For Women Only!!

I am 2 months out and my periods have been normal. That is until this month. I don't understand how I am not dead. This has been the heaviest one I have ever had in my life. I couldn't leave the house on Saturday. Yesterday was better but today I've got monsterous cramps and I just want to die. I called the surgeons office and they said this is normal....due to the change in the chemistry of my body and the rapid weight loss. Has anyone else ever experienced this? How many months am I going to have this problem? HELP! Stacey B

Dear Stacey, I would contact your OB/GYN, and discuss this with them, THEN, get your WLS surgeon and OB/GYN in contact with each other to properly discuss this together and manage your issue. I personally cannot have menses due to having had cancer at 31 and a complete hysterectomy but I do know for a fact that body chemistry, along with stress, changes in lifestyles, diet and other things we go through effect our cycles. I know that first hand, and all I can say to you is that you might want to contact both doctors together to better solve the problem. Good luck hon and I hope that soon you get some relief. In the meantime, to help ease the flow, KEEP YOUR FEET ELEVATED AND STAY OFF OF THEM. Also I believe (but do not quote me on this) HEAT PACKS ON YOUR BACK, (LOWER) AND A WARM MOIST TOWEL HEATED IN A PLASTIC BAG WRAPPED IN A TOWEL AND PLACED ON YOUR LOWER BACK OR ON YOUR LOWER ABDOMEN WILL ALSO HELP SLOW DOWN THE FLOW. Exercise and walkiing will help the cramps. And drink hot tea which will help soothe the cramps. These remedies I've done, and they helped me get through it. Keep me posted hon on how things work out for you. But I do HIGHLY advise you contact your OB/GYN today! Stacey W

Stacey this is NORMAL!!! I am almost 8 months out and each of my periods have been different since surgery. Estrogen is stored in fat and as you lose weight your fat releases that estorgen and can make your cycles wacko. It pretty much sucks that we have to suffer durring these times because we can't take midol, pamprin or anything to help cope with the cramps and such. I personally find that if I flood myself with water, it helps to ease the cramps. Prior to surgery (when I would have a period) mine were about 7-10 days long and would start out light for the first day or so, get heavy for the next three and then taper off. NOW they start full blown and go about 5 days. I did just start the Nuva Ring (birth control) and I am hoping it will help my periods be more even keeled so to speak. Hang in there, and if you become too concerned I would most definately contact your GYN and see what he/she has to say about it! Jennifer 355/228/150

I am currently having the same problems with my cycle, I also have really bad cramps and bleeding each month, You might want to try some kind of hormones, I have been on different kinds of Birth control pills to try to control it and was told that it will get better after the rapid weight loss slow down and your body starts to regulate, Tricia

Hi Stacey, Guess I got lucky : ). My peroids were like that before surgery. Now I don't have them anymore. I would check with your OB/GYN. and see what he/she has to say about it. Best wishes to you. God bless you, Annette

HIya Stacey, Well, I hate to tell you this but I had the same thing happen...HOWEVER, I had also switched to the Depo Provera shot prior to surgery... with my first 2 periods just fine....but after that I ended up bleeding for 68 days straight...and I mean FLOWING, had to pretty much stay off my feet. I ended up going to my OBGYN, and she put me on the Ortho Evra patch to help even out the estrogen - and that has "normalized" me. (Since estrogen is stored in our fat cells as we lose the weight our body is kind of confused). I was also having dizzy spells from the blood loss every time I stood up... and had to have labs pulled to check iron, etc. Although your surgeon says its normal...if you're concerned call your OBGYN - after all, that's kind of thier area Good luck, Hugs Sydney

I have been on Depo Provera since 1996, and I hadn't had a peroid until this past June. Gawed, it happened on the day that my aunt died and I got a rather nasty e-mail too...I just thought it was from nerves... After I had my shot I was ok for about 6 weeks when it happened again!! They even did a biospy and gave me a shot of estrogen and the depo. I'll tell you, I was scared ****less, because I went EIGHT DAYS this last time and I never did that before then. Right now I seem fine, but the nurse told me it was my hormones because I had lost so much weight, but then again she made me feel like I was being a pain and a baby for reporting this....

Hey Stacey, Hate to tell you this, but my own experience was that they just kept getting worse and worse. Went on B/C for 3 wks & put on 10lbs, UGH!!!!!! Got off and ended up having endometrial ablasion (sp?) Helped tremendously! Now, I really don't bleed anymore. Helped my symptions, no cramps just a headache really. But you have to be done having children in order to have this procedure. You might want to check it out. Very happy since I had in done in June 06. Wish I would have done it sooner. Good luck. Carey

Thank You for all your posts. It's good to know that I'm not alone in all this. It stinks that we have to go through all of this. I guess my Grandma was right. "It hurts to be beautiful" is all I heard growing up. I managed to make it all day here at work so hopefully things are going to slow up a little and I can get back to normal. Thanks Again. Stacey B

Stacey, I had the same thing...mine were bad since age 12...I had every procedure and taken every pill for 40 years. My OB/Gyn would never do a Hysterectomy because I was so overweight and a very high risk. The day I lost 100lbs, I was on his table. At the same time...I had a tummy tuck. One cut, two doctors. It was 40 years of hell but it all worked out for the best. Good luck, Robin