low levels of hormones

I had a hysterectomy 6 months ago. I had severe pre cancer in the uterine. They did a complete hysterectomy. After surgery they had to do surgery again because the doctor didnt finish closing everything and I started bleeding.  I had to have 2 blood transfusions.  A couple of days later I was in ICU with a blood clot in my lung. I had to take coumadin for a couple of months.  I have since recovered.  Before my hysterectomy i was taking bio-identical hormones.  Since my hysterectomy I have not taken any hormones.(Except for a patch the doctor put on after surgery that I took off after a couple of weeks)>  I recently went in to get my hormones checked.  My testosterone was 1, my estrodial was around 33 and my fsh was 2.2.  The doctor seems concerned that my levels are so low and my estrodial is higher.  He thinks something might be blocking the pituitary. I am scheduled for an MRI of my head.  Now I am very concerned I might have a tumor.  Is there anything else that might be causing this that isnt so serious. I also remember they did a ct scan of my head when I was diagnosed with my blood clot.  Wouldnt that have shown anything abnormal with my head? Iam in panic mode. Please    help me to understand this!!

laglow

[Machelle Seibel, MD]

The most likely answer is that a piece of one ovary is still inside you and that is making small amounts of estrogen, enough to keep your FSH level normal. It would be most unusual for a person's pituitary to "blocked", especially if you recently had an MRI. It seems you had a very challenging course after your surgery. It is most likely that you will find a small piece of ovary as the cause here.
Machelle M. Seibel, MD

[laglow]

[laglow]

I forgot to say I am 48 Yrs old. and my prolactin numbers were normal-low

[laglow]

How does a piece of ovary get left in?  How do they take care of that? Does it involve another surgery?  Since they found pre cancer during the surgery, is it possible that is still there? Thank you for your help.

laglow

[Twilight_Princess]

Hi laglow - sorry this is a late response. I have heard of pieces of ovary left in after surgery. Let's just say it is something the doctor missed. It happens all of the time.

I see you mentioned you had blood clots after surgery. I ended up with one in my left leg a few days after gall bladder surgery last year. I was put on warfarin for a couple of months. I may be going in for surgery again, this time for a hysterectomy though. I am a little bit worried about the surgery though because of my history of a blood clot. I am wondering what they will do for me to prevent another blood clot.

Have you had the MRI yet?

Hope to hear from you soon