ladies - period changes after WLS?

has anyone experienced significant changes in their period after surgery? i'm almost 3 months out and for the first time in my life am having painful crampy periods that are much heavier than they've ever been. i'm a little freaked out and will pay a visit to my girly doc, but i thought i'd check in and see if *maybe* this is a relatively normal post-surgery experience...

Yep, but never a problem pre op.    Now at more than 3 years out i still have some bad ones.   In fact, after surgery when they asked where my pain was, they laughed cause it was only from the cramps and not surgery.    Linda

Ahhh, the joys of Aunt Flo after bariatric surgery.....NOT! This is exactly what happened to me.  Went to the Gyno and she said it's normal.  Not fun, but normal.  After the first 7 months or so, things did get a bit more evened out, meaning not as light as before surgery, but not as heavy after surgery.  Oh yeah, and I still have really really bad PMS that I did not have pre op.  I think that may be because I can't eat chocolate, but that's just a guess :)

thanks ladies! i'm glad to hear it's a relatively normal 'side effect' of surgery, although i'm really hating it... i tried some tylenol today and that didnt offer even the slightest pain relief... tried one of those hot patches and that helped a little bit... on the way home from work i stopped and got a heating pad which i'll likely cuddle up to for some serious TV watching tonight... this really sucks!

Try some Aleve (anaprox) for the cramps. It targets the specific prostaglandins that produce period cramps. Hope you feel better soon! Deb

can we take aleve? i thought it was tylenol or nothing when it came to over the counter pain meds...

We really shouldn't take Aleve. Not good for our tummies. My periods got so bad. I finally had a procedure done last June of 06. It was an ablasion (not sure how you spell it). It was endometrioablasion (sp?). But you have to be done having children. Made a huge difference - wish I would have done it years ago. Carey

I'm glad you asked...me too. Seems to lessen a little (and I do mean a little) with each successive period, so hopefully it'll go back to normal shortly.

Before surgery, I rarely had a period (hormonal issues).  As soon as I had surgery, I started having VERY regular periods with CRAMPS!  UGH!  Before surgery, when I had them, they were pretty light and only lasted a few days and I never had any indication that they were on the way.  Now, the day before, I get really bad cramps.  It's heavy for a day, then tapers off.  Still only last 3, sometimes 4 days.  I haven't missed one since surgery.  So....yeah, they changed significantly for me.  To me, though, it's a good thing. 

For the short duration  and over counter strength you take Aleve, it shouldn't hurt. Take it with food.....