Question:
I am 11 days postop and tomorrow I should have my Depo Vera...

shot my husband had a vacsetomy but it takes a while to become effective. I was wondering if Depo Vera may interfere with my weightloss I know one of the side effects is weight gain but I didn't seem to gain weight from it but of course I was already MO. Anyone with experience in this? Should I get one last shot which lasts 3 months or use other Birth Control?    — Candace F. (posted on January 28, 2002)


January 27, 2002
I started taking it before surgery and continued after. I have had no problems. I had surgery on Oct. 17 weighed 265 have lost down to 203.
   — cindy Q.

January 27, 2002
I started taking it before surgery and continued after. I have had no problems. I had surgery on Oct. 17 weighed 265 have lost down to 203.
   — cindy Q.

January 28, 2002
My surgeon says it's the best form for post-ops, as we don't know yet if the pill is fully absorbed. But if you like being more regular there's a new form of birth control due on the market any day now. It's a patch. You wear a different patch each week, and none on the fourth week, where you have your period. My doc is having me switch to that as soon as it's out, but just because I want to get a period again, not because there's anything wrong with Depo. You should be just fine continuing with it. I have gotten the shot since my surgery 11 weeks ago with no problems, and I feel I'm very much on track in regard to weight! Good Luck!
   — Deborah W.

January 28, 2002
Hi, I had Lap RNY on July 23, 2001. I weighed 264 before surgery and now weigh 175 and have been on Depo Provera the entire time (with the exception of 3 months before surgery as required by my surgeon). I have not experienced any problems that I am aware of. One thing that you may want to keep in mind is that there is some debate about the effectiveness of birth control pills after surgery due to malabsorption issues. Some say it makes no difference but I simply could not leave this up to chance as I know we tend to be more fertile while loosing weight. If you do decide to change methods of birth control you may want to check out the Lunelle shot which is hormonally identical to BCPs but is injected monthly rather than swallowed and therefore malabsorption should have no effect whatsoever.
   — Angelia M.

January 28, 2002
I say go ahead with the shot. My husband had a vasectomy, I was on the pill, I got pregnant. Even if the shot WERE to slow down your weight loss for 3 months.... a pregnancy would slow it down EVEN MORE!!
   — [Anonymous]

January 28, 2002
The depo shot is an INEFFECTIVE form of birth control for people who are losing weight as rapidly as we are after WLS. Do not count on it for birth control!!! This shot is stored in fat. What are you burning? Fat. Because of this, the hormone does not stay in your system. Hormonal forms of birth control are ineffective during this rapid weight loss. If you are worried about the shot making it more difficult for you to lose weight, don't get it anymore. It is really serving no point in your body right now, anyway. If you research this question, you will see many people who became pregnant while utilizing this form of birth control. Besides, who wants to get a shot if it is not going to do what it is supposed to do?
   — Kierstin C.




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