Ladies - Anyone experiencing screwed up menstruals???

I had my surgery on June 6th & have not had a normal period since. Usually, however, they had been running around 14 - 21 days... sometimes starting one day, stopping for 2 or 3 and then coming on like gang busters. This month has been totally different, however.... and I'm getting worried!!! If I were to have started on a normal 28 day cycle from the date of my last cycle, I should have started on Wednesday. Now... I have been experiencing both regular cramps and lower back cramping for over a week now... feeling like I am going to start any minute, but still no show!!! The numbers on the scale have been stuck for over a week (normal for me at period time), so I felt that with that sign and the cramping, all was going o.k. However, now that I am late, I am getting EXTREMELY worried.... by the way, I turn 45 in November - could all these abnormalities be related to surgery??? Could having this major of a surgery throw me into early menopause??? Or, is all this just normal due to the fact that I've lost 96 lbs. (75 since the surgery)??? Is anyone else out there experiencing difficulties along these lines??? (I know - I am giving myself through the weekend before I go purchase a test... trying not to freak out at this point!) Thanks for "listening"... Karen

KAREN this is very normal during rapid weight loss for periods to get messed up. IN a few months it should and will straighten up. WHEN we loose fat we are releasing hormones....and that makes our cycles wacked. REGULAR people tend to get irregular and those with irregular periods and even PCOS get regular. GO FIGURE.. this was also a big complaint on an atkins board i belonged too when i was doing atkins! SO i know this is normal! HANG on it will straighten out and i know it sucks.... LISA PS: we can also be extra fertile in this time! SO i know maybe test urself too.

Thanks, Lisa, for sharing your words of wisdom... it does help knowing that others are going through similar things! I do worry about the "extra fertile" component (obviously not enough to abstain from you-know-what!) however, do take precautions. Since my husband is 50 & I turn 45 in November, we are talking about more certain/permanent methods... Not only can I not imagine getting pregnant at my age, I know that it wouldn't be a good thing with being just 4 months out from surgery!!! For everyone's sake, I pray that it is just my hormones going bonkers. I really appreciate your support! Thanks again, Karen

Oh, Yeah! I know what you mean!! Mine almost seems like things got reversed. I have a week with no bleeding then start very light and get worse for 3 weeks. Gahhhhh! Very frustrating. But, I know that it is a function of the weight loss and should even out eventually. Good luck, Keetara Germantown, MD Lap RNY, 6-15-2005, 150 cm bypassed Dr. Barry Greene Sept. 2004 327 Highest 6-14-2005 265 Day before Surgery Current 205 Goal 145 Total lost -122

Hi, Keetara! Thanks for your reply... it definitely helps to know that this could all be a "side affect" of surgery. Wow!!! I can't imagine 3 weeks of going through a cycle. I guess what makes it all tolerable is that we know that eventually everything will all balance out again.... I wonder if the men who go through this surgery have any "side affects" of rapid weight loss??? Come to think of it, I don't think I've heard of any men complaining about losing their hair after surgery - hmmmm??? Thanks again for your support! Karen 320/202/150

Yes, Karen, Lisa is right. Estrogen is stored in fat and when you lose rapidly it is released into the blood stream causing all kinds of havoc. I hadn't had a period in 8 months, so thought I was doing the menopause thing... Then after surgery, I started having regular but HEAVY periods, the kind where you need to get up during the night to remedy things for the 1st couple of days. Ugh. That doesn't mean you shouldn't check things out. There are lots of other things that can cause problems too... So, maybe call your doc if nothing this weekend?? Good luck! Jo

Thanks, Jo! I really appreciate you taking the time to reply.... I can see now, that I am not alone!!! I will be sure to check things out if nothing occurs throughout the weekend.... but, I am certainly hoping that it is just the hormone thing. I have a 14 year old son, am turning 45 in November & my hubby just turned 50.... we should be starting to think about future grandchildren, NOT having another child!!! I sincerely believe that it is time to take more permanent/sure methods into consideration!!! Thanks again for your support!!! Karen

I haven't had a period in about 11 weeks! I had one at about 5 weeks (rather heavy) and haven't had one since. Karen