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Shared Experiences
Surgical menopause
Conversation started by nancy
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I am in surgical menopause and on HRT and am now doing well. I am sharing because I hope this prevents for someone else what I went through last year.
I had several things wrong and was told that it was bowel trouble. After having a ruptured ovarian cyst, terrible periods, and painful nightime attacks,I had a Laperoscopy/cervical ablasion done. It was not discovered until I had agreed to a hysterectomy that my ovaries and tubes were extremely enlarged and twisted, I had a fibroid, adenomyosis and all this was under extensive adhesions which attached my uterus to my bowel, caused by severe endometriosis. Therefore leading the doctor to believe that I had bowel trouble, which I certainly did at that point. Unfortunately, he couldn't save any ovarian tissue, so everything (incld the cervix)came out. After a really good recovery I am on HRT and managing. Things are different but life with no pain is so much better. Hope this may help someone else. -
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Thank you. I too similarly had a total hysterectomy, heaps of adhesions, etc too and also had ovaries & cervix removed too - just 4 months ago. I have started HRT ( Kliogest) 3 weeks ago - and yes it has helped stop sweats and hot flushes - but I feel very tired constantly. I am sleeping better, but need to go to bed early like 8pm and then need another sleep every afternoon as well… phew. Not sure if this IS any better than before HRT? Or do I need to be patient for this to settle? Does this pass, the extreme tiredness or not ?
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Hi Jean50
The tiredness does seem to last for a long time obviously different for everyone but I found that I was still hitting that “wall” of tired at 6mths or so. What helped me is definately to keep moving but when you do get tired, take a rest, you feel that way cause you need it. The HRT….it has helped me with alot of other symptoms, but I think the tiredness is just from the surgery and until you recover fully it'll continue. It gets better and I don't know if you were in alot of pain before but it's absolutely better on the other side….even with some of the different things that happen along the way :)
Keep smiling….so glad to hear from you.Report this post
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This is very very helpful..Thank you so much.I am just about ready to quit on HRT but know it has improved my night sleeping and the sweats are gone and flushes too.
The tiredness just makes me feel ‘old’ before my time, and I think you are right - its all connected to not just hysterectomy but 4 surgeries I've had in the last year.( Hip replaced, necrotic wound on shin, skin graft, and now hysterectomy) I do find when I put my feet up in afternoon and just accept it / rest - it actually does help. Im not working at present, so I can at the moment. To know that it gets better is what I need to know !! And yes, I don't miss the painful crampy horrible periods and all the pain relief I am free of now. So Thank you for this encouragement. Jean.Report this post
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oh my…you have had a rough time, no wonder you're tired!!
my doctor had said that the worst thing you can do is not move at all
after this surgery but to still be in tune with what your body is telling you
and that's exactly what I found has worked for me. The HRT is a difficult
decision, I had a really hard time with that one, I refused it at first but
it wasn't so much the sweats and flashes for me it was headaches
pretty bad memory loss to the point where I couldn't walk from one room
to another without forgetting why I had gone there, very frustrating and since
my dose was increased and I went on ginko biloba that has helped alot.
really though after so many surgeries you are going to be doing alot of recovering
inside and out! I totally understand, I had some other health issues as well
and that alone is just exhausting.
Glad I can help a bit, it's nice to find people who can relate. :)Report this post
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Yes, I was very anti HRT, this is a trial. I had used bioidentical progesterone cream for about 5 years. I am trying this out, to see where it goes !! I understand the forgetfulness thing too - i've always had an excellent memory and it feels foggier now. And yes I exercise regularly - (walk large dog 45mins - 1 hour daily, and swim 2 + km a few times a week) as energy allows ( I was a super sporty girl in past / a competitive swimmer , etc) I've raised 4 adult kids too, and now have a grandson. Im an English teacher without work, over this year, so learning to take life slower & /rest as need. and look after myself better /including healthier diet :)
Thank you, Jean
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It seems that things hit all at once don't you think, because I had always had some trouble with periods but that was “normal” for me and then last year I injured my back and that took me out for about 3 months (that was in Jan) and in Mar, I had a kidney stone, then in May and ovarian cyst ruptured and from there it just got worse not better with the gynecological issues. And even though I don't like that I am on HRT I do find that I feel so much better and now I am able to look after my lingering back issues. It just seems to hit like that sometimes I guess.
I have a 21yr old but also two younger children that keep me moving so that's good, they are 7 and 10.
I have had more energy in the last two months than I've had in a long while. I argued the surgery as well until I realized that it was just making me so sick that it needed to come out, if only I had known sooner. But life is good now :)
Your energy will return, do you take any vitamin supplements at all?Report this post
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Oh wow, you will be very busy with the younger kids.Lovely ages :) Yes, life keeps happening alright ! I think health issues are all connected, as when we get physically and emotionally run down it makes us susceptible. I too didn't want the hysterectomy and cancelled it twice but was recontacted by public hospital and decided that painful periods were taking too much out of my quality of life.
I take calcium and magnesium, fish oil and a multivitamin. I've also got onto Clinicians DIM womens support / for balancing hormones / oestrogens in body. Plus I'm on 20mg fluoxetine / Prozac almost 2 years now - which has really helped me with anxiety PMT/ depression well before hysterectomy. I havealso weight gained some 15 kg in last year since hip replacement (from 75/8kg to 90) which is awful - I was a size 12-14, now I'm 16-18, which I loathe.Report this post
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Dr Shahnaz Aali
Gynaecologist / Gynaecologist - Infertility (IVF) Specialist / Obstetrician5 Answers
