Stop HRT before surgery?

Here's a question. . . I'm having surgery in a couple weeks. . . went to pre-op yesterday, the doctor and nurse were appalled that neither had told me to stop my HRT (vivelle dot patch .0375 & one pump of Balance progesterone cream nightly) one month prior to surgery. Hoo-boy!

Should I just go cold turkey? I'm really worried as I'm preparing for a very important law test that is 2 days before my surgery. If I stop my HRT now, I will be in such a miserable state of anxiety attacks, hot flashes, and brain fog that I may as well hand in the test answer sheet blank.

Or should I just taper down? I've done some research and according to Novartis (who makes Vivelle), the estrogen is completely free of your system within 48 hours of removing the patch.

I can probably go off the progesterone without too many issues at this point. But my estrogen????

Oh! Surgeon said I can resume my HRT two weeks after surgery. Yes, it's major surgery to repair my abdominal muscle wall - think tummy tuck with muscle repair, for a good comparison.

Thoughts?

I have been thru 7 surgeries and I never stopped my hrt. I needed it for the emotional support.

I was not told to stop anything.. in fact I know someone who was put on HRT before a vaginal hyster to promote healing.

I'm going to stay on it all. I'll take my patch off the morning before surgery and have hubby replace it when we get home the next eve. I'll already be on 'vacation' from my progesterone (1st thru 5th or 6th) so won't worry about it.

THANK YOU everybody for helping me! I researched. Visited with my pharmacist friend. Talked to my gen doctor. . . posted on a tummy-tuck website. . . I'm thinking this HRT thing is just a quirk of my particular surgeon.

Now if I could just formulate a plan to inform my surgeon. . .

KSyardbird,

You mentioned Balance Progesterone.

Where do you buy this?

Thanks.