Aa
Intercourse post op and doing chemo...
First off, sorry to get personal. Today I had my 2nd follow up appt w/ oncologist & he asked me about intercouse...how's it going?..are we having any?..etc. I told him everything is fine...yes we have and no there isn't any pain. The thing is, it's good but not often. Hardly ever in fact. I just don't have any desire to do so. I LOVE my husband and I feel bad...I know it's difficult for him. He is so patient and knows I have a lot on my plate. I have my #3 chemo tomorrow, we have toddlers (29 mos & 17mos), & the anniversary of my moms passing is 11/14 (2yrs). I miss her and I hate that she's not here with me. We always want our mommy when we're sick right? I lost my 22 yr old sister in 2001 and my dad in 2002 before that. I am a stay at home mom in a bit of an identity crisis and can't really do anything about it because I am trying to save all my energy for my kids and my treatments. I miss working but it would just be so hard do adjust myself and the girls to a new schedule right now. So anyway, is it all this cr*p that's happened the reason I am disinterested...is it the chemo or side effect of my surgery? I've read others took something for libido. Should I talk to my doctor about this? My docs a man and I feel weird! Has anyone done so and has it helped? I am tired enough I don't want to be tired of feeling guilty about this. Any advice would be helpful. Maybe I should have posted this in the relationships section LOL! I'm a mess!
Hi, yes, I hear you... I have to admit, I, too, was surprised when my oncologist came in the day after the surgery and put a Vivelle patch on my...well, backside. (I had the surgery for the early diagnosis for ovarian cancer, and I also had the LEEP procedure two years before that for severe cervical dysplasia, which also can be caused by too much estrogen in the system...as mine was not caused by HPV.)
Then I found out that my own sister (a nurse and writer on medical issues) had been on the bio's since her hysterectomy for near cancer issues (Hyperplasia) back in 1994. But, it is not something we ever talked about. She decided to go off of them just this past year. She is 66...exercises daily, eats unbelievably healthfully, etc...but, I cannot remember why she went off..I think the new doc down in Fla. thought she should but left the reason vague...
So, sister went off and just went back on due to a horrible year and no sleep for six months unless she took a sleeping pill. Now, she and I have talked and she is digging back into her research because her doctor has her on a patch and my sister thought that it was not a bioidentical. But, it is...It is Climara. Now, this scares me a bit that the doctor AND my sister did not know that it was a bioidentical. My sister took it to appease the doctor but was about to go back to the doctor in Massachusettes who started her on the bio hormones in the first place. I cannot believe that she is not on progesterone to balance things out. She is going to go back on that, too. This is where it gets very confusing.
And, again, this is where you have to arm yourself with information. And, there is always the chance that you may not be able to use some of these hormones(I promise I don't mean to sound negative...Northrup's book addresses this issue and gives lots of other ideas...) but if you keep reading, you will read the explanations as to why you might want to look into all this.
Northrup explains why and how the progesterone lessens the ill effects of too much estrogen. The thing is, you are producing estrogen in your body. It is manufactured in women's fat...it is a byproduct of something...with a very, very long name that I would have to look up. Yet is you balance that estrogen with progesterone, you get the benefits of progesterone along with the help that it provides to make sure you are not out of balance with too much estrogen. But, then this is another topic because, you might not be producing enough estrogen to help with the symptoms you have...or the amount of estrogen fluctuates...some women take progesterone only, but if one does that, they might not really get a lot of help because it takes estrogen to keep the cell receptors open to accept the progesterone and most women in menopause probably don't have enough to do this...
And, according to the studies I have read, progesterone protects the cell receptor sites that are fed by estrogen...from getting too much estrogen.
And, as far as the doctor's comment...well, there is the patch that is either .25, .50, .75, and 1.0. There is no guess work there. They try to use the lowest dose possible to get optimum results. Dr. Erika Swartz likes estrodial only since it is the predominant estrogen of younger healthy women. She does not like Estrone (that is the fat produced in menopausal women whether or not they are using supplemental estrogen) and estriol is nice to use vaginally (and they say that it stays THERE...and does not effect you systemically) for moisture and bladder issues, but it is very weak, and commonly found in pregnant women....
I am going off on tangents and I am looking at the clock...so I should get going. But Chickpea, you bring up a good point...which is why I mentioned that if you want to work with someone on the bioidenticals, make sure you find someone who truely understands them. Again, I understand that you might not be a candidate for them, but I honestly would not keep asking around and gathering as much info as you can.
So, check out Northrup's book and also...check out Uzzi Reiss's book on Natural hormones. He has a section in the back that addresses this very issue and it is very interesting.
Best of luck to you. One place you could try is a compounding pharmacy. Some of the pharmacists are just great and well versed in these hormones...(insulin is a bioidentical hormone....so, this category is not just about female hormones)...in other words, bioidentical does not always mean estrogen, progesterone, and testostorone..but, for us who have undergone surgical menopause and struggling with the aftermath including a cancer diagnosis..those are the ones to check out for now.
Take care, Mary
Then I found out that my own sister (a nurse and writer on medical issues) had been on the bio's since her hysterectomy for near cancer issues (Hyperplasia) back in 1994. But, it is not something we ever talked about. She decided to go off of them just this past year. She is 66...exercises daily, eats unbelievably healthfully, etc...but, I cannot remember why she went off..I think the new doc down in Fla. thought she should but left the reason vague...
So, sister went off and just went back on due to a horrible year and no sleep for six months unless she took a sleeping pill. Now, she and I have talked and she is digging back into her research because her doctor has her on a patch and my sister thought that it was not a bioidentical. But, it is...It is Climara. Now, this scares me a bit that the doctor AND my sister did not know that it was a bioidentical. My sister took it to appease the doctor but was about to go back to the doctor in Massachusettes who started her on the bio hormones in the first place. I cannot believe that she is not on progesterone to balance things out. She is going to go back on that, too. This is where it gets very confusing.
And, again, this is where you have to arm yourself with information. And, there is always the chance that you may not be able to use some of these hormones(I promise I don't mean to sound negative...Northrup's book addresses this issue and gives lots of other ideas...) but if you keep reading, you will read the explanations as to why you might want to look into all this.
Northrup explains why and how the progesterone lessens the ill effects of too much estrogen. The thing is, you are producing estrogen in your body. It is manufactured in women's fat...it is a byproduct of something...with a very, very long name that I would have to look up. Yet is you balance that estrogen with progesterone, you get the benefits of progesterone along with the help that it provides to make sure you are not out of balance with too much estrogen. But, then this is another topic because, you might not be producing enough estrogen to help with the symptoms you have...or the amount of estrogen fluctuates...some women take progesterone only, but if one does that, they might not really get a lot of help because it takes estrogen to keep the cell receptors open to accept the progesterone and most women in menopause probably don't have enough to do this...
And, according to the studies I have read, progesterone protects the cell receptor sites that are fed by estrogen...from getting too much estrogen.
And, as far as the doctor's comment...well, there is the patch that is either .25, .50, .75, and 1.0. There is no guess work there. They try to use the lowest dose possible to get optimum results. Dr. Erika Swartz likes estrodial only since it is the predominant estrogen of younger healthy women. She does not like Estrone (that is the fat produced in menopausal women whether or not they are using supplemental estrogen) and estriol is nice to use vaginally (and they say that it stays THERE...and does not effect you systemically) for moisture and bladder issues, but it is very weak, and commonly found in pregnant women....
I am going off on tangents and I am looking at the clock...so I should get going. But Chickpea, you bring up a good point...which is why I mentioned that if you want to work with someone on the bioidenticals, make sure you find someone who truely understands them. Again, I understand that you might not be a candidate for them, but I honestly would not keep asking around and gathering as much info as you can.
So, check out Northrup's book and also...check out Uzzi Reiss's book on Natural hormones. He has a section in the back that addresses this very issue and it is very interesting.
Best of luck to you. One place you could try is a compounding pharmacy. Some of the pharmacists are just great and well versed in these hormones...(insulin is a bioidentical hormone....so, this category is not just about female hormones)...in other words, bioidentical does not always mean estrogen, progesterone, and testostorone..but, for us who have undergone surgical menopause and struggling with the aftermath including a cancer diagnosis..those are the ones to check out for now.
Take care, Mary
I am just wondering how you got docs to approve bioidentical hormones when you have OV cancer? I was put on estridiol patch after my total hysterectomy and halfway into chemo I read about estrogen causing ov cancer so I talked to my oncologist and he said I can never be on any kind of estrogen or anything that is estrogenic like herbs etc. Maybe I misunderstood but I thought he said all ov cancer are estrogen driven? Or maybe just mine is...I had a papillary serious cell.
Then I asked my ob/gyn about bio identical and she shot that down saying there isnt enough research out there to show that women with/or who had cancer can be on that cause they dont know how "estrogenic" it is because the strengths vary when its filled every time. I'm just curious cause I have big time hot flashes and NO sex drive at all. thanks
Then I asked my ob/gyn about bio identical and she shot that down saying there isnt enough research out there to show that women with/or who had cancer can be on that cause they dont know how "estrogenic" it is because the strengths vary when its filled every time. I'm just curious cause I have big time hot flashes and NO sex drive at all. thanks
Look into taking bio identical natural progesterone. There is a lot of confusion between PROGESTIN and PROGESTERONE.
They tell you that you don't need progestin (synthetic progesterone) if you don't have a uterus.
Progestin was manufactured to prevent the uterine cancer that Premarin and other synthetic estogen causes. It is not natural, not even close.
Your body does still need progesterone (or whatever we have currently available that is as close to it as we can get!)
You want to try say a 3 or 4% progesterone cream twice a day.
It helps the testosterone and estrogen work better in your system. Best wishes....
They tell you that you don't need progestin (synthetic progesterone) if you don't have a uterus.
Progestin was manufactured to prevent the uterine cancer that Premarin and other synthetic estogen causes. It is not natural, not even close.
Your body does still need progesterone (or whatever we have currently available that is as close to it as we can get!)
You want to try say a 3 or 4% progesterone cream twice a day.
It helps the testosterone and estrogen work better in your system. Best wishes....
Hi...thanks for that response...But, I had to write...hoping to save you some problems if I can. I would encourage you to start to figure out the progesterone thing...I wish I had before I thought I was losing my mind three months after my surgery. It took almost a year to find out that the big problems I was having was caused by a lack of progesterone. But, it takes three months for it to totally deplete from your system, and it was three months practically to the day that I wondered what on earth was going on. About a month and a half (I was patient and prepared to wait three months to kick in which is a possibility) after I started to use the progesterone cream from the compounding pharmacy, I tell you, I cried for a week since I had not felt so good in years.
I just posted a huge post to a woman on the Menopausal support section. I just sent it and she is at the top of the questions (last check anyway)...she is having bad leg cramps as I have had and I get them when my progesterone is low.
This is where is gets soooo confusing though. Progestin is what your doctors are thinking about. That is the drug that is made by the drug company to offset the rare side effect of uterine cancer for women who take the synthetic estrogen, Premarin. Thus...Prempro (Premarin and Progesterone)...And, you are right..you would not need that because first of all, you are not on Premarin and you don't have a uterus (or you would be on Prempro...since some women do take Premarin, estrogen only, after hysterectomy). Like you, I would not take Premarin anyway...but, I have been asked by doctors why I take progesterone since I don't have a uterus. This is where all the confusion starts ...and, continues.
We need progesterone for our brains, for the soft muscle tissue (I am avoiding bladder surgery thanks to the progesterone) cholesterol and thyroid...just to name a few...oh, bone health, too....Please look into it. Thank goodness you like your docs...but, you might have to do a little bit of educating here...I did and my doctor is one of the tops in the state. But,he was willing to learn and pleased that I am getting relief.
I used to feel that the doctor would think I was being arrogant if I approached this. I don't feel that way any longer...and on the days when my hormones are not in balance (I used to order them just as I needed them...didn't plan ahead) and I cannot think straight and my legs hurt and my joints ache...etc...I am thankful that knowledge is power. I also was running low in progesterone (chronically) and I had to see a specialist for help with that...the blood test showed a small amount in my system, so my body was not utilizing the cream (I tend not to tolerate the oral progesterone well) very well and I had to have the dose raised...things are so much better now.
Sorry to go on and on...have to run to the store.
Take care, Mary
I just posted a huge post to a woman on the Menopausal support section. I just sent it and she is at the top of the questions (last check anyway)...she is having bad leg cramps as I have had and I get them when my progesterone is low.
This is where is gets soooo confusing though. Progestin is what your doctors are thinking about. That is the drug that is made by the drug company to offset the rare side effect of uterine cancer for women who take the synthetic estrogen, Premarin. Thus...Prempro (Premarin and Progesterone)...And, you are right..you would not need that because first of all, you are not on Premarin and you don't have a uterus (or you would be on Prempro...since some women do take Premarin, estrogen only, after hysterectomy). Like you, I would not take Premarin anyway...but, I have been asked by doctors why I take progesterone since I don't have a uterus. This is where all the confusion starts ...and, continues.
We need progesterone for our brains, for the soft muscle tissue (I am avoiding bladder surgery thanks to the progesterone) cholesterol and thyroid...just to name a few...oh, bone health, too....Please look into it. Thank goodness you like your docs...but, you might have to do a little bit of educating here...I did and my doctor is one of the tops in the state. But,he was willing to learn and pleased that I am getting relief.
I used to feel that the doctor would think I was being arrogant if I approached this. I don't feel that way any longer...and on the days when my hormones are not in balance (I used to order them just as I needed them...didn't plan ahead) and I cannot think straight and my legs hurt and my joints ache...etc...I am thankful that knowledge is power. I also was running low in progesterone (chronically) and I had to see a specialist for help with that...the blood test showed a small amount in my system, so my body was not utilizing the cream (I tend not to tolerate the oral progesterone well) very well and I had to have the dose raised...things are so much better now.
Sorry to go on and on...have to run to the store.
Take care, Mary
I agree with ladies who posted the two above me, losing your ovaries will knock the willies out of your system. I cannot imagine not being on biodentical hormones, it is natural and the right thing for your body I think to replace what surgery has ripped from you. I didnt mention all the sypmptoms they mentioned it helping, but I am in agreement with it all. I dont take progesterone because I dont have a uterus, just estrogen and testosterone, It really helps me. I feel alert, sharp, sexual, I havent read any books because my docs have been such great resources, but I plan to read a few of those mentioned for more information. Good Luck to you Loralai and all of the ladies trying to get their pre-surgery selves back.
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