Surgical Menopause

I am 8 days post op and the hot flashes have begun. Can anyone tell me about their experiences with surgical menopause both from a new post op prospective to a veteran post op?

I am 4 months post op, not really new post op, but not a veteran either. I was expecting the worst, and hoping for the best. I have experienced some "warm moments"since one week post op, and I still do have these "moments". I really don't have mood swings, (also have been on an anti depressant for years, I think this helps), and yes, there is vaginal dryness, (KY is always handy). I can no longer be the initiator (sp), for sex, but once we get started, all is good, including the big O, although not as intense, but still satisfying. So I am holding my own so far without HRT. Good Luck

to the "other side" of the castle

I started hot flashes, started skipping periods and all of that pre-hyster. I tried herbal remedies, black cohosh, etc. as I can't take Rx hrt. Post-op when I really started having full blown hot flashes, mood swings, etc - my primary dr put me on prozac which he said would help reduce the menopausal symptoms and the resulting depression. It took a while to find the right dosage, but for me - it has helped. Now I don't have the sudden hot flashes - I refer to them as "power surges" ( ) - they come on slower, last longer, etc.!! (I still have my ovaries, but not sure how well they work at this point)

There is a hot flash cocktail I've seen on here - so you could search for it on HS.

Talk to your doctor, s/he will have recommendations. And, in the meantime - dress in layers! I know it is not funny - trust me, a LOT of us know - but layers really do help. Also a friend has noticed that she has more when drinking hot beverages (coffee, tea, etc) - so she limits them.

Hang in there.

Hi!

I am 3 weeks post op (TAH/BSO). I'm not on HRT (I was on a patch very briefly in hospital, but regular doctor took me off it due to my various risk factors).

I think the strangest experience has been the general overall change in "temperature regulation"...lol. Cold beverages seem lots colder, and body is much more sensitive to temperature overall.

Almost immediately after my surgery I experienced feeling suddenly hot and getting chilled. Frequency/intensity increased somewhat over time (albeit brief). Seems that my hot flashes and the chills that follow have increased quite a bit in the past week. I'm still on pain meds, so that could also be contributing to the hot flashes. However, no night sweats and the hot/cold thing isn't that bad. Mood seems fairly stable, although I do get teary a little easier when watching a sad bit in a movie, etc.

Since I won't be doing HRT I do plan to use vitamin/mineral supplementation and possibly other "alternative" approaches. I will be discussing this further with my gyn and regular dr. in the weeks to come.

Perhaps its too soon, but for me it really hasn't been bad at all so far... but maybe it takes a while to kick in as the body's supply of estrogen gets depleted.

I'll also be interested to see what others have to say in this thread! Not to mention if you experience more changes as the weeks progress.

Take Care,

I am 4 weeks post op and have only had mild warm flashes. I started taking black cohosh and that seems to help. I also have the whole "regulating body temp" issue. I swear, sometimes I am so cold I feel like my bones are aching!

I am 7 months post op. didnt have any symptoms up until the 3rd week, just mild warm flushes during the night, and get very cold, I still do get very cold sometimes. its a good thing to have your thyroids checked after a hyster, to rule that out.

I am not on any hrt, just taking vitamins and specially Omega 3 and calcium, eating right and excersicing, and I feel great. I do have vaginal dryness, and use KY liquibeads for that, they keep me lubricated for 3-4 days. sex is great, like azeala mentioned, not usually the initiator, but once it starts its wonderful! the "O" are same or better than before.

over all, Praise God I am doing great without hrt, I feel better than before, feel more myself, like in control better, before I was in BC pills for over 25 years, want to give my body a rest