Menopause after surgery

[Clifden1]

Hi ladies I am 47 I am just wondering what to expect when I go in to menopause after surgery so I can be prepared any tips or advice for me please xxxx

[Hidden]

I had my initial surgery many years ago but what I do remember is that the chemo that followed the op seemed to suppress the immediate effects of the surgical menopause. It wasn't till after chemo that the hot flushes kicked in. The other effects of the surgery were much more gradual for me.

[Katmal-UK]

Hi I was the same age when I had surgery. At the time I was perimenopausal and had not had a period for about a year. I found that after a few weeks after surgery I had a few hot flushes but a lot of night sweats to the point where I'd wake literally dripping in sweat. I bought a 'chillowpillow' and found that gave a great deal of relief. To be honest it wasn't that bad. Hope you do ok. Kathy xx

[Akouza]

Hi! I had the surgery at the age of 37, I'm 44 now. Hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, mood swings lasted for 5 years. Also bone loss keeps on declining, dense breasts and dry skin and hair loss. Oh how I wish I can have a period. My ONC wouldn't put me on no estrogen until 3 years post chemo and when I went on low dose it seems to not help anything. I'm a survivor ... 7 years since my diagnosis clear cell of the ovaries stage 1B.

[Melody6 in reply to Akouza]

Many congratulations on your 7 years - long may it continue 💖. Love from Mel xx

[MarleyZ]

Apart from feeling hot and having a few sweats didn't really have any thing that pointed to menopause, guess for me I would need a steel band and arrows pointing to say I was undergoing that ...battle with surgery effects and chemo side effects kept me occupied I probably would have put half the issues I had down to either or both of those things.

[kadabra12]

Hi im 11,months from surgery and my hot flushes pretty much started withon days but light and then got higher when i was having chemo. At that time 0they said alot was caused by them and will gradually go down when chemo finished and reduce after 12 months from surgery. Still goimg though from morning till night where i flush up and go red. I just keep a fan close by and dont wear a coat in car or shops or just light one and in the house its light clothes too. Also gained alot of weight and 5 weeks into a diet and im not losing weight but also im not gaining so id advise eat healthy x

[mizpurple]

I went through menopause mostly before my diagnosis and luckily my experience wasn't too bad. Dressing in layers is a good idea. I carried an inexpensive folding fan and a few cotton hankies in case of hot flashes at work or on the train, which in my case were made worse if I got stressed. Switched from full makeup to just moisturizer plus waterproof mascara. The thing I struggled most with was emotions - I had always been even keeled and suddenly I was all over the place. I did seek out things that calmed me, like music, journaling, meditation, exercise, yoga, creative swearing (didn't always work but helped). Here's hoping your experience is on the easy side like mine! Deb in Colorado

[AislingL50]

For me it started within days of surgery and got worse. Night sweats and interrupted sleep have been my worse symptoms . A small fan and chillow pillow have been lifesavers . Also dress in layers x

[iheartgin]

I was 41 and in the middle of a period when I had my surgery!! I didn’t have chemo. The effects for me were immediate - hot flushes, night sweats, disturbed sleep, brain fog, word loss... I personally found it very overwhelming at first, but I hadn’t been at all prepared for what to expect. It is now completely copeable, you learn to adjust - dress in layers (I can get very cold suddenly as well as hot), gel pads are amazing and very cheap on Amazon! I pop one in my pillowcase under the pillow and when I need rapid cooling, just flip the pillow - works wonders! I sometimes pop one behind me on the sofa too to keep me cool. Stress can be a big trigger, so I’ve found deep breathing and relaxation help. I would always carry a fan around with me when I’m out and about (pre covid anyway!). I am not able to have HRT but I recently started an anti depressant which has hugely helped reduce my flushes and night sweats in particular. I still struggle to find my words sometimes and I find it hard to lose weight but I’m just over 18 months post op now and currently all clear. Good luck with your surgery and recovery x

[Lynne1974]

Expect to gain weight and having issues losing it, puffy belly like always bloated, heat flashes are also possible but I never got them, thank God! Other than that its not to bad really,

[Goldilocks_2]

Hi, I was 49 when I had surgery. Hadn't started menopause ahead but I am pleased to say I had none of the symptoms of menopause at all and never got any and I am 14 years after diagnosis now. I was told by a practitioner once that taking a tablespoon of crushed flax seeds daily can aid with hot flush symptoms from menopause. I had been taking those for years with breakfast so maybe that was the reason I never got symptoms. I have given that remedy to others who were suffering badly with hot flushes and while it worked well for some it did not work for others. Hope you don't get any symptoms. Good luck with treatment.

[Hidden]

Hello! I was 39 when I had my radical hysterectomy (in 2016) which threw me into early menopause — like a few others here, I didn’t notice any effects in the beginning. I thought, maybe I’d be off the hook Wrong! The hot flashes came with a vengeance after my chemo treatments. I’d get as many as 10 hot flashes an hour — I can say now that they are nowhere near as extreme or often as they were in the beginning. I can go hours without having one now ... I did get weight gain. I used to maintain the same weight without any gain before they surgeries and treatments, and now it’s the opposite. I have trouble losing it. Just some adjustments getting used to the new normal for me I hope all goes well with you and always remember just go moment by moment. Bright blessing to you!

[Hidden]

Hi I was diagnosed at 51. Hadn’t had a period for a year. Hot flushes started after chemo had finished.

They lasted 2 years. I still get very warm so have ditched jumpers and scarves and heavy coats in the winter! Lots of layers is good. Cotton clothes.

Like a few others skin is dry and hair loss.

It’s manageable if you stay positive.

Doctor and oncologist won’t let me have HRT.

Eating healthily helps massively with weight gain. I don’t smoke or drink.

It is all life changing but after the scare of OC your outlook on life changes. I’m grateful still for every day. You seem to learn to cope with issues you may not have done before.

Just take each day as it comes. Look for positives rather than negatives.

Certainly cheaper not to have to buy jumpers and coats !!

Tricky at night if your partner likes the heating on and no window open. We are lucky enough to have a spare bed so I often sneak in there if I need to!!!

I hope all goes well for you x