Birth Control Pills

[-Flo-]

OK ladies, I need some help. I have endometriosis and I have been on oral contraceptives for almost half my life. I have been period free for that long. I'm coming up on 2 months post-op and I have had 2 periods! I had forgotten just how painful endo is. I saw my gyn and he thinks I could either be malabsorbing or it is the effects from anesthesia and the pill will work again. What has been your experience? Have you had to change from the pill to the nuvaring or the shots?

I am especially concerned because I had a terrible time with depression, I am finally in a good head space and I'm concerned if we play with my hormones, I could get depressed again. I am almost thinking of asking to see a pain management specialist instead of changing the pill. My gyn will only prescribe NSAIDS and that is not cutting it.

Any advice?

 

[harrietvane]

I have a Mirena IUD, and no periods. I used the pill for about a year and it didn't agree with me, so I went back to the Mirena.

 

[southernlady]

My gyn will only prescribe NSAIDS and that is not cutting it.

How far out are you? If over 6 weeks, you can take NSAIDS with the DS. If you could take NSAIDS before the DS, you can take them after. BUT 1) BE HEALED 2) Take with food and 3) Do NOT exceed the OTC daily dose unless prescribed by a doctor.

Now, if you can't take NSAIDS for other reasons, then yes, see a pain management doc.

You also need to address the endometriosis. I ended up having a partial hysterectomy to fix mine.

 

[Clematis]

I can;t speak specifically to your birth control questions as I'm in menopause. But I think I have read from @southernlady and perhaps @hilary1617 that their periods resumed post-DS after years of being AWOL for various reasons. There's a lot of hormones esp. estrogen stored in fat which floods our system during rapid weight loss. These hormones may have been so intense that they overrode your BC pills. I don;t think BC pills are malabsorbed in the intestinal tract -- they are not time released so I doubt it.

I think your question/comment is not whether you can take NSAIDS but that NSAIDS aren't potent enough for endometrial pain and so you are upset that your GYN won't prescribe something stronger. Right now your body is going through so many changes. It may settle down in a couple of months or even next month. If it were me, I'd try not to overmedicate until I discovered my "normal". A pain management clinic may be a good option.

Take each issue as it occurs: don't worry about IF you will become depressed until you actually ARE depressed. It may not happen. Honestly, I think there is a bit of euphoria that occurs as weight starts falling off.

Sorry you are going through this and hope your pain eases.

 

[southernlady]

But I think I have read from @southernlady and perhaps @hilary1617 that their periods resumed post-DS after years of being AWOL for various reasons.

NOT me, I had a partial hysterectomy back in 1994, LONG before I had my DS.

 

[-Flo-]

Thanks for the advice. Yes, NSAIDS are not strong enough right now. I am maxing out on the NSAIDS dose and I'm still in horrible pain. I have been using some leftover percocet from the DS surgery but I'm scared as to what will happen once I run out. I get why doctors are so hesitant to prescribe narcotics but it stinks when you a legitimate medical condition that is known to cause pain and they still wont prescribe. My endo was even diagnosed by surgery, so the doc has no doubt that I have it.

I hope things settle down and my BC starts working again. This is seriously a side effect of the DS that I did not expect.

 

[Clematis]

Oh, and you need a second birth control method for two years (i.e. condoms). Clearly your current BC is not performing properly. You CANNOT get pregnant for 2 years or your baby could be born with serious birth defects. (There's a thread somewhere here with sad articles of babies born too soon after DS.)

Perhaps your GYN will suggest switching to a different method like nuvaring or the arm implant -- no concern then about malabsorption. (But I doubt malabsorption is the problem.)

 

[southernlady]

Oh, and you need a second birth control method for two years (i.e. condoms). Clearly your current BC is not performing properly. You CANNOT get pregnant for 2 years or your baby could be born with serious birth defects. (There's a thread somewhere here with sad articles of babies born too soon after DS.)

http://bariatricfacts.org/threads/so-youve-lost-weight-and-want-to-be-a-mommy.4402/

 

[hilary1617]

I can;t speak specifically to your birth control questions as I'm in menopause. But I think I have read from @southernlady and perhaps @hilary1617 that their periods resumed post-DS after years of being AWOL for various reasons. There's a lot of hormones esp. estrogen stored in fat which floods our system during rapid weight loss.

Yes, I never really had regular periods throughout my lifetime. They were very infrequent - and years would pass without one. I was prescribed provera to induce periods from time to time (to prevent issues with build-up).

Then, while at the hospital recovering from DS, I had a period. I have had a period *every month since then*, like clockwork.

 

[Jbandmmomma]

There is not enough research available to know which BCP are malabsorbed by which patients and which are not. I would not use the pill for just birth control. Your MD may be able to find one that you do absorb and that manages your endo. This might be a long, trial and error process though.

In the meantime, I have had luck using flexaril for control of the horrific cramps. I pass large painful clots also and my GYN prescribed tranexamic acid to help control this. It is amazing. Take it 3 times/day during menses. The combination of these 2 meds has made my life so much easier.

 

[Jbandmmomma]

There is not enough research available to know which BCP are malabsorbed by which patients and which are not. I would not use the pill for just birth control. Your MD may be able to find one that you do absorb and that manages your endo. This might be a long, trial and error process though.

In the meantime, I have had luck using flexaril for control of the horrific cramps. I pass large painful clots also and my GYN prescribed tranexamic acid to help control this. It is amazing. Take it 3 times/day during menses. The combination of these 2 meds has made my life so much easier.

 

[Pacifica]

Mirena IUD here as well. I have been really pleased with it, and have had no periods once it settled in. The hormones it releases go directly into the uterus, so no issues with malabsorption like a pill might cause. Good luck with this issue!