Emotional/Hormonal Recovery Lagging Behind Physical Recovery

Hi,

I will be five weeks out from my TAH tomorrow. Last week I got the okay from my surgeon to resume physical activities and physically I feel pretty good. I started back to work last week part time and found I could physically tolerate about a 3/4 day at the office. My problem is that my hormones are still out of whack and I am weepy, my brain is foggy, and I have migraines which have interfered with my ability to concentrate and function at work. I kept my ovaries but they are not working. I started on bio-identical HRT with a biest/progest cream. I have been on it for 12 days with some relief, called the doc yesterday and he said to increase the dosage, he'll test me next week and add testosterone....

Anyway, I am just venting and wondering if anyone else has had similar problems. (I did previously recieve some help on the wonderful Hormone Jungle section of this website on the hormone issues). I decided to take the morning off since I am not getting any work done anyway. I am going to go to the gym and get a light workout and see how my abdomen feels and maybe it will help emotionally as well.

Thanks,

Debbie

Hi Debbie!

Wow, you're really doing a lot for 5 weeks post-op! I know it took me many months to feel like I had my strength back. I won't even tell you how long it took to get my hormones balanced.

I know after surgery we want everything to be set right and to be 100% better and functioning to capacity. Unfortunately it doesn't ususally happen that way. It's okay--slow and steady improvements are acceptable! We each have the same goal but we don't all get there at the same pace.

Take it easy on yourself and allow yourself the time you need to heal and recover. Remember that any changes in hormone therapy take time to give optimal results and hormone fluctuations in the early post-op recovery are normal and to be expected. That doesn't make them any more pleasant to deal with, but you sure aren't alone!

s to you!

Thanks, April Dawn.

I have been very lucky with my physical recovery. Everything was so smooth. Very little pain and quick recovery. And I feel pretty good. I also realize from other posts that everyone has good weeks and not so good weeks. So, I am not going to go out and jog or overdo it and pay next week. See, I have learned from this web site.

I do need to be more patient with the hormone therapy. It's really been tough. I took Lupron before surgery and have felt bad from lack of hormones for several months now. Thanks for listening and thanks for writing back.

Debbie

Me too! I am almost 9 weeks out and I just posted abot my body not responding when we are intimate.

i am tearful ...a lot...which is not me at all. Infact Idon't even resemble mysel when looking fom inside thisssbody.

Physically I am back to my w2 miles day and doing some light liftng.

Am headiing back tothe doctor inabout 3 weeks to take a look at my hormones At the one month mark he as very rprised I wan't feeling much better cosidering what he removed ndhow well my body was healing.

I am encourged that your doctor is including progesterone. I think Ineed some help in that area but will not take HRT.

I have one ovary left (other was "polluted with endo"). I wi**** would settle. For th first few weeks it was over reative and now I don't know what. I have always charted my cycle with natural family planning andIsdtillkeeps tabs onwhat is happening but doctor's often will not consider this information.


I am very frustrated but am holding out hope and trying to remember it is still early the grand scheme of things.
Blessings,
Beth

Well, I went and got on the stair master for 30 minutes on the lowest setting and so far no pain. I felt like crying the whole time just cause I feel sorry for myself, but I did it.

Beth, I am not in a relationship, but I know what you mean, I have absolutely no sex drive. I would like to start dating again or at least have the desire to date again. My doc said that progesterone is a prescursor to testosterone and that's one reason why he increased progestorone and when I see him next week he's going to do a saliva test that will include testing for testosterone. Like April Dawn said, it takes time to figure it all out and even more time to get all working.

Thanks,

Debbie