Anyone Taking Birth Control Pills?

When I went for my consult at Barix, I was told I had to be off my birth control pills for 2 months before I could have surgery to reduce my chances of blood clots. I'm fine with this as I take them for my cycles and not for birth control (hubby had the big "V" several years ago). I just had never read on here about anyone having to stop there birth control pills before surgery. I also know that rapid weight loss can mess with cycles, too. Anyone have missed periods due to rapid weight loss? After the weight loss were they more regular? Mine were never real regular even when I was thin, but they weren't heavy until I gained the most of my weight.

Somehow my surgeon missed that I was on bc pills prior to surgery, but did notice it when I went in for my two week post op appointment and he told me I needed to get off of them right away (even post op) because they increase the risk of blood clots by 30%. I've been off of them since August and my weight loss has been pretty rapid but the periods have come right on schedule, just as hard as they've always been

I was on birth control pills before my surgery, and for about one month afterwards, until I developed blood clots in my lungs. At the hospital, several doctors, including Dr. Mikami (who is the greatest, by the way!) told me no more birth control pills, probably ever. I was taking the pills for both bc and because I have PCOS and my periods were very irregular. Taking birth control pills and being overweight definitely put women at risk for blood clots. Since August, I have been pretty regular and light (even being on blood thinners), but have not had a period yet this month. So, I do miss the regularity of things, but its not worth the risk. Just a thought. Jenny

Hi Jenny! How are ya?!! Haven't talked to you in a while! I hope things are going good for you! Send me an email and give me an update when you can!!! I was so glad to see you had posted, because when I read this post, you were the first person I thought of. Ladies...Case in point!! It is VERY dangerous! Blood clots are NO JOKE! For your safety's sake, please get off them at least two months prior to surgery. My former GYN lost a young mother during a tubal from having a pulmonary embolism (clot in the lung) because she neglected to go off of them, even after she was strongly advised to. Two small children became motherless instantly. No one wants to go through a life saving procedure only to lose their life or have severe complications like this. Jenny thank you for brining the point home! You lived it, and survived it and we are THANKFUL that you are with us! And yes the Docs at OSU ROCK BABY!!! Valerie Curry, RN OSU LAP RNY 07/10/2003 268/172/145 -61" overall Lovin' every minute of it!

Most surgical procedures not just bariatric surgery should require stopping birth control pills at least two cycles(months) prior to and one month after surgery due to the increase risks of blood clots. The risk factors for developing blood clots sometimes are not preventable despite all the efforts of your surgeon but there some we can control. Obesity and major surgery present two risk factors for blood clots in the legs. The risk of blood clots begin as you are put to sleep on the surgical table. Stopping the estrogen and giving low dose blood thinners just prior to surgery and after until you are walking frequently and independently makes sense. We use lower extremity compression stocking and Pneumatic (air) pressure "boots"/stockings to keep the blood moving and not clotting as well as the low dose blood thinners. The last part of the puzzle is walking, walking, walking as soon after surgery as possible (thus another advantage of laparoscopic surgery/less pain/more walking). Stopping BCP's if possible, addresses one of the controllable risk factors for blood clots (deep vein thrombosis) which in turn can lead to the more serious problem of lung clots (pulmonary emboli). There are additional measures that should be discussed with your surgeon. I hope this helps. Sincerely, Calvin Selwyn, M.D. Assistant Professor of Surgery University of Cincinnati.

hi there; yes stopping the birth control pills will lessen your chances of getting a blood clot. i was taking them a long time before my surgery and the doctor stopped them about a year before surgery because my blood pressure was through the roof. (another side effect). i have always have problems with my cycles because of my weight. but after surgery in may of this year i began having periods again at the end of june!!!!!! my doctor advise me strongly that if i plan to be sexually active that i must use a form of birth control and external measures (condom). so i have been taking depo provera since august and haven't had any problems so far. hope this helps you or anyone else. good luck with getting your surgery. jennifer