Question:
After surgery my periods have changed....help appreciated!

After my surgery I noticed that my periods were rather heavy, a bit longer, and somewhat more painful. That was fine, but for two months in a row I have had a period every two weeks, almost exactly. The first time I got the extra period it lasted for a long time, almost two weeks! Now, this happened before surgery but only about once or twice in a year... never two months in a row. I am going to the gyno, just a long wait for my appointment and I was hoping someone else has experienced this or could give me some insight on what is happening. My surgery was October 19th, 2004. I am not yet a year post op, my beginning weight was 304 and I am down to 183-180. Is this my hormones and body adjusting, or should I continue to be worried? Thanks for any light you are able to shed on this for me! Amber    — septembergirl73 (posted on June 15, 2005)

June 15, 2005
I seem to be experiencing the same problem, I am only shy of 3 months but since I had surgery, and I am on Depoprovera, but it hasn't deterred the every 2 week period. You've lost a lot of weight in a little bit of time, your hormones are way out of wack and need some major adjustment time. I had lost 60 lbs before surgery and it seemed to hit once I had lost a total of 100. Don't worry too much. It's a small price to pay to be of normal size again. Good luck with everything. Denise
   — dlryanoates

June 15, 2005
It could be hormones all I know is that your fat holds a lot of estrogen...and when you lose weight this maybe causes some hormone issues...sorry I'm not a doctor.
   — Miss KJ

June 15, 2005
My periods were like this. It seems like it was a year after I had surgery before they were normal. I also have a fibroid tumor. Now, I just have a couple of heavy days. Then the rest is normal.
   — Julie S.

June 15, 2005
Oh boy, I can relate to the cycling every two weeks. Actually before I had surgery I wasn't getting a period very often because of my weight, 460 pounds. I got a little period in the hospital after surgery but then nothing until about 2 months out and I had lost 60 pounds or so and was it heavy. My periods weren't very regular until about 9 months out of surgery and then about a year out I started getting them every two weeks. My doctor kept telling me it was hormone changes from losing over 200 pounds. So I waited them out about 6 months and nothing changed. In this time I was back on the pill because I didn't want to get pregnant. Then my nurse practitioner who does my annual exams suggested the Depo shot. After about 4 months things cleared up. Now I get a light period or two every 10 or 12 weeks--usually lasting a day or two. Sometimes I will go 3 months without one. The only thing with the Depo is that you have to be very careful to get your calcium in because it can be hard on your bones. Hope this helps.
   — rinnchris

June 16, 2005
I experience something similar. Had heavy & too frequent periods after about a year out. Was considering having a thermal eblation done to relieve the condition, but about 8 months after the abnormal periods started, my periods became fairly normal. I think it's due to a hormonal changes brought on by dramatic weighloss. Your body just needs a chance to "settle" into itself.
   — fowlerloriann

June 16, 2005
Mine are the same way hun. My doc says that my body is still producing hormones for a 260 pound woman and eventually it will level out. However he suggested I go on Depo or the patch to help it along. HTH!
   — MagickalMom