Surgical Menopause Symptoms - Scarred

Hi Ladies - I am new to this site.

My name is Mary and I am 47 years old. I am scheduled for Oophorectomy surgery on August 13th. Reason re-occurring right ovarian cyst, along with family history of ovarian cancer. Mother died at 51.

I am scarred to death of surgical menopause symptoms. To date, I am handling the natural menopause transition without any problems or nagging symptoms. I am already in the late transition stages with only have two periods in the last 11 months. (4 periods the year before and 6 the prior year). I don't know if that was too much information.

Anyway ladies, I am scarred. I have read some horrible stories about surgical menopause. It is always that bad?
Hoping to have my nerves calmed down.

Thank you.

Hi Mary - I am having my ovaries removed next week as well (along with everything else) and I have some of the same concerns as you do. I'm 52 and have had some menopause symptoms but I know this might be quite different. My mom died of ovarian cancer at 44, so like you, I know this surgery is necessary. I trust that our dr's will do what they can to help us with any of the surgical menopause symptoms they can. From what I've read, some women do fine with minimal symptoms and some have night sweats the day after their surgery. I hope we're both lucky in this regard

[I wish you the best.]

Praying all goes well with your surgery....

I too was anxious about surgical menopause as I was not having any symptoms prior to my surgery. I've watched my closest friends go through terrible hot flashes and listened to their horror stories, however I took the advice of my neurologist -- to take my own experiences one day at a time.

To date, my hot flashes are not that bad...I say that since they only last a few minutes and I'm tolerating them well. I'm not on any hormonal treatments since I suffer with terrible migraines (and I thank the Lord that frequency has been reduced since my surgery). As far as the night sweats, I do not wake in the middle of the night drenched as I've seen in some of the other post and for that I am truly grateful.

Since I do not have any ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, or cervix, my doc claims that my symptoms are most likely at their peak and should not get any worst than what I am currently experiencing. I know this to be a blessing.

Be Blessed.

I was frightened before my surgery about this very thing! I had never missed one period and I had everything removed due to cancer. My dr prepared me that I might be in for a rough time. Guess what? No rough time with menopause, and it's been a year this last April.

My hot flashes are very mild, and I've had only one night sweat. It happened a week after my surgery, and it wasn't that bad.

My advice is to try not to "borrow trouble!" I know that is easier said than done, but try not to assume that you will have problems. When I first came here before my surgery I read all the posts. I realized I was getting myself worked up and more frightened. So I stuck with the posts that dealt with information only and the positive posts. I hope that doesn't offend anyone here. But my thinking was that I might experience problems, but I also might not. If I did then I could come back and read the problem posts and see how people were coping with what was happening. But when you're nervous to begin with why make it worse? It might not happen to you. Good luck, and hope all goes well!

I was freaked out about the same thing. But I am calmer now. I am 9 days post TAH/BSO. So far no difference. I am 42 and was only having night sweats which I don't know if was related to peri-menopause. Any way, realize as you read posts that people are more likely to post when there is a problem. I know several women who had surgical menopause that did just fine. And if you run into problems there are solutions out there. I glanced through the "bad menopause" posts just to see what problems may occur. Now I will just go there if I feel I need to. By the way I am on 1 mg estradiol daily which I started right away. Good luck with your surgery!

I worried like crazy about this as well. Had TAH on July 10. So far, I've had some night sweats and occasional fairly minor bouts of weepiness - otherwise, not a real problem. Coping with gas pains and sore abdomen if I walk too much are way bigger issues. Good luck with your procedure!

Mary, I am 47 and had no symptoms prior to surgery. I thought that I would keep my ovaries but on the morning of my TAH, I was given the choice to keep them or get them taken away with everything else. I didn't give it a second thought. Take them away, cos I really did trust my consultant. I did have hot flushes a lot after about 5 days but the weepyness was 1000 times worse. Slightest thing like just looking at my husband! Went to the doc. 3 weeks after as I plucked up the courage to go to DR. without feeling I would cry if he spoke to me. It was fine, he gave me HRT, a low dose to see how I manage. I am ok. Still get hot flushes at night and sometimes during the day but they are not too bad. Still feel a bit weepy but nothing like before. Skin is a bit funny, dry one day then I feel that mouisteriser sits on face (need to suss that one out!) no vag. dryness yet, although nothing been in there until check this week! Please don't worry about having your procedure. If you are having sysmptons now, you may be fine with not any worse effects. Good luck!

Well this scared me as well. I wasn't in menopause when I had surgery and everything removed. So far I have had a few warm flashes and thats it. I am 3 weeks post op. My skin is really dry but I am applying moisturizer like crazy. Try not to worry about it. I can't take HRT so I know there are natural remedies as well. I wish everyone well and I am looking forward to seeing your post op reports.

Hi Mary,
I hope you don't worry about this too much because it is different for everyone. I have had a horrible time adjusting to surgical menopause and have read lots on the subject. I think that you may be in better shape than most because you are already in transition to menopause. I have not taken any HRT since my surgery two years ago except for Vagifem tablets for vaginal dryness. These are released locally and don't deal with any other menopausal symptoms. I had just turned 37 when I had my surgery and the loss was severe for me. I had hot flashes immediately after surgery and have experienced vaginal dryness, weight gain, fatigue, depression, body aches and insomnia. Just take it one day at a time and you will make it. Hopefully, you will be one who will have an easier time. Just know you are not nuts if you start experiencing these issues. There are are things that help with most of these issues. Best wishes to you!