Frequently, online I see people asking questions about how this surgery affects a woman's unique health issues. I would like to take more time and words than a comment on a post about this and what my experiences have been.
From the start, the surgeon told me to get off of my estrogen-based birth control method of choice. The estrogen puts individuals at a higher risk for blood clots (as does obesity) so it had to go, and I completely understood.
Also, I was told to not get pregnant for eighteen months. This was actually a deciding factor in getting the surgery since 16 months from now (that I'm two months out) our personal finances will have recovered from a step back for better job security.
The need for non-estrogen based birth control and the year and a half wait made an implant make more sense.
About six weeks after the initial surgeon appointment I finally got in to see my gyno. We discussed the implant options and decided the Nexplanon implant would be best. Nexplanon goes into the upper arm and I can check to make sure it hasn't moved whenever I want.
On May 1 (T-30 days before surgery) I got the implant. It was a five minute process once the doctor came into the room. They did a pregnancy test to make sure I wasn't pregnant, numbed my arm, and in the Nexplanon went. I barely experienced any bruising, the pain was nothing an Advil wouldn't help, and I couldn't lift weights with my arms for a week. But, I was good for birth control until May 1, 2020. Overall, a very positive experience.
About two weeks later, I experienced a normal period on my regular schedule.
On May 31, I had my surgery and the next day, June 1, I started to experience some discharge that could almost be described as a period. This discharge did not stop.
Two weeks later, I experienced a real period, again right about on schedule. Once that stopped, I again went back to the stranger discharge. At that point I had another gyno visit scheduled and I went for it. I go to a practice and am not picky about who I see. So I was seeing this nurse practitioner for the first time. I explained my history and she said what I was experiencing was nothing to be concerned about. After all, I changed my hormones AND underwent a major surgery, so I should cut my body some slack.
I again had a normal cycle about on schedule, and now, eight weeks later, the discharge is finally ending.
Now that's my story. From this point on are my theories.
I admit that part of the reason I had this surgery was for fertility. My husband and I had about two months of actively trying to get pregnant before our situation changed. We weren't discouraged by two months of no luck at all, but increased fertility certainly made the surgery that much more attractive. Also, its not just the getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy, but also chasing a baby around, then doing the whole thing again with a second pregnancy and a second baby. I couldn't imagine being able to do that over 300 pounds.
The whole having my period for basically two months was really annoying. But I didn't really cramp. I did however bloat and weighing myself every day would get discouraging at times. That was when I decided to not weigh myself every day. From things I read online, I knew not to be concerned, but getting in with my provider made me feel a lot better.
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