Estrogen Replacement therapy after surgical menopause

[JenniferBut]

Hi everyone!

I would like to chat with somebody who may have or is going through a similar experience.

I had a full hysterectomy- removal of everything, over 20 years ago.

I am on 2mg of Estrogen once per day. The docs used to do the implant yearly but it is no longer available.

I am now 51 years old. Its odd as lots of people I know are going through menopause, weird to know where I sit!

Anybody out there relate??

I would love to talk to you about your experience and if you have plans to ever stop the replacement therapy. Thanks and have a great day/night.

Jen From Australia

[Desperateforrelief]

I had my 2nd ovary removed when I was 34 (3 separate surgeries). I am now 62, I am still supplementing. I have tried to stop it a few times, but get sore and just don't feel well. So I don't plan on stopping, just lowering as I feel well.

[JenniferBut in reply to Desperateforrelief]

Hi, I also had 3 surgeries! well more but these are the ones relating to the hormones. Hyster, then 1 ovary, then the second 5 weeks later. Both ovaries emergency surgery as the had cysts, tubes had died and adhered to the wall of the bowel. It was an awful shock to wake up to and I think I kind of grieved for many years. Even though I had 4 kids I still felt like I wasn't a real woman anymore... Now its odd with others going through the meno around my age!! So I figure if we stop we will go through menopause or have we kind of already gone through it do you think? I think that the uterus and ovaries produce more than just eastrogen?? Good plan on maybe lowering if you want to, I think I might take it for life. Got enough other health stuff going on to deal with!

[Desperateforrelief in reply to JenniferBut]

I've had many more surgeries too. Last count was like 32. I was injured by transvaginal mesh. I am just now getting my life back. I was injured at 49. Horrible stuff!! I am sorry for your struggling with health issues. This is not fun. We did go through menopause at time of surgery. It is called surgical menopause. But we still go through a type of it later on. Our bodies work holistically so we didn't get completely out of it. My ob/gyn says he goes by how we are feeling physically. I like this approach.

[JenniferBut in reply to Desperateforrelief]

Hi there, You are the first person to EVER tell me that we did actually go through surgical menopause. I was just told, we will look after you and you will feel the same as you did before. I certainly did not! My gyno was very kind though and she did such a great job caring for me. I have no complaints about her.

I think I will just keep taking the replacement until the day I die!! I like your Docs approach as well. Thank you so much for writing back to my post, I really appreciate you taking the time. Jen

[Desperateforrelief in reply to JenniferBut]

Of course, I pray you feel well!

[JenniferBut in reply to Desperateforrelief]

are you having bad menopause symptoms hence the name you have?

[Desperateforrelief in reply to JenniferBut]

The name was because of all the pain I was in from the mesh debacle. I did have menopause symptoms, but have evened out with hormone treatment. You have to experiment, adding progesterone was a life saver for me. So I use estrogen supplementation and progesterone. I take the progesterone at night. It also helps with sleep.

[JenniferBut in reply to Desperateforrelief]

oh really? I did try Progesterone briefly many years ago to "Feel more like I did" pre losing the ovaries. It made me feel cross! I must research it. Is it too late to try do you think? I love the sound of it helping sleep!!

[Desperateforrelief in reply to JenniferBut]

I don't think it's too late to try. I take progesterone just before I go to sleep. We have to know our bodies, unlike popular opinions, we are not all the same biochemically. You'll know pretty soon if it helps. I find estrogen better in the morning. I was supplementing with testosterone. That helped with energy, and feeling well for several years. I have stopped it now because my body is changing as I age (62) and it started facial hairs growth.

There are many doctors out there that say there's a high risk of cancer with hirmone treatment. I think we know our bodies and if we don't feel well and this makes us better, then give us quality of life. I get so sore and miserable when I stop estrogen. I am tired of one size fits all philosophies out there. Find doctors who want to help.

[Desperateforrelief in reply to Desperateforrelief]

P.S. I have found some meds that me very angry. I don't tolerate antidepressants at all. They were prescribed for pain. They work for .any, but in me all I could see was red.

[JenniferBut in reply to Desperateforrelief]

Thanks for your reply, I appreciate you taking the time. I might have a chat to my GP about it. Gosh, what fun we get to have us women!! Gotta love the facial hair, I just shave like a man, so easy and it doesn't grow back any thicker! more lies from the beauty myth rubbish if you ask me! I especially like his foil electric, much better than those silly ones they sell for women. lol

[Desperateforrelief in reply to JenniferBut]

So sorry, sounds like you have a hormone imbalance. I have used tweezers to pull out the few I get. I also take low dose thyroid medication, which counteracts the hair growth. My hair has thinned so much from thyroid meds! Ugh! Always something! I pray your GP listens and helps you to feel better.

[JenniferBut in reply to Desperateforrelief]

Naw, I dont. I was only joking. I just get the normal amount of facial hair that most of us get. just my silly sense of humour

[Desperateforrelief in reply to JenniferBut]

Lol. You had me!

[Allot]

I had total hysterectomy in the early 90s and coped really well with hormonal implants - I moved from London in 2015 and as you say I could no longer get implants. I thought I would stop using hormonal treatment which was ok for 5 years then suddenly I started to get hot flushes night sweats depression the works. I have now decided to use patches which have reduced the symptoms greatly and I intend to keep using indefinitely. Quality of life is important to me

[Tranquilwaters]

Hi Jennifer! I had my surgery 9 years ago. I'm actually just about to restart HRT again after being off it for 2 years and feeling awful! I have had no luck with patches and gel previously so am going to try oral. How have you found it over the years? (The last HRT I was on was estrogen implants).