Post Menopausal - NO hormones??!!!

Another thing I just thought about...  Dr. Gorospe's paperwork said that women on birth control pills and menopausal hormones are asked to be off of them for 1 month prior to surgery and 1 month post-op!!!   Says they increase risk of blood clots (which I under stand is VERY dangerous, and I do NOT want to risk getting one!!) I don't know if I can handle that though!!!  I had a complete hysterectomy almost a year ago and I just don't think I can live without the hormones!! I wonder if there are any safe hormones I could do or some other alternative...  I'm telling you, I'm CRAZY and MISERABLE without my hormones!!!  The thought of it scares me! It is almost like I'm a mental case and you'll find me in the looney bin if I don't have them.  I'm serious.  It is like I'm mentally imbalanced, dizzy, moody, and just plain crazy.  I'm not even exagerrating!

Surgical Associates doesn't require that you discontinue birth control pills and menopausal hormones.  All they require is that you discontinue NSAIDs two weeks before surgery and forever after surgery.  I had to quit taking Celebrex.

Dr. Gornichec does require  being off birth control , 1 month before and 2 weeks after surgery for that very reason , i would definitely ask about the hormones  though , i went off the pill with very little side effects ,,,now i might not be saying that in a couple of weeks  though

Yes, you do have to be off everything (birth control / hormones).  I'd rather be safe than sorry. Do you have bad hot flashes and night sweats? I had a complete hysterectomy 4 or 5 years ago and I take nothing.  Antidepressants work great for hot flashes and night sweats. Have you ever checked out www.hystersisters.com?  They are a great source of info on anything hysterectomy related. I tell ya, I'm here for you.  I'll take you mentally imbalanced, dizzy, moody and just plain crazy.  Just know that there is someone here to talk to - even if you would  like to talk privately - I'm here! Tonja

It just makes me mentally imballanced...  Yeah, I have hot flashes and night sweats, but that isn't the worst of it!  I'm dizzy, get headaches, yeast infections, and just generally feel lousy.  I hate to think of feeling that way in addition to trying to recover from surgery!! Yes, I've been to hystersisters!  I was there just about non stop last year like I am here this year!  I loved that site and still log in to read some blogs from time to time on people I follow.  I post questions here and there too sometimes when they arise.  I'm one of the CRAZY ones who asked my doc to take a pic of my uterus and ovaries :o)  lol  I think my pics are still posted there! I wish there was a way I could taper off of my hormones instead of going cold turkey.  Maybe that would help me.  I'm already on Zoloft 100 MG once daily for anxiety disorder and hate to start another antidepressant or up that dosage!  I also have xanax to use prn for anxiety attacks and sleepless nights, but I rarely take it.  That drug scares me! My estrogen is Estrogel and it is a metered pump I rub on my arm once daily.  I don't really know how I could taper that down...  hummm..... I really don't want to risk getting a blood clot though, so I'll do what I have to do and cross that bridge when I get to it... Thanks for the replies.

I just switched to plant based hormones and am having decent luck.  I don't know if you can take them or not.  If you can't take them, ask the doctor about herbal remedies such as Don Quai, etc, that ease the symptoms.  Better something than nothing at all.  The good news is, if you are a pre op diet, the fat cells are going to be releasing estrogen into your system,  Yay!

The good news is - this isn't for the rest of your life!!! And the other thing - with losing weight - these symptoms may subside.  Wouldn't that be cool? So, YOU will have to start today on training your mind to not think of these things.  Try to not think about 'am I dizzy'...try not to think of your mood...and really pray hard that God will help you on this journey.  I'm a big believer in this and I'll be praying for you as well! Wouldn't it be awesome to just not need any at all? I know it may sound crazy - but it is possible!  I'm living proof! Tonja

Yes, that would be really cool!!  Either way, if (or should I say when) I lose weight, I want to be tested for bioidentical hormones.  I just think they would be better for me anyway... Dot* (thinking good thoughts and Praying hard!)

Well, if you don't find anyone off that direction - here in Edmond there is a place that does them and it's not hard to get in to see the doctor.  I used them for a little while before I had my lap band - and I have no need what so ever for them now.  Life is good!

The OB-GYN I've seen for 15 years doesn't believe in them.  So, he won't support me.  But, I think my new PCP (my PCP I had for 13 years retired) seems pretty open to WLS and I want to talk to her about bio identicals.  I know there is a pharmacy here and some good people to help me along the way, but I have to have a doc that will write me the Rx??  I don't know, I haven't really checked into it yet, but have talked to a friend who was looking into it. She's not doing it now though because it was too expensive and her ins. wouldn't pay :o(