Hormone Options?? New member ~ Surgery 3/9

Ok-I am really getting addicted to this site!! It is nice to read the posts and each persons responses and it seems like I could be getting myself all worked up over syptoms that may or may not even present themselves and if they do, there is still hope in HRT. It seems a lot of women on this site has tried the Vivelle dot patch and love it. Good luck to all the hystersisters out there!!

I have been on Femtrace (pill) for 3 years I think. I am 40. No side effects on HRT for me but it did take a year to get me steady. I am one of the few women who don't like a patch. I already take antidepressants so one more pill was a no brainer for me. Good luck with your surgery. I have NEVER regretted mine. No more periods, cramps, headaches, or severe PMS mood swings. My only words to my female parts were Good Riddance! I have a libido and can still have orgasims. So yay!

Hi there,

I'm almost three months post TAH & BSO and I'm 38. I haven't been taking anything apart from a good multivitamin/ mineral supplement, vitamin E and Fish Oils while I waited to see a specialist on the NHS...I can't take hormones for a long while because of endo CA, but seems I will be encouraged to have estrogen replacement therapy in future once we've got past a safe period. It is difficult dealing with all the quality of life issues but it isn't as bad as I was imagining. The main problem is lack of sleep - all else has so far been manageable.

Had very similar concerns before the operation. My experience has been that I felt very balanced mentally (much more 'even' than I did before the op) - have had a few crying jags but think this is more related to the shock of everything relating the cancer so wouldn't see this as necessarily related to menopause.

My orgasms are just the same - if not better. However, I don't feel turned on getting there if you know what I mean and don't desire sex. It may be that I can have testosterone - will be discussing this with specialist next appointment. My immediate concern is to get well and feeling half human so this is perhaps not my priority right now.

I experienced hot flashes immediately post-operatively while I was in the hospital. They're not too bad during the day - much worse at night. The first month or so I got more nights where I could sleep than nights that were disrupted. I don't seem to sweat buckets as suggested by 'night sweats' just get very intense heat and it takes a while to cool down. The flashes have got worse over the last month and I have had insomina and/ or sleep interrupted regularly by hot hot flashes - probably have had 2-3 hours a night and feel shattered. Saw my specialist last week and he has put me on 37.5mg of Venlafaxine and the first night - no hot flashes!!!! I didn't sleep as deeply as I used to and had one mini bout of insomnia but went back to sleep after an hour, which is a huge improvement. But nice to feel cool all night despite having a blanket and duvet on me (it snowed last night in scotland so I need it :-). I also feel a lot less anxious and more relaxed so am hopeful that Venlafaxine will be a helpful way of managing things non-hormonally.

Once I get my energy back I'm back hitting the streets walking as this is the best thing to keep energy and mood high.

Anyone else managing without hormones drop me a line as it would be great to hear how you're doing.

Rosey
xxx