Hi and welcome Sandy18
I hope you are generally recovering well from the operation - your've had a tough time.
You are far too young to be without some form of oestrogen so I'm surprised you have not automatically been put on some HRT. As you don't have a uterus you may only need oestrogen and this gives far fewer side effects - if any - in fact you will probably find you will quickly feel a lot better and hopefully get most of the meno symptoms under control. It's the progesterone that tends to cause the problems. You don't say why you had the hysterectomy? Occasionally the doctors prescribe combined HRT post op if it's appropriate.
At your age, HRT is important as you need to protect your heart and bones.
No herbs or remedies will do this.
Do read up all the info under the headings to the left of this screen. Don't believe all the scares about HRT - yes there can be side effects but if HRT relieves the horrible meno symptoms and gives you a quality of life then some minor side effects are worth putting up with.
I personally don't believe there is a "Natural Way' - this is only for those lucky ladies who don't experience bad meno symptoms. I've tried every herb and remedy going - what a waste of money. In controlled trials there has been no real evidence that herbs and remedies work - not even phytoestrogens.
Don't worry about stopping HRT - there may be no real reason to come off it for at least the next 12 years for you - particularly if you only need oestrogen. You can take a break when you are 60 and see how things are. Some find a slow withdrawal helps but you shouldn't worry about that now - get your quality of life back and let the future take care of itself.
I had a premature menopause (from mid 30s) so had to use HRT for 20 odd years. Now 58 i've been off HRT for 9 months now and the flushes haven't been too bad. We are all different. Whether you take HRT or not, the flushes, night sweats etc. can go on for many years.
If you can just have oestrogen, can I suggest you ask for Oestrogel as this gives you control over the dosage - (patches are another option but less controllable). You can start with just one squirt per day applied to your arms or legs for the first 3-4 weeks and you can increase to up to 4 squirts per day if need be. Most women find 2 quirts per day is enough to control the flushes. This type of HRT is described as trans-dermal HRT and it means nothing goes through the liver so causes fewer side effects. The oestrogen is bio-identical which means it is identical to our own hormones - so this is the 'Natural Way' to relieve meno symptoms.
I hope this is helpful. Do keep us posted. Dg x
