anyone else no HRT??

I am 48 years-old, had a SAH/BSO with a vertical incision on 5/3/05 due to a fibroid the size of a "36 week pregnancy". I'm doing well except for a stubborn 1/4" spot on the incision line that just won't heal despite being treated with silver nitrate. I'm sure it will eventually resolve itself. My question is about HRT. Pre-op my MD told me I would be started on a patch before I left the recovery room. Post-op I was told there was no need. I haven't had any symptoms except maybe a little hotter than usual (but the weather is finally warming up, too.) How long does it take to have, or notice, changes? Thanks for your help.

Hi. Rainrain, I had the same circumstances with a "smaller" fibroid problem. My doctor told me before my surgery that since I was perimenipausal, my hormones were "on the way out". Therefore my surgical menipause would not be the same as a younger women who had not entered the perimenopausal period.

Secondly, he stated that the very "latest" data showed a correlation between some HRT and early heart disease. Don't write me I'm just telling you what he told me. I didn't research it for myself because I have other reasons not to be on HRT.

Third, when the surgeon did the surgery and eyeballed my damaged ovaries, he felt they were "too far gone to be producing much of anything". I was already having some hot flashes and insomnia before, but I intent to be watchful for signs of surgical menopause just to be cautious.

Is it possible the doc changed his mind after seeing your ovaries????

I'm no expert, had a TAH on May 10th, so tomorrow is 3rd week anniversary. My obgyn suggested black cohosh instead of hormones, have been taking 1 400 mg pill each day since week 1. I haven't had a single menopausal symptom.
My incision is healed up fine-my experience with first aid etc would lead me to say just treat that spot with antibiotic and keep it clean and bandaged, like any other wound.

Feeling pretty good except that I can REALLY tell when I've overdone it.

My surgery was back on 3/15. I was having a few hot flashes before surgery, but have more now. I would say that I noticed them coming on about 2 weeks after surgery. So far, I can manage with the help of a fan. Most hot flashes come in the evening and during the night. My doctor said that has something to do with cortisol levels dropping at night. Don't know anything about that yet. I have a battery-powered portable fan that I can take with me and another plug-in fan on my night table. Some nights it's switched off and on several times and others hardly at all. I live near Sacramento so this will be a very hot summer and I'm going to have to be brave and bare my flabby arms in sleeveless shirts. It's all about comfort now.

Vaginal dryness has been a concern too. But I did find Replens and another product that are both applied with an applicator directly in the vagina. It lasts for a couple of days and makes things feel more normal. It's also important to use plenty of lubrication for intercourse too. My DH has been very gentle and patient with me. Things are going quite nicely I might say.

Fighting weight gain has been tough. I've put on about 5 lbs. since surgery and I've got to get it moving downward. It's will be tougher than ever before now, but I've got to get into a healthier weight. Exercise should be a great help.

We've also got to take care to get enough calcium. Right now I'm taking 1000 mg of calcium citrate. My pharmacist says that's the best kind. I get another 250 mg. of calcium carbonate in my multi-vitamin and the rest from my diet.

Sorry to go on, but I hope I've been some help. Hang in there and take care of yourself.

Donna

Hi,
I am not taking HRT either, but due to the endo I had. They do not want it to grow back. The Dr said he never saw a severe as a case as mine and he is a specialist. Don't want to take any chances. I was also wondering how long it takes to start noticing hormonal changes. Someone said that your body stores some hormones and takes a bit for it to be depleted. But then I also have read where some people feel hormonal changes immediately.
So far so good for me. Minimal hot flashes where I am not even sure it is not just me being hot on a nice day. No terrible mood swings yet which I was really afraid of. Was afraid of turning into a nasty mean person.
Good luck to you and hope you continue to do well without any hormones.
Tiffany

I had a TLH/BSO (Everything removed) 10 1/2 weeks ago due to growing fibroids and not on HRT. I haven't had any hot flashes or any other menopausal symptoms. I keep hoping it's because I'm lucky.....?

Did you know we have a No Hormone forum?

It is called the No Hormone Desert Oasis and you might find the members who post regularly there have interesting info to share with you all.

Hey Rainy,
My Hysterectomy/BSO was on 11/16/04. I did not have memopausal symptoms until about 3 months after. And if it had not been for vaginal atrophy, I would not have started them. My OBGYN, said I had already had severe atrophy and if I wanted to have sex I was going to have to use some estrogen. I had used lubrication but of course that didn't fix the problem. I use the vivelle dot .1 patch and have felt a lot better. Getting the right dose of estrogen is the key. Not enough and you'll gain weight and too much and you'll gain weight. Isn't being a woman fun?
You're fat also strores and makes estrogen, so that is why you probably haven't had many visible symptoms. But the problem starts when there is not enough estrogen and so your fat will store all fat you eat to be able to make more, thus you'll gain weight.
Good Luck
wondergram

Thanks everybody, I really appreciate your input. I'm hoping I was already perimenopausal and that's why everything is going well. I just remember my mother going through "the change". Ugh. she had brutal hot flashes and mood swings. However, my sister had it much easier, so who knows. HRT is definitely not where I want to go, anyway, as my family has extensive cardiac disease throughout. Pre-op, my MD understood I did not want HRT but I was told I would need it for 6 months or so to "ease into things". I guess time will tell. All in all, things are great. The discomfort is going on for longer than I had expected but nothing to stop me from what I want to do, and it's a great excuse to not vaccuum and do laundry!

Hi I'm almost one year out and no HRT I had severe endo and adno. I even had endo on other organs that it wasn't supposed to be on . My doctor told me no HRT because of the possiblility of the endo coming back and the fact that he thought my one overy that was left may still be some good. Guess what... I still have minor symptoms but I feel great. I hate the hot sweats and what not but I'm telling you I feel great. I dont' ever remember feeling this wonderful as far as down there. The no pain is the most wonderful and wearing white is awesome. I have so many light colored clothes now that I would never have dared wear. In time your body will tell you what you need.

Hugs
Kassie