Question:
Have any of you been in your mentrual period on your sergury date?

   — Delia G. (posted on March 13, 2003)

March 13, 2003
I was. Fortuately, it was about the 3rd or 4th day, so it wasn't too much of a problem. Remember to take some pads and mention it to your nurse if you need some supplies. It's more embarrassing for you than for them, believe me. Hospitals have supplies available. You can ask for the disposable pads, commonly called "chux", to put under your bottom to keep the bed relatively clean.
   — koogy

March 13, 2003
Just a few days before my surgery I started to have a drainage of old blood (sorry guys) I talked to a friend in the medical field and she said that I was probably ovulating at this time, which was true, but I had never had something like this happen before. Right after my surgery, I started my period even though it was 2 weeks early. It lasted 3-4 days, part of which I was in the hospital. It was not any worse than anything else that was happening to me at the time! Just bring your own pads with you to the hospital.
   — Sandy P.

March 13, 2003
No, but I started the day after... PCA Pump + Morphine = no cramps felt here...=) I told the Dr. in advance that I may be starting the day of or morning after (it varies between the two days for me). There were no issues. I brought some oversized Hanes Her Way and my own pads to the hospital... and everything went peachy. But period during surgery means PMS the days before and although I don't want to admit it I was a weepy mess leading up to the day. (I hate when people blame things that women do on PMS). In retrospect I wish I would've realized this pre-op I may've lessened the stress I put on everyone supporting me. Beacuse all I did was cry the three days before. (Oh and between the colyte and the crying I was dried up like a worm on the sidewalk.) So set up some nice, relaxing things to do before your date... and "be-one-with-the-hormones"...=) Best of Luck!
   — Leah S.

March 13, 2003
I was on my period the day of my surgery. It's no big deal. The only advice I recieved was.....do not wear a tampon. Wear a pad. The reason...if something should happen and you are not able to "care for yourself" for a short while, a nurse wouldnt think to change your tampon. Leaving a tampon in for an extended period of time increases the risk of TSS (toxic shock syndrom). Other than that, dont worry about it. It is more of an inconvenience than anything else. I am now 16 months post and about 15 pounds below my goal weight. I am 5'7" and started at 230 pounds. I am now 118 pounds and feel great. Good luck!!!
   — skymaxjr

March 13, 2003
I was on day 2 of mine when I went it...which is the worst (heaviest) day for me. It was no problem. They wanted me to take off ALL my clothes when I got there and put on the hospital gown, but after explaining my situation, I got to leave my underwear and pad on until a couple of minutes before I went into the operating room. They would not let me wear them in because of sanitation rules. So they gave me a hand-towel looking thing and told me to put it between my legs. Afterwards, it was a pretty big inconvienence, but nothing else. I had a catheter for 2 days, so couldn't wear underwear. They just put big towels underneath me to sit on and changed them every few hours. I was definitely not clean, but got to take a shower (and get the catheter out!) on the third day. I was embarrassed, but no one else was. It made things a bigger hassle and I always had blood on my gown SOMEWHERE. But I survived and so did everyone else.
   — Amy W.

March 14, 2003
I wasn't even due for mine and it came early the morning right after surgery...and boy was it heavy. I was told by the surgeon that trauma to the body such as WLS can bring your period on, early or not. It didn't help matters at all, as I was unable to use tampons b/c of the "flexibility" needed to insert them. ahhh...memories :)
   — Kelly C.

March 15, 2003
I started mine the third day in the hospital. I hadn't brought anything with me but the hospital gave me some pads and some disposible underware. It wasn't a big deal. One of the nurses said that a really high percentage of women will start their period because of the shock to their body.
   — Alicia B.