Heavy Period Post Op

[June80 1]

Has anyone experienced very heavy period flow after surgery? This is my first period since the surgery 4 weeks ago. Yes, I had it during surgery! It was the worst.
My flow is very heavy and I’m exhausted from it. Any insight as to when this may end?

[catwoman7 11,233]

a lot of women experience screwed up menstrual cycles for the first few months post surgery. Supposedly estrogen is stored in fat cells, and during rapid weight loss, it's released. It'll stabilize after awhile - probably when the weight loss starts slowing down (in a few weeks or months). A lot of women experience mood swings the first few weeks/months, too - for the same reason.

[ms.sss 15,782]

*raises hand*

My first period after surgery was VERY heavy (compared to pre-wls) and very LONG (it lasted over a week!). It continued (and still does - I'm two years out) to be comparatively heavier than before surgery, but the duration has gone back down to "normal" (for me, that's about 3-4 days).

Another thing of note is that it comes like clockwork. I used to be very regular before I became obese, but then it became very irregular after the weight gain. The 1-2 years before surgery I would go months without it. I thought I was going through menopause or something, but I guess it was just being fat?

Edited to add: I'm 49

Edited November 13, 2020 by ms.sss

[WishMeSmaller 1,274]

1 hour ago, catwoman7 said:

a lot of women experience screwed up menstrual cycles for the first few months post surgery. Supposedly estrogen is stored in fat cells, and during rapid weight loss, it's released. It'll stabilize after awhile - probably when the weight loss starts slowing down (in a few weeks or months). A lot of women experience mood swings the first few weeks/months, too - for the same reason.

This^^^^

Estrogen is in fact stored in fat cells and so levels do tend to rise during rapid weight loss. I had a hysterectomy about nine years ago, so I did not have to deal with the crazy periods. I do still have ovaries though, and plenty of estrogen, apparently. My moods were all over the place for the first two months. My husband is so glad we are past that 😂

Now he gets to look forward to menopause. I am 47. 🤣

[Arabesque 7,525]

I had the reverse happen the hormonal flush ended my menopausal symptoms. Goodbye breakthrough hot flushes. Then they came back when I hit goal. Waaah!