Though you were menopausal, you still had the benefits of your own ovaries still secreting some hormones - a dribble effect that continues to lessen as we age. Since you've had both ovaries removed, it is indeed possible to go through surgical menopause after natural menopause, with symptoms. What are your fears regarding HRT? The lack of a proper balance of hormones can negatively affect us - it's more than just hot flashes. See
Menopause Risks: Head to Toe) and also the individual articles on
Another article which you may find informative is
HRT, Heart Disease, and Surgical Menopause which sites some more recent studies than the ones which made women fearful of HRT.
Having shared all that, not everyone can take HRT for various reasons. And even if you are a candidate, it's not one size fits all, it might take time to find what works for you, and it may need tweaking as your body's needs change. This is why it's so important to partner with your doctor.
After having been on the BC pill for 28 years, I wanted to take a break from hormones. (That break was what ultimately resulted in my hysterectomy because something was awry with my uterus.) I retained my ovaries and am currently not on HRT, but I'm not ruling it out in my future as a recent bone scan has revealed I have low bone density. Currently, I'm awaiting the go-ahead for lab work to better point me in which direction I should go - meds specific for allowing my bones to rebuild, or hormones to boost the process.
There are many more articles on types, delivery and alternatives in the
Menopause and Hormones Articles list. I hope this gets you started on learning more about your options.
Hrt - fears at 5+ weeks after hysterectomy
