Menstrual Cycle after Gastric Sleeve
Hey Everyone - question for all the females out there. I have not had a cycle since October - 2008. After having the sleeve done on April 8th; I started spotting 2 days ago. Has anyone else experienced this. Still learning the ins and outs of the gastric sleeve and the changes the body is going through. Also, noticing that I have not had much weight loss - assuming because the body is in starvation mode and it is hanging on every calorie that is input. Thanks again for any help. :D
Re: Menstrual Cycle after Gastric Sleeve
When your body burns fat, the stored hormones are released, so this could be causing it, as well as the weight loss (even if it's minimal so far!)... I had to take birth control to even get a period, and now I'm off it and my cycle is precisely every 28 days like clock work.
You'll get the hang of it :)
Re: Menstrual Cycle after Gastric Sleeve
I was put on the depo shot for birth control in October of 2009, and stop having periods. The week of my surgery I started spotting for about a month. It finally stopped and I am back to normal.
Re: Menstrual Cycle after Gastric Sleeve
Same thing happened to me.
Re: Menstrual Cycle after Gastric Sleeve
I had not had a regular cycle for years, after I lost about 40 pounds I had my period and it has been back like clockwork ever since! Just another reminder of how my body is getting healthier after my sleeve!
Re: Menstrual Cycle after Gastric Sleeve
It depends on the person. I had amenorrhea as one of my comorbidities for my surgery - and post-surgery I still have amenorrhea. I take the pill and that can trigger a period, but even at a lower weight than I have had for years my period has to be "forced." But it will vary wildly as to what one person's body does versus another's.
Re: Menstrual Cycle after Gastric Sleeve
Thanks ladies for the insight and advice on this ... I haven't had a cycle since having the ablation in 2008 and I have to admit I enjoyed not having it.
Re: Menstrual Cycle after Gastric Sleeve
Here you go: there was a previous thread on this with some other info that might help:
http://www.gastricsleeve.com/forum/a...dies-only.html
Re: Menstrual Cycle after Gastric Sleeve
Re: Menstrual Cycle after Gastric Sleeve
I've got a question. I just started on the Depo shot a month and a half ago. They tell you it makes you gain weight. Did you have problems losing weight after you were sleeved? And are you still on the depo shot? I'd really love to keep getting the shot but am unsure if it causes you to hang on to weight. Any info would really be appreciated.. Thank you!!!
Re: Menstrual Cycle after Gastric Sleeve
Hi Lenni, I'm an OB nurse and sleeve pt. and from what I've heard, a lot of VSG patients gained weight on depo. It's one of the more common side effects and cab be pretty extreme. It also carries a black box warning for osteoporotic effects so it's something to be very careful with. I haven't looked into osteoporotic effects post-sleeve in women but it there are any the depo would only serve to exacerbate them.
Re: Menstrual Cycle after Gastric Sleeve
Thanks Michael. Being you are an OB/GYN nurse, what type of BC would you recommend for a person who will be getting sleeved. I likes the ease of the shot but if it's going to contradict the reason I'm getting sleeved (to lose weight) then I need to find something to prevent pregnancy.
Re: Menstrual Cycle after Gastric Sleeve
I would recommend talking to your OB/Gyn about an IUD but not the Mirena. A lot of women experience fluctuations in their hormones post-sleeve so a hormone-releasing IUD might not be the best choice. Post-op you're at a greater risk for blood clots which is a known adverse effect of birth control pills. Taking a look at the risk factors of various birth control methods the IUD might be the safest route for you to take but definitely talk over all the pros and cons of each method with your doctor.
There are a few posts here from women who went on the Depo after getting sleeved and experienced drastic weight gain (50 lbs or more) so that's definitely no bueno post-operatively. I'd hate to think of the time, money, and pain we go through to lose weight only to have a medication side effect put it back on. :(