Experiences of using HRT after oophorectomy+ hysterectomy

[My_Username]

Hello,

Would anyone mind sharing their experiences of using HRT after oophorectomy+ hysterectomy?

I'm wondering whether to persevere with trying to find something better, or just give up entirely.

Thanks 🙂

(I had my op years ago. Took over 2 years to get past the meno symptoms (no HRT). Thought it was over and done with, but then gradually developed lots of physical symptoms of long term hormone deficiency - muscle loss, bone loss, dry eyes, lack of energy..just lots of stuff.

So I tried Oestrogel, Utrogestan and Testogel. Physically, it's reversed a lot of symptoms, so my body does need the hormones, but it's totally messed up my sleep cycle (only getting 2 - 3 hours a night now) and am getting lots of meno symptoms that I hadn't had in years (palpitations, night sweats, mood problems....) plus some side effects of the meds. Whenever I try to cut back, even a small amount, I get withdrawal symptoms...Utrogestan was the absolute worst. I've come off that now, but I still wake up at night and can't get back to sleep and I'm getting endo-like symptoms without it, so can't carry on like this.)

[Moon_maiden]

Hi

I’ve started using Bijuve, it’s combined HRT and a Gynae recommended it if you’ve had Endo. It’s quite new on the market but is available under NHS now. I’m not getting any I’ll effects that I’m aware of, I mainly took it to see if it would help with pain, but not really. I was taking sage prior to that, but don’t think I needed anything really. I’m 55, had hysterectomy in 2020, everything out. I did try an oestrogen cream for possible LS but that gave me nightmares so stopped that.

[My_Username in reply to Moon_maiden]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. It's good that you get on with Bijuve. It's the same progesterone as is in Utrogestan, so might not work for me, but it's something to consider.

[MyStar86]

I was only 35 when I had my hysterectomy so I needed hrt plus I have osteoporosis so I didn’t want to make that worse as fractures are horrific. I use lenzetto spray and take a combined pill but you will need the progesterone to help you sleep I was initially just put on the spray and it was awful I never slept had crawling skin and lost my mind but once I added the pill in life got so much better I couldn’t be without it. I’ve struggled recently since I had bowel surgery for an ileostomy so I don’t absorb medication the same and when I have high output I don’t absorb the pill which is a nightmare but otherwise I wouldn’t be without hrt nor would my family let me as I am a totally different person without it my anxiety goes through the roof xx

[My_Username in reply to MyStar86]

Thank-you for your reply,

It sounds like you're having an awful time - I hope you start to feel better soon.

I'm looking for an alternative treatment as I'm just not getting on with the current regime and the Utrogestan gives me terrible insomnia (I know some ladies find it helps them sleep, but it does the opposite for me)

Can you tell me which brand of combined pill worked for you and did your endo stay stable on it?

(I had severe endo, including DIE on the bowel and it took 1-2 years to fully recover from the bowel resection, so am concerned about reactivating any remnants)

Thanks

[MyStar86 in reply to My_Username]

Well I wouldn’t recommend mine as I still use my combined pill femodette and which is a contraceptive pill along with my lenzetto sprays it’s the only progesterone that I was able to tolerate due to my Pmdd and it does t exist in any other form so that’s why I still take it and definitely need it.

Yes I’ve had lots of surgery for my endo and my total hysterectomy with everything removed last April xx