I’m having my womb and ovaries removed on Wednesday and I’m absolutely terrified. Not so much of the operation itself (although I realise it won’t be a picnic) but about going through a surgical menopause overnight.
I have a 35 year history of severe chronic depression - I was suicidal for a decade, and it took me 15 years to find antidepressants that made a difference. I’m so, so frightened of what the menopause is going to do to my mental health (and yes, I do realise that the anxiety about this won’t be helping!)
My surgeon has said she’ll put me on HRT immediately after the op but she and my GP and the GP pharmacist have all said I’m likely to have a “very tough” few weeks while my hormones settle down.
As well as that, I’m expecting to be on morphine in hospital (I’m having full abdominal surgery not laparoscopic, and have endo / fibroids to remove too). I’ve had previous operations with morphine afterwards, and the morphine alone made me suicidal.
I’ve tried to prepare my partner and close friends for how I might be feeling and have told them I’ll need extra support. Ive talked to my GP about my concerns and said I might need to call them for help. I’ve also made an appointment with an HRT specialist for four weeks after the op to talk about how I’m feeling / whether I’m on the right dosage.
What else can I do to prepare for the next few weeks? I’m so scared that I can’t sleep or eat. Please help.