10 months post-op ~ crying, UTIs and pain ~ anyone else?

I haven't been around lately. Loving the fact that I am pain free after my July 27, 2007 TAH/BOS! I take Premarin daily and it really works well for me. Some people tell me I shouldn't do HRT that it will cause breast cancer. Ya know what.....I am so happy with how I feel, I can't imagine this could be bad for me.

In the beginning, I didn't have much of problem with regret but now I cry more often. I get UTIs more often. I get strange stabbing pains every so often but there is NOTHING there to cause the pain.

Is this normal??? Any other folks out there who are this far along?

Linda

linnyteachesk

I'm sorry you're having these problems and hope some ladies will be along soon to share their experiences.

Has your doctor checked your hormone levels? If not, I wonder whether you're feeling more emotional because your hormones aren't quite right. It's difficult to say why you're now experiencing more UTIs ~ has your doctor offered any possible explanation? It may be worth obtaining a second opinion about the pain, especially if it worsens.

Sending all good wishes and I hope you're able to find some answers very soon. Take care!

Linda,

I'm so sorry to hear you are having problems! Your problems sound similar to mine.

I'm still trying to figure out the problem with the stabbing vaginal pains, the left ovary that's gone but still hurts, and the general pelvic pressure that feels like everything's going to fall out. I'm not prone to crying, but I do have brain fog and other symptoms of low hormones.

My initial gyn said that it wasn't anything gyn-related because "nothing's left," so he referred me to a gastroenterologist. She immediately pronounced me "constipated," which, um, is one of the problems I don't seem to have! So we scheduled a colonoscopy, just to be sure.

Meantime, my primary care doctor thinks its female problems (but the colonoscopy isn't a bad idea anyway). But there's this new pain in my upper right quadrant -- which we find is gall stones. So I left his office with an referral to a general surgeon and another gyn. To make a long story short, the surgeon and the new gyn will take out my gallbladder and do an exploratory lap (since I need lap surgery ANYWAY, we'll take a peek) on June 4.

The colonoscopy was a week ago Friday, and they found two polyps -- one in the general area of this phantom ovary. I'll know more on Thursday.

While I was at the second gyn, he prescribed Vagifem -- vaginal estrogen. He wasn't sure it was the answer, as I seemed moist enough and not really looking like I have vaginal atrophy, but the low libido was an issue (though that could also be brought on by constant pain). Well, Vagifem is my new best friend! It has almost taken care of the pain! I still get stabbing pains, and the phantom ovary isn't as intense, but it's probably 70-80% better. And I didn't realize how dry "down there" I was. I'm SOOOO much more comfortable.

Bottom line: work with your doctor. Tell them everything (even if it seems embarrassing). If you don't tell 'em, how can they fix it? OK, so you may wind up with some tests you aren't thrilled about (the prep for a colonoscopy is FAR worse than the procedure itself, and the prep wasn't THAT bad). If you think you need more hormones, then speak up! Take a list of symptoms with you (brain fog is terrible!). A list that is on paper, so you can't forget. That list saved me with this new gyn -- I almost forgot to mention low libido, which is what prompted him to try the Vagifem.

I'm beginning to feel like I see the light at the end of the tunnel (though I almost thought it was an oncoming train about an hour into the colonoscopy prep!). Sure, there are still some hurdles -- another surgery and finding out about those polyps. Another couple of weeks and hopefully I'll have more answers.

And as far as HRT and breast cancer: it's my understanding that there's one theory that estrogen feeds tumors (and gallstones and other things) that already exist. They don't cause them, but enhance their growth. And I also thought there was a difference in risk between estrogen only and estrogen/progesterone combination (the former being less of a risk?). My MIL was diagnosed with breast cancer 18 years ago and I'm sure she'll get on me about estrogen when we visit this summer and sees me taking it. You don't want to take more estrogen than you need, but just supplement back until life is worth living -- at least that's my opinion. I can't imagine life without my estrogen -- both oral and vaginal! Again -- talk with your doctor. I'm not sure if my facts are completely correct (brain fog thing, y'know?!).

I hope this helps! (((((hugs)))))

skydog
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TLH/BSO 7/17/07 for adeno, endo, and massively heavy and painful periods