How can I feel so good with no HRT

Dear Sisters,
I am feeling better than I have ever felt in my life and accomplishing so much. I am 7 weeks post op with a TAH/BSO

I am wondering if my life was just such a struggle before that I feel good now even with no hrt? I am going to the Dr. tomorrow and am so frightened. I feel more knowledgable because of the site and know what I want to ask for, but I am thinking they will dismiss my wants as the surgeon did.

I now really want to try the estrogen gel. Is it is available in America? If not avaliable then I will try Estrace... I will cut it in half and take morning and night to begin with. But I am thinking from my gut instincts that I will suffer with estrogen replacement. I had such a hard time on the Premarin, headache, depression, nausea. Tried black cohosh and felt the same way. I am not looking forward to a swing in the jungle.

My hot flashes are pretty hot and heavy so I do know I need estrogen for them to stop. I want to balance with a progesteron cream... should I ask for both at the same time. I am going to try to get to the compounding pharmacy before going to the nurse practioner.

Oh, btw, my breast are enlarging too just like so many say happens when they are on Estrogen. My water weight feels like it is up there but am not watching salt. I am drinking lots of water and have been back on my Weight Watchers plan for nearly a week. I could not even stick with it the week before because I did not feel this good. I just can't understand why I am feeling so good. I feel like my life has a new beginning and I almost feel high. I am so happy and energetic. I sure hate to lose this.

I am on Effexor, have cut back in the past week from the 225mg maxium dose to 150mg. It seems I read somewhere this can help in some way. I was on it before for horrible PMS but am afraid to come off of it right now while I am trying other things.

Any advice?
Can anyone figure out why I am feeling so good?
Thanks,
Lilly

Dear Lily,

It's great to hear that you're feeling so well. I felt wonderful after my surgery, too - as if I'd finally been relieved of a tortuous burden. The thing now, of course, is to stay well. Hopefully, you'll breeze through the HRT isses without too many complications. Keep optimistic and enjoy the good feelings!

Sue

Effexor can help with the hot flashes and with the moods. IN fact, cutting back may have increased the hot flashes. And change in the Jungle tends to trigger them. So I'd stick with it for awhile. Also getting off Effexor can be tricky with side effects, so you might want to wait to try that.

I wouldn't take Premarin as the standard. It's one of the most well-trod paths into the Jungle. Some do wonderfully on it. But quite a few do not and do well on the next thing they try.

I wouldn't add progesterone until you see if you need it (though water retention isn't a good sign). And I'd consider the four nutrients listed in www.hormonejungle.com/supp.php
Estrogen uses them up and creates deficiencies. A number of the "side effects" of estrogen are really it getting too high from lack of nutrients and the symptoms of deficiencies.

And ditto Sue--I'm so glad you're feeling well!