Question:
Has any of you post-ops started using the patch for birth control??

I started on it a month ago and I have only lost 5 lbs since then. I was just wondering if anyone else had started it post-op and if it seemed to affect weight loss..Thanks in advance!!    — Sharon1964 (posted on December 7, 2002)

December 7, 2002
I started using the patch a few weeks ago. I only wore it for two weeks. Not only did I not lose any weight in those two weeks, but I also did not eat anything. Sounds weird, huh? I was sick to my stomach the whole time. As soon as I took the patch off, I started to feel better, and have since lost 10 pounds. Now I'm not on any birth control, only condoms, which has proven to be tricky, since I had an allergic reaction to the latex. My poor husband! I hope this is helpful. <3 Chrissy
   — Christine C.

December 7, 2002
Sharon, I wanted to use the patch, but, it is only truely effective if you are under 199lbs, are you? If not, ask your OBGYN!
   — heathercross

December 7, 2002
I'm at my goal weight and started the patch 2 weeks ago and haven't had any adverse effects. I'll give it a couple months to see what it does to my weight, all other things being equal. Feel free to drop me an email to see how things are going! [email protected]
   — Kimberly L.

December 7, 2002
I get the depo shot every 3 months and it works great. Been on it for 3 years, I don't even get a monthly anymore. I have not had my wls yet 20 days and counting, my Dr. said I should have no problem with the shot with the surgery. Check into it, I love it...
   — [Deactivated Member]

December 7, 2002
I started this past month but had to discontinue b/c of emergency second surgery (patch was due to be changed but I was holed up in the hospital - I'll start again next month). I LOVE IT. You just have to be sure to press down on it for at least 20 seconds to keep it's stick and not get lotion, etc. on it (something I forget b/c I prefer to keep it on my butt LOL). You're supposed to rotate the position from week to week. I absolutely LOVE the patch! All the best, Teresa (preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45 now: 145 lbs/bmi 25 5'10", lap BPD/DS and emergency hernia removal/resection/BPD-DS revision/appendectomy, November 30, 2002)
   — Teresa N.

December 7, 2002
I was on the Pill pre-op. Continued it post-op for about a month and found that I was getting wacky periods anyway. Went to the ob/gyn about the patch because I assumed I wasn't absorbing the pill anymore. She told me that the patch does not work as well on women over about 190 lbs. I'm still way over that, so she put me on NuvaRing. That seemed to work okay until today when I started my period again out of cycle. I guess nothing is going to work for me right now. I haven't noticed any problem with weight loss, but then I have nothing to compare it to as I have been on some form of hormonal birth control for all but 2 weeks right around surgery.
   — ediecat