Hi everyone, I've just come across this site, which looks like a godsend. I'd really appreciate some advice from you all.

I'm three months post op (bilateral oophorectomy for prevention of cancer - I have the faulty BRCA1 gene) and am experiencing quite a lot of physical symptoms. I am taking HRT - Livial (Tibolone) 2.5 mgs. I've no idea whether my physical symptoms are hormone reduction / withdrawal, HRT side effects or nothing to do with either.

Since the surgery and getting progressively worse it seems , I feel completely drained. I'm tired all the time and alternate between sleeping extremely heavily and then not being able to sleep. When I do sleep, I can sleep for over 12 hours and still feel absolutely shattered, and so am taking daily naps. My body can't seem to regulate its temperature. I don't think I get hot flushes (as other people have described them, ie. the bed being drenched) but my whole body gradually becomes hotter (mainly around my back, chest and neck) and I feel like I'm glowing.

Other symptoms are nausea, dizziness, inability to cope with stress, irritable.

However, probably the most annoying at the moment is that over the last 3 weeks, my eyes have become extremely dry and seem to have a pulse of their own. The right one constantly twitches every few seconds and I can feel my left eye is starting to go this way too.

I think I'm going mad!! Is this down to the surgery or the HRT? Has anyone else experienced this? All advice much appreciated!



ps - on the plus side, my sex drive is through the roof! Must be the testosterone....

Hi H,
Welcome to Power Surge. I am not an HRT expert so I can't comment on Tibolone. You do sound as though you have rapidly descended into oestogen withdrawal since your operation. All the symptoms especially the dry eyes suggest a body that is missing its oestrogen fix very much. I have heard women complain of nasty side effects with Tibolone, including migraines and weight gain, but you just seem to be suffering the effects of ovary removal. Perhaps you need to give it a little longer to settle down or perhaps the drug is not working for you.
The symptoms you describe are identical to those I experienced at menopause which is in effect ovarian failure due to age. At first the body tends to react ferociously, well mine did anyway and over time, as the body starts to adjust, things improve. You may need to discuss all this with your doctor if you feel that Tibolone doesn't seem to be doing the trick!
One thing is for sure, trying to balance hormones is mega difficult and you may need some trial and error before things get sorted.

XIII

Wow!! What your describing could be me! I had a total hysterectomy in Nov '08. Since that time I have had my hormones checked several times via saliva testing and took Pregnenolone (still on 25mg daily), DHEA (off now as E went too high), and Progon B (also off as P went too high). Even though my hormone levels show as 'normal' for a post meno woman on HRT I feel 'neutered'! My hair is thinning fast, sweats at night, tired and draggy, nausea off and on and no stamina. My libido is weak at best and I have a tough time climaxing at times. My leg and armpit hair is just about gone, no body odor, much like a child. I'm 56 but feel older than my 83 year old mom!!

I think you and I are both in need of more hormones!! Tho Dr says testing indicates I'm good.

Karen/Michigan