I've never heard anyone talk about this, but out of nowhere I started wondering about this a few days ago. I still haven't gotten my period back since my daughter was born, but have been having some cramping as if it's coming back soon. I am planning to schedule my j-pouch surgery this fall. What happens if I am on my period when I'm scheduled for surgery? I haven't had a period in a year and a half, and I've heard the first post-partum period can be really heavy. I imagine it would complicate things for the surgery itself, and I certainly can't wear a tampon while they're building a j-pouch (they need everything down there to be soft and pliable, not plugged up, right!?!). Not to mention how difficult it would make things to have to deal with changing tampons/pads post-surgery. No one ever mentions this, but surely it has come up, right? What would they do?

It's really not a big deal...they're used to that sort of thing. Just wear a big pad between your legs and when you strip down you can keep the pad between your legs just as you would after having a baby.

It won't affect things. It's not like there won't be blood anywhere

It actually happened to me.

After my surgery to create the J-pouch this past January...I woke up with a pad on with those sill mesh hospital underwear. My period started while I was on the operating table. The nurse told me it is very common for this to happen.

For my take-down surgery I was already having my period when I went into the hospital. They just have you wear those mesh underwear and a pad to surgery, no tampons. They work around it.

I had a loop ileo done on the 16th and just happen to get my period the day before. I also have had 11 surgeries on my anus in the last 2 years due to abscesses and have had my period at least 6 of those times. It's okay, they deal with it.

Happened almost every time to me (including one misscarriage) during surgery...the nurses were adorable and explained that it is a very common occurance...and not to sweat it...to them, blood is blood.
Sharon

Good to know it's not an issue for the surgery... but isn't it a huge pain to deal with in recovery? After step 1 it was all I could do to get myself to the bathroom to pee. Can't imagine having to deal with that too.

Every surgery brought on my period. It was bad enough with all the tubes and IV's running out of me, then to stick a big pad up between your legs. Oh, I was pre menopausal,almost at the end and it just keeped coming back!

Believe me, they are very used to this type of thing, and it's nothing to worry about. If you are having your period, obviously mention it to the nurse when you check-in for your pre-op (for 2 reasons: 1. so they are aware and get get you properly equipped and 2. so the doctors are aware that there will be a "secondary" source of bleeding during surgery). However, definitely don't use a tampon, or else take it out before you get prepped. There is a small risk any foreign object like a tampon could get misplaced or cause a problem during surgery and so that's not something you want to deal with.

It really is a hassle to have to deal with but that's natures little joke on us woman I swear that it just wants to see how much we can handle, lol. I got my period right before my last surgery and i told them when i was checking in. I also did wear a tampon in to surgery and they said that's okay and that they would just remove it before they started the surgery and place a pad and some panties on me when they were done. I think they did a great job making me feel comfortable and they must have done something because i bled really lite for a couple of days after surgery which is not normal for me and they were giving me heprin shots ever 8 hours (i don't know if that would affect the flow of your period) but either way it all worked out. Good luck