Freaking out--a little

My TAH/BSO was May 10th. Things have been going well so far--I have been out and about really since 5 days post-op. Of course, I have gradually increased those outings. Anyway, I was at the pool today and told an acquaintance that I have not seen since last pool season that I recently had a hyst. She asked if I was on HRT. I told her yes and she told me not to because of the increased risk of estrogen dependent breast cancer. I knew that was a possibility, but to be honest I didn't think about it. In the hospital they came in and stuck a patch on my behind when I was still in the painkiller fog, then my doc prescribed Premarin .625 that I have been taking ever since. I didn't discuss HRT with my doc mostly because I had 3 weeks from my decision to have a hyst to surgery. My question to you ladies is how much thought did you give to HRT and why did you choose to do it? Since this conversation at the pool I have been kind of freaking out about whether or not I made the right decision since I really didn't think about it at all.

(((Carrot)))
It really irritates me when people buy into the hype that the media presents, but don't take time to research the facts. Here's a good thread for you to read, in particular post #24 by surferbabe Hormones on the News

There is also several good articles about this issue at www.hormonejungle.com

Perhaps you could print out this info and than discuss it with your doctor at your next appointment.

Like you I didn't even give it a second thought when the doc slapped the patch on me post surgery. Than I started to experience symptoms and started to read about hormones. While I don't use Premarin, I have been using hrt for over 8 years now. I do have my annual exams, to include bloodwork and a mammogram. Thus far all has checked out okay and doc says to my using hrt. For me, it is a quality of life issue. Without hrt I would be a hot and moody mess! I am one who feels the symptoms full force and going without just isn't an option unless there is a medical reason why I couldn't use it.

Thank you so much Kim!!! I already have a quick temper--after all, I am a redhead!! I just can't imagine myself without something to help me through this. I don't think I would be able to stand to be around me!!!!

I just read what Surferbabe Linda wrote in regards to this issue. LINDA...you are my ever present guiding light. Love your posts! Anyway, Linda's points are some of the very same that my own Dr. recently pointed out to me when we began discussing my taking ERT. I believe the jury is still out on this one, and until there is definative proof I choose to use ERT as I truely believe that I might be a lonely old moody woman as I am sure I would chase everybody away without it...divorce is too expensive I'd rather buy the ERT. The Dr and I have agreed though, to error on the side of caution and use the least dosage possible. If that means an occasional hot flash or night sweat sneaks through, that's okay, just so they are not dibilitating and I am sleeping well. Carrot good luck in your decision making process. It's such an individual choice, please don't let one misinformed comment worry you. Discuss with your Dr and make the right choice for you. There are several options out there too...so be sure and do your research. I know my Dr wanted to prescribe Premarin becasue that's what he is comfortable with...I told him that I wanted a bio-identical and we agreed upon vivelle-dot.

Hey ChrisSPDX, may I ask why you didn't want Premarin? I was just put on this last Fri. by my dr. He knows I didn't want HRT, but he felt it would help me deal with some of the "stuff" I've been going through. It's a trial thing, for now.

I guess I should add that my dr. assured me that the "risks" talked about in the news are actually a VERY small percentage. He's very careful and cautious, and I trust him. He also said he was putting me on a lower dosage, cause he felt that's all I really need, but we'd see what happens from that. Thanks for the article!

Whtdove3,

For me this was very much a personal decision. Based on the below information found on this site:

Premarin is a synthetic hormone. "Synthetic hormones are defined as hormones that are created by a pharmaceutical company for trademark/brand name reasons to take the place of hormones (or to add to the hormones) created by the ovaries. Chemically, they are NOT identical to the original hormone of the ovaries.
Premarin, Cenestin, Prempro, Premphase.CONJUGATED ESTROGENS (Premarin®,Cenestin™) are a mixture of different estrogen female hormones manufactured from pregnant mare's urine (however Cenestin is made completely from yams and soy).

Bio-identical hormones by definition means that the hormone is chemically identical to the hormones that are produced by the ovaries.

Estrace® (Estradiol)

Viville-Dot is also estradiol so since I tend more to a patch rather than pills I thought the bio-identical would be best for me.

I find the Hormone Jungle Articles to be very informative in the decision making process. I use Premarin cream right now 1/2 gram every other evening for dryness. It has worked well for me I do intend to switch out to a bio-identical cream when I have a follow-up with my Dr at the end of the month. As it was, at my last appointment he was feeling rather beat up by an assertive woman who knew what she wanted, so I thought perhaps the cream discussion would be best left for next time.

I hope this helps.

Hi,

Yes, this does help. I'm also in the learning process, so thanks much for your reply. My dr. said he's been prescribing Premarin for years, but I'd like to ask him how he feels about the bio-meds next time we chat.

There's just soooooo much to learn about all this. It's not like we have our appendix out and move on. I think for most of us, this surgery has become life altering...or at least, more challenging.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by carrot My TAH/BSO was May 10th. Things have been going well so far--I have been out and about really since 5 days post-op. Of course, I have gradually increased those outings. Anyway, I was at the pool today and told an acquaintance that I have not seen since last pool season that I recently had a hyst. She asked if I was on HRT. I told her yes and she told me not to because of the increased risk of estrogen dependent breast cancer. I knew that was a possibility, but to be honest I didn't think about it. In the hospital they came in and stuck a patch on my behind when I was still in the painkiller fog, then my doc prescribed Premarin .625 that I have been taking ever since. I didn't discuss HRT with my doc mostly because I had 3 weeks from my decision to have a hyst to surgery. My question to you ladies is how much thought did you give to HRT and why did you choose to do it? Since this conversation at the pool I have been kind of freaking out about whether or not I made the right decision since I really didn't think about it at all.

I feel about as irritated as Kim does about this issue...

Here's MY bottom line on it: those of us who have oopherectomies are NOT in the same category as menopausal women with ovaries. We have LESS estrogen than they do. When I take HRT, my goal is to bring myself equivalent with natural menopause. The famous WHI studies conducted one arm on oopherectomized women who took estrogen only (Premarin, in fact) and the statistics from that study actually showed a DECREASE in breast cancer rates among these women. It was deemed statistically insignificant - but you get the picture. Our resident research expert, Karen200 may be able to guide you to those studies.

Please, please don't freak out. You're young. If you are trying to recapture your 20's and take huge amounts of hormones, you may want to rethink that. If you are simply trying to replace what your ovaries would be doing naturally at whatever age you find yourself, I would relax and apply common sense here. Clearly your doctor does not see any contraindication to HRT in your medical history. Remember, the "media" is in the business of selling news, and the more sensational something sounds, the more people listen. You are taking a middle dose of Premarin and likely have less estrogen on board than your friend does (assuming she still has ovaries and is near your age) - you may, in fact, be at less risk than she is. Estrogen does not cause breast cancer, it feeds it. And should you ever develop breast cancer (we all have that chance simply by virtue of being women), you are in the position to absolutely starve any cancer by simply discontinuing your hrt. Should your friend find herself in the same position, she does not have that option....

Now, having said all this - do be diligent about your wellness. Keep up with your annual tests. Eat healthfully and get exercise. Keep researching, keep asking questions. There are precious few resources for oopherectomized women - you have found one of the best online sources right here. There's another site out there called "The Survivors Guide to Surgical Menopause" that I found very helpful. There is a link to it here on Hystersisters.

You should also be aware that for some women, it can take many months after surgery to fine tune their HRT. This early post-op, you may still have some hormones in your body tissues that will run out in the coming weeks. If you are doing well, and then begin to feel not as well - this may be what's going on. Doesn't happen to everyone, but it did to me - and at the time I was unaware that this could happen.

Be well, be relaxed.

Katrina591, thank you. I am the first of my friends to have a hyst, but it seems everyone has an opinion anyway. I have found this is the best place to discuss hyst related issues. Thank you again!!