Surgery Thursday Dr. will remove ovaries - what will surgical menopause be like

[tonni]

I am having surgery Thursday morning for 3 cysts 11 cm each and a 4th cyst that is 7cm and solid...that I went to the emergency room 2 weeks ago thinking I had a hernia ... needless, to say I am in such a state of shock, so many things running through my mind...and it all comes to me mostly late at night... I am 45, had a hysterectomy about 5 years ago ...now, I am worried about the open surgery and scarring...Reading and trying to figure out what I have, my mind is overloaded with "what if its this or that"...

What is menopause and what does surgical menopause do to you?



I appreciate any information.

[Tina800]

Hi Tonni- I had a LAVH done on Aug 1(endomentrial cancer) and on day 3 after my surgery Menopause kicked in big time. I started sweating real bad around my neck,palms and feet. Along with what felt like I got an instant fever. Later that week I also starting experiecing emotional symptoms, Like weepy moments. So on day 8 I went back to my gyn/onc and told him about what was happening. He gave my effexor XR since I can't have hormones due to my cancer. Wow!!! I worked wonderful. The sweating stopped and so did the emotional rollercoaster. The only thing I have is a few sensations of warmth. The best way to discribe it is...Warm butterscotch topping being poured over your head and down your shoulders and chest. So hang in there!

[Tybear]

Hello! I do hope your surgery goes well, but I can appreciate your apprehension about surgical menopause. I went through it last year at 26yrs old because of Ovarian Cancer. I felt the effects from it within a few days - I was still in the hospital when I had my first "hot flash" - I remember calling the nurse because I woke up at midnight and I was soaked! I didn't know I was going to be having a hysterectomy, so when she said hot flash, it took me a second to figure out what she was talking about! I'm not sure if your planning on taking HRT, but I strongly suggest you have your hormone levels checked now so that after surgery the Dr's will have an idea of where to start with regards to dosages. I got put on the highest dose of Premarin simply because of my age - I now take half of that. I hope everything goes well - take care!

Becky

[Silla]

Hi Tina, it looks like we are in the same boat, Endometrial ...How did the surgery go,it looks like it is Vaginal Hystr, don't exactly know what LAVH means though. My surgery is next month but I think it going to be Abdominal, I prefer the VH though. How is the healing do u feel better now? Am just scared and don't know what to expect. But it is good to know about the HR changes and what to do about it.

[Tina800]

Hi Silla-

  LAVH is Laposcopic vaginal histo. They made 4 holes in my abdominal and one was for a camera to see the insides, and the other where for the instuments.I think they filled me up with some sort of gas? Everything came through the vagina so it doesn't distrube the cancer tumors. I had 2 cancer locations in my uterus and a different kind of cancer of the cervix. The treatment I doing now is 25 external radiation, and 3 internal radiation treatments.Stage 2B. Other than that all is well, recovery was a little rough, but I had amazing help all around me. Eat good and be well-tina

[dedeko]

Hi,



I had a hysterectomy in two parts. First 3 years ago they removed my uterous and cervix vaginally, then they removed my ovaries laproscopically (I think I spelled that wrong) 2 years ago. I was put on hormones but did have hot flashes and would be drenched in hot sweats then cold sweats it was horrible. I would have to get up in the middle of the night to change my pajamas. That only lasted a very short while. I was on the hormones for only a brief while because of my masses and they took me off them. I, believe it or not have been hormone free with no side-effects at all. I love it, no period, no nothing and best of all no hot flashes. I am actually happy I had my ovaries out. I have not gotten "old", not even a gray hair and I am 43. Other than me being riddled with masses and adhesions (not related to the hysterectomy)I feel pretty good.I don't even have mood swings. I have a great sex life and still feel attractive. Good luck, I am sure you will be even better.



Deidre

[chelan2]

Hi, I really think it's different for everyone.  I'm over weight and the dr told me when I refused to take estrogen that I wouldn't notice symptoms right away because estrogren stores itself in fat cells and so I would be "stocked up" for a while.  My TAH surgery was in 2003.  I really never notice much for hot flashes - just the occasional one, although I do find at night I'm flipping the pillow looking for a cool spot to lay my face down!  I seem to gain weight easier and it's noticeably harder to lose weight too.  

Good Luck with your surgery.



Debbie

[AnotherKatie]

Hi Chelan!  How are you doing?  Did it snow in your province on the weekend too??!!!



Just wondering, why did you elect to not take estrogen?  I'm on the patch... I do worry about the effects, but my doctors seem to feel it is OK for a few years.  I am 49, no meno symptoms before the total hyster and read a lot about estrogen being essential for bone, vaginal and brain health later in my life.. But ....???



I am experimenting with bio identical progesterone, but that's a long story!  To each his own eh!



Sure IS hard to shift that weight, I am finally trying to get serious and stop stuffing my face as my first reaction to every crisis!!!  

Hope you are staying well, (I still laugh about your MRI story)

Cheers, Katie

[orangefuzzball]

Hi Tonni, I had both ovaries removed on August 14th. I had hot flashes and night sweats at about 2-3 days post-op. They were annoying for the first 3 weeks but gradually got worse, one after the other for hours, I was up at 4am every morning and consequently very tired. Around that time I started having a fuggy head and bouts of extreme tiredness lasting a few minutes then I'd feel okay again. It was silly really at 3 weeks post-op I felt wonderful after the operation, but at 3 1/2 weeks was at my wits end with the menopause! With retrospect I was having symptoms before surgery, I just thought I was a bit young for the menopause (42) and was a hypochondriac!



Last Thursday I started on Estradot, lowest dose and GP will increase it if I need more. I'm not sure how long it takes to kick in but I do feel a lot better - less of the hot stuff and not as 'fuggy'! I'm also on micronon tablets (progestin) as I still have my uterus for the time being - whipping that out in Jan/Feb time. I'm looking into having bio-identical progesterone cream rather than the tablets I'm on now, but I'm still learning about it so it's the micronon in the mean time.



As regards the scaring, it was one of my irrational out of proportion worries pre-op. I'm a sun-worshipper and thought I'd never be able to wear a bikini again! I've got a 2" above bellybutton to pelvis scar (had a lot done in there!)It looked horrendous when I had the clips and the really bad swelling for the first 2 weeks. Now the top 4 inches are barely visible (but I'm sure they put in someone elses bellybutton!) and I'll be wearing a bikini on Friday, but just protecting the visible bit of scar from the sun when basking. The rest of it's a neat red line about 0.5mm wide, I've still got quite a lot of swelling but it is going down gradually. Look on the bright side - I lost 28lb's and have gone down 2, nearly 3, dress-sizes!



I hope your surgery goes well



Lisa

[Gatsby]

Hey there. I lost my left ovary and 90% of my right one due to softball sized dermoids 12/21/05 and had a TVH 6/27/06.  Because my little bit of ovary is working, I do not need estrogen at the moment, but I am on bio-identical progesterone.  I feel wonderful!!!!  In fact, I have not felt this good in years.  It is true, you never really know just how bad you felt until you feel good again!  I have plenty of energy..since I get a good night's sleep and my love life is better than ever.  I do take melatonin at night and this really helps me to get the good night's sleep.  Don't forget you do need extra calcium