WARNING: personal female question related to surgery...

ok... I'm giving a fair warning to anyone reading this - it is a personal female question: I have been on birth control pills for a few years now and before surgery, I could completely forget my pill for the day and just take it the next day and be fine - granted I understand this affects the reliability of the pill's effectiveness, but I noticed no problems... NOW, since surgery, I missed my pills for the time that I was in the hospital and by the time I got back from the hospital, I had started my period again - when I had just had it right before my surgery... and since surgery, I find that my period is often irregular... and before, it was ALWAYS right on time with my pills... if I am even just a little late taking my pill, I often start spotting very soon and can't make it stop - I just have to give up and throw the rest of that month's pills out, have my period, and start all over... is this normal after surgery!?!??!?!!? it's DRIVING ME NUTS!!!!! I'm almost ready to just give up and not take birth control anymore - I've heard it's not as effective right after surgery ANYWAY! any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!

I'm clueless- but maybe some of it has to do with the malapsorption? I was told to keep an eye on my thyroid- that they might have to up my meds due to the malapsorption... keep us posted- Holly

I have had a tubal, so I don't know about the pill, but I do know that my cycle has been very different post op. I have periods more frequently, and they are much heavier. I know that the weightloss process does a number on you hormone levels, so maybe there is some connection? Either way, I hope you get a fix for it soon! Belle

Hi - I have an IUD - so I don't have have the added extra worry about the malabsorbtion - That freak me out each month. I do have mid month spotting though, so since surgery my period has not been the same either..... HOpe you can find an answer.... Marta

I was told that after the surgery, I wouldn't be able to take the pill anymore. They switched me over to the patch which I'm not exactly in love with. They also said that since I'm still over 200 pounds, it's not as effective so I absolutely have to use a back-up method of birth control. My first cycle of the patch only gave me three weeks before I had a period, I made it nearly 4 the second cycle.

I also wanted to add mine are definately heavier and more frequent!!!! UGH!!! I miss my Advil!!! Holly

phew! at least I'm not alone... I was getting really irritated with this frequent period thing!!! it was really irregular right after surgery and I just dealt with it, but then it evened out again so I thought it would be fine, but now the past 2 have decided to show up early! last month I forgot to take a pill and that threw it off so I dismissed it as that, but this month it just randomly showed up.... hopefully things will all go back to normal once I lose all my weight and stabilize back at a 'norm' ... I'm also hoping my shedding slows down... my hair is coming out in clumps... I'm going thru some wacky bodily changes but it's all been worth it for how much better I feel about being a much healthier weight... I've gotten thru some of the worst... now I am getting into new stages of healing from surgery and trying to get used to new weirdo side effects haha...

I'll jump in here with the wacky period. I have had one nearly non-stop since surgery . No joke, I'm really thinking I should've invested in...well..you get the gist. I don't have much pain but it goes from heavy to light or vice/versa in a few hours. The only resolution they've given me is to get on the pill but I'm really trying to be a minimalist when it comes to the pills mostly because I think 8 is enough now. For reference though I do have PCOS so this kind of makes sense to me. Adrianne

Hi, I tried to stay on the pill after my surgery. I just couldn't... I had breakthrough bleeding all the time. Finally after having a "period" for over a month, I went off the pill. My Doctor suggested the Nuva Ring which I'm now using. I didn't want to give up the pill (loved it). The Nuva Ring is working out great. At first I thought I'd "loose" it. No yet! Good Luck! Joanne