Almost 2 years out from TAH/BSO, want to go off HRT

I wondered if I might be able to get off all HRT successfully at this point. I have tried just about every form, bioidentical and not, and have really felt crummy on all of it. I would like to know if anybody else this far out from surgery has been able to get off HRT successfully without having too many symptoms. My biggest concern is rapid aging, vaginal atrophy and depression. Is anybody on vaginal estrogen only and able to get enough hormones from this to sustain you? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

If you use vaginal estrogen it will just treat the local area and not the rest of your system.

A lot of ladies have gone off hrt and have a few symptoms and seem to be okay . Why don't you slowly wean over many months and see how you do? I have done better by slowly lowering my dose over these last 3 years where I only have very slight occassional symptoms. I have too many symptoms if I just stop cold turkey , too hard on the body. You could just lower your dose and be on it a while to see how you do.

Good luck to you.

s

Have you stopped yours SuzyQ? I wish I could take some low dose form of HRT without feeling terrible, because I know my body needs hormones. I'm only 40 and I just don't think it's a good idea to be without. My doctor said I was at high risk for osteoporosis because I am smaller framed, white, used to smoke, etc. I know there are plenty of meds for that and exercise is key. The vaginal problems can be dealt with easy enough but I really don't want to give up my sex life, what little there is of it. Is anyone able to have a happy sex life without HRT?

I am still on it , have tried to go off several times, body not ready yet for me to be off . I get mood problems and hot flashes still, but not as bad as earlier when I tried, so with time it does get better I think.

You should be okay with sex life, as long as you take the local estrogen cream for the vagina. If I could get off the patch with only the symptom of dry vagina I would be fine, as I would take the estrogen cream for it. I have read that Kegel exercise helps as well. I think even if one gets off the pill or patch , there will be a need for some of us to always have estrogen in the vaginal area for comfort and health. The estrogen stays there and has never helped me with hot flashes or moods , so I know it is okay to take if worried about problems with risks with rest of body.

I am not worried about bone loss, as I know people who have taken hrt and had loss of bone anyway. There is calcium, perscription meds, and working out with weights and weight bearing exercise that will build bone.

It is a personal decision between you and your dr on whether to get off. If your hrt does not help you then why take it? Mine works for me, but I just don't want to be on it too long as I am already post-menopausal age and risk goes up for my age group.

Hang in there

That's what I'm thinking Suzy. It isn't making me feel any better and really makes me feel worse. I've been off 3 days now. No hot flashes, just tired and achy. I'm hoping this gets better but I was even more tired and achy on HRT. It's just not worthwhile to take it when I don't feel any better, so I'm going to see if I can just make due without it. I can certainly think more clearly off it than on it. Not only that, my bowel function has already improved and for me that's a big plus because I have chronic constipation anyway. I think my body just doesn't metabolize the meds very well or something.

I hope I can get some energy back as I am getting ready to embark on a very stressful endeavor of adopting a baby girl from China. The stress of the adoption process will be a lot easier to bear if I am feeling well. I will need all the energy I can muster and especially when I bring my baby girl home!

Thanks for the well wishes and I hope you continue to do well and can get off HRT soon as well (if you so choose).

Hugs,
Carol

Dear Carolinachick:

I was reading the posts tonight and saw in yours that you are adopting a baby girl from China! We are trying to adopt a baby girl from Taiwan (where I was born). But I am afraid, being 1 and 1/2 years after my TVH, and still trying to find hormonal peace. I cannot function at all with no HRT: I was tested before the surgery at age 37 and was nowhere near natural menopause; my mom was about 56. If you'd like to share thoughts and hopes on the journey we are both on, write back. Love, your hystersister Briar Rose.

I'm almost 3 months since my hysterectomy - ovaries and uterus removed. I did not start on HRT - my doctor does not advise them. He has since retired and I will have a new doctor when I go back next Feb. I have had the hot flashes and trouble sleeping. I was having a lot of problems with tearfulness until I went for a regular check-up with my doctor. She put me on Wellbutrin XL for a few months to help with coping with the symptoms. I've been on it for several weeks and do see a difference. It has low sexual side effects and low weight gain. I do not want to stay on it forever, but maybe a few months will help. Has anyone else had success taking antidepressants for menapause symptoms? My sex drive is still low, but things seem to be working okay. I am tired a lot, so that doesn't help me be 'in the mood' either. DH is very understanding. What help is there for low sex drive besides hormones?

Dear Carolinachick:

I saw your thread a few nights ago and posted a reply, but somehow it got to the wrong sister. You see, we are beginning the adoption process for a baby girl from Taiwan, and it would be great to "meet" you and exchange thoughts and hopes about our similar journeys. I had my TVH one and 1/2 years ago, and have been in hormonal confusion (they all make me sick); have tried 7 different ones, including natural. This is hindering our adoption dreams. I hope to hear from you, keep on with your dreams!! Love, your hystersister Briar Rose

Today is my two year LAVH anniversary. They slapped an estrogen patch on me as I was leaving the hospital. After a few weeks I got a hot flash so I upped the patch and never got another flash. My abdominal sensitivity has never improved. Then I developed stomach polyps and severe heartburn. Finally after a year and a half they tested my hormone levels and apparently they're not getting into the bloodstream. So my doctor tried a compounded set of pills, progesterone, estrogen and testosterone. After two weeks I blew up into the size of Orca and I've been miserable. They tested my blood and the doc said "Can't be the estrogen - it's still not getting into your bloodstream. So he put me on a troche (melts in mouth) still bloated and miserable - so I quit. Went to another doctor who said the first guy had me on WAY too much estrogen - and not enough Progesterone. I'm scheduled to start my new troche this week (Progesterone and a lower dose of Estrogen) and I'm scared. Most of the excess bloating has gone away since I've been off the hormones - but I'm frightened that I'll turn into a human "S" without them since that's what happened to my grandmother. But I'm so torn because I don't want my body to experience this upheavel again - I've really had enough! This is my last shot at hormones though - after that it's anything natural that I can get my hands on. Don't really know where to turn - because the experts all have differing opinions - and I've seen them be wrong - first hand.

Endoprize: I simply can not tolerate progesterone at all, in any form. I gave that up about a year ago and have felt better since stopping that. It did help the sex drive but my husband would rather have me a little less sexual than Cybil! lol

Briar Rose: We are just in the beginning process and filling out our application. We are using Bethany, a Christian adoption agency. I put off the adoption process myself because these past two years post TAH/BSO have been so difficult emotionally and physically. I don't feel I can afford to wait any more, as I am already 40 and the wait times are growing for China adoptions. I'm interested to hear about the Taiwan process. I don't think my agency does Taiwan adoptions. PM me any time! It is nice to go through this with someone and there are lots of adoption forums I have found. I am a member of adoption.com and they have a lot of great people and useful info.

God bless!