To Hormone or not to hormone

[nicklukeryan]

Hi. I am a 38 year old mother of three and just a week and a half ago had a total abdominal hysterectomy. While in recovery I began to bleed and had to be taken back to the o/r for another surgery to stop the bleeding. Since I have been at home, my doctor has given me zero input on what type of hormones or natural supplements I should be looking into. I am now anemic and have had several issues with my incision; it didn't close and I'm worried about infection. I have had a low grade fever on and off for this whole time. My main question is, what do I need to take to be healthy? I have had hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and heart palpitations. There is a history of cancer in my family so I don't want to increase my risks there. Please, any info will be helpful. SHould I take a multivitamin for menopause along with a progesterine cream or something else? HELP!!!!

[ticked]

I would go to your regular doctor first of all to check out your incision.

I am not sure what HRT you should be on if Cancer runs in your family as the therapy they put you on has some estrogen i think.  

[MZLAUREL]

Well,
If you have had a fever after surgery, and your doctor is unconcerned, I would find a new MD FAST!!!!!
Post surgical patients, especially major surgery like a Hysterectomy, and having opened your body cavity up, are, in my experience, watched like a hawk.
When you say a fever, do you mean you have taken your temperature with a thermometer, and it is elevated above 98.6? Because you do not technically have a fever, if you do not take your temp. A fever, for lack of a thermometer, feels like you are very cold, and can't get warm. "Chills". Someone with a normal temperature can check your relative temperature, by placing the inside of their arm or wrist on your neck or head. If the person touching you feels that you are hotter than them, you MAY have a fever. Your body feels hotter relative to the normal temperatured person.
You have just had the major producer of estrogen in your body removed. You ARE going through menopause. If you are not taking hormones, you will feel all the manifestations of that condition come on like a freight train.
Hot flashes, and Night sweats will be your life. The question is, do you have a fever, that you measured with a thermometer, or are you mistaking hot flashes, for a fever. If your doc thinks you are confusing the hotflashes for fever symtoms, he may discount your complaints.
My friend had a cesarean section. Her incision spread a bit, and she had a localized infection on the incision. Her doc did not prescribe anything for it. And it might be possible that an infection if the incision might make you have a mild fever. I would buy a nice new tube of antibiotic ointment and treat the skin infection with cleansing and topical treatment. You will spare yourself the scar getting any worse.
At this point your incision will be "closed". Think of how long it takes your body to heal a cut on the finger, deep enough to have stitches. There will be a scab for a while, then it will be rough and red... In all reality, that cut will dissappear in about 2 months.
At less than 2 weeks, you have a long way to go.
You are probably feeling all kind of weird emotional focuses. It is worse than pregnancy in that arena. You may be worrying because of the hormone defecit.
There are lots of foods that have estrogen in them.
Sweet potatoes, and Soy are sources of natural estrogen. There is alot going on about fake estrogens in register receipts... and pesicides on non organic vegetables that imitate estrogens. Peppers Tomatos, blueberries and strawberries, are some that I remember. I am not sure that is the best route, though.
Black Cohosh I have heard is good for menopause. I am sure you could google it, since you seem to have internet access.