Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi I am due to have a full hysterectomy in 4 weeks which includes removing my ovaries and I am really confused with what HRT to choose. Has anyone got any recommendations please. I have read up about the Serenity cream does anyone use this ? Thank you
0 likes, 14 replies
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Fi-45 JLM
Posted
Hi. I had total hysterectomy with ovaries removed 14 wks ago. I was out straight onto Progynova Ts 150mcg24hr patches.
I'm also on Medroxyprgesterone (for 6mths) to help with endometriosis.
I've been fine on mine. No flushes or anything. I'm only 45 so he didn't want me going into early menopause. I read up on some stuff but to be honest I found it confusing so I just took consultants advice and so far so good.
JLM Fi-45
Posted
Sancho123 JLM
Posted
Hi,
Everyone is different but I had the same opp 4 weeks ago and choose not to go straight on to HRT. I didn't know if I would need it and wanted to see if I could handle it without. (I am 48.) Didn't want to go from one health issue to trying to cope with another - HRT.
I chatted to a nutritionist before the op and she gave me some advice on nutrition and natural suplements that might help.
I have changed my diet as a result, but so far, very few Menopause symptoms. It is early days so some might come and I may just have been lucky, but I am pleased so far.
Also, after the op you are not moving very much apart from anything else the lack of movement coud cause extra weight gain. I have been trying to move as much as my body will allow and that, with the changed diet seems to be working.
I am not saying it will work for everyone, but worth considering or discussing with your Consultant if you need to go straight to HRT or if it is worth seeing if you can handle it without. I expect it will depend on your symtoms beforehand, but worth a discussion.
I hope the operation goes well and do take it easy afterwards!
JLM Sancho123
Posted
Thank you Sancho123 I really appreciate your comments I'm getting a bit anxious if I'm honest but just want it out of the way now. I've got an enlarged uterus, bleeding between periods and suffer with hormonal migrane (unbearable pain). To be honest I have just had enough. It just scares me that once the op is over more problems will arise from the hrt etc. Thanks again
jo44582 JLM
Posted
Hi. I had vaginal hysterectomy this time last year. Had cervix and uterus removed but tubes left. I was having hot flushes and night sweats before the op but since then they have got really bad.
I had tried all the herbal things recommended but to be honest nothing worked.
Been to my GP today and she has prescribed estradiol patches... But after reading the side effects I am so confused and don't know what to do...
Is anyone else on these? Do they work, I know everyone's different. GP didn't seem too interested and wanted to give me something for depression which she said would help with hot flushes...
Please someone help me... Just want a nights sleep ????
lynda20916 jo44582
Posted
Hi, Jo,
This is just anecdotal information, but two of my women friends wore the patches and got blood clots. They spent time in the hospital and were on blood thinners for a while. Scary stuff.
I've heard that estrogen also doesn't really help that much with calcium absorption. I learned that when I went into menopause at 40. I recently read that just eating dried prunes and weight bearing exercise has more to do with strengthening your bones.
So, I suggest you do some research and decide what would be safest and best for you. Also, try to see an ob/gyn who wants to do more than give you pills to make you less depressed. Depression is a factor, but as most MD's don't like to deal with depression (in my opinion) they offer you the pills so you don't bother them!
Best of luck!
jo44582 lynda20916
Posted
Thank you Lynda
I will certainly look into this. I did feel as though she was just wanting to get rid of me, and to be honest, I'd rather try other stuff... Not that there's much that I haven't tried!
The trip to the GP was a last resort. That's why I was asking about the cream.
It's all so confusing, not helped by a doctor that seems to just want to prescribe something without talking through it.
Thank you
Jo
lynda20916 jo44582
Posted
Well, they are tasked with getting you out the door asap. Also, they're success oriented. They want to treat patients quickly and get good outcomes. Seems a contradiction to me.
Take care xx
jo44582 JLM
Posted
Sorry JLM
That didn't answer your question did it?
If anyone has used the serenity cream and it works I will purchase some NOW!!
Jo
JLM jo44582
Posted
lyn1951 JLM
Posted
Not to scare you, but I had some kind of serious reaction to full pelvic clearance, endometrial cancer, by day 3 I was soaking bed in hospital with sweating, I mean every five minutes they had to change bed, ended up lying in flood of sweat, and even with towels and extra sheeting, to soak up amount, even to creating puddles on floor from sheets dripping, so much so they kept me on drips, and they even struggled with those as my veins were shutting down I was sooooo de-hydrated, came very close to major cut down to find vein they could access and keep open.
In the end the specialists decided it must be hormonal, and started me on replacement tablets.
I was horrified at the amounts they had to give me to bring me back to normal and resolved I would wean myself off replacement completly, with GP's help, every three months I was able to step down to a lessor dosage so by about 2 year mark was able to give up completly.
But I now notice as I am getting older 65 I may have to start a very low dose replacement to help with other dry and very thin skin issues, let alone osteopororis, which i believe in my case with background arthiritis has to be considered carefully.
JLM lyn1951
Posted
Oh my goodness you have been through a lot lyn1951 I'm just looking into which HRT will work for me. I guess I will need to try what my consultant suggests and see how I get on. Thank you for your comment and good luck for the future. Xx
aged-too-fast JLM
Posted
Unfortunately, HRT is a trial and error process. What works for one woman may be a dismal failure for another. And some have a hard time finding one that makes them feel halfway normal. And, yes, there are some risks of taking HRT. But then removal of ovaries is associated with many increased health risks (per medical studies) and most women suffer severe "menopausal" symptoms. I put that in quotes because surgical "menopause" isn't technically menopause because naturally menopausal ovaries (ones that haven't been damaged by surgery) continue producing hormones for decades after menopause (probably our whole lives).
I can't imagine not being on HRT because surgical menopause at age 49 was BRUTAL for me. Most of the symptoms took a FEW MONTHS to manifest (probably due to stored up hormones). I could barely function - couldn't think straight or concentrate, couldn't remember from one minute to the next, became SEVERELY depressed and anxious, was EXTREMELY irritable, couldn't sleep for more than 2 or 3 hours at a time, vision deteriorated (became quite blurry), felt very disconnected from my husband and children, aged unbelievably fast (lost most of my hair and skin collagen and sections of my hair turned gray and very fine), lost all desire for sex and orgasms are disappointing if they even happen.
I don't know your situation but ovary removal is seldom necessary and does more harm than good when done for benign conditions. But hysterectomy can also cause them to shut down if you do keep them.
HRT may mitigate some of the risks of ovary removal or failure and help relieve symptoms but isn't a true replacement for our ovaries.
aged-too-fast JLM
Posted
Unfortunately, HRT is a trial and error process. What works for one woman may be a dismal failure for another. And some have a hard time finding one that makes them feel halfway normal. And, yes, there are some risks of taking HRT. But then removal of ovaries is associated with many increased health risks (per medical studies) and most women suffer severe "menopausal" symptoms. I put that in quotes because surgical "menopause" isn't technically menopause because naturally menopausal ovaries (ones that haven't been damaged by surgery) continue producing hormones for decades after menopause (probably our whole lives).
I can't imagine not being on HRT because surgical menopause at age 49 was BRUTAL for me. Most of the symptoms took a FEW MONTHS to manifest (probably due to stored up hormones). I could barely function - couldn't think straight or concentrate, couldn't remember from one minute to the next, became SEVERELY depressed and anxious, was EXTREMELY irritable, couldn't sleep for more than 2 or 3 hours at a time, vision deteriorated (became quite blurry), felt very disconnected from my husband and children, aged unbelievably fast (lost most of my hair and skin collagen and sections of my hair turned gray and very fine), lost all desire for sex and orgasms are disappointing if they even happen.
I don't know your situation but ovary removal is seldom necessary and does more harm than good when done for benign conditions. But hysterectomy can also cause them to shut down if you do keep them.
HRT may mitigate some of the risks of ovary removal or failure and help relieve symptoms but isn't a true replacement for our ovaries.