Experiences of surgical menopause

[Spudulike3]

Hi all
I have been told I have some pre-cancerous changes in my uterus and have been recommended to have a hysterectomy. It is a bit of a minefield whether to have my ovaries removed at the same time or to leave them. Not removing them may come with a small chance of cancer cells remaining. However if I have them removed I will of course go into a instant (surgical) menopause. I'm 44 by the way and have regular periods.
To help me think about this can anyone give me their experience of surgical menopause - was it awful or was it manageable with HRT?
Thanks in advance X

Surgical menopause at 45 due to fibroids, Endo, heavy bleeding & Pain etc, so not cancer, sorry you are going through that, it must be a daunting prospect.

I have been fine. I had my first hot flush the night of my surgery, which was amusing, but HRT has been brilliant. No meno symptoms at all and I was clearly peri prior to surgery because HRT has been anmazing, mood wise I have been better than I was pre surgery and I’ve had no issues at all and no hot flushes. I started on Evorel 50 patches 4 weeks post surgery and now, 4 years on, I’m on Evorel 100. It’s been great for me.

Thanks Boogity
It's nice to hear a positive story. Can I ask - who helped you with the HRT - was it the consultant you saw for your surgery or was it your GP? Did you have any private treatment and was it worth it?

I had my ovaries removed at 43 due to extreme pmt. Best thing I ever did!

Goodness, Sweatyslippers, I didn't know you could do that - good for you!

I had surgery due to ovarian cancer. Only 1 ovary removed but then started on prostap injections so medical menopause. It's not been 2 bad. Slightly more irrational than usual but nothing too unmanageable. Insomnia and night sweats have been harder to manage but I've not started HRT (due to personal choice) but consultant and mdt have been amazing in terms of explaining options and possible outcomes.

I'm sorry you're going through this. It sounds like they caught things early so you have options though. Give yourself the time and opportunity to go through things. If it helps I was given option of full hysterectomy or just ovary and tube removed. I went for the 'lighter' surgery but do wish I'd just got everything out as I have moments of worry it'll come back. I'm now on list for full hysterectomy but because it's not urgent and now classed as elective it's about 18m wait.

Good luck and hope things go well with whatever you choose x

Surgical menopause at 48 due to endometrial cancer. Had ovaries and tubes out at the same time. I was advised against HRT due to cancer and it's been ok, not great, but not terrible either. The hot flushes started soon after the op, but other menopause symptoms didn't kick in for a few weeks.

Thanks NeverAlone. That's what I'm wondering as well - will I always have this shred of doubt. It is tricky.

Surgical menopause at 34 due to ovarian cancer; it was horrific and caused me lots of problems. BUT I couldn't take any HRT and got no medical support whatsoever (10 years ago - menopause support had thankfully moved on enormously since then, just too late to help me). If you can get HRT and access specific menopause support, I'd go for it.

I had a total hysterectomy at 46 though had already been going through the menopause for several years, which meant my symptoms were no worse for the most part. The positive bit was I was put on HRT immediately - took a while to get the type/dose right but it meant no significant symptoms other than a bit of weight gain and shape change and I struggle to regulate my temperature, but I can put up with that. My consultant recommended the total rather than partial because she said that the bits that "could go wrong in future" were my ovaries and cervix, and given my age better to just take the lot. Mine was due to excessive bleeding so can honestly say it was life changing for me.

I had a full hysterectomy and oophorectomy at 42. Similar to pp, first hot flush the morning after surgery. HRT wasn't an option so had to ride it out - still get them now and again 7 years later. It hasn't been too bad but my mum had an easy (natural) menopause so I might not have been destined for a terrible one. It was a bit full on, though, to go from zero to full menopause with nothing in between, especially while recovering from the surgery. I was back at work after 8 weeks (office job) but it took more like six months to start feeling really back to normal.

Worth it in my case for an end to pain, and I still feel happy every time I walk past the sanpro in the supermarket and know I will never have to buy it again.

Thanks Pushkinini and EweCee. Different experiences of without HRT. I don't think there would be any reason for me not to have it but I'd make sure I got info to make sure of this before letting them anywhere near me!

Have you asked about being referred to someone to talk through your options with? Or try macmillan via phone. I found everyone had an opinion and it was hard to listen to my own voice and do what I felt was right for me.

Thanks PeepShow and ANightingale. No periods would definitely be an upside though not the primary reason for doing this.

Had a full, radical hysterectomy at 28, nearly forty years on it’s still the single best thing I have ever done. I did have hrt, but gave up after 18 months as I just couldn’t get hold of it at the pharmacy. (Yep even way, way back then supply was an issue).
tbh the effects of menopause were way less then the how ill I was prior to surgery - so I would say the effects are relative to the individual’s circumstances.

maybe if hrt is offered, try it, there are lots of different types and you can always stop it if you decide it’s not for you.

I had full hysterectomy with ovaries, cervix and lymph nodes due to womb cancer aged 49. I sometimes have warm (not hot) flushes which are very manageable and that's all for menopause symptoms. I can't have HRT but I do I keep myself fit.

Thanks LiltZero. Glad to know it worked out OK got you.

I had a hysterectomy and my cervix and ovaries removed due to ovarian cancer at 46. No hot flushes, insomnia or night sweats. Am not allowed to take HRT so I'm pleased i don't have the usual menopause symptoms (my mum didn't either). The worst for me is that I have zero libido probably due to the lack or hormones.

I had my ovaries removed at 39 due to being a BRCA carrier. Initially found it difficult to be thrown into menopause but absolutely fine a few months later. I was referred to menopause clinic for HRT and bone scans and they were fantastic. Make sure you ask to be prescribed testosterone. It was vital for me.

When I saw my gynae consultant surgeon at the appointment to make the decision to go ahead with the surgery in full (BSO TH), I said with what I hoped was a winning smile that I had two conditions: (1) he did the surgery himself; and (2) that I would be on HRT straight away.

The surgeon wrote to my GP and requested an HRT prescription; and he did indeed do the surgery.

Thanks so much everyone. Really helpful experiences. I was also supposed to be selling my house and moving for work but it's all getting a bit too much! Life has really flattened me lately but Mumsnet peeps a really helpful source of advice. Xxx

Hi all. I've started a new thread about HRT and surgical menopause if anyone would like to read or comment. xxx
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4973513-surgical-menopause-and-estrogen-hrt-is-it-the-happy-hormone

Hi

If I'd had my choice, I would have fought to keep my ovaries. I do not accept that it's necessary to remove them in all cases at the same time as the uterus just to ensure against future potential cancer (what the gynaecologist said to me). However, my preferred choice became impossible for complex reasons.

So now I'm in surgical menopause after having surgery three weeks ago and am taking eostrogel HRT. It seems to work insofar as I've had no severe menopause symptoms. I do feel tired / lethargic but then I'm still in early recovery from a huge and difficult surgery. I've had no hot flushes or anything and in fact feel colder than usual all the time.

I've not been able to have any discussion with any professional about the implications of sudden surgical menopause or how HRT works or different types of it (the HRT was sent to my bed when I was in the recovery ward).

I tried to ask a thousand times but the NHS is broken beyond belief in my experience and getting to see someone qualified or knowledgeable in anything was impossible. My surgery was urgent and I was in chronic pain and heavily medicated so I didn't have the time to explore my legal rights to assert. I asked the doctors who did the ward round check ups if I shouldn't be on HRT and they said yes oestrogen only and sent up a cannister of oestrogel from pharmacy and that was it.

I would like to be better informed and I wish we could all be guided through this extremely traumatic and difficult surgery process with more information and input but it's a total minefield with everyone having different ideas and opinions and you can't get to see an actual gynae consultant who might know about hormones unless you pay good money.

LittleMissSunshiner - I'm so sorry this happened to you. It's absolutely insane that you yourself had to ask for HRT and nobody had thought about it before. Womens hormones are so important as they have such an effect on quality if life. If someone was taking anti depressants, they wouldn't just be stopped with no consideration of the impact.

I'm glad you are not experiencing too many symptoms and all the best for a speedy recovery.

Xxxx