very confused

Hi all, my surgery for TAH/BSO is 3/17, cervix too. I am very confused right now about the HRT. My doc has suggested starting me on some right after surgery, but is this really a good idea. Should I wait and see how it goes? Couldn't I try some other less invasive things before going that route? I don't want the endo to come back, and I don't want heart disease, family history is prominent. Any suggestions would be great
Donna

The hrt no hrt is up to you! never let someone tell you this is what your gonna do. If you are uncomfortable with hrt use, then don't use it. Wait and see how you feel afterwards to make that call. Good luck with your surgery. Hope all goes well.

My gyno told me that the HRT would help me heal better after surgery because it would be less traumatic for my body to not just suddenly have no hormones. Once I was well healed and I was having problems with the HRT he got me off of it. Good Luck. Vickey

What happens if you don't go on HRT?

It is probably pretty much an individual thing. I've read some ladies who start having hot flashes in the hospital, some who take days or weeks or months. For me it was emotional more than physical, I just didn't feel like myself, I was very anxious all the time. I had already been through hot flashes a few years back though. So the anti-depressant I am on for my GI problems works to control my other menopause symptoms.

My doctor told me that fat cells store estrogen and if that was the truth then it did wonders for the psychological effect of me worrying about waking up without ovaries. I often wonder if some of the ladies that experience symptoms in the hospital might be more surgical?

I vote with going with how you feel. Maybe keep some progesterone cream on hand since it's topical and can end your suffering quickly and just ride it out and see how you do.

Hang in there!

I understand completely and think you should research and maybe get a second, and even third opinion if you are having doubts or worried.
When I had mine...they forgot to put my patch on me after surgery. Well about 5 hours after I was in my hospital room frm the recovery room...I started to go into hot flashes. Soaked the entire bed and was miserable on top of being in pain. I would think it depends on the person yanno? I do not like taking hormones due to all the side effects such as a blood clot I had 6mos after surgery. It is really a iffy thing and I feel a personal choice as well. As of present I am still having hot flashes even with HRT...I am looking into other alternative herbal remedies at present.
Good luck with surgery... keep us posted.

My doctor has pushed HRT but only because she is worried about osteoperosis, I am 29. I have not taken any HRT and don't plan on it, and have not experienced any menopausal symptoms to make me want to. Though I understand I am in the minority with that. The choice is yours and you should only do what you feel comforatable with. Good luck to you!

Angrw76:

Just my two cents worth re: HRT and ostheoporosis. I've already posted my experience in the matter so I won't belabor the point here but to say that I'm truly concerned about your bone health.

I'm assuming that your ovaries are gone? If that's the case and your blessed w/no symptoms I'm ecstatic for your being symptom-free but the surgery makes you a prime candidate for osteoporosis and that's a devastating condition.

If you aren't going to got the HRT route (and, in all fairness, if it's not started early enough it may not be effective enough. ...again, I posted on this topic earlier, you could find that by searching on my name) then I'd encourage you to talk to your doctor about supplements (I have posted some info on those, too, elsewhere here, last week) and prophylactic treatments (I ~think~ that they can/will prescribe O. treatments like Fosamax in a before-you-actually-need-it approach. Need to ask your M.D.)

Please keep us posted. Healing broken bones is no fun and the worst part is, without regular scans we don't know what shape our bones are in (so the first fracture is the first sign).

yankeelady~
I appreciate your concern but it isn't necessary. Just because I have only mentioned that I am not going use HRT does not mean that I am not following up with my doctor on other methods to prevent osteoporosis. I am still seeing doctors every other week for surgery/cancer follow up and we are working out a plan that I can live with. I'm in good hands.