Surgical menopause

Youmeanyouvelostyourkey · 2021-03-12T22:58:52+00:00

I had full hysterectomy just under a fortnight ago. How long is it likely to be before the menopause symptoms start?

JinglingHellsBells · 13/03/2021 12:02

Days, possibly, based on posts on forums.

Has your dr discussed HRT and is there a plan for you to use it?

Original poster

Youmeanyouvelostyourkey · 14/03/2021 01:14

I briefly discussed it with another consultant as I have other health issues and they said it would be ok. Haven't had the conversation with my GP yet though. I guess it will depend on how bad the symptoms are

OP posts:

JinglingHellsBells · 14/03/2021 07:29

@Youmeanyouvelostyourkey

I briefly discussed it with another consultant as I have other health issues and they said it would be ok. Haven't had the conversation with my GP yet though. I guess it will depend on how bad the symptoms are

'said it would be okay'- meaning you don't need HRT or it would be okay to have it?

I don't understand why women having their ovaries removed are not given accurate and proper support at the time and given HRT there and then.

If you are under 51 you need HRT for your long term health- heart, bones and brain.

If you are over 50-ish, you may need HRT for symptoms that will occur.

BeBraveAndBeKind · 15/03/2021 22:46

I had a full hysterectomy at the start of October and didn't start HRT until the end November due to a difference of opinion between the surgeon that did my op and the one that discharged me. By that time I had hot flushes, night sweats, dry skin, dry eyes and mood swings. The hot flushes came probably within 2-3 weeks.

Like a PP said, I'm surprised they didn't discuss it because of the protection HRT offers for your heart and bone density.

Original poster

Youmeanyouvelostyourkey · 15/03/2021 23:53

Thanks. It doesn't feel very joined up. The surgeon just discussed the op. The original consultant mentioned that I would hit the menopause but that's about it.
I'm 50 so it was more about the fact that I'd be hitting it soon anyway. I'll have to make a GP appt when the symptoms start. It's two weeks today so guess it will all kick off soon

OP posts:

Ostagazuzulum · 16/03/2021 00:20

Hi, I had my ovaries out in December and symptoms kicked in at middle to end of January. Took about a month for estrogen to leave body. Symptoms vary from person to person. Big debate about whether I can have hrt, I'm early 40s but high risk of cancer. If you can have hrt, I would. My symptoms are manageable (sleeplessness, weight gain, tired, brain fog and the lovely hot flushes primarily) but you may get some, you may get none.
If you're quite young for be in menopause, def ask gp for dexa bone scan every few years. Just to make sure you aren't developing osteoporosis. My gp was pretty poor but someone on a forum said to do it.

donewithitalltodayandxmas · 16/03/2021 00:36

I had full hysterectomy at 40 now 45 and i did take hrt for a bit bit then stopped due to other risks and tbf I actually woke up from the op with hot flush
My symptoms have been ok , do get the odd hot flush but bearable but guess it varies,

donewithitalltodayandxmas · 16/03/2021 00:38

@Ostagazuzulum I will ask my gp for bone scan not heard of that and not had hrt for 5 years now
I found the whole thing really bad after , wether to take hrt or not , how much etc
I really think there should be more specialists about this to help people

JinglingHellsBells · 16/03/2021 09:11

@Ostagazuzulum Do you mind my asking what your big risk of cancer is? Medical experts on menopause say that for women under 51-ish, there are no risks of HRT. Even if your mum and sister had breast cancer at a young age, that's not a reason for you not to use HRT up to age 50, because you would only be replacing what ought to be there.

@donewithitalltodayandxmas Again, medical advice is you use HRT up the age of menopause (51) to protect your bones and heart. ALL menopause specialists agree on this. It's really important for your future long term health. Losing your ovaries at 40 puts you at high risk of both heart disease and osteoporosis. It's still given to women your age who don't have symptoms, as long term protection.

JinglingHellsBells · 16/03/2021 09:15

d2931px9t312xa.cloudfront.net/menopausedoctor/files/information/540/Surgical%20Menopause%20v15-03.pdf

Hope this link works!

it's all about surgical menopause and treatment afterwards .

@Ostagazuzulum @Youmeanyouvelostyourkey @donewithitalltodayandxmas

Goingferalonfurlough · 16/03/2021 09:18

I was started on HRT the day after my hysterectomy (aged 40). Five years on and I don’t take the HRT and have no symptoms now though the ones I did get previously we’re awful.

Original poster

Youmeanyouvelostyourkey · 16/03/2021 10:27

@jinglinghellsbells
Thank you. Very interesting

OP posts:

Ostagazuzulum · 17/03/2021 04:12

@jinglehellbells
I have brca2 so calculated 84%chance of breast cancer and 62% ovarian. That's why I struggled to get them to give me hrt.

starrynight21 · 17/03/2021 04:43

I had a full hysterectomy at 35 and started HRT about a month later, Still taking it decades later - now more for the long-term benefits than any menopausal symptoms.

Nixmini · 17/03/2021 04:46

[quote Ostagazuzulum]@jinglehellbells
I have brca2 so calculated 84%chance of breast cancer and 62% ovarian. That's why I struggled to get them to give me hrt. [/quote]
Hi

brca2 also and had my op @ 45....the risk percentages have come down a lot over the last couple of years. Unless you are one of a few particular brca2 mutations the ovarian risk in particular is now quite low. Still too high for some to be comfortable but sometimes I wish I had waited until closer to 50 to have my ovaries removed :) I am even considering going on HRT for a few years! My cognitive function has decreased which worries me sometimes.

Jasp51 · 17/03/2021 21:30

Hi everyone new to this site
I have had the menopause now for 5 years and it was brought on after my full hysterectomy.
I started using HRT patches and used them for 3 years and it was good all symptoms under control... but 2 years ago I started to gey extremely painful breast and after seeing different consultants at the hospital it was discovered I had an intolerance to the HRT so had to stop and since then my symptoms are horrendous.. flushes all day ,terrible night sweats ,lack of sleep, painful joints you name It get it and last year it affected my mental health .. I have tried every alternative therapy and nothing helps and I'm now getting fed up with it all ... is there others out there that also can't take HRT and if so how do you cope ??

JinglingHellsBells · 18/03/2021 08:16

@Jasp51

Hi everyone new to this site I have had the menopause now for 5 years and it was brought on after my full hysterectomy. I started using HRT patches and used them for 3 years and it was good all symptoms under control... but 2 years ago I started to gey extremely painful breast and after seeing different consultants at the hospital it was discovered I had an intolerance to the HRT so had to stop and since then my symptoms are horrendous.. flushes all day ,terrible night sweats ,lack of sleep, painful joints you name It get it and last year it affected my mental health .. I have tried every alternative therapy and nothing helps and I'm now getting fed up with it all ... is there others out there that also can't take HRT and if so how do you cope ??

@Jasp51 and after seeing different consultants at the hospital it was discovered I had an intolerance to the HRT so had to stop and since then my symptoms are horrendous

Were the drs you saw menopause consultants?
Painful breasts are usually caused by too much estrogen.
Did they suggest a lower dose?
Do you know what dose of patch you were on then?

It's strange for them to say you had an intolerance to estrogen if you used patches- the estrogen in them is body-identical which means it's exactly the same as your own you would have had before.
Presumably it was estrogen only as you don't need progesterone with no womb.)

Maybe consider trying it again? You clearly have all the horrible symptoms of estrogen deficience.

Women who give up HRT because of side effects usually do so because they can't tolerate any type of progesterone. But that's not given to women who've had a hysterectomy.

It might be worth trying Oestrogel which is estrogen only and you can try out a very low dose and increase it yourself, which you can't do with patches.

Did none of the consultants suggest this?

Jasp51 · 18/03/2021 21:14

Hi none of the doctors i saw were menopause specialist, I was seen by the breast clinic .. the last consultant I saw told me that the estrogen was over stimulating my breast and that I had to stop taking HRT and avoid any form of estrogen.. my doctor has tried lots of alternative therapy with me but they do not work . I did try the cream but it didn't work .. my breast get sore no matter so I don't no what I should do anymore ,it is getting me down .
I have even stopped caffeine to lessen the flushes and I have stop drinking red wine ! As that make the flushes worse .. so the menopause has well and truly taken over ... I just want to stop being hot during the day and at night ... I can't cuddle my partner for to long as it makes me so hot and drip with sweat ...

JinglingHellsBells · 18/03/2021 22:26

@Jasp51 Sounds horrible for you. How low did you go with the dose of gel? The side effects are usually linked to the dose. Did you try just one pump? Maybe ask your Dr to refer you to a menopause clinic?

Jasp51 · 19/03/2021 06:56

It was the low dose and I went on the low dose of patch which was 25 ...I did know you could go to a menopause clinic ?? I might try low dose of patches again .

ILoveExcel · 19/03/2021 07:00

Hi OP, I'm in my 30s and I had a hysterectomy in November, I'm not able to take HRT. The worst and most disruptive symptom I'm having is night sweats, took about 6 weeks to kick in. I've been prescribed antidepressants that have been proven to help (not straying taking them yet) so there are other options. If you don't end up having HRT, ask to have yourself referred for a DEXA scan to check your bones.

JinglingHellsBells · 19/03/2021 07:46

@ILoveExcel

Hi OP, I'm in my 30s and I had a hysterectomy in November, I'm not able to take HRT. The worst and most disruptive symptom I'm having is night sweats, took about 6 weeks to kick in. I've been prescribed antidepressants that have been proven to help (not straying taking them yet) so there are other options. If you don't end up having HRT, ask to have yourself referred for a DEXA scan to check your bones.

@ILoveExcel What is the reason you can't take HRT? That's really unusual. Has this been decided by a menopause consultant?

JinglingHellsBells · 19/03/2021 07:48

@Jasp51 My advice is you try Oestrogel (it's a gel not a cream so not sure if we are talking about the same thing :) )
You can start with half a 'blob' (the normal dose is 2) to see how you go.
As you were fine with estrogen for 3 years then had some kind of blip, it's really worth trying again.
You can get Oestrogel from your GP, just like patches.

ILoveExcel · 19/03/2021 08:04

@JinglingHellsBells I have a very rare type of cancer (leiomyosarcoma) and it is sometimes estrogen receptive. Testing showed that my tumour was ER, so I chose to have my ovaries removed. It is not a decision I made lightly I'm well aware of the issues associated with losing my estrogen supply at a young age, but I have to do everything I can to minimise my risk of reccurence. And yes I have spoken with a menopause speacilist.

JinglingHellsBells · 19/03/2021 08:17

That's really tough for you :( I hope you are okay and continue with whatever treatment helps the meno symptoms.