Question:
Lots of questions for you all!
I'm scheduled for my first consult and already I'm thinking of some questions that I need answered. I've heard some women have started their period while in the hospital after having WLS. I'm on the depo shot, do you think I'll still need to bring pads, just in case? I haven't had a period in over a year. I don't want another one! Also, will it screw up my birth control (losing so much weight) and cause me to get pregnant? I sure can't get pregnant. I've lost a limb due to a miscarriage! Secondly, I was wondering if anyone has Medicaid in CO? I was just wondering how hard it is to get approval. I haven't had a 6 month doctor supervised diet. I've been too busy dealing with all of my other health issues. I have dieted alot. Will that work? Any information on either of these questions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!!! :-) -Naomi — blueeyedrdhed (posted on August 30, 2003)
August 30, 2003
It would be good to take pads to the hospital just in case. Something
about the surgery seems to make a lot of women start while in there. Also,
I have noticed here on the board that a lot also have to change from depro
after surgery. Don't know why. Some have no problems with it. If
medicaid requires a six month supervised diet where you live, then no, just
telling them you have been on diets forever, as most of us were, will not
work. Oh and BTW, this surgery does seem to make ladies extremely fertile
for some reason. There are a lot of pregnancies after surgery and all the
surgeons warn you of this. Speak to your surgeon about your method of
birth control.
— Delores S.
August 30, 2003
If you have been on Depo for a year and your periods have been gone for a
good chunk of that time then you should be fine. I've been on Depo since
1995 and had zero problems. I even got my next shot 1 week after surgery,
at that was when it was scheduled for. Depo is also one of the birth
controls that works after WLS, at least as much as it did before. It is
circulating in your system and has nothing to do with absorption, like
BCP's do. I have been on 8 week shots for about 5 years due to needing
higher levels of progesterone to balance all the estrogen from all the fat
I had. It took me about 15 months to get the bleeding to totally stop. I
love Depo and all the positive things it has done for my body and it
certainly never factored into my weight gain nor affected my weight loss.
I have decided to slowly try to advance the distance between my shots in
hopes of eventually getting to the normal 12 week shots so there is less
meds going into my body. I'm figuring since I'm down 159 lbs and have way
less fat that it should be safe to start increasing the distance of shots.
However, I will be doing it very slowly so as not to upset the apple cart.
Don't want no periods reappearing after this long of time. You should do
great being on the Depo and dn't let any surgeon tell you to quit it as it
has no estrogen and has no blood clotting properties. I love it when a
surgeon tells a woman to quit like with BCP's. Like it doesn't stay in our
system for many many months past the 12 weeks. That's why they say it
takes 12-18 months for periods to return to normal. I can't answer
anything about the medicade stuff. Good Luck!
— zoedogcbr
August 30, 2003
I had my period for a couple days in the hospital. My GYN said that the
body is sometimes shocked by the surgeries which cause this to happen. Take
supplies. With regards to birth control all doctors will tell you to begin
using a barrier method to protect yourself against pregnancy the first year
because you can not count on other methods of birth control.
— [Deactivated Member]
August 30, 2003
I was on Depo for 7 years before surgery. My doctor required that I not
have a shot within 3 months of surgery because it increases the risk of
blood clots. Make sure you are clear on this with your surgeon. :)
— ladyphy
August 30, 2003
My surgery was on May 23, and even though I'd already had my period 2 weeks
before, I got it again the day after surgery. Like other posters have
said, it was due to the shock of surgery on my body. Bring your own
supplies because hospitals are still functioning in the dark ages where it
comes to women's special *needs* and they still use those pads that require
a belt. Ugh! As far as birth control, see what your surgeon recommends.
I don't know the requirements for Medicaid but I can suggest that you
document every single diet and diet aid you have ever tried, plus the
dates. Be as thorough as possible. Good luck to you! Jody :)
— MomBear2Cubs
August 31, 2003
Hi, I know I'm a day late posting to this question, but I was curious about
it too. I've been getting the shot for about 10 years, and for me, it's
been a God-send. My periods stopped after I started getting the shot. I
had my appendix out in 1996, and I had a period a few days later. This
shocked the daylights out of me! I thought something was wrong, that the
doctor had knicked my urethra or something! LOL!
<p>Anyway, I thought I would call my surgeon's office and ask about
it, because I was due for my shot about 2 weeks before surgery; would it be
better if I get it when I'm due for it, or wait until after surgery? The
nurse told me to go ahead and get it on schedule. I had fully prepared
myself to have a period after surgery, but thankfully I haven't. However,
it would be a good idea to bring pads, just in case.</p>
<p>Be sure to ask these questions at your consult to get the
information directly from YOUR surgeon, as all surgeons seem to have
different opinions on everything :) Good luck, and God Bless! proximal
lap rny, 08/19/03, -18 lbs.
— Moysa B.
August 31, 2003
While not on Depo, I'd been on the pill for 15 years before surgery. Even
though I was in the middle of a pill pack, and had never had breakthrough
bleeding before, I did get a light period while in the hospital. In the
big scheme of things, it's not a big deal. You might want to bring a few
of your own pads, because the hospital uses those humongous uncomfortable
ones. Also, ask your doctor about whether you need to use a back-up form
of birth control. I do with the pill because there is a concern that I do
not absorb enough of the hormones in the pill to be fully effective. Since
Depo is a shot, I'm guessing you wouldn't have the same problem, but since
avoiding pregnancy is critical for you, you should ask.
— Vespa R.
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