Girl Question (so guys read at your own risk)

GinaKurtz

So I have something strange going on...

Let me start by saying that this is about TOM, so guys can stop reading now, hence the subject title.

I started my weight loss journey over 10 months ago on 8/1/10. Prior to that, over a year ago, I went off birth control & we chose to use other non-hormonal methods. I'd been on birth control for our entire marriage which means I'd had the hormones in my system for over 6 years. We'd completed lots of research before deciding to go off of it. The biggest reason we went off was because we thought it would help with my weight loss & because we plan to start trying for a family soon.

The last couple of months have been strange. Last month, it lasted a week & a half. 16 days later, it's here again. I have lost 32 lbs since the first of August, but I've been in a huge plateau since November so I've not lost more recently. I am just 11 lbs away from my ultimate goal. Also, I haven't gained any either other than the lb or 2 when TOM is here, but that just goes away when it leaves. I'm curious to know if anyone else is having this problem. I'm also curious to know if there's any medical professionals (doctors, nurses, etc) out there that would be willing to lend me some advice.

Thanks everyone!

EDIT:

I should also add that I visited my doctor back in the winter. She wants me to go back on birth control, but when I told her that we were looking to start our family later this year she said that she wouldn't recommend it then. It's been more than a year since I stopped taking it.

I could always be pregnant since I've been married for more than 7 years now, but I don't think I am. I took a test last month & it was negative. I'll most likely take one this month too. It wouldn't be the end of the world.

tigertown11

congrats on the weight loss.
i know when i went off the pill there were some crazy things that happened to my body also.
I don't think that you should accept medical advice on a website. see a gynecologist to help you and best of luck

Little_Lisa_Ann

I'd like to see the responses to this because mine is completely out of whack and has been for some time..

skinnywithin

its the journey..when I started this in January andin march I had already lost 22 lbos but my perios was like every other week sometimes just a day or so in between until the next one would come. I went to the doctor , he ran test and said it was from the changes I was making that it would regulate itself and guess what IT I am back on track now every 21 days

jnettiedotson

Could you be pregnant?

codyyde

First of all I don't think going off birth control should affect your weight loss but I am only a nursing student.

The real reason I am responding is because I have been on so many different birth controls and had different affects when going off of them. I have had extended periods, short periods, frequent periods but usually it'll even out after a few months. I would say the first step is to look on the website of the birth control you were taking to see if it says what will happen when you stop taking it. Or even google "stopping birth control pills" because I bet its a 6 month window to when your period is supposed to be back to normal and I think it can take up to a year for your body to be ready to conceive but I am not sure. If you are worried you should go to your doctor though, but if you can't I would google it!

GinaKurtz

congrats on the weight loss.
i know when i went off the pill there were some crazy things that happened to my body also.
I don't think that you should accept medical advice on a website. see a gynecologist to help you and best of luck

Thanks! Well, it's not too bad so I'll wait it out for now. I figure it's partly due to being on the pill for so long. It was very irregular & chaotic before, I just thought it would have fell into more of a pattern by now...

I mostly posted to see if there were others out there dealing with the same thing. I saw my doctor back in the winter & she told me that part of the irregularity comes from the weight-loss, change in diet, & my over all eating habits. She said it was nothing to worry about, but it seems to be getting more & more irregular...

GinaKurtz

Could you be pregnant?

After 7 years of marriage...of course. I took a test last month that was negative. I'll probably take one this month too. :happy:

GinaKurtz

First of all I don't think going off birth control should affect your weight loss but I am only a nursing student.

The real reason I am responding is because I have been on so many different birth controls and had different affects when going off of them. I have had extended periods, short periods, frequent periods but usually it'll even out after a few months. I would say the first step is to look on the website of the birth control you were taking to see if it says what will happen when you stop taking it. Or even google "stopping birth control pills" because I bet its a 6 month window to when your period is supposed to be back to normal and I think it can take up to a year for your body to be ready to conceive but I am not sure. If you are worried you should go to your doctor though, but if you can't I would google it!

I think it really helped with my water retention. I feel a lot less bloated. I was on a pill that was like Seasonal...so it was every 3 months.

When I saw my doctor in the winter, she told me that it was mainly due to my weight-loss, change in diet, & eating habits. She said that working out changes it too. She made me feel like it was nothing to really worry about, but I was curious to see if anyone else has the same issue. Also, I've been off of it for more than a year so I guess I thought that it would gradually get to more of a normal cycle, but it hasn't. It seems to be getting more & more sporadic.

Thanks for your insight! :happy:

kellycasey5

Wow what a drag....when I was in my early 20's I had a ton of breakthrough bleeding, finally tried the depo shots, which didn't help and I gained 10 lbs. In my experience hormones and hormone fluctuations affect the body in many ways. I have been on bcp since I was 13 to regulate very heavy flows. After changing methods I usually take a few months to go back to a "regular" pattern, although I have never really been regular on my own without bcp. Keep track of your cycle and bleeding/ spotting days, keep working with your gyn, try to be patient with your body as frustrating as it may be, and good luck with the family planning

cammons

Not to dig too deep into your personal business.....but are you by chance using an IUD? I went off hormone based birth control method and switched to a Paragard IUD (the one with copper instead of hormones)....things were fantastic at first but after about a year I started having weird period things happen....one lasted for almost two months, I had a break of four days and got another one. Once I had it removed (which was sad) all went back to normal and life has been just peachy since. Of course, my husband had a little snippage done in the meantime....best money we've ever spent!

GinaKurtz

Not to dig too deep into your personal business.....but are you by chance using an IUD? I went off hormone based birth control method and switched to a Paragard IUD (the one with copper instead of hormones)....things were fantastic at first but after about a year I started having weird period things happen....one lasted for almost two months, I had a break of four days and got another one. Once I had it removed (which was sad) all went back to normal and life has been just peachy since. Of course, my husband had a little snippage done in the meantime....best money we've ever spent!

Wow! No, it was Jolessa...the kind that makes you go for 3 months without one then you get one. It was a pill.