sisters with endo using hormones

What are all of you using for HRT, how well is it working for you and for how long have you been using it.
I was told I had severe endo. My doc said there is 95% chance it will not return since ovaries were taken out and I had no endo on the bowels. I'm taking .5 estradiol pill right now, but will be switching to climara patch.
Has anyone had the endo return? How about sisters with long term good results with endo that are taking hormones and have no returning endo problems?

I am going to drop in with some info, although I kept my ovaries when I had my LAVH for stage IV endo.

Having endo, it is very important that you see a dr who is knowledgeable about endo and HRT, not just one or the other. Maybe an endometriosis specialist or a very good endocrinologist. Using HRT when you have endo can be very tricky.

Any estrogen has potential to feed any endo that was left behind. And as endo can be very microscopic and hide in a lot of places, it is actually easy for some to get left behind.

Many drs who treat endo patients "balance" out any ERT with progesterone. Progesterone is used to treat endo as it can "starve" the endo.

We do have women who have had their endo return. That is why some drs do not give any ERT to their endo patients. Know all you can about endo and make the best decision for you!

As you have time, you may want to read through the Hyster Sisters' Endo/Adeno Resources so you can stay up to date on endo information.

Best wishes to you!

Hi falldc

I have done very well as far as hormonal balance on HRT, but I did have a return of my endo. (I started on Climara, then switched to Premarin.) I tried adding progesterone to help my odds, like (((Weiser))) mentioned above, but I couldn't tolerate it. I did have endo left on bowels and ureters - but doc was pretty meticulous about getting everything he could see otherwise - (took longer to remove the endo than the hyst) When they went back in (1 1/2 yr later) I had some large purple/black implants in areas that had looked clear after my hyst; so apparently microscopic implants had plumped up from the HRT.

Ideally, I would be off HRT because of my endo. but I still take it. Unfortunately, I'm a terrible sad-sack without HRT and I will take my chances of the endo returning (again) over the chances of my sadness returning. My endo was so severe before surgery, that even if I had some microscopic implants plump back up from my HRT, I knew there was no way it could ever be like it was before he cleaned me up. (Doesn't take much to hurt tho.) Anyway I think this is a wonderful world, but it's not a perfect one, and we just have to do what we can.
Good luck with your HRT decisions, and I you never have problems again.

Thinking of you and sending s,
Beth

hi its been 4 years for me- i have been even high estrogen by accident- and my endo has not returned- advanced stage 5 with adhesions everywhere like most including bowel pinned in 3 places- no pain still for me.i am now on estrogel like a 3/4 pump per day and a pea size of 2% compounded test cream 2 times per week. i am a low estrogen woman anyways-was very unhappy when i was preg- was happiest just after period was over. i had a very good repo endo do my surgery both times - once to clean things up to try and have last child, and year later to get it all out. both times he got it all. i have been pain free and happy ever since.

I had my total hyst about two years ago. I was on prempro but they recently changed it premarin. I have had a a great deal of pain and the Drs think it is scar tissue and possibly endo that is still there eventhough I had the hyst. My Dr. told me long ago that the endo was everywhere and I should expect having several more surgeries in the future. I can't say for sure if this is the problem but I am having to in and speak to a surgeon again.