Question for the Ladies: Menstrual Cycle and VSG

Ladies,

I am getting my first period since surgery...oh my, it is bad!  My cramps are unbelievable horrible, and I can;t take Advil (because of the Sleeve).  Tylenol is not working well.  I am even dipping into my left over pain meds from VSG surgery a months ago.  Also, I am very emotional and hormonal - is this the hormones in the fat being released type of thing?  The office admin person at my surgeon's said that a little Advil once a month is OK for cramps...is that true?  Do you ever take Advil for special cir****tances like once a month?

 

Also-- when I lost 60 lbs very, very quickly 14 years ago on a 4 month crash diet, I ended up losing my period for almost two years.  I was only 28 and it was scary since I thought I would never have kids.  This is common when women lose weight wayyyyyy too quickly, and the body sort of shuts down cycle-wise.  Well, I am losing weight more quickly than that now. I fear I will lose my period this time, too.  Anyone lose their period?  Did it come back? Advice?  I don't want to lose it, and I cannot take the pill or hormones due to a blood clotting disorder.

 

 

 

My first period after was the most painful period of my life.  It felt like back labor!  I swear I thought I had a kidney stone & I was crying.   & yes I did take an advil & I also took my liquid pain meds.  It was awful.  I have never lost my period from anything other than a depo shot.  I doubt you will lose it from surgery.  Fell better & maybe try a heating pad wherever it hurts....?

I am going through the same thing right now. I am 9 days post op and today my period decided to arrive a few days early. I did discuss this with my surgeon in advance because I was worried about the cramping and pain which is always terrible for me and only responds to ibuprofen. Of course, he advised me to not take it because it is hard on the stomach and I am still on blood thinners. So for this month he wants me to take the pain meds and also gave me a muscle relaxer to see if that will help. When I see him next month I'm definitely going to find out when my stomach is fully healed if can take it only those few days because I know I won't be able to function with that much pain. That being said Hang in there and hope you feel better soon.

My doctor told me I could take Aleve or Excedrin occasionally, just not too often. I have not lost my period before other than when I was on depo shots. So, I have no information there. Sorry this is so stressful for you.

I know I am starting any day now or at least getting the symptoms of starting. I am already late. Not THAT kind of late lol, my husband is fixed. Anyway, I started cramping Friday on my way home. It was Bad. I have never cramped so bad before. I was almost in tears. I had some childrens Tylenol meltaways in my purse. I took 6 of them and it helped a bit. I hope this doesn't continue!

 

I was lucky. Mine weren't painful, but the first one went on for nearly two weeks, than I got another one two weeks later. They settles down to normal by about month three.

The hormonal thing is likely to also be the extra hormones that your fat is breaking down too. I cried at the drop of a hat for the first couple of months and Im not really a crying type of gal!..lol

My first two were really bad. Well the first one was BAD BAD. And then the second was bad but not unbearable. I am now 4 and a halfish months out and my last one I barely noticed, had almost no cramps and it went away quicker than my pre op 'TOM'.

What I have noticed which is frustrating is the lack of weight loss or sometimes weight gain I still have from my TOM, but by the last day I usually drop a significant amount, like 5 lbs after.

 

I actually just finished my 1st period since surgery and it wasn't painful at all, but it was VERY heavy! A lot heavier than normal for me and it lasted a couple days longer than normal too.

Hormones are released from fat cells so irregular bleeding is normal, or even increased bleeding (which is considered irregular). I bleed for 9 weeks post op, not fun. I would call your surgeon's office, or OB if you are in that much pain to see what they say. My Dr had no issues with excedrin or pamprin type meds although I didn't need them. 

I was always told that losing weight increased chances of getting pregnant. When I went to a fertility clinic in 2009 the first thing the Dr. said was that I needed to lose weight. He said that being too heavy affected the ability of the drugs so it was pointless to waste the money if I was too heavy (he said it nicer LOL). 

I never had regular periods when I was heavy, I used birth control to regulate them. I would only have one once a year that would last for like a month and it was the worst time of my life. My Dr.s always said if i lost a significant amount of weight my cycle would probably regulate. However, I dont want to chance getting pregnant after being newly sleeved so I am on birth control.

Good luck!

I'm wondering if you ladies had PCOS prior to surgery? I know fat can have estrogen and losing the fat might change your periods. Also, My doc said surgery tends to correct PCOS.

Luckly, I have never been diagnosed with it but also understand PCOS women have irregular and painful periods.

Also -- Forgot to ask this initially --- does having your period make the scale go up a couple of pounds?  I am 2 lbs heavier this morning -- NOOOOO!