Hormone Replacement Therapy?

JUST WANTED TO GET SOME THOUGHTS ON HRT. IN MY SITUATION, IF BOTH OF MY OVARIES NEED TO BE REMOVED, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WILL NEED TO CONSIDER. IS HRT REALLY AS BAD AS I HAVE HEARD?? WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR SIDE AFFECTS/COMPLICATIONS, AND WOULD YOU CHANGE ANYTHING IF YOU COULD??

Hi (((Peachy)))

It's very wise on your part to be making the required research before you decide whether or not you'll be going for a BSO or just the removal of the diseased ovary.

While you wait for the wonderful s to reply to your post, here's a link to our sister site, The Hormone Jungle: http://www.hormonejungle.com/ Hopefully, you'll find some answers there.

Sending tons of s your way.

Hi!

I agree with (((Dany)))! You're very smart to figure out what the options are now before you need them. A good starting place is to read some articles in the Hormone Article List. The most important right now would be the ones about estrogen choices.

If I could change anything, I would like to have functioning ovaries. Since that's not possible, getting balanced on hormones is the next best thing. For me the benefit of using HRT is that I'm on an even keel day-to-day so long as I remember to use my HRT. With my ovaries the hormone levels fluctuated a lot which resulted in PMS and other not so nice symptoms. That all went away with the BSO.

Getting balanced on hormones after surgery is easy for some, not so easy for others. More often than not the ladies posting here are the ones who are having problems. I think it's just human nature to not dwell on something that is going right so those ladies move on. We're happy to welcome anyone here who is happy or unhappy with HRT!

If you want to read more after you've seen the articles in the link above, have a look around in the Resources database under the Hormone Jungle - Hormone Resources section.

I hope this helps you! Best wishes with your upcoming surgery!

s

In my situation, a TVH at 50, I agreed with my OB/GYN to take my ovaries. We didn't think they were working anyway. After surgery it was found, 1 was separated and the other had fibroids, BUT, obviously one WAS working. In hindsight, I wish I'd had a hormone blood panel done BEFORE my surgery to see what my levels were. It might have been good to know - even now with me switching from Premarin to Bio-identical hormones it would have been a "natural" level to try to attain. Might be something you'd want to consider before having to make any decisions.

Hi...I had it ALL out and have been very lucky on the first pill my Dr. out me on...Estrace 2 mg. Doing GREAT so far! Good Luck!

HI

I'm glad you are doing your research. I was completely unaware of all my options before my BSO. I did not have a choice to keep my ovaries. Now that I am balanced with my hormones I am glad I do not have them anymore. They were never nice to me in the first place.

It was not easy for me in the beginning. I did not want to take any ERT because of all the bad publicity it has. After almost a year without it, I finally decided that it was safer to take it then to let my mind and body fall apart without it.

One thing I have learned is that every doctor has a different opinion. So find one you are comfortable with and work with them.

Some women do well with their first choice and some women have to search harder to find something that works.

((April Dawn)) gave you some wonderful resources to read and that can hopefully help you make your decision.

Hope everything goes well for you