Question:
Was anyone's period severely delayed because of the surgery?

I stopped taking my birth control pills (because of clotting worries) on June 4th or 5th once I received word that my surgery was going to be on July 7th. I had a very abbreviated period right after i stopped the BC pills (i was halfway through my pill cycle - starting week 3), and assumed I would be having a period during the surgery/hospital stay. It's now been around five weeks since that mini-period, i had my surgery and am now home, and i STILL haven't gotten my period or seen any symptoms that it's coming. I know i can't be pregnant because my pre-op blood tests revealed that test to be negative, and we've done nothing since then. Can anyone lend any insight on this? (OPEN RNY 7/7/03, down 6 lbs.)    — sweetmana (posted on July 12, 2003)

July 12, 2003
I have read that several people after surgery take a while for their bodies to get back on track. Give it a little while to straighten itself out.
   — Zipper R.

July 12, 2003
Hi I had not had a period for 8 months prior to surgery due to depo shots. After surgery it was 3 months later before I finally got one. Doctor said that surgery can mess that system up thus delaying your cycle or some will spot if they just had their montly.
   — [Deactivated Member]

July 12, 2003
I was the exact opposite! My period started just a few days after surgery. I had no cramps or bloating at all!
   — Terri G.

July 12, 2003
Hi, I had open RNY on 4-18-03 and was always irregular before surgery but just after surgery I heard the nurse say that I started. I think it was due to the blood thinner that I was on because by the time I went home (3 days) I wasn't having my period anymore. Anyway, I didn't have one for 2 months then when I did start, I flowed very heavily for 2 weeks! I was concerned that it wasn't going to stop so I went to the ER just to make sure it wasn't something more serious. The doc said it looked like it was just a regular cycle but I should see my ob/gyn. It stopped a few days later! I think that everyone that posted is right, you will probably have one in a month or two after your body starts to heal. Good luck to you and congratulations on your surgery.
   — Kim J.

July 12, 2003
I had my periods pretty regular before surgery. I had them for 4 months after surgery. Then no period of 8 weeks, then I had a period every 2 weeks for the past 6 weeks. I saw my ob/gyn. She said it was my body adjusting to the weight loss. Seems that fat contains some hormones and when you loss the fat it throws the body out of whack. Hang in there. At least yours isn't every 2 weeks, talk about PMS.
   — june22

July 12, 2003
i was always irregular before surgery, and was thankful that my period waited until the day i got home from the hospital to start. but after that time, i went 3 months without one and my surgeon said it was normal for the body to get back on track. since losing a the majority of my weight, i am now regular for the first time in my life. its great, but the three months i went without one was better!!!! open rny 7/23/03 down 141 lbs.
   — christina K.

July 13, 2003
You've just had MAJOR surgery!! Your body is dealing with massive changes as well as healing. Sometimes something just has to go and your period could be it. Some people don't have periods under stress. Maybe you are one of them. But remember, just because you don't have a period, doesn't mean you can't get pregnant!!! (Just ask a nursing mother!!) Use protection because your body just doesn't need another major drain on it right now. There is a good reason they tell you to wait at least 18 months before getting pg after this surgery. Your body needs to be selfish and use all its energy and such to deal with its own issues. karen (-150.5 lbs, 297/146, 9-06-01)
   — Karen M.

July 15, 2003
I agree with the previous poster. Anytime you have surgery, it can effect your period. I just had brachioplasty/tubal ligation surgery 3 weeks ago and my period was 2 weeks late. My guess is this was due to the surgery and the trauma my body suffered from the surgery and the drugs afterwords. If there's no way you can be pregnant, don't worry about it and enjoy the fact your not having a period for right now!!
   — Patty H.