I had a hysterectomy sixteen years ago but insisted on keeping an ovary, which has been a blessing (no HRT). After my surgery, I noticed somewhat regular breast tenderness and moodiness, and assumed these symptoms indicated my hormone cycles. But now that I've hit 50, I can't seem to track or predict anything. Hot flashes, anxiety and tremors began 15 months ago and worsened to a peak this spring. The last time I recall breast tenderness was October, and so I was assuming I'd stopped cycling. But anxiety was so terrible in April and again last week. I also felt extra bloated and moody. I am very confused. How can I know if I've started cycling again? Is there any way to test/track my hormones since I don't have periods to indicate what's happening? Is there anyone else who's in a similar situation?

Thanks for reading.

JC

JC, I had a hysterectomy keeping one ovary, 3 years ago, will be 4 in January. I am 32 years old, but am going thru similar things. You can still check your hormone levels, you still have that one ovary that is supposed to be working. One thing I didn't no until coming to this site, is that we still cycled because of the one ovary.

I had my hormone levels tested about a month after my hysterectomy and my estrogen level was 130 something - 3 years later my estrogen level is <50. I have been struggling since about a year after my surgery with not feeling well, and realize 'NO WONDER' I felt better before the hysterectomy. My estrogen level was probably where it should have been!UGH.

I am no help about reading your body. I never paid attention because I didn't realize we still cycled. And now, I just don't no? I went thru a rough period in the winter with extreme anxiety. And, after getting my hormones tested I wonder if it was due to low hormones?I'm confused as well, about the whole thing!

Good Luck, I hope someone else has more to offer than me
Amber

My hysterectomy was nine years ago and I insisted on preserving one ovary against the wishes of my GYN, and am I ever glad I did. About three years ago, I started I could tell my remaining ovary wasn't producing hormones. It was confirmed by my serum estrogen level and high FSH level
I have been using HRT ever since. The positive about having the hysterectomy for me is that when replacing hormones I don't need progesterone unless I want to add it. For some, it is the tricky part of the puzzle.

Thanks for your replies. I tried estrogen (premarin .30) for about a year, but on the advice of my neurologist, I discontinued it because an MRI showed some mini-strokes. (I don't really think the estrogen caused this; it was probably high LDL and/or MVP flip-flops.) Now I'm really struggling. I wish someone could just tell me it's going to be torture for "X" amount of time, and maybe I could just brace myself to the stretch; but I worry that the rest of my life is going to be like this.

Estrogen seemed to help for a while, but my anxiety and heart palpitations got worse. Did this happen to anyone else? Also, when I did cycle while on estrogen, my breasts got super tender, and PMS was verrry evident. What type of HRT are you using (estrogen only)? My sister has been fighting estrogen-dependent breast cancer, so I would really like to get through this without it, but I don't know if I can at this point. I woke up teary-eyed and shaky today, and it's only gotten worse.

Thank you, sisters!

JC

I kept both ovaries and use Progesterone without a uterus with very few problems. If you don't need estrogen (your ovary is still producing it) then why would they prescribe you more? It is difficult to tell what stage of the cycle you are in when you don't have a uterus. I can kind of tell by how I feel. I get some lower back pain, and up until a month or two ago I was having mild heart palpitations, I just increased my P during this time and it has seemed to work. My doctors do not have me cycle P simply because I don't have a uterus that needs to shed. So I think this is starting to give me a somewhat even level of P through out the month so I am not noticing the cylical changes as much. Just a note that those of us who have kept an ovary or two also have a 50% chance of entering early menopause. So don't be shocked if your levels drop a lot over a short period of time, it could well be ovarian failure (menopause).