For all of us in surgical menopause

[SebastianFlytesTrousers]

I wanted to create a post for us women in surgical menopause so that we can hopefully check in and share things that help, whether you're able to take HRT or not.

I hope to keep this going as we tend to get lost amongst the other posts and our experience of menopause can be very different than those experiencing it naturally, as well as our requirements for HRT (again, if you're able to take it).

I'm going to keep an eye on this post in the hopes that others comment, am on wait list for total hysterectomy so will be relevant in the near future!

I went into surgical menopause in jan happy to discuss with anyone

What is surgical menopause? I had breast cancer six years ago and after mastectomy surgery am on tamoxifen. I am in surgical menopause?

@warmbath

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hysterectomy/considerations/
Surgical menopauseIf you have a total or radical hysterectomy that removes your ovaries, you'll experience the menopause immediately after your operation, regardless of your age. This is known as a surgical menopause.

Surgical menopause in my mid 40’s.
On HRT patches which have helped hugely with the anxiety and mood swings I suffered during peri.
My skin has aged dramatically though. I wished I’d be aware that was going to happen practically overnight!
Peri was awful, but HRT hasn’t helped me recover any concentration or energy unfortunately. I feel dreadful.

I had a surgical menopause ten years ago as o had breast cancer and then an oopherectomy due to the brca2 gene. It's been pretty shit and I felt very alone. I was only 36. Ten years later and all my friends are going through it.
My bone density isn't great, and I have old skin and vaginal atrophy. It's all joyous 😂

Yes. Brutally. ! And on hormone blockers and no HRT allowed ( BC and then more BC) Feel as though I'm
slowly dying 😟

Surgical menopause at 32 in 2019 due to ovarian cysts they suspected was ovarian cancer on my right ovary after already having my left ovary removed in 2012. Had a quick IVF cycle prior to the surgery and following a frozen embryo transfer in 2021, had my DD and then breastfed for over two years which made managing my HRT really tricky.
I stopped BF before Christmas and now my body is my own again, I'm trying to get my hormones right and have just started on testosterone to try and do something about my non-existent libido.
I'm turning 36 this year and feel old before my time.

Surgical menopause in 2022 due to lynch syndrome and having to have a hysterectomy and oophorectomy. Had been on hrt patches but found I wasn't absorbing the hormones when I had a blood test for joint pain and general acheyness. Now on tablets. Seem to be piling on weight though... has anyone tried the supplements alongside hrt that promise to keep your weight down? Happy Mammoth for example??

Hi, @Ghostlyfeet. Are you on estrogen only tablets and what dose are you on? I'm just wondering if your dose is high enough?

Surgical menapause over forty years ago. Both my ovaries were subjected to radiation. My choice as part of my first go round with cancer.

I had about six months of hot flushes(regular as clockwork) then ...nothing. I was really lucky I know. But that how menopause goes, isn't it?

I had s good one, as it happened. Other women dont.

Hello,

definitely a good idea to have separate surgical meno thread- thanks, Sebastian.
I had my ovaries removed 3.5 years ago and just can't seem to get my HRT right- life's not great TBH (it's been dominated by this)
I'm 52 and was supposedly just about in meno when I had oophorectomy (so, in theory not a surgical meno as was already there) and was assured it wouldn't have an impact. Not true!
Was on oestrogel prior to and during the op, but for some reason crashed moodwise 8 weeks later and couldn't tolerate it. Tried patches but went doolally. And have tried everything-even progestogens, testosterone since- massively sensitive to each especially the T despite minuscule amounts tried.
Got to point where even trying half a pump of oestrogel made me a jittery mess.

Within last couple of weeks, however, I find I'm able to use 2 whole pumps oestrogel and not have any of the crazy palpitations etc. But, I feel bleak and shattered instead- so will be stopping it. But it's weird that it's affecting me in a completely different way and that I can stand to take a proper amount (not just half a pump). Which all maybe suggests that my body has changed and things are not set in stone- perhaps one day I'll be able to tolerate and benefit from HRT.
Agree with previous poster about skin, too- wrinkles overnight!

Basically, I feel better off HRT than on it but it's very low bar and I would like to be able to have it.
I'm sorry for the posters who are struggling and I appreciate that some of you don't have the option of HRT so I hope I'm not coming across as insensitive.
Equally, I love reading the positive experiences- gives us all hope- amazing that the poster above me has done so well for many years even without HRT- great to hear!
it's been the most isolating experience of my life and I very much want to connect with ladies who understand. My partner is my only social contact these days (plus teenage kids, but that's obvs not a friend type relationship)
Oh and a cat! He's not particularly friendly but I do rather love him 😁
@SebastianFlytesTrousers can I ask what you're taking in terms of HRT? Thanks.
am editing to ask @Flamminsausage if she wouldn't mind telling me what she takes?! Thanks.

@BustyCrustacean
sorry only just seen this.
im on 100 match, 1 pump of gel and testosterone. I’m 43 so apparently can handle high estrogen.
gp won’t do bloods so can’t tell you if I’m absorbing estrogen very well or not.

Thanks for that, @Flamminsausage , hope you're feeling well on the HRT- it's obviously pretty early days but sounds like you're tolerating it :)
Interesting that you were told you can handle more E being younger, I'm a decade older so maybe don't need much.
You can always use private online finger prick tests for hormone levels but if you feel ok, there's no real need.
Thanks again- I might try 1 solitary pump oestrogel and if that doesn't work I'll stop this merry-go-round!!

@BustyCrustacean feeling well is maybe optimistic 🤣 but I’m surviving. It’s awful how no one seems to want to help.
its really messed with my mental health. Tbh I have a draw full of patches and gel and I just try different combinations for a couple of months until I find one that makes me feel better. If it was down to my gp I would be on antidepressants as that’s what they always offer.

I went into chemical menopause after my hysterectomy and oophorectomy in January this year. I was already taking hrt prior to the op as was on Zoladex injections for preparation for an ablation.

I wasn't told to stop taking the pills due to lack of womb until I spoke to a GP about some symptoms where I felt I was about to start a period! Took a week or so but the chocolate craving and sore boobs stopped after a week or so.

I use 3 pumps of gel a day. I was on 2 but my mood has been really quite low, have been eating far too much and drinking far too often, so the gp thought it might help to up the dose a bit. I had a blood test which showed my vit d was a bit low so am on tablets for that which I will have to take every winter.

I have itching and dryness but can't use Vagiarux as I seemed to keep getting thrush. I've bought some oil from a company called Naydaya which is meant to help, but it's early days yet. I've always had a low libido but it's pretty much non existent currently, maybe due to the overweightness and mood?

best of luck to you, @Flamminsausage - I'm sure you'll find the magic cocktail of hrt! certainly hear you with all the different bits in your drawer. I'm trying to wean off low dose antidep as I know this is a hormonal issue- don't want to get stuck on those.
Hi @longtompot , sorry that your mood not great. I wonder if the inevitable drop off in testosterone could be the cause of your lowered libido; certainly I wonder if that was the case for me. I have had the odd, unsuccessful attempt at taking testosterone- guess it's just such a delicate balance- though many women find it very useful and it's pretty early days for you, so I hope you find what you need.
Was the tablet you stopped the utrogestan? daft of docs not to tell you that you didn't need it! the only thing I will say is that I've read that some women might have a bit of a withdrawal from the progesterone, which eventually sorts itself out, I think. Just maybe that's something else to consider. Just my twopenneth :)

I’m 3 years post BSO. Having a nightmare with HRT. I don’t absorb oestrogen transdermally, so I’ve been having pellets (oestradiol and testosterone) every six months. Still can’t get my E above 300. They can’t higher my dose because I’m haemorrhaging after every pellet insertion. I need a hysterectomy but told there’s a two year wait, so this week I’ve signed up to have it done privately.

Once I’ve had this surgery they can up the dose of my pellet and hopefully get my symptoms under control (of which joint pain, migraines and insomnia are the worst and truly destroying my life).

I’m really angry that I was promised that the oophorectomy would be the cure to my problems. They took my ovaries and just left me with no further treatment. I had to pay for HRT privately for the first two years (including consultations and blood tests). I’ve also had to pay for an MRI scan to check they could do the hysterectomy, and now for the surgery itself. I’ll probably end up spending close to £15,000 on treatments that should have been provided by the NHS.

Another lucky one here.
Total abdominal hysterectomy, oopherectomy 9 years ago.
6 month hot flushes
Nothing since. No HRT
Sometimes wonder if it was mind over matter for me as I had flooding for 14 years, fibroid and polyps and the relief after the op never to gave to go through all that ever again has been immense. It really ruled my life with difficulty leaving the house on certain days and period every 18 days lasting 8 days. It was exhausting. Never looked back and so grateful its done!

I had hysterectomy and bso for adenomyosis and endometriosis at 36. Was on tibolone for 6 months prior and on prostrap injections for 8 months before having it done. Still on the tibolone. Am now 43. Symptoms were horrific before having the tibolone. Settled now though

I had a hysterectomy and oophorectomy in Feb this year at the age of 48. I was in peri and on gel, but post surgery and obviously going into full surgical menopause, I've moved to patches (BUPA did a blood test which showed I wasn't absorbing very well) and about to try a different patch. Depressingly it's taken a bit of dialogue with the NHS GP to get them to do this - with a letter from my haematologist (about a previous DVT) and a BUPA GP. I'm just glad I am pretty well educated - for a lay person - about the options.

I also use a pessary twice a week, and I have some oestrogen cream (for vaginal use) for top ups if I feel I need them.

I have to say since the surgery I did go downhill a bit which I think is because of not absorbing the oestrogen too well from the gel, but feeling a bit better again with the patches.

I'm struggling a lot with libido though, and a bit of fat gain. But I don't know if that's because I've been eating less well, and going to the gym less often (work getting in the way!).

Hello everyone. I hope you don't mind if I resurrect this thread? I'm coming up to 2 years since my oophorectomy. First few months were difficult but then felt like I'd cracked it! I was exercising and looking after myself. Unfortunately 2024 hasn't been great so far. Had some bleeding which is being investigated. Wish I'd never had my ovaries out.

Heya - what was the reason you had them out?

I'm also struggling a bit - pelvic pains where they used to be (hoping it dies down otherwise it's another MRI to see what's going on), even the skin hurts. And the hysterectomy scar is so sore still.

You can have a hug if I can have one back!

I had a full hysterectomy 30 years ago and was on HRT for the first ten years. I felt completely normal. Unfortunately I got caught in the flawed results of some now discredited research which found that women should not take HRT for more than 10 years. Without medication I went into full blown menopause with hot flushes and night sweats. If you are allowed HRT you should be fine.

I had them out because of a large cyst. They aaid probably not cancer but couldn't be 100 per cent sure until it was out. They took my ovaries at same time to be on the safe side. I was 49 at the time.
Yes hugs all round 😁

48 for mine. On 100mcg HRT and a pessary, but was already on that before the surgery and symptoms have gone downhill for sure. Just feeling a bit sorry for myself at the moment!