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new member & new surgical menopause questions
Indymom1972 posted:
Hi,
Im glad to find this. I just turned 40 last month. To start I have fibromyalgia & endometriosis & other underlying issues. 1 1/2 yrs ago I had to have a hysterectomy & bladder sling placed. They removed everything except for my left ovary/fallopian tube. Well, just on Monday, July 16th 2012 I had to have the other ovary/fallopian tube removed due to a cyst the size of a tennis ball. He also cauterized all the endometriosis that he could find. Im now on provera to kill any remaining Endo then he will put me on estrogen in 6 weeks. I just wonder if anyone can give me any advice about menopause & HRT. Im not quite sure if I understand HRT fully & how to know if u should have other ones too? I am already starting on hot flashes but is there any other symptoms beside what everyone thinks of when u say menopause that I should b aware of??? Any input is appreciated. Thank you!
Im glad to find this. I just turned 40 last month. To start I have fibromyalgia & endometriosis & other underlying issues. 1 1/2 yrs ago I had to have a hysterectomy & bladder sling placed. They removed everything except for my left ovary/fallopian tube. Well, just on Monday, July 16th 2012 I had to have the other ovary/fallopian tube removed due to a cyst the size of a tennis ball. He also cauterized all the endometriosis that he could find. Im now on provera to kill any remaining Endo then he will put me on estrogen in 6 weeks. I just wonder if anyone can give me any advice about menopause & HRT. Im not quite sure if I understand HRT fully & how to know if u should have other ones too? I am already starting on hot flashes but is there any other symptoms beside what everyone thinks of when u say menopause that I should b aware of??? Any input is appreciated. Thank you!
4 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:new member & new surgical menopause questionsHi,<br />Im glad to find this. I just turned 40 last month. To start I have fibromyalgia & endometriosis & other underlying issues. 1 1/2 yrs ago I had to have a hysterectomy & bladder sling placed. They removed everything except for my left ovary/fallopian tube. Well, just on Monday, July 16th 2012 I had to have the other ovary/fallopian tube removed due to a cyst the size of a tennis ball. He also cauterized all the endometriosis that he could find. Im now on provera to kill any remaining Endo then he will put me on estrogen in 6 weeks. I just wonder if anyone can give me any advice about menopause & HRT. Im not quite sure if I understand HRT fully & how to know if u should have other ones too? I am already starting on hot flashes but is there any other symptoms beside what everyone thinks of when u say menopause that I should b aware of??? Any input is appreciated. Thank you!
Mary Jane Minkin, MD responded:
Dear indymom1972,
Sounds like your gyn is on top of things, which is great. But it is tough to be without estrogen for the next six weeks, particularly in the summer-but he is also being appropriately cautious about stimulating endometriosis too soon. One thing you could try is black cohosh, like Remifemin-it is non estrogenic and is likely to help the hot flashes some. If it's not enough relief from them, you could be treated with a low dose of an SSRI or SNRI antidepressant, until you can take the estrogen; something like Effexor, 37.5 mg can give you some relief. You may need some vaginal estrogen for dryness; that you can use now (it shouldn't be absorbed in any significant amount to stimulate endometriosis). You may need something to help with sleep, again, until you can take some estrogen.
All these things may be helpful to you.
Good luck,
Mary Jane
Sounds like your gyn is on top of things, which is great. But it is tough to be without estrogen for the next six weeks, particularly in the summer-but he is also being appropriately cautious about stimulating endometriosis too soon. One thing you could try is black cohosh, like Remifemin-it is non estrogenic and is likely to help the hot flashes some. If it's not enough relief from them, you could be treated with a low dose of an SSRI or SNRI antidepressant, until you can take the estrogen; something like Effexor, 37.5 mg can give you some relief. You may need some vaginal estrogen for dryness; that you can use now (it shouldn't be absorbed in any significant amount to stimulate endometriosis). You may need something to help with sleep, again, until you can take some estrogen.
All these things may be helpful to you.
Good luck,
Mary Jane
Report This| Share this:new member & new surgical menopause questionsDear indymom1972,<br />Sounds like your gyn is on top of things, which is great. But it is tough to be without estrogen for the next six weeks, particularly in the summer-but he is also being appropriately cautious about stimulating endometriosis too soon. One thing you could try is black cohosh, like Remifemin-it is non estrogenic and is likely to help the hot flashes some. If it's not enough relief from them, you could be treated with a low dose of an SSRI or SNRI antidepressant, until you can take the estrogen; something like Effexor, 37.5 mg can give you some relief. You may need some vaginal estrogen for dryness; that you can use now (it shouldn't be absorbed in any significant amount to stimulate endometriosis). You may need something to help with sleep, again, until you can take some estrogen.<br />All these things may be helpful to you.<br />Good luck,<br />Mary Jane
Indymom1972 replied to Mary Jane Minkin, MD's response:
Thank u for the reply. I already am on effexor 150mg for depression & fibromyalgia & I have been on vaginal premarin cream .05 2 times a week for the last 1 1/2 yrs since my hyster & bladder sling that was also placed. And I am glad to report that my doctor said the exact same thing & that I could keep taking it as its not enough to seep through the skin etccc. Just like u said. I haven't started it back up yet as right now the thought of inserting anything at the moment I am a little Leary of.LOL! Even though the surgery was done via laparotomy. I will start back on that tomorrow night. Its good to hear my gyn is on the right track. I do have 1 more question though. The incision is literally from 1 side of my belly to the other. I have a belly band from my hysterectomy 1 1/2 yrs ago but that was done vaginally so the incision was very small. Since the incision is so large when will it b safe to wear my belly band???? Thank you.
Report This| Share this:new member & new surgical menopause questionsThank u for the reply. I already am on effexor 150mg for depression & fibromyalgia & I have been on vaginal premarin cream .05 2 times a week for the last 1 1/2 yrs since my hyster & bladder sling that was also placed. And I am glad to report that my doctor said the exact same thing & that I could keep taking it as its not enough to seep through the skin etccc. Just like u said. I haven't started it back up yet as right now the thought of inserting anything at the moment I am a little Leary of.LOL! Even though the surgery was done via laparotomy. I will start back on that tomorrow night. Its good to hear my gyn is on the right track. I do have 1 more question though. The incision is literally from 1 side of my belly to the other. I have a belly band from my hysterectomy 1 1/2 yrs ago but that was done vaginally so the incision was very small. Since the incision is so large when will it b safe to wear my belly band???? Thank you.
Indymom1972 replied to Indymom1972's response:
Ohjh sorry I also worry about osteoporosis as my mother has it severely. My gyn knows about that but I didn't realize that hormones can also raise your risk for heart disease. Well my mother also had to have a double by pass 2 yrs ago which she is also diabetic and I am not. But I am. worried now & not sure what I should do. My gut is telling me to take the estrogen. Does anyone have any thoughts??? Sorry about having so many questions.
Report This| Share this:new member & new surgical menopause questionsOhjh sorry I also worry about osteoporosis as my mother has it severely. My gyn knows about that but I didn't realize that hormones can also raise your risk for heart disease. Well my mother also had to have a double by pass 2 yrs ago which she is also diabetic and I am not. But I am. worried now & not sure what I should do. My gut is telling me to take the estrogen. Does anyone have any thoughts??? Sorry about having so many questions.
Dear Indymom1972,
Especially with that additional info, I'd certainly encourage you to take some estrogen. You really don't need very much to keep your bones in good shape-even a 0.025 patch will protect your bones (or 0.5 mg of oral estradiol). And of course, make sure you are getting in some calcium and vitamin D; you want to be taking in a total of 1200 mg of calcium and 1000 Units of vitamin D regularly.
Good luck,
Mary Jane
Especially with that additional info, I'd certainly encourage you to take some estrogen. You really don't need very much to keep your bones in good shape-even a 0.025 patch will protect your bones (or 0.5 mg of oral estradiol). And of course, make sure you are getting in some calcium and vitamin D; you want to be taking in a total of 1200 mg of calcium and 1000 Units of vitamin D regularly.
Good luck,
Mary Jane
Report This| Share this:new member & new surgical menopause questionsDear Indymom1972,<br />Especially with that additional info, I'd certainly encourage you to take some estrogen. You really don't need very much to keep your bones in good shape-even a 0.025 patch will protect your bones (or 0.5 mg of oral estradiol). And of course, make sure you are getting in some calcium and vitamin D; you want to be taking in a total of 1200 mg of calcium and 1000 Units of vitamin D regularly.<br />Good luck,<br />Mary Jane
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Mary Jane Minkin, MD, is a nationally recognized obstetrician gynecologist, with a special interest in menopause. Dr. Minkin is clinical professor of ...More
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