newhyster06, (and others)
Desire, passion, response . . . these are all feelings that are regulated by chemistry. Note that I said "chemistry"
not "attitude." You can have the right attitude or outlook and still get no physical response if you don't have the right chemistry.
Did you keep your ovaries? Your signature says TAH, which would indicate you kept the ovaries, but then you mentioned stopping HRT, which might mean you had a BSO (Bilateral Salpingo Oophorectomy- removal of both ovaries).
What many women (and their doctors) fail to appreciate is that the ovaries are also endocrine organs. The endocrine organs are the organs that make all the chemicals (hormones) the body needs to run on. These chemicals effect every single cell of our bodies, without exception- every cell needs some kind of chemical. (Without them we would die.) The primary endocrine organs that are responsible for most of our hormones (chemicals) are: hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, pineal body and gonads. (Gonads are the ovaries in women and the testicles in men.) All of our endocrine organs work together to produce a very intricate, delicately balanced system that makes each one of us the unique individuals that we are. When it comes to our body chemistry, no two people are alike.
If we remove these organs from our body or if, for some reason, they fail (such as hysterectomy) our body chemistry will be altered. This is where hormone therapy comes in.
Unfortunately, hormone therapy is not an exact science and it can be the cause of much confusion, not only among patients, but medical professionals as well. This is why I think it's in our own best interest to learn as much as we possibly can for ourselves. Then you will be in a better position to discuss your needs and concerns with your doctor.
I found the books, "Your Guide to Hysterectomy, Ovary Removal and Hormone Replacement" by Dr. Elizabeth Plourde and "The Hysterectomy Hoax" by Dr. Stanley West to be very helpful for me in understanding what was happening in my body.
Also, the book, "Misinformed Consent" by Lise Cloutier-Steele helped me to realize I was not alone and that what happened to me was not, by any means, "rare" or "unusual." Sometimes learning that others have traveled the same road, can make the journey easier.
Suzanne Somers book, "Ageless" can give you a good idea of the power of hormones.
I know you said you stopped taking them because of the joint pain, but I would encourage you to take another look into this area . . . perhaps you were allergic to one of the ingredients and compounded hormones would be better for you. (That's what I take, and I couldn't live without them!) Joint pain is something that is often alleviated with hormone therapy, not caused by it, so I would advise getting to the root of that symptom.
It has taken me over 5 years to get my own, unique, body "formula" to the place it is now. I am not the person I was before the surgery, but I am a whole lot better than I was a few years ago. All because of the magic of "chemistry" and my compounded hormones.
This year, my doctor and I have worked with the testosterone and I am happy to report that for the first time since surgery (not counting the first few months after surgery, when I had my own hormones still stored and my body was all confused) I have the "desire" for men again. Still can't have orgasms, but that's another story. At least now, men are once again catching my interest. A little fact that I appreciate, and might help me keep from spending the rest of my life alone!
Best wishes to all of you,
No desire...
No desire...
