Surgical Menopause but chose not to have HRT

[Nightynightnight]

I had a full hysterectomy last year...the full shebang. I was immediately prescribed HRT and having been taking it since the day after my surgery. I'm 46.

I am at the top of what can be prescribed in terms of dosage but I just feel crap and I have put on two stone since my op.

Did anyone refuse HRT after surgical Menopause and how was it for you.

I’m the opposite, full hysterectomy and thinner than ever.
I had started calorie counting prior to my op then continued once on HRT. I lost the 3+ stone I put on in peri plus a bit more. I feel the HRT is what helped me lose the weight that had settled on my tummy.
Have you spoken to the HRT nurse for a review and asked to look at other types? When there was a shortage of my brand the pharmacy switched me to, supposedly, the same type but different brand and I did feel awful on that. I insisted on Amy named brand on my prescription after that.
Speak to the HRT nurse, there will be something you are more suited to I’m sure.

Thanks. My specialist nurse was certain the hrt would make me feel better than ever but honestly I'm just miserable. I'm exhausted, I have terrible joint pain, my mood is all over the place and I'm heavier than I've ever been. I had my levels check in July and they were all fine apparently!!!

@Nightynightnight At 46 you'd be considered young to have no ovaries and estrogen. Early menopause is before 45, but I've read some drs say that in the western world, before 47 is now considered early.

You'd be advised to use HRT for heart and bone health to at least 51 and then assess.

If the dose of estrogen didn't help, you should have it evaluated.
It's possible the opposite of what you think- the weight gain could be too little estrogen (as women post meno tend to gain weight).

By the top of the dosage, what is that?
If it's gel it would be 4 pumps, or a 100mgs patch.

You really need to see a menopause specialist, not a nurse unless they have a lot of experience with cases like yours.

And checking estrogen isn't accurate . my specialist told me this and it's often not understood. It can vary over the day.

Thanks @JinglingSpringbells . I'm on 100 patch (evorel) twice a week and nightly Utrogestan pill and been told that I can't be prescribed anymore.

Who has told you that?

I think there are probably some menopause gynaecologists who would disagree.

What I have found personally is that the more qualified and knowledgeable the dr is, the more they are able and willing to consider bending the 'rules' and give a very individualised treatment .

Have you posted before? Just asking as if you have had a hysterectomy there is no need for progesterone. The poster who was also using that, had endo and they weren't sure it had all been removed.

At 49 and with no ovaries, you are not the same as a 60 year old who is asking for more than 100mcg patches. One size doesn't fit all!

I'd suggest that if you can afford it, you see an expert, privately, and take it from there.

Why are you taking Utrogestan if you don't have a womb?

@LastHives Its given as a precaution to women who had endo until they are 50 after a full hysterectomy.

@JinglingSpringbells Both the nurse specialist at the hospital and the nurse at my GP practice who deals with all HRT issues. I haven't actually seen my consultant since the day after my surgery in October last year. My follow appointment has been cancelled and rescheduled by the hospital four times. I think you're right about seeing someone privately. Things are tight money wise just now but I'll check out costs and see what I can do.

Thanks

@Nightynightnight It's not a case of 'you can't have more', it's more that the nurses you have seen are just not allowed to prescribe more as they are nurses.
They don't have the experience or the qualifications to go outside the prescribing guidance. And as the largest patch is 100, they are saying that's as high as you can go.

Private consultants have more options. Obviously they don't do 'stupid things' but they have more flexibility. You might for example get on better with gel. And some might even suggest dropping the Utrogestan. Endo is painful but it's not cancer, or going to become cancer, so there is no real 'risk' of dropping progesterone, only the risk of pain which may or may not happen.

I hope you find someone to help.

@Nightynightnight Ok thanks.

@JinglingSpringbells thanks so much for that. Very interesting! I did read that some women find gel better for absorption.

Do you take your progesterone vaginally as that can really make a difference to how it effects your overall mood and body. Taking my utrogesterone orally I was a depressed mess, bloated and got spots first time in my life, felt just zonked out and was awful, take it vaginally now and it really does make you feel better and barely any side effects and the bloated feeling gone. Also the estrogel is good and dries very quickly. There are other options and hope you get to talk to somebody and really you should have this aftercare and wish you the best.