Periods after WLS

I was diagnosed with PCOS about 4 years ago.  My periods were anywhere from 6 months to 4 years apart.  Before I had WLS my surgeon wanted me to get on birth control.  In may i had my first dose of the depo shot.  In july i got my period and it lasted 3 weeks but was very light.  I got my second shot on august 12th and had wls august 26th.  i started my period on september 5th and it lasted until the beginning of december, again very light.  i thought the shot was making me menstruate because i had always heard that you get it all the time or not at all.  i was due for the depo again in november but chose not to continue.  after my period ended in december, it was back a week later, and heavy still today, 3 weeks later.  i plan on calling my gyn this week but i wondered if anyone here had any experience with this.  now i don't know if my bleeding is from the depo or from the surgery.  i think my pcos is improving because my knuckles are no longer dark and my velvetty neck is almost gone.  please share any knowledge ya'll have on this subject, i am so frustrated, and anemic, lol!!
thanks

My periods act the same way. What I found out is that your ovaries (or ovary, in my case) is making up for lost time. That is why your menses are so long. The light periods are from the depo shot. The way the shot is designed, it is basically putting you in premature stages of menopause. Most women gain weight, terrible moods swings, hot flashes almost in identical patterns with menopause. Your period got heavier in december because you skipped the shot and it was trying to catch up with things. With PCOS, since our ovulation is so untrustworthy, we cannot follow a menstration cycle similar to regular women. Especially if you expect one 4years apart. The WLS has alot to do with it too. When you lose more weight, you will notice your menses will come more frequently and eventually begin to regulate itself. This happens because you are losing weight, and you hormones are neutralizing. That is also why your knuckles and neck are lightening up. Obviously, I'm not a gynecologist. I'm only speaking from personal experience. (Not Pre-op, that is) My initial advice was to probably go back to the pill. It has a much better result, since it's not temporarily putting you thru menopause, which could be harmful for PCOS women. Our bodies are not the same as regular women and shouldn't be treated as such. Most GYN's don't even offer that as an option in my area... Which one, I couldn't tell you. It's different for women. And it's a good idea to talk to your GYN. He/She will have most the answers.

Best of luck,

Whitney

Whitney is right.  I was given the depo-shot back in 2000, because I had been bleeding for 5 months straight. I gained 155lbs in 7 months. I went from 155 to 310. I have never been able to lose all the weight. So 8 1/2 yrs later I had RNY. I feel alot better. Also My periods have been regular since starting Birth Control Pills in June 2007. Maybe plls will help you.

Good Luck.

Sunny

Depo can cause strange/intermediant bleeding. If you period doesn't stop you can go back to your MD and they can give you a RX that will stop the bleeding.

I'm sorry your doctor started you on Depo. Of all the doctors I've spoken with in preparation for my WLS, none recommends the Depo. In fact, the psychologist I spoke to said she knew about the horrible side effects of the Depo in the early 80's while doing her clinicals. She's very much against it. I was on it for 10 years and started the pill late last year to start my periods again and hopefully ovulation, too, because after a year since my last shot, I hadn't had one "real" period - only spotted twice in the later months of that year after. Over those 10 years, I gained over 100 pounds and could not lose it, hence the WLS. Since beginning the pill, I've had fairly regular periods, until right after my surgery when I started just a week after finishing my last period.

I wish you the best!