Surgical Menopause

[fabmom4]

I am not sure if someone has asked this before, but I wanted to know if I have one ovary removed, will that force me into surgical menopause?  I am very nervous about the big "M" word, especially since I am only in my 30's.  I think I wouldn't mind the idea of removing the left ovary, as long as keeping the right one will keep me from menopause.  My mom had a hysterectomy in her 40's, but still has both ovaries.  Even with ovaries, she suffered bad mood swings and night sweats.  Is that hereditary?

[ronie]

My mom had uterus and one ovary removed, when she was 34 and she began to have hot flashes and nightsweats. She is 55 now and she still has them, but they are not as bad as they were when she first had them removed. I don't know it that helps. I have to ask her a lot of questions, b/c I have already had my uterus removed, and it's starting to look as though I may have to have my ovaries removed as well.

[Gatsby]

I only have 10% of my left ovary and my dr. is sure I am in meno.  However, your one full ovary will be fine and will give your body the hormones that it needs to function.  You may have a few symptoms, but like I said, the remaining ovary will take over and you should be fine.  My prayers are with you.
~Tascha

[dian07]

Ladies,  I am 55, and had a total abdominal hysterectomy (uterus, ovaries,everything) last April. At that time , and for several years before, I was in perimenopause. That was absolutely no fun at all.
Compared to that, this is heaven for me. I cannot say what it is like for others, but, just thought you might like to hear the flip side to some of the horror stories you have heard.
That is not to say I never go from hot to cold at night, but it is not the horrible hot flashes I experienced in perimenopause.....and they are not an everyday occurance.
Just hang in there, Ladies. With the right information, you will find your path. Hang in there, and try to be patient. Stay oopen to all possibilities.
Peace.
dian

[Bananie22]

Ok...I had one ovary removed in 1981 and have had zero symptoms of menopause.  Never missed one period...not a hot flash...nuthin.  There was no difference for me.  (except for a nasty scar down my stomach at 16 years old!)

[fabmom4]

Can you clarify something for me.  If I have surgical menopause, does that mean I skip perimenopause and all of those symptoms?  I'm sorry if it sounds like a silly question, but I am new to this :)

[Gatsby]

Good question!!!
~Tascha

[dian07]

Perimenopause is the lead up to menopause. Quite frequently, the symptoms experienced in perimenopause are more extreme than menopause.  Since perimenopause is the pre-cursor of menopause, I don't see how one could experience perimenopause without your ovaries. I could be wrong, but....
Once menopause is fully realized, your body produces no estrogen; ovaries or not. My experience with menopause has been positive because, while in perimenopause, my estrogen levels were all over the chart.....that made me both physically, and mentally "crazy"...now, with no estrogen, I live on a smoother plain.
My sex drive isn't that great, but it is better than during perimenopause.  I am, quiite simply, happier now.
I know it is different for each one of us: I did experience surgical menopause;  but, my experience has been "liberation". I guess we don't know what we will experience until we go there.
I know.....I am lucky.
Peace.
dian

[Lev]

The author of Silent Pasage was Gail Sheehy :)

[Gatsby]

Thanks, I am headed to Borders tomorrow!!
~Tascha

[DebiR]

My doc has described peri menopause as your ovaries "sputtering".  That is actually the period when women have much of the hormonal swings because of the wild flunctuations of hormonal levels.  Many women have said that once your body mades the adjustment to no hormones it is much better than the whole sputtering thing.
I am apparently going to find out~

[fabmom4]

Great Info.  Okay, one more question.  If one ovary and uterus come out at same time, will my other ovary still function "normally"?

[Gatsby]

Well, I guess am sputtering to a stall!!  I did not have the 20-30 hotflashes per day, and the night sweats prior to surgery. I carry my antipersperant with me at all times!! I did have the mood swings more though and that seems to have leveled off.  Have any of you had headaches??
You ladies are so much more informative than the dr.  I thank you all!!
~Tascha

[dian07]

Debi, I hope you do not end up sharing the nightmare PamNYC is experiencing; I hope yours will be a smooth as mine.
Pam, I am sorry to hear you are having such a terrible time with this. Hopefully your transition will be a short one.
As I said previously, I do believe each of us is an individual, and many factors influence how our bodies respond to any given situation.
I was extremely lucky with this one...yeah!!!!!  I do wish everyone transitioned with little difficulty.
I read a very funny book years ago...I can't remember the author...but the name of the book is "Silent Passage". I read it at the beginning of my experiences with perimenopause, and, I laughed ,and laughed, and laughed; all the while learning about menopause. It is an old book, but, would be worth reading. Sometime a change in paradigm helps; laughter always does.
Commimg out on the otherside of menopause was a powerful experience......I have never felt stronger.  I don't want to do it again, but then, I don't want to be 30 again either!
Peace to all.     dian

[DebiR]

Thanks Dian - I am a marathon runner and very active woman.  After losing my thyroid to thyroid cancer I had a very tough adjustment to the change in hormone.  And the radiation threw my ovaries into a total funk.  Sometimes they worked, sometimes they didn't.  My Gyn says the ovary thing should be alot easier than thyroid.  I just have this fear that my life as an active athletic woman is over and I am doomed to shrivel up and get old.  I know it is terrible to say that and I am only able to write it because I sit here with my second glass of wine and a safe place but honestly that is what I fear.  Will I lose my zest for life when I lose my estrogen?

[dian07]

Hello Debi; I sit here with my second BV and H2O reading your post.
You will NOT lose your zest for life, running or anything else when you quit producing estrogen. Your sex life doesn't have to die either.
I don't know how "old" you are, but I can't imagine this would effect your athliticism.......you are not dead...what is the problem?  Different life stages....so...continue to compete with those better than you and you will continue to improve.
Never concede defeat, and you won't ever be defeated by anyone but yourself.
I am also an athlete; and, I don't like defeat....enough said.
Peace.
dian