How come I'm having a "light period?"

Hi everybody,

I am 16 days post op. I have to wear pantyliners because I am getting light bleeding/spotting every few hours and little bit of cramping/tenderness. Is this normal? (It's light pink color 95% of the time and light brownish-pink 5%.)

I left a message on my surgeon's office number, so hopefully they'll get back to me about it.

I'm not too happy about this. Unless he forgot to take out my uterus &/or cervix, I shouldn't be having periods anymore!

What a drag being back on the rag...

Spotting and bleeding can be a normal part of healing for up to about 6 weeks--though some of us aren't quite healed even then. As long as you are not having bright red bleeding that fills a pad an hour, you are likely fine.

Consider a scab. As it heals, if any of it peels off before a new layer of skin as formed underneath, you get some bleeding. That is similar to what is going on internally except with the moisture in that area there isn't usually a dry scab so there can be more bleeding and spotting. Additionally, as you increase your activity level or if you do too much, the spotting and bleeding can increase.

As an FYI, the cervix is the neck of the uterus. If it has not been removed and you keep one or both ovaries, mini periods can occur each month because there can be endometrial lining which can be shed. A period is the shedding of the endometrium in response to your hormones.

Did you have your cervix removed also? It is probably just still healing. You are not over doing it are you? If you do too much it can cause you to bleed a bit because it is still healing. Take it easy.

No, I don't have my cervix. (Or I bloody well hope I don't have it!!!!! )

I had a LAVH on Sept 27th and the surgeon said he took my uterus, cervix, and fallopian tubes, but kept both ovaries.

No word back from my surgeon's office yet.

I'll try resting a little more.

Thanks for all the advice/info.