Question:
Regular...Irregular? Just how is your monthly visitor since surgery?!?!

I have to laugh every time I hear the reasoning behind why or why not a "fat" women, may or may not get her period! The answer...as always, has something to do with being "fat"!! I wonder what the Dr. tells thin women when they miss a period? I wasn't regular a day in my life before I had this surgery. Now when the 28th of the month comes around I am like clock work....only this time (since surgery) I am bleeding so heavily...and the cramps are excrutiating!! I questioned my Dr. about it...and he said I am more regular now because of the rapid weightloss...and the cramping has to do with the amount of estrogen my body is getting rid of!! OIY VEY!!! I tell ya...it always has something to do with my weight. So...it looks to me like some of you are skipping a period...and some of us are more regular since surgery..but either way, I guess it all comes down to the weight thing once again. Just got a chuckle out of some of the posts I have read concerning our periods. Sometimes I think Dr.'s quickly like to say things are related to our weight instead of examining further to see if anything else is developing to cause problems in our reproductive organs. Just my thoughts, what are some of your thoughts?    — Lisa B. (posted on May 3, 2002)

May 3, 2002
My entire life I've had irregular periods. Sometimes I wouldn't have one for an entire year, but then sometimes I'd have them contstant for months. And by the time I had my surgery last year, my periods were so heavy I hated to leave the house! I am happy to say that since surgery 4.5 months ago I've been like clockwork with my periods - and not only that but they are not super heavy. I hate the way medical professionals will look to whatever to blame - weight, smoking etc. Good Luck!
   — Pamela P.

May 3, 2002
My periods have always been irregular. The year and a half before surgery, I didn't have a period, not even once! Then, 2 months before surgery, I had 2 periods...2 weeks apart! <br> Then at 7 weeks post-op open RNY, I got my period. Ever since then, I get it for 5 days...every 28 days. I know exactly which day it comes now...which is such a relief!
   — Kristin R.

May 3, 2002
this does and doesn't have to do with the whole monthly thing. i have just been going through the same thing with my doc. i started having pain in my loweer right back and side. when i went to the doctor i was told that it was probably the flu. when it wasn't better the next day i went some place else and found out that i had blood in my urine!!! I HAD TO GO SEE A KIDNEY SPECIALIST. anyway he seemed to think that it was just a bad kidney infection. the point is that i have been to so many doctors that just seem to write me off as being fat. oh you have a pain-lose weight. oh you can't breathe-lose weight.you feel dizzy-lose weight!!! i really hate it. i actually went to a woman obgyn when i started having heavy bleeding, thinking that a woman would be more sympathetic to this type of problem. boy was i wrong!! her exact words were: " i only have two words for you - weight watchers". i was mortified. that was two years ago and i haven't been back for a papsmear. i just recently found a doc that i hope i will like and am scheduled for july. i hate feeling like i have to make up excuses or apologize for my weight. the medical community needs to get a serious grip on their attitude towards people like me. i hope that some day i'm not on my death bed and am told that i just need to lose some weight!!!! thanks - nikki
   — nikki R.

May 3, 2002
Periods have been irregular all my life. Got it 2 days after surgery and every 28 days since. Good luck and God Bless!
   — Kimberly L.

May 3, 2002
I'm still pre-op so technically I don't qualify to respond in that respect. Here I go anyway... My periods became particularly irregular as I gained more weight - went up over the 200 pounds mark. I've had 3 PCP's and 2 OB/GYN's attribute the irregularity of my periods and the infertility to my obesity. My current OB/GYN did do an endometrial biopsy 2 years ago, just to rule out any problems in that area. Following the biopsy I had REALLY heavy periods for 3 months or so. Then I tapered off to my usual scant bleeding every now and again. I went from late October until this past Monday with no period at all!!! I posted a question here last week about trying progesterone cream as a way to "get things started." I also made a call to my OB/GYN to schedule my yearly pap (called on Monday)....well, Monday night my long-absent period arrived. Go figure!!! I will be really curious to see what happens when I am post-op. I've also read on here where some women have been told that WLS "pushed" them into menopause or pre-menopause. Hmmph...how do ya like that one? We just can't win either way! :) Ciao - Anna
   — Anna L.

May 4, 2002
My periods have ALWAYS been regular since the age of 13!! It's never mattered what I've weighed. From 130 to 290 I have gotten my period EVERY month for the past 25 years. However, the one thing I've noticed is the length between periods. When I was heavier, I would get my period about every 23 days. Now that I've lost weight, I get my period about every 28 days. My weight has never changed the length of my periods either. 4 days just like clockwork.
   — Patty H.