No hormones after a year

Hello, I am new here kind of. I stopped by when I was getting ready for my surgery, it will be a year ago tomorrow. I have been off hormones since April. I have so many side effects, hot flashes, night sweats, and most recently my hair is so dry and is falling out by the hand fulls. My dr. recomends hormones, but I am trying so hard not to take them. Has anyone used anything else that would ease these symptoms?

Hi Sanfransicorose - I am sorry you are feeling so poorly. May I ask you why don't want to do HRT? I'm assuming you weren't in menopause when you had your surgery.

There are quite a few threads on Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) and fish oil being good for hair. They may even help with dry skin and eyes. I take both. Vitamin E has been reported to help with hotflashes. Have you discussed with your Dr. alternative therapies?

Just trying to do this drug free, but I feel like it has aged me quickly, lol. I did speak to my dr. but he only suggests the hrt's. I am going to try the vitamins. I am all for vitamins, drugs scare me. That and my husband thinks I should do this with out. Thanks for replying. I am so glad I came back here. I have felt so alone in this, no one in my family had to go through this, so I have had no one to talk to or ask questions to.

I don't really think of my patch as a drug. It's a hormone that my body made before my TAH/BSO. I'm just replacing what I lost. I tried without and quickly discovered I needed estrogen. The estrogen in my patch is estradiol the same thing our ovaries use to make for us. There are health benefits to taking estrogen and I know there are risks. For me I'm willing to live with the risks for the benefits at least for now. I hope you feel better soon and find what works well for you.

Take Care!
Teresa

Oh I am by no means knocking it. I guess what I should have said was I was looking for a natural solution. Cancer is big in my family. I have heard too many things about hrt. I hope I didnt upset anyone.

No worries We all deal differently. What works for one might not work for another! Have you checked out the Managing Menopause Forum? There is also a hot flash cocktail you should do a search for and don't forget to take calcium and magnesium! My cholesterol went very high when I wasn't on ERT so don't forget to keep track of that along with bone density.

Teresa