I wrote a whole long thing about hysterectomy and recovery tips and, now I’m back on here, I realise it’s the actual menopause bit you are concerned about-not the actual op!
Anyhow, still positive ime. That may be because I was definitely peri before my op, I just hadn’t realised it until life improved when I started HRT. For some reason I wasn’t allowed to start HRT until 4 weeks post op, no idea why, and no one else I’ve come across has ever had this experience. That said, the 4 weeks without were perfectly fine, although I had my first hot flush the evening I had my op!
The only thing that bothers me is that I’ve aged almost overnight. I always looked far younger than my age, I didn’t realise how ovary removal would affect my skin and its aging. It doesn’t help that I’ve also lost a few stone too so look more wrinkly, but apart from that, menopause is fine. I probably should have started tretinoin earlier, I’m very late to the party and have only just started using it.
As for menopause, I’m permanently knackered, never get a decent nights sleep, and I feel old and creaky, but that’s how I’d feel at the age I am now anyway. (early 50’s, hysterectomy was 7 years ago).
I take magnesium, don’t drink any alcohol at all because it just left me feeling wretched.(it has this effect on women in meno as changes in brain chemistry, declining oestrogen and slower metabolism means alcohol severely affects you and makes everything feel awful.)
I do mobility exercises and yoga 3 x a week, I walk most days, eat loads of chocolate but I also eat lots of healthy fats, I am vegetarian so lots of lentils, nuts, veg seeds etc, and little process food. I actively track my calories as I started dieting and losing weight several months before my op, I just kept on going post op and use My Fitness Pal to stay in range. You do need a lot less calories in menopause, so it’s easy to gain weight if you aren’t very careful!
What are your biggest concerns, and what are the terrifying issues other women are writing about?
I have to say, pre HRT and peri I was awful. I really was batshit crazy. Mood swings to rival a stroppy teenager, crushing anxiety and panic attacks, awful rage, thinning hair and the start of middle age spread with a rapidly thickening waistline, insomnia, constipation (common in menopause btw!) and a whole host of aches and pains. HRT made me more like my old self, moods stabilised, weight no longer just sticking to my waist -HRT doesn’t stop you gaining weight, but it does stop it just sticking to your midriff if you do gain it. I get the odd night sweat and hot flush but I’m pretty stable.
I started on Evorel 50 patches but then moved up to Evorel 100. The only time I’ve ever had a real issue was when there was a supply issue and they gave me a different brand. Anxiety hit me again like a truck, it was awful, the dr agreed to write branded rather than generic patches on my prescription to ensure I get the ones that I feel happier on.
Adding topical oestrogen Ovesse has been life changing. I didn’t realise I had any issues, didn’t feel I suffered any dryness or anything, but it has improved how everything feels and has the bonus of improving orgasms too. I’m annoyed I had to learn about its existence on TikTok, of all places, and wish I’d started using it sooner. You can’t use it until age 50, but I’d have been buying on my 50th birthday if I’d know about it-just something to file away until you’re old enough 😂
Anyway, I have two friends who also went through surgical menopause. One was a couple of years younger than me, one a similar age, both with no problems menopause wise (one does have bladder issues but that is due to the Endometriosis and where it was all sitting before removal). In fact, the only friends we know who are having problems are those suffering the hell of peri who haven’t started HRT yet!
Happy for you to ask any questions. I’m sure I will pop on MN over the weekend at some point, I will happily answer whatever I can.