Question:
Curious about birth control
Just curious what others are doing....I decided to start using the OrthoEvra (patch) birth control. The docs say that the pill can be absorbed, but I have to wonder about how well it's absorbed after WLS. So I went for "the patch" since it goes right in to the blood stream. I've only been on it for a week, so I was just curious if others had tried it....has it been successful and have you had side-effects such as the always-dreaded weight gain!!!??? Thanks! — emilyfink (posted on April 30, 2004)
April 29, 2004
hi. I am on the depo provera shot. My doctor told me that in his patients
the patch did not stick on very well. and you have to be under 190 to wear
it. let me know becasue i wanted it but i was afraid of it failing. good
luck Tracy
— T. Rosario
April 29, 2004
My pcp told me we only absorb about 85% of the birth control pill so she
suggested the Mirena IUD. She said she would have also suggested the
patch, but the instructions say you have to weigh 198 or less for it to be
effective. With the IUD it was inserted during an office visit and now I
am good with birth control for 5 years.
— ckreh
April 29, 2004
I, too, had to change from my beloved birth control pill. My PCP explained
all of my options, including the OrthoEvra Patch. I went ahead with the
patch and have not had much problems (just a little break thru' bleeding on
occasion). Well, I went on the Patch prior to surgery (5-2-03), and imagine
my surprise when 7 months later, another nurse told me that the patch isn't
effective if you are very overweight. Sure enough, effectiveness drops if
you are over 198 pounds!!!! (which I definitely was at 330+ pounds) After
consulting with my PCP, I decided to stick with the Patch because I was
doing fine on it - and now that I'm 182 pounds, I don't think that I have
anything to worry about (knock on wood). Since I was on the Patch prior to
surgery and I've lost basically 150 pounds in less than 12 months, I am
happy to say that the patch didn't adversely effect my weight loss. I've
heard such things about the depo shots, but I've never been on the shots.
The patches stick fine and are easy (for me anyway) to remember. Good luck
to you! Jodie 336/182.5/??
— Jodie P.
April 29, 2004
I'm interested to see what more people say, as I'm switching to the patch
after my depo shot wears off next month. WHOO, depo STINKS! I have had a
3-month long period on it, basically: I DON'T bleed about a week out of the
month. It did not work for me! I had to wait to be under 198, I was 4
pounds too heavy when I initially sought after the patch. Now, I'm 8 pounds
in the green zone! :)
— jenn_jenn
April 30, 2004
I have been on Depo since 6 months prior to surgery, am now almost 8 months
post op. I've lost 80 lbs so far, kind of a slow loser. I have to wonder
if my weight loss would have been faster without the Depo. In the early
stages of weight loss, my bleeding virtually did not stop. Now it has
stabilized, and my weight loss has really slowed down. Maybe I'll check
into that IUD. I'm still too heavy for the patch.
— Cisbell
April 30, 2004
I've used the patch for about 7 mos. now; In the beginning, I remember I
did have some bad PMSing/food cravings with removal of the last patch. That
only happened the first 2 mos. I think my rather bad PMS symptoms (off of
all birth control for 6 mos) have improved on the patch. I don't think it
has slowed down my weightloss, although I have heard from others that was
their experience.
My doctor also said I would be absorbing BCP at this point, but I'd rather
be safe than sorry! Good Luck!
— jerseyjuji
April 30, 2004
I take the pill (low dose). Have since about 2 months post-op. Has NO
effect on my weight loss (down 92 lbs in 5.5 months) and its working! I
don't do well with stuff on my body (I get rashes very easily). So I'll
stick with my pill! I am only 52 lbs from goal!!!!
— Renee B.
April 30, 2004
C Isbell, Your slow loss, as you call it, could be from many things,
including the way your body wants the weight to come off and how much you
need to lose. I have been on Depo since 1995 with the shots given at 8
weeks intervals than the normal 12 weeks due to uncontrollable bleeding
issues. Increasing the frequency was able to bring it under control. 9
months on BCP's was literally a constant heavy bleed and I was ready to
scream and did a few times. Depo was sort of a miracle cure for my body.
The progresterone balanced out my obviously too high estrogen levels and
brought life into normal. It did take about 15 months for the bleeding to
totally stop but it did and I've been bleeding free since 1996.
<p>I lost 250 lbs in 13 months while on Depo so in my case it
certainly did not affect weight loss. I know may others have posted
similar experiences. I also know that some post that they gained 100 lbs
after starting Depo, but I do not believe they are the norm. The
manufacturer does indicate a 5 lb weight gain is normal. To get rid of the
insane bleeding it could have been a 50 lb weight gain and I would not have
cared. Now if it was more than 5 it would be an issue as I've already had
a LBL and my skin suit is so tight it would not take the stretching without
hurting quite a bit. Just like everything else in life, no one birth
control method is right for everyone. I could do the patch but I don't
even use the Depo for birth control any more as I had my tubes tied. I use
it to keep my body happy and not end up with some insane periods. We tried
slowly stretching the distance between shots out to 12 weeks but got to 10
weeks and I had breakthru bleeding, so I have decided to just stay with the
8 weeks as that seems to keep my body happy. So in my case the excess
weight really wasn't factoring into my PCOS that much, otherwise it would
have been fine to lengthen the distance.
— zoedogcbr
April 30, 2004
Hey ladies it's me. Thanks for all the responses. Since I'm down to 128
pounds, I shouldn't have to worry about the weight and the patch. And that
sucker does stick on there for me!! (I put it on my butt). So I'll keep
all you patch-potential people updated :)
— emilyfink
April 30, 2004
I started the depo shot a month before surgery, and since then, I have had
four shots. I have had no ill side effects from it, and it has not
hindered my weight loss at all. I have lost 118 pounds in less than seven
and a half months. I am not small enough yet to try the patch, as I still
weigh 214 pounds. I had planned on switching to the patch when I am small
enough, but I really love the depo shot, so I'm going to go ahead and stay
with this form of birth control until I'm ready to conceive in a few years.
I know that a lot of people may have had ill effects from the shot, but
each body is different and anything that works for one person might not
work for another. You just have to see what your body reacts to. For me,
not having to remember daily birth control and never having periods is just
fine with me! Good luck to everyone with their personal birth control
choices. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions. Hugs,
~Kristy (lap RNY - 9/18/03 - 332/214/168)
— kristynush
April 30, 2004
Just so you all know, unless you are less than 195 pounds, the patch is not
advisable to use because it will not absorb into your skin as well. The
extra fat prevents it from absorbing properly.
— Teresa Green
May 1, 2004
I've been on "the patch" since 3 months post-op and have not had
any weight gain attributed to it. I've taken hormones since practically
forever and I noticed immediately after surgery that my pill (that I had
used for 6 years) clearly was not being absorbed into my body (I was a
hormonal B*tch). But I like I stated, I have gained no weight from the
patch and find it convenient and working (since I'm not pregnant or the
hormone b*tch anymore). I love the patch. Good luck:~) ....kelly open RNY
11/20/2002 315/124....way past goal!
— klinzey
May 9, 2004
I was told by my surgeon that the patch wasnt good post op, and neither was
any hormone pill, so , sincei ve already had children i went with the
copper iud, no hormones, and perfectly effective
no hormones equals no problems with hormones and weight gain , so im happy
with it . plus it lasts for 7 years =which for me is great, fertility
returns when its removed, which , in my case will be sometime next year,
all things considered ( planning pregnancy next fall ( at about 2 years
post op)
but, you have to make your own decision
Beth
— bethlaf
May 10, 2004
I was on the patch for a year and loved it! I continued to lose weight the
entire time I was on it. Then I came on my period and stayed on for six
weeks. The doctor put me on provera, but finally I just took it off. and
my period stopped.
— Lisa N M.
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