My choice? What choice I have left...staying centred amid post op reality

Hi,
I am now exactly three weeks post op and not recommended for HRT except for vaginal creme due to adenomyosis/endo and autoimmune disease. I had LAVH +BOS 19/1/11. I am healing well and have headaches, pretty blubby, weak as water, sweat like a horse, especially in my hair at night, and generally am twice as confused as I was before surgery. I am on immunosuppressive drugs so ironing out symptoms ain't easy. Hair loss has definitely increased and my appetite is poor. Other drugs aren't helping but it is worse since the op.

I have encountered all sorts of opinions since I got the operation, which was an emergency one, and most were that it would all be fixed with hormones;the recommendation to not have them has upset some; I am being given lots of suggestions for herbal help and I appreciate it, but my heavy duty immune modulating drugs mean I am really careful about all drugs and my liver. I am using some meditation techniques and the psychologist at the gyn/oncology unit is seeing me & my son together tomorrow to help us get back to our previous 'living with chronic illness' normal life we had.

So I would appreciate any help from people who have had to mesh natural therapy or mood surveillance regimes with managing other serious medical conditions. I know my specialists are going to regard menopause as the least of my worries, for instance right now I have shingles from the stress of it all so back on valtrex...we are readjusting pain meds....trying to work out if and when immunosuppression might end this year and beginning to investigate neuropathy in one eye.....

I am also newly single....so I guess you don't pop night sweats on the dating profile! LOL

How do you keep a sense of having choices? I am interested in hearing your stories and what kept you sane/what didn't help.
Thanks

I don't have much experience to offer, I hear you on the herbal interactions and issues. One thought----my GYN sends pts for acupuncture treatments for menopause symptoms. She says it works well. I haven't personally tried it but perhaps it's an option for you? Aside from the usual night hot flash advice (Chillow, avoid spicy food, sugar, caffeine, etc) I can't help much but I hope someone else has an alternative. I hope you get relief soon.

Thanks for this idea. I have had acupuncture many years ago with great success for fluid on my knee and I had really overlooked it as a possibility. I certainly enjoyed it then and was amazed at the results, which saved me from a knee operation. Never would have thought of it!

That's just made my day...thanks so much. I'll let you know how I go.

The long session with the psych and my son went very well and we decided to 'name' our fights - well, the ones that are particularly frustrating and recur. I think that humour is going to be a huge part of this journey - that and so many tears we should have a Slip n'Slide installed.