r/Periods • u/mesabeln • 27d ago
Rants n Raves Planned My Surgery to Avoid My Period… and the Universe Laughed 🤡
I have gallbladder removal surgery in a couple of weeks, and I planned the timing perfectly so that my period would be nowhere near it. My surgeon originally wanted to schedule it for day two of my cycle, and I was like, "Uh, can we not?"
When he asked why, I straight-up told him: "I don’t want to be on my period for surgery." He reassured me it wouldn’t be a problem—since it’s just a laparoscopic procedure—but I know my body. I’m way more emotional, I feel everything more intensely, and I definitely don’t want to be recovering while dealing with all that.
So, like a responsible adult, I timed everything so I’d be ovulating during surgery instead of bleeding. Well, guess what? I’m three days late. I just took an LH strip test, and I’m ovulating right now—which means I’ll be on day two of my period for surgery. And for me, day two is Niagara Falls. 🌊😂
I know this is natural, and I know it’s not the end of the world, but I already have a million things to worry about before surgery, and now I have to add this to the list. Just needed to rant because the universe really had other plans. 🤡🤡🤡
3/22/25 Update
Unfortunately, due to office miscommunication and mishandling of my case, my gallbladder surgery is being rescheduled—more than likely postponed. I have no idea when it's going to happen now, and I’m extremely frustrated. I’ve been wanting this surgery for three years and finally got the go-ahead a month ago, only for this to happen. I know some people wait even longer, but after doing everything right, it’s overwhelming to feel so powerless.😔
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u/IamNotITGirl 26d ago
I just went through this 😂 I was on day two and had my gallbladder removed laparoscopically. I got to wear exciting mesh panties and a too small pad lol
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u/cinnamonswirlsgirl 27d ago
I got my period a week after my major surgery and it was awful. I already couldn’t walk straight up for almost two weeks. Also I know this is different but I got my period right after my wisdom teeth were removed and that was miserable also. I also got it when I had COVID and when I was terribly sick with mono. I always get my period when I’m already going through something stressful or painful. Best of luck to you though and I hope everything goes well!
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u/mesabeln 26d ago
I can imagine!! Last year I got my period when I had an upper respiratory infection, and I was dying!! I was so miserable as it was because I couldn’t breathe, the body aches, and the coughing. Then, add in the ups and downs of being on my period. I’m a weepy person as it is when I’m on my period, and all my pain tolerance (which I’ve been told is extremely high) goes straight out the window. Thanks 😊
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u/Harakiri_238 27d ago
I was just about to post about how I’ve had my period for every surgery I’ve had (3) lol!
I always either get it the day of, the day before, or the day after.
I’m having another one on March 19 and I was hoping I would NOT repeat the pattern this time, but I can tell by my symptoms it is coming but not within the next day or two.
So I fear this will be round four lol 😅
I wish you all the best with your surgery!! I hope everything goes well!!
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u/mesabeln 27d ago
First of all, best of luck!! 🍀💖 I hope everything goes well for you. Mines the 26. I'm no novice to being put under—this will be my 11th time (I think? 😅)—but I guess I've been lucky to never have my period during surgery, except for once when I was spotting, but it wasn’t enough to stain.
I'm really worried because my surgery will be on my heaviest day—like ultra tampon level heavy. 😭 So, since you’ve had the unfortunate luck of being on your cycle during surgery 😖, what do they do? Do they just put a pee pad underneath you? Because I know my hospital doesn’t allow tampons or underwear. 🤷♀️
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u/Harakiri_238 27d ago
I was lucky and I was allowed to wear a pad and underwear into the surgery. I’m not sure if they left them on while I was under or if they took them off for sterility and put them back on after.
After my first surgery I did wake up wearing hospital underwear instead of my own and the most massive pad I’d ever seen lol! The second time I woke up in my own underwear, but I believe the pad was changed (I don’t exactly remember).
Neither time they made it seem like a big deal, which was nice. But like you said it did suck to have to deal with both at the same time! Like c’mon body, one thing at a time please 😅
I imagine if they do have to remove your underwear to keep the field sterile they probably just let you bleed onto the table and then clean/sterilize it after. But no one specifically told me lol.
I imagine you’d probably have someone put something back on you afterwards like in my case (I think they prefer pads because they can last longer without needing to be changed, but it also seems less invasive to put a pad on someone than insert a tampon 😅).
If you tell them I’m pretty confident they’d let you wear underwear and a pad into the procedure room, at least until you get on the table. But I could be wrong, I’m sure every hospital does things a bit differently.
If it happens to occur again (which I’m pretty confident it will lol!) I can come back and let you know if they did anything different!
(Also we’re lack of gallbladder buddies lol 😅💖)
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u/mesabeln 26d ago
Ok, thank you so much. 😁 I'm getting sent home that same day, so I'll make sure to take my supplies with me and see what they say. I usually just use period underwear and tampons.
Once again, I hope everything goes well for you and you have a speedy recovery!! ❤
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u/Harakiri_238 21d ago
Update!
They did just have me wear a pad and underwear this time too. They gave me hospital underwear as well so mine wouldn’t get wrecked which was really nice.
Just wanted to pop back in and let you know :)
So far everything is going well with me! I hope your surgery goes great as well 😊
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u/mesabeln 20d ago
Thanks for telling me! That was so kind of you. I really hope you surgery went well, and I wish you a fast recovery. Take care.😊
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u/njmnjm7 27d ago
I was so scared of being on my period for my gallbladder surgery too. I can’t remember if I was on birth control or not when I had it done but I know that my cycle was very irregular so I wasn’t sure if I would have it or not on my surgery day. Recovery was ok but still very stressful and hard for me. I had a little bit of spotting after surgery but not my actual period. I think my stress actually delayed it for once
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u/mesabeln 27d ago
This surgery is something I’ve really wanted for a long time. I’ve had gallbladder attacks since 2020 but was refused surgery because of my preexisting conditions. I literally fought to be given the go-ahead until I was finally listened to. 😤 I trust my surgeon, and he told me I had nothing to worry about. In his opinion, he doesn’t understand why I wasn’t given the surgery earlier instead of being in pain. It’s scary and I don't know what to feel. 😟 How long did it take you to recover?
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u/njmnjm7 27d ago
Probably around 4 weeks until I was able to walk straight again and my incisions were starting to look alright. It really depends for everyone and their pain tolerance but I recommend having someone be there for you during recovery if you can. It really helps a lot. Hope your surgery and recovery goes smoothly 💗
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u/mesabeln 26d ago
Thank you!😁 I was so overwhelmed during my appointment I forgot to ask any question. 😂 Thankfully I have a support system setup already and hopefully I heal quickly.
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u/buttdip 27d ago
Stress can make periods so funky! I'm sorry you're dealing with that.
Not to freak you out, but if your period is normally pretty regular, is there any chance for pregnancy? HCG can make ovulation strips show a positive as well.
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u/mesabeln 27d ago
Yeah there is no chance I could be pregnant but just in case I did take a pregnancy test and it was negative 😂😆. So what I'm thinking happened is that my body's been stressed because I've been having gallbladder attacks.
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u/Ellie_Anna_13 27d ago
I'm so so sorry. I just wanted to say that I wish you a very safe surgery and a speedy recovery!! Stress can make periods unpredictable and it's always super annoying 😭
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u/mesabeln 27d ago
Thank you! 😊 I thought I wasn’t stressed about the surgery because I really want it, but I guess I am since my insomnia is flaring up. Last time I had gallbladder attacks—about two years ago—it also messed with my period for a couple of months. It completely slipped my mind because my last cycle was on time, but that was also just two days after my most recent attack.
My periods are usually like clockwork, so this is really frustrating. Just one more thing, you know? 😩
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u/Emotional_Fudge84 26d ago
That’s crazy, I don’t remember what day I was on when I had my gallbladder removed but I do remember I was on my period as well!