Surgical Menopause!

I have less than a month til my hysterectomy. My ovaries are goiing to be removed and I am concerned about surgical menopause. I would like to hear others experiences with this and what they did. I am 54 and have fibroids and I think I've been having mild hot flashes. I still get a monthly heavy period and have pain with my fibroids. I am a bit concerned with HRT as my mother died of breast cancer. I was wondering if progesterone creams work and other alternatives. Help!

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Originally Posted by frazzle I have less than a month til my hysterectomy. My ovaries are goiing to be removed and I am concerned about surgical menopause. I would like to hear others experiences with this and what they did. I am 54 and have fibroids and I think I've been having mild hot flashes. I still get a monthly heavy period and have pain with my fibroids. I am a bit concerned with HRT as my mother died of breast cancer. I was wondering if progesterone creams work and other alternatives. Help!

I had my ovaries removed about 7 weeks ago. So far I my only complaint about surgical menopause is the hot flashes and brain fog. My Dr. put me on a low dose estrogen and it has really helped. I still hot flashes occasionally, but nothing I can't live with. But everyone is different and our experiences are different as well.

I am A BRCA 1 carrier (high risk for Breast cancer). Estrogen is not the big risk for breast cancer, progesterone is. I will only be on it until I am 50 though. Go to the hormone jungle forum and there is all kind of information there, that I think will really help you (although it is overwhelming) and talk to your Dr.

Good luck

Barri

I am scheduled for a LVH on 1/7/08 for abnormal bleeding due to fibroids and ovarian cyst at 50 yrs old. I started having hot flashes this summer along with difficulty sleeping. Acupuncture has worked for the hot flashes and melitonin has helped with sleeping. I am concerned about increasing hot flashes along with mood swings following surgery. My hormone levels show I am going through menopause so wonder if I will need HRT??

I had my surgery 11/15/07 As of yet I have not had any symptoms of surgical menopause. I am also not taking any HRT I will be seeing my Dr tomorrow for my 5 week post -op.

Hi Frazzle,

I'm almost 3 years post op and was put into surgical menopause also the hot flushed were around for a few months for me and not too bad most of the time. I used HRT for a short while of about 3 months and haven't use it since. I'm finding I'm doing well except I have had to use vagifem for vaginal dryness. However I am overweight and I've read that often this can help the body produce estrogen or something to that effect and I'm inclined to think perhaps this is the case for me.

Take care............Karen

Thanks for all the replies to "Surgical Menopause"...I really am being put at ease about this whole business. I am very mentally ready for this surgery and am anxious to see how I feel generally after all is said and done!!

Frazzle,

Just a little more food for thought my gyn was originally going to leave my ovaries then decided that my age at the time being 45 that he would take them as he'd found many of his patients usually had to have them removed within 18months anyway. However as it turned out he would of removed them anyway due to cysts and damage. Do your research and be guided by your doctor's experience.

Goodluck and take care............Karen

I would suggest you read Wisdom of Menopause By Christiane Northrup, before your surgery. I had TAH/BSO and am now 5 wks post op, my surgeon told me I had 6 wks worth of hormones stored and my experience would reflect that.
I prefer working with a homopath and she tested me at 30 days post op and I am working on a few things. I have learned that my adrenals make estro. and testo. and my brain makes progest. so I have decided with homopath's help to strengthen their ability to take over for my ovaries.

I also learned that as far as my brain goes my uterine lining and cervix are in need of nurishment, even thought they have been gone for 5 wks. Similiar to an amputee needing to itch the missing limb.

The book has resources about finding homopaths as well as all you could possible want to know about traditional as well as the most recent treatments for menopause. Good luck.

Thanks Kasey2!! I will definitely pick up that book. I'm with you, in that I prefer a more natural approach. I so appreciate the input.

My mom is starting some menopause things and has said that acupunture has helped her ALOT. She is a nurse and hate to take meds unless absolutely necessary. She was all wiggin out when i said i was getting a hyst cause she was worried about menopause but i am keeping my ovaries so I am all good there. I would try a few things before jumping on meds. And for some people the symptoms are manageable, hopefully your one of those people