Help! Am 42 and about to have an operation that will plunge me into surgical menopause. Anyone give me some advice and also contact details of good menopause clinics in london

[Lloydcolestilldoesitforme]

Hi
In 5 weeks I am due to have a bilateral salpingo oopherectomy which will plunge me into a surgically induced menopause and I have the fear.... I have to do this op as I have a brca1 gene mutation which significantly increases my risk of ovarian cancer and family history of ovarian cancer killing off my nearest and dearest way before their prime.

Everything I read about menopause is slightly terrifying (for me and my husband). I will have the option of HRT and I have no breast tissue (previous bilateral mastectomy), so I am hoping it is reasonably safe for me to take.

However i know nothing about the types of HRT, what i should be doing to prepare/educate myself for this experience or what to expect. My work will not be hugely supportive of me having this time off and I will be under pressure to return asap. I can't go back to a stressful job battling chronic menopause symptoms so I am keen to have some resources at the battle and do whatever I have to do to manage the situation.

Any tips, advice, insight etc. most gratefully received.

Try the www.menopausematter.co.uk. It is run by a UK Menopause Specialist.

You need to a) talk to your surgeon and they ought to be proactive by offering you HRT if appropriate and b) discuss again with the oncology team as you do carry the BRCA1 gene.

Without HRT you will be at risk of heart disease and osteoporosis, so it's essential you get advice and to be honest your surgical team ought to be proactive on this.

Thanks both. My surgical team have just said they will give me HRT but I don't know about the types etc and I don't like going into things not having all the knowledge I can get. I am also being told that they would prefer me to wait for a month to see how bad my symptoms are before I start taking HRT but i hope to be back at work by then and I'm worried about the anxiety/panic aspect of menopause, as this is something I have struggled with in the past.

Feels like a hobson's choice :-(