Monday's the day

Question

I have posted a couple of times and have been lurking for a few weeks now. The support and information is amazing. I am scheduled to have a 4.3 cm complex cyst removed on Monday. My gyn is going to try a laparoscopy but as I have had 3 c sections and a hysterectomy the chances are good that he will need to do a laparotomy. I guess the concerning part is my cyst has an irregular wall. I am hoping and praying that however they need to take it out that it just wont be cancerous. I think I am most scared about the instant menopause and that's why when I had my hysterectomy 4 years ago I asked him to leave in the ovaries. I am a single mother of 3 and am worried about the hormonal blast. Does anyone have any suggestions on what can be done to help the hormonal issues.

cirella · Answer

Hi, I have nothing against anti depressants, just want to make that clear.  I think that, if you even need them, that they should be used in conjunction with a low dose hormone patch.  Your emotions could be more from the hormonal adjustment not depression but you may feel depressed b/c of the hormonal situation. Post surgery, by itself, causes a lot of emotional feelings.  I guess if it were me, I'd wait on the anti depressants until I had a handle on what was going on with me.  But, everyone is different and you must do what you feel is right for you.

Also, it takes a little bit for your hormones to leave your body.  All this upheaval can cause a lot of different feelings.  Add that to your body recovering from major surgery. I was glad I got a patch to supplement and I'd say I was emotional for at least 3 weeks.  Not bad but each day was different.  By week 4 the clouds were clearing and I've only felt better from there.  

I know you are only 2 days from surgery.  Maybe when you speak to your Dr, pre-op, on Monday you could mention it.  

Good luck on Monday!

kb781 · Answer

Thank you for your responses. My gyn did say that he could use small dose of hormones but says they now prefer to use some type of low dose anti depressant that has shown to help with menopause symtpoms. A friend of mines husband is a pharmacist and he had mentioned the bio-identical hormones but I still have a lot of homework in that department. I appreciate your well wishes regading Monday.

painterchic · Answer

Hi, I'm in a pretty similar situation, had a partial hysterectomy 7 years ago and had the ovaries out 2 weeks ago. I was concerned about the hormones also, the info out there is confusing and everyone seems to have a different opinion or experience. Like Cirella, my doctor wanted me to have a patch right away or he said I would feel terrible. I had one major mood swing (to put it mildly, lol) before I got the patch and have been pretty good so far. Yesterday was another teary/moody day for no apparent reason, it could be that I am still adjusting, who knows, and it was the last day of the patch, maybe it was running out of gas??!? Who knows. But so far so good overall I would say. I still have more homework to do in the long term sense, and need to find out more about the bioidentical horomones too.  You should definitely discuss this with your doctor before your surgery to have a plan. Good luck on Monday, try not to worry if you can help it and enjoy your weekend. Let us know how you are doing,
Take care,
Joelle

TrudieC · Answer

Good luck on Monday.  Our fingers are crossed that you sail through this and all comes back fine.  I appreciate the discussion on the hormones since I will be going through a hysterectomy in the coming weeks too.  Please do come back and post and let us know how you are doing.

Trudie

fungirl1011 · Answer

Welcome to the forum. Good luck with your surgery on Monday.   I know how scary it is not knowing what to expect when you come out of surgery.  My doctor did not give me any HRT until I left the hospital (I had a laparotomy thought).  Unfortunately, I have a condition called Ovarian Remnant Syndrome (ORS for short) and I do not need any HRT because I still have functioning ovary.  Hopefully your doctor will give you all of the information that you need BEFORE your surgery.  The waiting and not knowing is the hardest part.  Just make sure that you get lots of rest and do not hesitate to call your doctor with any questions that you have.  Please let us know how you are doing when you feel up to posting.  I'll be praying for you.  

Hugs,
Kasie

cirella · Answer

Hi, first, I hope all goes well with your surgery and recovery.  I hope you have lots of help while you recover.  

I had a total hysterectomy 7 weeks ago and I was very worried about the hormone issue, too.  My doctor takes the 'start with small doses first' approach and goes from there.  I've been using the bio-identical estrogen patch, .25mg and it's been very good for me.  I have a few night sweats but nothing horrible.  I have to say that I feel really good.  In fact, I have felt more 'myself' this last week than I have in the past year and a half.  

Did you discuss your concerns with your doctor?  My doctor put the patch on me right after surgery.  It IS important and something you should talk about soon.  Everyone is different so there isn't one magic rx, unfortunately. 

Hopefully, Mary53 will come along and respond.  She has posted a lot of information about hormones.  

Good luck with everything and please come back to let people know how your surgery went.