4 years after a total hysterectomy and hot flushes

[loubieloo4]

Hi All,

I had a total hysterectomy 14 years ago when I was 31, at the time i had no trouble with menopause symptoms and have never taken HRT. For the last few years I have been really struggling with what I assume are hot flushes, it seems to happen from my chest up, I get very red in my face and neck along with sweating.
I didn’t really get any post op support and was just kind of left to get on with it. I honestly thought that after a few years, once you had been through it then everything would be fine. At first I thought they were due to me being very overweight but I have lost 10 stone in weight now and they are really getting me down. Could they still be menopause related after all this time? I’m not sure I want to go on HRT after all this time and have read that gabapentin could help. Im going to ring the GP in the morning. Any other ideas? I have a fan where I sleep and wear light airy clothes but its warm where I work and can’t use a fan.

Look at the effects of lack of hormones on your bones and cardiovascular system before you dismiss HRT.

To be honest your drs have been negligent and I feel very angry for you @loubieloo4 I can't believe that at 31 you had your ovaries removed and no dr suggested HRT for bone and heart protection.

Removal of ovaries at 31 put you into premature menopause which has a huge risk on your bone density and heart health in the longer term.

Even 14 years ago this was well known (I started HRT in my 50s more than 14 years ago so it's not as if it wasn't mainstream knowledge even then.)

You need to insist on having a bone density scan as it's possible you already have osteoporosis. Not wanting to scare you but this is potentially serious.

If your GP won't help insist on a referral to specialists and you also need hrt now.

HRT seems more like what you want than gabapentin for a hormonal deficiency!

Did you have a TAH ie total abdominal hysterectomy or TAH and both ovaries removed (BSO- bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy). If the latter then indeed negligent not to have had HRT at the time but your menopausal symptoms seem to have developed in the last few years implying your ovaries were not removed at the time of surgery. (A total hysterectomy means the whole uterus and cervix to differentiate from a sub total hysterectomy where the cervix remains.)

Whatever the case you need HRT now and a bone density assessment.

I took 'total' to mean ovaries.

If you were very overweight OP- you said you have lost 10 stones- that can mask meno symptoms because fat produces estrogen. So your weight loss seems to coincide with symptoms getting worse.

Total doesn't include ovaries. Total abdominal hysterectomy is simply involves the uterus, so it's more than possible you still have your ovaries and now you are entry a normal menopause. HRT is therefore a good option to look at

Total means uterus and cervix, not ovaries.

total including my ovaries, they even double checked through my notes at my six week check up because I wasn’t having any symptoms of menopause then.
I spoke on the phone with a gp today who has agreed to give me something to help with the flushes, she didn’t seem bothered or suggest a bone scan.

There’s a theory that even when the ovaries are left, they don’t produce as much oestrogen after a hysterectomy.

'doesn't seem bothered' is a bit concerning.

Guidance on early loss of estrogen is crystal clear.

Does your GP know you had surgical menopause at 31 and no offer of HRT?

If this wasn't surgical, and 'natural' it's called Premature Ovarian Insufficiency. The risks are the same. HRT is the treatment.

Several posters have mentioned this and if your GP isn't concerned that in itself is very worrying.

Do research it yourself , read about the risks of POI, and maybe see your GP in person to discuss.

It's not clear from your post if she appreciates your medical history.

You've had a surgical menopause, OP. I have also had the same. You absolutely MUST get your bone density checked, as well as having a face to face consultation with your GP about having lived with no estrogen from a young age and the consequences of this - i.e. cardiovascular disease, increased risk of dementia and colon cancer - to name a few. If your GP doesn't seem bothered then they are being negligent. Please go and find another practice.