For those that had ovaries removed and are on HRT

Did your dr follow you up on HRT? I am 36 so I wasn't near menopause yet. I am on the lowest dose of climara patch. I have been fine emotion and physical wise. He asked me at the 2 week post op if I was having hot flashes (no quite the opposite, I am cold!!!) or emotional. Nope, happier than I have EVER been. He said it sounded like I was past the hormone changing part. His partner when she released me from the hospital (his mom passed away when I was in the hospital and had to leave on emergency leave so my care was transferred to his partner). She only prescribed 3 months of climara. Will he see me again in 3 months regarding hormones? Do they do any blood tests to make sure they were ok?

No blood test for me, just symptom checks. I've been in twice for followups but not specifically for HRT so I wonder if I'd have had followup for that alone. She said if I feel OK, no dosage changes. I'm not sure what is usual for followup.

Hmm, I'll have to ask him when I see him on the 17th. I think my hormones kind of need to be watched because I have lupus. I have a rheumatology appt on the 16th and will check with them too.

Hi Msgamecock - I had a TAH/BSO on 11/24/10, went to my 2wk follow up appt and the doc perscribed Estradiol to replace my hormones. I just started taking it today. I go back in one month, he says he will adjust the does according to my symptoms. I'm hoping everything goes well with these, I am panhypopituitary and take supplements for all my other endocrine organs and suspect fibro.. so we will be watching mine closely too.

I'm right there with you after being put on HRT. I was given an Alora .1 patch just before going into surgery & that was on for the first week. This past Monday I had an appt with my Dr & he prescribed Vivelle Dot .1 which I change twice a week. I have feel great! Not a hot flash in sight. Actually I had them prior ro the hysterectomy so I feel wonderful now. I too, am feeling cold especially when I crawl into bed. it takes forever to warm up. I mentioned it to my endocrinologist yesterday when I went to see him for my thyroid. I have to wait a few more weeks & have a blood draw for my thyroid levels & possible have my thyroid meds adjusted. I am glad I am not alone with this. I feel like my hands & feet are freezing all day!

As for my rx, I was given refills for a whole year. I think that once you start your 3rd refill that if you have the pharmacy call the Dr they will just extend it. That is what they do here. I think if you were taking oral estrogen you would need blood work but not sure with the patch systems.

I'm really starting to think I should have gone with the patch. At least with that you have a steady stream of estrogen and not this up and down in between pills. Hmmm.. I go see the doc again next Tues..

I didn't even think about my thyroid meds might need adjustment after this whole ordeal... gonna call my endo and ask ??

My Dr said there are less side effects with the patch. Also, the pill needs to be processed by your body before it is basically put to use & the patch is absorbed right into the body. I think it would definately be worth asking your Dr about. There are some that only need to be changed weekly & others that are biweekly as well as possibly others. I don't know about the pills but I believe they need to be taken daily so also much less remembering to take it.

I read on here that a hysterectomy, especially with removal of ovaries may affect the dose of thyroid meds needed. I thought it said it usually needs to be bumped up but yesterday when I mentioned it to my endo he said the opposite. I guess we'll see after my blood work next month.

I am also on the Climara patch (.06 mg). I have a 12 month prescription from my Dr. for this. I didn't start the patch until I was 2 weeks post op. I thought I would see if I could get by without taking hrt, but the hot flashes and headaches really hit me pretty hard. I have been fine since I've been taking the patch, I did notice that I started feeling bad for a little while on the day I changed my patch, so this week I put the new patch on and left the old one on for one day and I had a really smooth transition. So, I plan to do that every week.