Post Op Hormones

I originally posted this message to the post-op hyst. board since this all started happening after my TAH - someone suggested I post here too - thanks!

Hi Ladies - My TAH was on March 27 and I have been having a really hard time with hormones - here's what's happening.

Right before my surgery (which was for fibroids as well as ovarian cysts - my GYN said might as well take out the ovaries too since I'm 47 & approaching menopause), one of my breasts got really lumpy and dense - I had never had this problem before. My GYN ordered a mammogram and then the radiologist ordered a cone mammogram and determined all is well. I had the surgery and while in the hospital, my GYN had a surgeon examine me. He & my gyn said don't take the estrogen for a while after the surgery - let's see if this density improves. So I didn't for 3 weeks. The lumps and bumps almost went away, but boy - now I know all about hot flashes and not being able to sleep at night. So I started taking the Estriadol - 1 mg. - immediately my breast blew up again. So I called my gyn who referred me to the surgeon who examined me again and said it's still just breast lumps and bumps. I asked if I was one of those women who shouldn't take estrogen and he said no - just to continue self-breast exams on a monthly basis. I told him and my gyn that I was going to cut the Estriadol in half & if that didn't work (it didn't), in quarters - they said fine. Well - I've been taking a quarter of the 1 mg, which is helping with the hot flashes but my one breast is getting bigger and bigger - it's almost a cup size bigger than the other one! My GYN gave me some patches, but he told me that they are stronger than the dosage I'm taking of Estriadol - ARG!

Has anyone else gone through this problem with hormones after their surgery? If so, what have you done about it? I'll update my gyn when I see him again for a follow up visit in 2 weeks, but I've decided to stop taking the estrogen again to see if I can't reduce the swelling at least a little bit. Thanks in advance & wish me luck with those hot flashes!!

Dibba

If you do a search or look at the archives, you'll see this comes up now and then. I certainly when I was first on hrt had all kinds of breast swelling and pain and everything else. It actually got worse when I started progesterone, but two weeks into that things started to settle down. I stuck with .5 mg of estradiol and a dab of progesterone cream (plus the supplements that help the body handle the estrogen) and now I don't have those symptoms at all. It may be an adjustment thing, not a long term thing.

Estrogen is probably boosting your prolactin levels--so magnesium might really help.

Hi Trish - thanks for writing me back. I spent a good part of yesterday morning reading all the threads regarding breast swelling/pain/"explosion" (I like that description the best) and read that adding progesterone helped some but made it MUCH worse for others. I guess the only way to know is to try it. I stopped taking the estrogen and my breast already feels better. No hot flashes yet - but I'm already having trouble sleeping. However it's worth it until I can see my doctor again. Don't know if I'll have the option to buy a compounded progresterone - I tried to find a pharmacy near my small town and there isn't one - so it's either over the counter or prescription. Also - I will try the magnesium.
Again - thanks for helping!
Dibba

Progesterone also helps me with the sore breasts and insomnia. If you do not have access to a compounding pharmacist, many doctors will order the progesterone for you from there own source. I know some women here also use a mail order drugstores that they mail presciptions to. Maybe someone can give you a website.

If you absolutely cannot do a compounding pharmacy, ask your doc about prometrium. It is the only manufactured prescription natural progesterone and will usually be cheaper than an OTC creme which can get kind of expensive.

Good luck to you.