hysterctomy, hrt and panic disorder

[ccamrine]

I am having a total hysterectomy in two weeks.  I have fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian cycsts and pmdd.  I am very concerned about HRT.  Will my panic disorder get worse after my hysterectomy?  I am overcome with worry.  Please help.

[jprod]

Hi.  I had a total hysterectomy, and removal of ovaries, in 1/06.  I have a history strikingly similar to what you describe.  No HRT was started to allow the remaining endometrios to shrink down.  In 5/06, I started having many health issues.  Just about every part of my body was affected.  Turns out, a lot of it was due to anxiety and panic, and some depression.  Unfortunately, that wasn't figured out until 9/06.  I started HRT in 9/06, and within a week, things really calmed down.  My dr. said that lack of estrogen was causing many problems, including anxiety.  Once the HRT started to get my estrogen back up, my anxiety improved.  For me, HRT helped to improve the anxiety.  Do some research on signs/symptoms of menopause.  You would be surprised -- anxiety and depression are on the list.  I know some people are concerned with the risks of HRT, but for me, it's HRT so I can function on an every day basis.  Without it, I'd be a basket case.

[mary m]

I'm 52. I agree. Some people need the HRT. Is it better to not sleep and be blow drying your hair at 4 in the morning? I started having night sweats this year. Tried Seasonique (birth control) but it pooped out Blood test in April showd still low estrogen. I had to go on HRT. The gyne has me on the Vivelle patch, and I have to take progesterone 10 mgs. the first 10 days of the month.  My anxiety has definitely taken a nose dive this year with all this going into menopause stuff. I can tell you that since I'm wearing the patch, I have no more night sweats and I can sleep. Thank God. When I take the progesterone, funny thing is, after I'm on it during those 10 days, the night sweats and wakingup at 4 AM come back, so now I know to wear more patch. I have been able to survive with 1/4 of the .1 patch, but when I'm on the progesterone, I go up to 3/4 of a patch and the night sweats stop. I'm convinced that hormones are related to this anxietystuff. But the docs don't want to listen. The progesterone brings on my period. I've got anxiety so bad, that the HRT really isn't helping it calm down at all. Mary