I know that my experience has been that I feel much better, way better, on a combination of the 3 hormones my ovaries used to make than I did on estrogen alone. While I did the typical routine of feeling off the first few weeks after starting the progesterone, once I adapted to it, I felt as though I'd given my body what it was looking for. Ditto when I started the testosterone (which does a lot more for me than just libido, although that's nice too). I don't think this is the forum for a big discussion of hormones, but  I do think that part of recovering from a hyst is providing ALL of what you've lost to the surgery. If your own body makes enough (as some women do progesterone and testosterone), then fine. If not--and you sound a lot like the "not," then it's surely worth looking into further.

The thing I would caution you about is that Lee's book is written for natural meno, not really surgical. Some of his suggestions, such as going it on progesterone alone, tend not to work out for women in surgical meno.

More about hrt for women in surgical meno is at a website referenced in my profile.

I'm so glad to hear you say that about Dr. Lee's book!  I thought it was just me.  (I too, am a surgical menopauser.  I have nothing left in there.)  I kept trying to find answers to my questions, but they just weren't there. I think you're right - the book is mainly for those who "float" into menopause, rather than going into it surgically.  I tried the progesterone cream, but it did absolutey nothing for me.  My doc also told me I was waisting my time using it, because I didn't have a uterus..??  It's a good book, and very informative - it just didn't have some of the answers I was looking for.  

But in surgical meno, progesterone doesn't seem to be the whole story for most women. I won't say all, because there are a few who make enough (belly fat) and take in enough (xenoestrogens) to more or less meet their needs. But I don't think that's most of us.

I do a lot of reading on surgical meno and what women are using and how they feel (I have learned and continue to learn a lot from my fellow travelers along that particular path)...and generally speaking, that's a little different from what women in natural meno are needing. Even postmenopausal ovaries provide a buffer that we lack. There just isn't a book written about us specifically. That's why the online forums remain so valuable for us: we're each other's best resouces.

i feel like a kindergartener again, someone needs to teach me the ropes lol, feel free to email me, the whole issue of hysterectomies has me in a tail spin, i have no idea what im in for i suppose.  all information would be greatly appreciated.

thanks, musey

Framboise

If I were you, I would seek a second opinion on the hysterectomy.  There are other options these days for those kinds of problems, and without such drastic results.  You may be trading one set of problems for another at your relatively young age.  Check out all the information here at PS...there is alot here to read and learn...  good luck to you.  :)

(Edited by debrikkia at 11:14 pm on Mar. 25, 2002)

  I really appreciate your comments.  I did have a second opinion by a doc in the same office.  He felt just having the uterus out would help alot of my problems.  He specializes in lapo surgeries.  My doc specializes in vaginal hysterctomys and hormonal treatments. He only sees peri and menopause patients. He  keeps himself very educated with new treatments and natural but also is old schooled. I will have both of these doctors during my surgery so I hope we don't have a war going on about what to do or not to do!  HAHA  I have tried to express my concerns with other symptoms getting worse but they seemed more focused on the getting rid of pain and the bleeding issues.. I suppose they feel take care of the other symptoms after taking care of this one. Even if I don't have surgery I am faced with sorting out these symptoms anyway and thats what I have been doing for a long time.  This site has definitly helped with comments and suggestions. I just need to try and be positive and trust that my doctors are well educated and have had  success with many patients. But it is so hard for me I second guess all the time!  I would like to not have to deal with the bleeding and pain so having surgery is the only solution for that , its just what extent of surgery, does it have to be my ovaries, I guess they truly won't know untill they are in there.Please I welcome all your support and comments. Thanks so much.I am sure to keep talking alot the next couple of weeks just to get through this.

My OBGYN removed my perfectly healthy ovaries while doing a hysterectomy.  It is in my chart that he was only suppose to remove the ovaries if there was cancer or another life threatening condition.   I truly believe he did not read my chart beforehand.  I am unable to tolerate estrogen due to breast problems when on estrogen so now am at risk for heart disease and osteoporosis in addition to depression.

Has anyone else ever gone through something like this?

    Thanks for your response.  I have had a difficult time with this decision and have dedcided to put it off untill after the summer and schedule in September when the kids are back in school. I have not felt comfortable having surgery now because of spring and summer is such abusy time with my family, we have soccer tournaments, skateboard contest and wakeboard tournaments practically every weekend until end of August. I am going to try to build up my strength physically during the next few months and get some disc problems taken care of so I will feel the strength to be able to get up and heal after surgery. All the pressure of responsibilites just kept haunting me so I dedided if it can wait I can wait. I may start the bcp to see if this helps to shorten my periods and lighten the flow, I not sure, we'll see. As far as the ovary pain, I don't know of any thing to help it except surgery. I may try an edometrial ablation during this time and if it doesn't work then follow through with hysterectomy and the ovarian removal, hey if it works I will just lose an ovary. So many decisions, just need a time when I won't have pressures of  so much going on. I want to be there for all of these activities, they can never be replaced. Thanks for your letter and I will keep in touch through the message boards.

I wish I could say after 10 long years that I have answers for anyone with simular problems, but I don't. Up until a year ago I just took Premarin as my doctor prescribed, but I hate the thought of synthetic hormones. In my opinion what they do to those poor animals to get Premarin is terrible anyways. I havn't found any over the counter "Natural Estrogens" that seem to aliviate my symtoms. There is just so much info out there on HRT, how can you trust one over the other?

Is your insomnia pretty much under control?  How do you sleep these days and how long after medicating did it take you to show an improvement?

I hope this post finds you exceedingly well.

Marsha

I am not trying to say go off your choice of hormones or start taking what I take, but at least now there is hope that exploring other avenues sometimes is worth it. You should always talk to your doctor about any changes in you hormones.  I am not sure if it's the progesterone that is making the difference in sleeping or a combination of the two.  Unfortunately no one really tells you that estrogen is in just about every thing you breathe and eat. So I think it's a little to easy to get too much estrogen in our bodies. Doctor after doctor kept saying that I did not need progesterone since I was no longer in child bearing mode. But no one could tell me why if my body would produce it pre-hysterectomy, then why shouldn't I be replacing it after my hys. Most doctors hear "I am not sleeping' and want to pump you full of sleeping pills or anti -depressants.That only helps short term and you can't function the next day.

I don't know if your familiar with Dr. John Lee, but he has some excellent reading on the subject of women's hormones and the important roll that they play in our bodies. This is probably more info then you wanted.LOLBut I hope at least you know that there is someone out there who knows exactly what you are going through. The frustration you feel night after night when everyone else is sleeping like a baby and your still staring at the same four walls, It's horrible! I hope this answers you question. I truly hope that you will find some relief in whatever method of you choose. Please keep me up to date on whatever you decide? I always appreciate the feedback and maybe you know something that I don't . God bless..Eileen

First, I would like to apologize to Dearest and the board.  I put my sister-in-law's email address on the post as a helpful service, and I think it was construed as advertising.  I promise you, it was not.  I was so excited that something finally helped me with depression, I basically ran to the forum in hopes that others would benefit as I had. So, again, I do apologize and I hope my post below is acceptable    

I will give a bit of background first  

In 1987 I was 29 years old when my husband took his life.  I was in alot of pain and my body went into shock.  I became very depressed and would wake up crying day after day.  Finally, I went for some therapy and was also put on Prozac.  But what was strange is that when he died, my hormones changed dramatically.  A couple months along, I noticed my skin was much rougher.  The hair on my arms darkened and got thicker.  I got a few hairs growing from my chin.  A huge patch of hair from my forehead across the top of my scalp turned mostly white.  After a short while, the Prozac helped me so I experienced sadness instead of crippling pain and depression, but my body never went back to the way it was.

Then I had a total hysterectomy 3 months ago.  (I am still on Prozac and dealt with fleeting sadness but I have had no intense depression for years).  I have all the menopause symptoms and I am just starting to work with a compounding pharmacist (Pete Huessman).  Recently, I was hit with full-blown depression.  I remember the feeling well.  Also on top of this depression was dizziness, pressure in my head, hopelessness and brain confusion.  

I was told that this could be (at least partly), adrenal exhaustion from all the physical and mental stresses.  I took Vitamin B-5 (Pantothenic Acid) every 2 hours along with a B Complex every 3-4 hours and a multi vitamin daily.  Within 12 hours my depression was gone!!!!  This was like a miracle to me.  The dizziness was gone.  The brain fog was gone.  The head pressure gone.  I am still taking these vitamins and it has been 8 days now.  I will continue for a few weeks and taper down........hoping, also, that this will help with my other menopausal symptoms!  It was also mentioned to me that my adrenals could have been severely compromised during that painful time in my life in 1987, and that may have caused the hormonal symptoms of that time.

This little vitamin has changed my life so far.  I will continue on.  My heart goes out to everyone here and I hope that this information can be helpful.  Please know that this is not medical advice but what has helped me tremendously.  

Much Love,

Leslie

As seen on Good Morning America, ELIZABETH PLOURDE, C.L.S., M.A., is a licensed Clinical Laboratory Scientist, with a B.S. in Biological Science, an M.A. in Psychology, and currently completing her Ph.D., has spent the past decade working in cutting-edge medical research laboratories. Her research into the standard medical practices offered to women today, and the ability to convey a new level of understanding for women's health care in the 21st century, plus her own personal experience with a hysterectomy, led her to write, Your Guide to Hysterectomy, Ovary Removal, & Hormone Replacement: What All Women Need to Know. While dispelling many myths in her book, she discusses how sexual hormones influence the entire body and preserve every woman's life-long vibrant health; how your body has its own built-in anti-oxidants and anti-depressants; why today's standard medical practices of tubal ligations, hysterectomies, and ovary removal can set women up for future sexual dysfunction, heart disease, osteoporosis, depression, fibromyalgia, and bowel and bladder dysfunctions; insights into the perplexing decisions regarding HRT and enjoy smoother sailing in your relationships, as both women and their loved ones learn that there are answers for the imbalanced or insufficient hormones,  which can alter women's capacity to function in the world.

Read the transcript with Elizabeth Plourde.

Dearest