Hormones or NO hormones--That is the question!!

I had my hysterectomy on 12/6 and they took both my ovaries. My doctor prescribed an estrogen hormone replacement called Vivelle-Dot. I havent used it yet and Im trying not to. I have a HUGE history of breast cancer in my family (my mother is a survivor but I have lost 2 aunts to it) The doc says the risks are minimal with estrogen alone and its the estrogen/progesterone combo that is higher risk......but the insert in the prescription still mentions it alot! I have been very irritable and somewhat weepy, but the biggest complaint is that I cant sleep at night and even if I leave my bedroom window open with cold wind blowing in I am hot and sweaty then freezing cold!! I can handle the mild hot flashes I experience now and then during the daytime but Im really miserable at night. Does anyone know about this? Maybe there is a NATURAL way to help with this so I dont have to take hormones?? Let me know.........Amy

There are many vitamins and natural supplements that you could try to ease your symptoms. Vitamin E, black cohosh, b complex, just to name a few. I did want to mention that you posted this in the bladder matters forum, so you might not get many replies here. There's a drop down menu that shows where the best place for your post is, so you can get as many replies as possible.

Hi Amy I've moved your thread over here to the Post Op forum where other recent Post Ops facing similar challenges can see it.

The decision about whether or not to use HRT is a complicated and very personal one, which is best made between you and your DR considering your personal and family history. That said... I agree with your DR. I use the Vivelle dot myself and had breast cancer earlier this year (which was in no way caused by my HRT, since the cancer had to have taken in the neighborhood of 10 years to develop and I'd only been on HRT for two).

If you decide to go the no HRT route because of cancer concerns, do make sure to read the information in the No-Hormone Desert Oasis about soy and black cohosh, which mimic the effects of our own estrogens when it comes to stimulating cancer cells to grow. There are medications which can help with symptom relief, but none of them are as natural to your body as the estrogen in the Vivelle dot is.

Also, consider that the decision about whether to use HRT or not doesn't have to be a permanent one. It could be one that you revisit every year with your DR as you see how you're doing on managing your symptoms and re-evaluate your risks versus the benefits you get from using HRT's.

There is a lot of great information on HRT and breast cancer over in our Resources directory, in the breast cancer section:

http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/lin...=browse&cid=14

Good luck with your decision!
s,
-Linda

Hi Amy,
I chose not to do HRT because of cancer in my family (my mom had breast cancer), although my doc thinks I should. What I did was a ton of research on the subject. There are many, many studies and books available to us. I would recommend reading as much as you could, then coming up w/your decision.

A couple of good reads are listed in the resource section here at hystersisters.

After 5 months, I'm starting to "level" off...not everyone does, but I've been lucky and doing alot of "trial and error"....like a chemistry experiment.

there are pros and cons to both....but there is plenty of research out there for you to make a decision

I'm setting here writing this at almost 2:00 in the morning my surgery was in March so I'm right at nine month's after surgery.
Although my Dr. said that I could go on hormone's he prefered that I didn't (Cancer Concern's). So here I am , as one sister said I have leveled off and in a lot of way's so much better!
still you trade some bad for other bad, (hotflash's- hatem always worse at night) , (problem's sleeping- can't even sleep in the daytime let alone at night) (Husband say's I'm a lot more grouchy, I have no idea what he's talking about!) HE'S IN BED ASLEEP AND SNORING WHILE I'M SETTING HERE WRITING THIS!!!
Dr. said take some Benadryl it'll help you sleep, took the max. dosage for several days, didn't phase me, stayed away from everything with caffeine , well here I am at 2:00 in the morning listening to my dog howl like a wolf! And my husband snore loud enough to match him! (LOL) Maybe my poor dog thinks my dhubby is howling too. Hope you have it better than me! And I really hope your hubby doesn't snore!

Hi Horseperson....sorry you are having a hard time sleeping....no sleep is the pits. My first husband snored something terrible too.....ugh!

A couple of friends of mine who have had a hyster suggested melatonin(sp?), but I have not tried that. I didn't sleep for weeks after my surgery until I started using natural progesterone cream. Have you tried that? Dr. John Lee has done alot of research on that...its all in his book. For some women, it takes awhile to work, but might be worth checking into.

take care....and I hope you get some sleep. My doc had recommended benadryl, too....but I don't like to take that unless I have to.....I become dependant on it....and, sometimes, I've noticed it wires me up and I can't sleep (does the same to my ds).

here's another

Hey piano player ,
Thanks for the suggestion for melotonin, never heard of it , another sister suggested I try Valerian Root which I've also never tried. I'm planning to check on both today. Thanks!

Your welcome,
Your pharmacist might also be a wealth of information for you...they generally know what works and what does not. If you have a compounding pharmacy in your area, then they will be especially helpful. Also, your local health food store could be helpful....they are generally well-versed in the natural remedies, various herbs, etc.

take care and good luck!

You should also look into Effexxor, an antidepressant that helps with hot flashes. It is prescribed alot for women who can't take HRT due to cancer or endemetriosis. I am on it, and it has been a godsend. No more tears! It's been 2 weeks since surgery, and I had my first mild hot flash while sleeping this morning. It was very bearable.