Women: Horrible Period - PCOS related or just wls?

Okay - I see some of you posting about your "female" problems and I am having the mother of all female problems right now. I have always had screwy cycles, so it's no surprise I have this problem, but the intensity has me a mess. History: 5 days after surgery I got my period. Exactly 1 month later I got another. I didn't have one for a couple months, then I started in and was ON my period for 2 months with only a handful of days where I didn't bleed. Now I am dealing with cramps that are as intense as my miscarriage/labor pains and am bleeding like a stuck pig. I'm using double protection and am having to change every hour. So since we can't take ibuprofen, and Tylenol isn't doing squat, I had to down a huge vicodin my DH had left over...it was a high potency one but it still hurts. Not as intense...but still there. Anyone else care to share what is going on with them? I'm sure this too shall pass, but I'd like to see a measuring stick here so maybe I can get an idea of everyone else's experiences. If it doesn't get better for me very soon, I'm going to have to at least make an appointment to get some pain meds. Can't hack this - that's for sure! Dina

You poor dear! Makes me thankful my WLS came with a hysterectomy!! Joy

My periods are bad. They were bad before the surgery and still are bad. I miss work. This last time I had cramps but the the bleeding was really heavy. I usually go see my PCP and she gives me a shot of Toradol. That really helps, the first day is teh worst for me. After the first day, I just take vioxx and it helps alot. I feel for you. I know what you are going thru and it sucks!! I hope you feel better soon. Rhonda -56 PS: I am the queen of slow losers!!!

My periods before surgery were never on time always changing etc, but never bad. Now after surgery they are horrible. I have the worst cramps ever the bleeding is heavy, I mean cramps like curled up in a ball cramps. I have been bleeding and or spotting for about 3 weeks now and the last week it has been the pink tingey stuff you know like when you are getting ready to start. I think that is one of the reasons I am not losing, and the bleeding isnt bad enough for any tampon or a pad but just bad enough to ruin underwear *sigh* ~Nicole

I had a hysterectomy last aug so i dont have the problems anymore but i think you should go to the dr and see if they cant give you a shot to stop it. I had problems like you are talking about after one of my girls and they had to give me shots to stop the bleeding. LaRhonda-75

Dina, if you're changing pads hourly, you need to call your OB/Gyn STAT! Please do, and let us know what's going on! Hugs, -Marcie 281/214/150

Hi Dina - Mine have been pretty heavy lately -- with similar quantity for at least two days of every cycle that is similar to your's. I bleed through a super plus tampon within an hour for two days and then it lightens up. My cramps have been bad too so I called my surgeon since in the past I had always taken Aleve. He was fine with me taking Aleve as long as it was only periodically for cramping and was not a regular (i.e. weekly) thing. I used to take 4 Aleve and now I only take 2 or 3 and I've noticed I absorb them much faster. I'm making an appointment with my OB/GYN though and going to see if I can go back on the pill or a shot to see if that eases up on the bleeding(I had my tubes tied a year and half ago during a c-section). Just my experience Lissa

Hi Dina! Oh I feel ya. It sucks having periods so much! I just got off my 3rd period this "month" and its only been like 3 days and I am sitting here typing this feeling crampy AGAIN! I have been lucky and the cramps havent been too bad and the heaviness hasnt been too awful but the bloating and weakness and dizziness and just feeling all and all run down really sucks!!! (and thats with me exercising every day! I get home and Im wiped out!) I sure hope that our bodies work themselves out. Maybe this is just what happens around 4-5 months out. Our bodies seem to be doing the same thing...I was like you...got my period after surgery, skipped a month or so and got it permanently it seems! My OBGYN said that our hormones are all screwed up due to the surgery... I want to know what the solution is!!! Im beat! Plus it doesnt help with the weight loss ...being all bloaty and retaining fluid due to being on it. well I sure hope this crazy cycle stops for all of us!! Elizabeth M

Girl - I hear ya! I've had screwy cycles ever since my 8 year old was born, but with the birth of my 18 month old, they got even worse. I experienced heavy, heavy bleeding (and I'm anemic, so that's not helpful!) that would last for 8 - 10 days and I would cramp worse than any labor pains I recall. I finally decided to see my OB/GYN about the problem. After doing numerous tests looking for cysts, fibroids, cancer (ee****tc., they came to the realization that I'm just a heavy bleeder...duh! So, two weeks ago I underwent an Endometrial Ablation. They basically electrocuted the lining of my uterus and scarred it so that I wouldn't have any lining to shed, thereby not having any more periods. Now, my GYN told me that I may still have light periods and may still experience PMS, but in 85% or so of the cases, people that have had this procedure no longer have any periods to speak of at all. I hope I'm in that percentage. The procedure was done under general, so I was out. The actual procedure only took about 90 seconds but including the prep (dilation of the cervix) and such, I was under for only about 30 minutes. I came home afterwards and had a little cramping (took my Tylenol 3) and since then I've been great. No cramping, no bleeding. Yeah! So - go see your GYN. These things usually don't get better with time. It could have something to do w/ your WLS, but it could just be age appropriate. However (and I just thought of this), if you're still planning on having more kiddos, you can't have this procedure done. I had my tubes tied after my 2nd, so I KNOW I'm done! Hope this helps. There's a lot on the internet about endometrial ablation if you're interested in looking into it. It is a wonderful tool to get rid of the excess bleeding and pain every month (or more!). Good luck! If you have any questions, feel free to email me! Take care. -Wendy

Hi Dina, my post-surgery periods were absolute HELL until I started back on the pill a month ago. I had labor-pain cramps, heavy bleeding, and a ton of weight gain each time. The GOOD news is that I've had 2 periods since resuming the pill, and they were both barely noticeable in comparison!