Surgical Menopause cause hair loss? or Weight Gain?

Scheduled for TAH/BSO on April 23rd. Doc. recommends Vdot HRT in hospital to prepare for surgical menopause. The internet research is so conflicting on HRT that I thought it might help to just ask my Hystersisters for some advice and feedback.

1. If you had a TAH/BSO, did you use HRT? If yes, which meds.
2. If you are using HRT, did you loose any hair or gain weight?

I am starting to get VERY anxious about the surgery. One of my biggest fears is that they find something that did not show up on any tests. Did this happen to anyone? I fear adhesions and/or cancer. I have chronic pelvic pain and adenomyosis. Most of the pain is located in the lower right pelvic region. At 46 years old, my periods are on a 28 day cycle.

You sound a lot like me. My day is also 4/23, I have large fibroids and ovarian cysts on the right, I am 42, and my cycles are 28 days as well. I am feeling very anxious, every day more so. I am having a TAH and RSO, or that is the plan right now. I am concerned that things could change one they get there. I have had two blood tests to try to determine if the ovarian complex cysts are cancer. One was a CA125 which came back only slightly elevated but they think it is due to endomitriosis. Last week my 2nd opinion doctor (a gyno/oncologist) also said he did not think it was cancer but sent me for another test a "he4". I do not have the results yet. I want to be sure we look at everything before anything is done.

I don't know about the HRT's but I am interested in knowing more like you are. I am wishing you all the best, and I hope to catch up again after the 23rd when we are both hopefully doing great!

Looking forward to less painful months....eventually!

Decisions2make,

You have some good questions. Glad you found us. I had a BSO along with my LSH, a minimally invasive hyster, so I'm familiar with surgical menopause. I was given a couple different types of oral estrogen to start but I didn't do well on them. I tried the Vivelle Dot and it worked much better than pills for me. I have tweaked my HRT several times since my hyster, sometimes it takes a while to get the balance just right. Everyone is different, what works for me may not work for you.

The patch is a good way to start. Keep in mind that there are different doses. If you don't do well at first, you may just need to tweak the dosage.

Weight loss and hair problems can be hormone related. When my hormones are right I have no problem losing/maintaining weight. Fluctuations in hormones caused hair loss for me. Most of it was before my hyster when my ovaries were wacky. Now I have some hair loss if my HRT isn't balanced just right or I switch things to much causing fluctuations. When my HRT is right I feel good and all is well.

Hope your surgery goes as planned and the patch works beautifully for you. The only surprise I had was adenomyosis and that my uterus was much bigger than we thought.

I am so glad I found this. I am scheduled for a LAVH/BSO on 4/21. I was very worries about HRT, and how things will work.
My preop is tomorrow after lunch. I will be sure to ask what the plan is in regards to HRT.
I can not wait to feel good again. I know my kids will be happy too.

Wow - I'm also scheduled on April 23. I have my pre-op tomorrow afternoon. I am 48 y.o. and already know I have endometrial cancer. I am scared and excited at the same time - I just want this to be over. Best of luck to all of you on your upcoming surgeries.

Please discuss HRT with your doctors - there is your heart and bone health to consider.

No, I have had no hair changes or weight changes since my hyster 5 months ago. I am not on ANY hormones.

I'm wondering these things too. I'm only 30 and have to have everything taken out. My ovaries are so dysfunctional now though I already have menopausal symptoms like hair loss, hot flashes etc.

I'm afraid of how I'll be with HRT, but also afraid of how I'd be without it. Its advised I don't take it because of my cancer history but I just dont know whats going to be best for me. My left ovary seems ok on tests my right one is not at all. Every other day I think to myself maybe I should leave it there (the left one) but that would be against Dr advice and I already have suspected endometrial cancer and a family hx of ovarian cancer, he tells me if I leave them I could get ovarian cancer and not find out until its too late. Ladies I just don't know

Tell me about this Vivelle Dot thing... Tell me what you think about my situation. I tried to ask on the HRT boards but I was so confused by their answers. I'm lost as far as this goes and I know if I dont figure it out before surgery I cant undo whats done.

I will be having the same on 4/29...did your Doc put you on any antidepressants prior to help smooth the instant Menopause? I can not have HRT My sister had Breast Cancer ..

I was put on Prozac last Friday and my LAVH and RSO are scheduled in two weeks. My GP felt it was a wise move to smooth the transition since I will not be permitted to take HRT due to my dx of ovarian ca and my mother's breast cancer which was HRT related. I have done some research on the internet about the use of anti-depressents and some in the medical community are My GP and I discussed it and felt it was the wise choice. I had post partum depression with both of my daughters' births and she has seen good results in minimizing hot flashes and night sweats.

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Originally Posted by Smokey2010 I will be having the same on 4/29...did your Doc put you on any antidepressants prior to help smooth the instant Menopause? I can not have HRT My sister had Breast Cancer ..

Yes, but I was on antidepressants before scheduling the surgery. I have heard from many people that HRT is not necessary for many women, especially those that already have estrogren dominance.

I am scheduled to start with a very small dose of the Vdot and don't intend to increase unless absolutely necessary.