Erratic Period...Want to get Pregnant...Any Advice Appreciated!

 I had my RNY Gastric Bypass 15 months ago, and have lost over 200 lbs.  I have been hovering around 133-136 lbs for about 3-4 months.  I stopped taking birth control back in April and never started my period. I saw my GYN in August and she put me on a round of hormones (I think it was Progestin) and nothing happened.  I did another round of hormones (this time Progestin and Premarin) and I finally started a period at the end of the pills that lasted 5-6 days.  GYN said I should be back on track. It's been 35 days since that period started and nothing else has happened.  I went through what felt like crazy PMS about a week and a half ago, but I haven't started. I took a preg. test and it was negative.  I am just so frustrated because my husband and I really want to start a family, but not having a period makes that nearly impossible.  I hate not knowing what is going on with my body.  I realize that loosing that amount of weight can make hormones go crazy, but I just feel like it's been long enough to get my body back on track.  Every time I see my GYN she draws blood and says my hormones are "within normal range" and my thyroid is normal, so I don't really know what else to attribute it to.  My GYN acts like it's no big deal, and like it's totally normal to be experiencing this.  I just hate it.  I am so ready to start a family, and just wish my body would cooperate.  Has anyone else out there experienced this?  How long did it take your body to get back on track, to where you were having normal (not medically induced) periods?  I feel so alone....

First off I want to say "Congratulations" for all your weight loss!  I weighed in at nearly 450lbs pre-surgery which I had in the end of '04...I'm down to 250lbs....anyway it hasn't been easy so congrats!

Now about your periods...my sister didn't have a period either after surgery until her OB put her on birth control to regulate her cycles which worked well.....

A year ago she started ttc but year to date she hasn't had any luck.My point is you are so not alone!

It took me six years after losing  my surgery to finally become pregnant forthe first time...I'm 30 and finally almost 14 weeks pregnant...my cycles weren't very regular up until the last year when they finally straightened out on their own....

So anyway I didn't mean to ramble...try not to stress because stress has a major effect on your cycles as well....Good luck and I'll keep you in my prayers!......

Hey there! I feel your pain. After I had my surgery (almost 4 years ago now), I never had a regular period. I was very irregular beforehand as well. I usually took a round of birth control every 3 months to induce my period 4 times a year. My story isn't a "typical" example, but it can happen so what I'm trying to say is don't throw in the towel just yet. I went on the South Beach diet towards the end of May- following it to a tee and that's the only reason I can think of that my insulin levels and sugars somehow managed to stabilize and I ovulated without ever knowing. With my ex-husband, we tried throughout our entire marriage- well 2 years- to get pregnant and never anything. Needless to say, we split up and within 3 months of my leaving, him finding someone new, he got her pregnant. Therefore, my ideas about him being the possible problem because of some of his medical problems were all wrong- it had to be me. Anywho, we split up a year after my surgery and I met my current husband. For nearly 2 and a half years, we didn't try or try not to conceive, but nothing ever happened and it was birth control every 3 months for that time. In June, after not having my period since March it was time to start my round of pills. I took an hpt on June 13 and a BFN. So, I took my month of pills and at the end of them, I got NO period. That had never happened to me before and I was frantic- not because I thought I was pregnant but because I thought there was something wrong with me then medically. However, on July 12, I got a BFP!! :O I was in TOTAL shock. I didn't have a period so how was I ovulating?? Apparently this is something that can happen to. Like I said I'm not telling you this as a "typical" happening or story, but it happened to me- so there is alwasy hope!

I would ask your doctors to do some testing for PCOS. It can greatly affect our body's cycles and come with numerous symptoms or none at all. Have them check your insulin and sugar levels just to find out and there is a hormone of some sort you can check to for the PCOS. Also, have you thought about going to talk to a reproductive specialist? Maybe go for a consult and they can give you answers as well.

Hang in there and remember- you are not alone and please don't give up hope! I almost did and here I sit almost 6 months pregnant with my precious little boy! :)

Best of luck!!

how long have you been on birth control? it may take your body a while to recover from that.. esp if its been quite a few years you have been on it... have you been tested for pcos?

Hello!

I just wanted to say I understand what you are going through. My husband and I have been TTC for 6 months with no luck. I have only had 2 periods since we started trying and one of them was brought on with Provera. We decided going to a Fertility Specialist would be our best option so we don't waste any more time. My periods have always been erratic and it's very difficult to chart or time anything without anything reliable to work with! I suggest going to a specialist to get a second opinion on your cycles. If your period is that erratic, I am sure they can get you started on medication to help you produce progesterone and help you get your periods and ovulate, if you are also not ovulating.

Good luck.

First, congrats on your weight loss!  Second, I wanted to let you know I am in Fort Worth as well. If you need to consult with a fertility doctor, I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Robert Kaufmann. He is with Fort Worth at Fort Worth Fertility right by Baylor All Saints Meidcal Center. He is a fabulous physician.

I used him and I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE HIM!

Traci

Thank you so much!  I just scheduled a consultation with him.  I am looking forward to getting a second opinion. :)

By did I have some typos in my post! Sorry about that.

He is a very honest doctor and has an extremely busy office. He is the Director of Infertility at All Saints. He moved his office to a brand new building last year. He can do IUI, IVF, and etc all in this clinc. We went to him for a consultation first. Then, we both did testing. We had explained infertility. I swear he is the most compassionate man. He and his wife struggled with fertility and had babies by IVF.

He is very thorough. I hope your experience was as great as mine. Sometimes his office can get busy, I will tell you that before hand. But, he always would spend the time to talk and answer my quetions no matter how busy he was. I felt like his staff and him walked through the happy times and the sad times (when I had losses) right along with me.

Ok, I will quit gushing about him. Hey, if you need to vent you can email me [email protected] or contact me on here. It took me three losses and four IUI's last year to have my now almost three month old son.

Crossing my fingers for you!

Traci

Thanks everyone for your support and advice.  It really helps to know that I am not the only one going through this. I just scheduled a consultation with a specialist, and it makes me feel better knowing that I am going to get a second opinion.  Thanks again!