wondering if any other women had anything similar after their surgeries? I'm not going to lie, part of the appeal of the Seasonique is so I don't have to buy tampons every month.

[leanne1126 84]

You're not alone. I have had a Mirena IUD since 2012 and my periods had stopped. I had surgery May 1st and ever since then I have breakthru bleeding, periods that last a week and pop up whenever they feel like it. I have found that it's worse when I exercise so I need to be protected. I talked to my OBGYN and they said it's just the change in hormones due to the weight loss. I can feel your pain, it sucks!! I'm hoping that once my weight stabilizes, my menstural cycle will as well. Good luck!!

[Kelsey Marie 49]

@@leanne1126 I feel better knowing that I'm not alone. I've thought about going to my Gyno, but I have to find a new one because the one I was using moved, so it's an extra hassle. I'm tired of getting my period. Thank you for letting me know I'm not alone.

[lsheshequin 83]

I also have the Mirena IUD. Up to surgery my periods were extremely light, usually only 1-2 days in length, and only every 3 months or so. Of course as luck would have it, I got my period the day of my surgery! But then, I had light, breakthrough periods every 2-3 weeks after surgery. I'm about 4 and 1/2 months post-op now and everything seems to have calmed down again - haven't had any bleeding for about 3 weeks now so I'm hoping it's all gone back to normal. I was alarmed at first but it is definitely due to the changes in hormones associated with rapid weight loss.

[gpmed 623]

That definitely sounds like a nightmare. Perhaps your hormones are still out of whack from surgery or the big reduction in calories post-op.

Do you have a good gynecologist? You sound like you're having a rough enough time to loop him/her in.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the type of birth control you're taking is a pill you take continuously for three months? Before surgery, my gyno told me birth control pills aren't recommended after RNY because of absorption issues. Maybe your pills aren't being absorbed? I switched to nexplanon (arm implant that lasts three years) before surgery and have been doing well.

Hope you find some relief!

Edited September 28, 2015 by gpmed

[leanne1126 84]

@@gpmed Good point I didn't even think about the pill aspect. I have an IUD so I wasn't too worried about the pills and absorption. Makes sense though but is also scary in the same regard. I would hate to see someone stuggle with an unexpectant pregnancy post op

Edited September 28, 2015 by leanne1126

[Kelsey Marie 49]

@@gpmed My gyno moved earlier this year, so she set me up with my last prescription of the the birth control and that was the last time I saw her, and it was before I went in to see the surgeon to start the RNY, or any WLS, process. And until this, it hadn't been on the top of my list to find a new one.

I'm not so much concerned about pregnancy, you have to have sex to get pregnant. But I do worry that I'm habitually taking a pill that's not working. Although something that lasts for 3 years worries me as well. I don't plan on having kids in the next 3 years, but what if I change my mind? That's always been my worry with implants, I can't just stop it at the end of a pack. But that's a whole different thing!

[Kelsey Marie 49]

@@gpmed Did your gyno say like they are never ever recommended, or just for a little while after?

[LittleBunnyFooFoo 27]

@@gpmed Did your gyno say like they are never ever recommended, or just for a little while after?

I was told never again because of the absorption site. Non oral forms of contraceptives were the best bet in conjunction with the barrier method.

IUDs aren't all bad. I was pregnant the first month after I had mine removed.

[gpmed 623]

@@gpmed Did your gyno say like they are never ever recommended, or just for a little while after?

Not recommended ever afterward. I didn't feel like I wanted an IUD, so nexplanon turned out to be a good option for me. My doc said I could go on the patch when I got down to 200 pounds, but I may just stick with nexplanon.

[Kelsey Marie 49]

Well my boss is very sympathetic to my multi-periods and gave me the name of her gyno, who was a guy, but there is a female in the practice also and I can get in to see her at the end of October. So I have a little bit of a wait, but at least I know I'm not alone in this and it gives me some time to do some research into other forms of birth control.

[gpmed 623]

PS If it helps at all, nexplanon can be removed at any time. It requires a small in-office procedure to insert or remove.

[gpmed 623]

Well my boss is very sympathetic to my multi-periods and gave me the name of her gyno, who was a guy, but there is a female in the practice also and I can get in to see her at the end of October. So I have a little bit of a wait, but at least I know I'm not alone in this and it gives me some time to do some research into other forms of birth control.

Awesome! Good luck!!

[leanne1126 84]

pills were a no go with my doc well

[nervous nana 98]

You're not alone. I have had a Mirena IUD since 2012 and my periods had stopped. I had surgery May 1st and ever since then I have breakthru bleeding, periods that last a week and pop up whenever they feel like it. I have found that it's worse when I exercise so I need to be protected. I talked to my OBGYN and they said it's just the change in hormones due to the weight loss. I can feel your pain, it sucks!! I'm hoping that once my weight stabilizes, my menstural cycle will as well. Good luck!!

I have the Mirena too and I really wanted to ask you if you had slow weight loss that you think the Mirena caused? I am having RNY in 2 weeks and I am scared the Mirena will cause me not to lose. Whats your experience? Good luck on your journey and I do hope your cycles disappear like before, that's why I love mine so good!! Lol