Need help, opinions about HRT please. :)

I am on vivelle dot .075. How can you tell if it's working well or not? I do not have hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain(in fact I have lost 5 pounds since surgery without trying)breast soreness, none of the things that HRT can cause, BUT, what I do have is a lot of sadness and crying jags throughout the day. I am almost 5 weeks from my abdominal BSO, and other than some swelly belly left, and a little bladder pain from being cathed 5 times, my only complaint is how sad I sometimes feel. Is this just a side effect from losing my ovaries and having to get used to the HRT, or would it seem that I might need a higher or lower dose? I plan to discuss this with my gyn at my 6 week checkup, but I thought you lovely sisters might have some good advice for me.

Thanks!

I'm confused...I thought the HRT was what is keeping me from having the hot flashes, night sweats etc. I was having them really bad before my surgery but now on HRT they're all pretty much gone. My mood swings and crying jags are also greatly diminished with the HRT.
I'm interested to see what the others have to say.
I'm sorry you're feeling sad. I hope you feel better soon

I am on a .75 patch Evrocet (uk version of similar drug I guess). I think it takes about four weeks to get yourself set as far as I can see so you might be suffering from withdrawal from your own hormones and settling in with your new stuck on ones. I feel a bit up and down and I think it is normal for even those sisters who have kept their ovaries!

Saying that the mood swings are no way as bad to pms and tend to only last a few minutes! If in doubt ring your do for advice. If you look on internet you will find soo many negative things it will probably scare you. When I had my prostat injections (lupron us equivalent) I looked on the internet at side effects and scared myself. Then my doc said that I probably wouldnt get any of the side effects and he was right I didnt - if you read up on them it is easy to let your mind do the rest.

Are you eating properly and getting enough rest as this can effect your state of mind!

Take care

Looby (on an up moment!)

Looby, diet is good, but I have had some insomnia which is probably making my sadness worse because I am tired during the day. I hadn't thought of that. I'm just wondering if maybe I need a higher dose for a little while. Although, when I first came out of surgery I was on a .1 patch and for the whole week that I had that on, I had morning sickness. I can't win. I have been very fortunate to not have any night sweats or hot flashes! I think I will see how another week goes and then I'll be sure to ask the doc what he thinks. I think you're right though about my body having to get used to different hormones.

Aah lack of sleep thats a killer for me, good quality sleep is very useful. And that load of chocolate I just ate! Mind you feel sick again now!

I think it is easy to get down in the dumps when you are at home possibly alone and you can dwell on things. If you are going to dwell get a photo album out full of happy memories!

I have suffered depression as well as severe pms (wandered off a couple of times!) that the moods here are no where near as bad. But they do get worse when I dont get enough sleep.

Take care

Looby


how big are these dots my patch is about 2inches square and leaves horrible edges when i remove it!