My daughter was given a choice of HRT or not, she decided not to do it and is just toughing it out with the natural changes to diet, exercize, uses some of the best researched palative suggestions for dealing with the menopausal symptoms. One of the main things she did was change her stress level. She tells me that many of the same things recommended for prevention of reccurance is also the very same things they say help with the change problems. Read an artical about stress control, most think that by controlling the stress you can control the menopause symptoms. Our bodies have the power to replace the hormones lost in a surgical/natural menopause, but it does take time and effort to help the body do this. Good nutrition, healthy digestive system, exercize, attitude. My daughter is 8 months post op, and 3 months post chemo, she tells me it is getting better daily. Maybe 1 hot flash a week now and that is after she has had a stressful day at work. We read the pros and cons of HRT and decided not to go with the danger. But this is a deceasion that only you can make. Good Luck.
Hi 2 bears. I know what a hard decision all of this is. First of all, my gyn/onc told me there was no such thing as a partial hysterectome. When you remove the uterus, that is considered a hysterectomy. When you remove the ovaries, that is called a ooperectomy. I do not know if that makes a difference to you or not. I have had my uterus and both ovaries out. Last April, I had my last ovary removed. My gyn put me on HRT (I was only 31 at the time) about a week after my srugery. I have done a lot of research and talked with some wonderful ladies on this site about HRT's. I noticed that I was showing signs of estrogen dominance, and started to use Progesterone Cream to balance it all out. Then we discovered that I may have a condition called Ovarian Remnant Syndrome. It is where a remnant of my ovary was left in (the cells were to small to get) and have started functioning like my ovary. I quit taking the HRT, and have NO symptoms of menopause. I do know that your body requires estrogen. There are HRT's called bio-identical hormones. They are made from natural plants instead of being made from chemicals in a lab. They are the same as the ones your body produces. It is made to your bodies levels. There are other women who have more knowledge on this matter. I hope they can stop by and give you more info. Please know that you are not alone. We are here for you. Kasie