Aa
hysterectomy
I have always heard that weight gain is inevitable after a hysterectomy, but does that also apply if you are having one AFTER menopause ? Will bio identical hormones help with this ?
i am Tracey happily married 39 and coming out of hospital tomorrow unsure what to take hrt wise or to even take any at all i have had a full historectomy been advised only to take oestrogel i have just finished the zoladex injections then straight through to suggestions please.x
i am Tracey happily married 39 and coming out of hospital tomorrow unsure what to take hrt wise or to even take any at all i have had a full historectomy been advised only to take oestrogel i have just finished the zoladex injections then straight through to suggestions please.x
Sorry I couldn't get back to this post sooner.
Your additional information surely clears up a lot of things. If I were in your shoes, I would try to find someone who is more familiar with the hormonal situation since you have not had the relief you expected and deserve. Or, just keep researching this yourself and ask for what you need.
I have had to do much of the leg work on trying to figure out what I need from the bios... which combination? which delivery system? etc., but finally I have had the results that I was hoping for. I have had many ups and downs myself on the biodidentical hormones but this is only because I was looking for a protocol that would work for me and during the trial and error period, I suffered quite a bit.
The good news is that lately I have had incredible relief and I have been able to bounce back with only a minimal amount of damage (feet and bone and chemical sensitivity issues that were debilitating just this past year). I now use an 'optimal' dose of estradiol (Vivelle) and also testosterone. I exercise and eat healthfully, although I will say that it was the changes in the hormones that gave me the most dramatic results.
This seems to be a (Still) uncharted area and there were times I wondered if any of the doctors I have worked with in the past really knew what they were doing regarding the hormonal issue. They were trying out different 'theories' on me and some worked and dear lord, some simply did not. Just keep searching for what you need.
I wish I could respond to the specific fibroid question. I am wondering if you are speaking of Ablation? Is that it? I have a friend who had that done and said it was the best decision she's ever made. I have heard that Ablation is more involved than a basic hysterectomy (meaning no removal of ovaries or cervix) but that it really is more about time and such and not necessarily about dangers. But, again, I will say that I do not know much at all about this procedure and my comments are from what I have heard others say and not from any research I have done.
Best Wishes.
Mary
Your additional information surely clears up a lot of things. If I were in your shoes, I would try to find someone who is more familiar with the hormonal situation since you have not had the relief you expected and deserve. Or, just keep researching this yourself and ask for what you need.
I have had to do much of the leg work on trying to figure out what I need from the bios... which combination? which delivery system? etc., but finally I have had the results that I was hoping for. I have had many ups and downs myself on the biodidentical hormones but this is only because I was looking for a protocol that would work for me and during the trial and error period, I suffered quite a bit.
The good news is that lately I have had incredible relief and I have been able to bounce back with only a minimal amount of damage (feet and bone and chemical sensitivity issues that were debilitating just this past year). I now use an 'optimal' dose of estradiol (Vivelle) and also testosterone. I exercise and eat healthfully, although I will say that it was the changes in the hormones that gave me the most dramatic results.
This seems to be a (Still) uncharted area and there were times I wondered if any of the doctors I have worked with in the past really knew what they were doing regarding the hormonal issue. They were trying out different 'theories' on me and some worked and dear lord, some simply did not. Just keep searching for what you need.
I wish I could respond to the specific fibroid question. I am wondering if you are speaking of Ablation? Is that it? I have a friend who had that done and said it was the best decision she's ever made. I have heard that Ablation is more involved than a basic hysterectomy (meaning no removal of ovaries or cervix) but that it really is more about time and such and not necessarily about dangers. But, again, I will say that I do not know much at all about this procedure and my comments are from what I have heard others say and not from any research I have done.
Best Wishes.
Mary
Having laproscopic hyst. because of post-menopausal bleeding but not removing ovaries or cervix. No date for surgery yet. I am already several years on bio ident. hormones, but feel that I never responded properly to them. Never lost night sweats, poor sleep, weight gain, low energy. Have had thyroid removed completely and am followed carefully by endocrinologist. Will have gyn. repeat hormone panel before I do anything.
Awaiting results of pelvic MRI to see WHATS bleeding, fibroids or uterus. Gyn says the result (hystectomy) will be the same. Says that the surgery to remove fibroids is much more involved than doing the hysterectomy ? Anyone disagree ?
Awaiting results of pelvic MRI to see WHATS bleeding, fibroids or uterus. Gyn says the result (hystectomy) will be the same. Says that the surgery to remove fibroids is much more involved than doing the hysterectomy ? Anyone disagree ?
Hi gg,
You have asked such a loaded question. For one thing, if you are going to lose your ovaries during this hysterectomy (called a complete or Radical hysterectomy) then you are losing a source of estrogen and testosterone. Your ovaries will continue to 'drip' some estrogen.. estradiol... until you are about 75 or 80. Your ovaries will also continue to drip some testosterone until you are about age 75. Of course, you won't get much in the way of these hormones but you get some.
If your ovaries are going to be removed, and this is where it gets complicated, your body will continue to crave estrogen and will try to make it from a by-product from the fat (mainly stored around our mid section since it is more redily available) in your body. This estrogen is called Estrone. It is a bit of a vicious cycle, however. It seems that the amount of Estrone your body pumps out is not always enough and so the body makes more fat to make more estrone and this is where the cycle seems to continue.
Lifestyle seems to play a big hand in all this. Diet, exercise seem to matter even more at this point. The question I have always wondered about is how women who do not take hormones manage their lives.
Is it such an individualized thing to need a higher level of hormonal help? Or is this something that is just missed by us as a society meaning we look at every ache and pain after menopause as something caused by a problem other than low to no ovarian hormones? I tend to think that the need for ovarian hormones such as through bioidentical hormones is something necessary for the remainder of our lives.
Do women who've gone through a natural menopause really fare better than those who go through it surgically? There is some evidence that the number of children you've had and the length of time you have nursed your children has an effect on how you will handle menopause (natural menopause) but I can only quote the source and not the thorough explanation... Dr. Erika Scwartz has some books out that are very interesting in that she explains how this need for hormonal help has become more and more necessary as families are shrinking and environmental issues play havoc with our hormone systems. It does get complicated.
I cannot imagine life without hormones. So, what if you're in menopause already? I don't know... I am still researching this. I know that many women have been helped at all ages once someone is able to help them pinpoint hormonal problems that have causes symptoms that are not always recognized as a medical issue caused by low ovarian hormones.
Feet issues and horrible leg pain/tingling alone over the past year that have baffled the doctors cleared up once my estradiol level was bumped up. My weight decreased at the same time, too, once I was on a higher dose of estradiol, and I have worked out and watched my diet since I don't know when.
My initial weight gain was 25 pounds in three months. But, I also had had three surgeries in one year and my body was exhausted. I needed hormonal help and I was finally able to get on track with enough energy to work out again. Things slowly got better. I was very heavy growing up and so I was a bit devastated by this uncontrollable weight gain, but I was eventually able to get a handle on things. I also had to have my thyroid evaluated and have been helped with thyroid meds over the past four years.
I knew I probably could not answer your question directly, but wanted to give you some things to think about. There are some very good resources. I think the author's name who speaks to midlife weight gain is Deb Waterhouse??? I have to look that up. And, of course my new hero, Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet, is a great souce and has helped me immensely.
Take care, Mary
You have asked such a loaded question. For one thing, if you are going to lose your ovaries during this hysterectomy (called a complete or Radical hysterectomy) then you are losing a source of estrogen and testosterone. Your ovaries will continue to 'drip' some estrogen.. estradiol... until you are about 75 or 80. Your ovaries will also continue to drip some testosterone until you are about age 75. Of course, you won't get much in the way of these hormones but you get some.
If your ovaries are going to be removed, and this is where it gets complicated, your body will continue to crave estrogen and will try to make it from a by-product from the fat (mainly stored around our mid section since it is more redily available) in your body. This estrogen is called Estrone. It is a bit of a vicious cycle, however. It seems that the amount of Estrone your body pumps out is not always enough and so the body makes more fat to make more estrone and this is where the cycle seems to continue.
Lifestyle seems to play a big hand in all this. Diet, exercise seem to matter even more at this point. The question I have always wondered about is how women who do not take hormones manage their lives.
Is it such an individualized thing to need a higher level of hormonal help? Or is this something that is just missed by us as a society meaning we look at every ache and pain after menopause as something caused by a problem other than low to no ovarian hormones? I tend to think that the need for ovarian hormones such as through bioidentical hormones is something necessary for the remainder of our lives.
Do women who've gone through a natural menopause really fare better than those who go through it surgically? There is some evidence that the number of children you've had and the length of time you have nursed your children has an effect on how you will handle menopause (natural menopause) but I can only quote the source and not the thorough explanation... Dr. Erika Scwartz has some books out that are very interesting in that she explains how this need for hormonal help has become more and more necessary as families are shrinking and environmental issues play havoc with our hormone systems. It does get complicated.
I cannot imagine life without hormones. So, what if you're in menopause already? I don't know... I am still researching this. I know that many women have been helped at all ages once someone is able to help them pinpoint hormonal problems that have causes symptoms that are not always recognized as a medical issue caused by low ovarian hormones.
Feet issues and horrible leg pain/tingling alone over the past year that have baffled the doctors cleared up once my estradiol level was bumped up. My weight decreased at the same time, too, once I was on a higher dose of estradiol, and I have worked out and watched my diet since I don't know when.
My initial weight gain was 25 pounds in three months. But, I also had had three surgeries in one year and my body was exhausted. I needed hormonal help and I was finally able to get on track with enough energy to work out again. Things slowly got better. I was very heavy growing up and so I was a bit devastated by this uncontrollable weight gain, but I was eventually able to get a handle on things. I also had to have my thyroid evaluated and have been helped with thyroid meds over the past four years.
I knew I probably could not answer your question directly, but wanted to give you some things to think about. There are some very good resources. I think the author's name who speaks to midlife weight gain is Deb Waterhouse??? I have to look that up. And, of course my new hero, Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet, is a great souce and has helped me immensely.
Take care, Mary
Hi gg, good question..I gained weight right after my surgery around ten pounds, now I got my hormones in proper order and am eating healthy I have lost 16. If your already post menopause. there should be no reason for hormones, I dont believe the weight gain from hysterectomy should in theory affect you. Many women tend to gain weight post menopause. I would advise you to ask about HRT to your doctor but Im guessing he will say no need.perhaps low estrogen if anything at all/ best wishes,,,when is your surgery ? Cherie
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