Stuck pig? Anyone? (WARNING: MENSTRUAL CONVERSATION)

OK. Had a period the day of surgery. The preop nurse said this is almost universal. Had another period a couple of weeks after surgery. It was rather light. Just started birth control pills again a month ago (had to wait a month after surgery), and it's period time again. No biggie so far, right? Well, now it's 4 or 5 days into the period and I am absolutely bleeding like a stuck pig--identifyable pieces of lining and everything. I'm having to change super plus tampons every 2.5 hours... Is this just my polycystic ovarian thing reasserting itself? Or have y'all had absolutely MONSTROUS periods post-op, too?

Lisa Mine came 2 weeks after surgery and lasted 2 weeks! I thought I was gonna need a transfusion. I had not had one in 4 months then BAM! Not fun. I am still irregular but very heavy when it comes. Is it normal? I don't really know. Will it stop. I hope so! Sheryl

I bled for an ENTIRE MONTH post surgery only to go off for two weeks and start again .... believe me, I know how you are feeling. It's just your body's reaction to surgery .... completely normal, don't worry. ~Toni

I am with y'all. I had mine for two weeks post op (with large bleeding and lining), none for 4 weeks and just had it for over a week again. Ugh.... Ann -44

Thanks for the reassurance, guys! And it may actually be helping--I'm under 260 today (259.5) for the first time in years!!! Lisa -47.5!!

Hi Lisa, I think the craziness in the cycle has something to do with the weight loss. I have heard that hormones rest in the fat cells and when the fat cells go away--the hormones get mess up. Don't know if it is true or not, but like the ladies above who have posted-my cycle has been a mess since I began losing weight. Good luck, and happy new year. Joan F.

I have always been extremely regular AND extremely light - I would go exactly 28 days, and it usually only lasted one day (lucky me, I know). Well, I am currently on my second period this month and they last 4 - 5 days now and are heavy - for me, not as heavy as you all are describing, but for me.....

Sorry to butt in, but this subject hits close to home with me... In 1999 I began to have some MAJOR issues with my period, where I would bleed heavily (with serious clotting) for MONTHS. Anyway, when I finally figured out it wasn't going to stop, I went to the doctor and was very close to becoming anemic (yes, I should have gone much sooner!). Anyway, after some time of having the same issue, I was finally diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism. I take Synthroid every day. I was also put on the pill to regulate my periods since I wasn't ovulating. OK, long story short. I still take my Synthroid every day. But, I stopped taking the pill and since the surgery, I am getting a normal (one heavy day only, sometimes two) period on a regular basis. I am simply flabbergasted! I've never really been regular... and now I am! I wanted to mention that I found out through lots of research when I started on Synthroid (info was not given to me with the pills) that SOY counteracts the thyroid pill effects. So, I am carefull to choose other types of protein that are not SOY based. Anyway! You may want to have your thyroid levels checked (blood test) to see if you may be having issues there... just a thought... Angie http://www.geocities.com/tiger_angie

Thanks, Angie. But I'm sure that it's the combination of my long-standing PCOS and the hormones from my multitude of fat cells causing the ruckus. It has subsided and is gone now (started new packet of pills Sunday). I did find, though, that with Atkin's dieting, my period came and went very regularly. I am sure that the insulin resistance commonplace with PCOS was at the root of that. Perhaps my periods will regulate on their own as I continue to lose weight and someday I won't require the BCPs to regulate my messed up hormones... I dream of that day... Thanks for your input, though! I appreciate you taking the time to respond.