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Author Topic: Testosterone & premarin  (Read 6396 times)

Lucy-Mae

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Testosterone & premarin
« on: January 28, 2016, 04:54:27 PM »

Hi, just wondering if anyone has used testosterone with Premarin? I had a total hysterectomy 3yrs ago, n noticed that I lost muscle mass /tone, I go to the gym n workout with weights etc but can't seem to get it mass n tone back, I feel like very soft jelly like? N just wondered if a bit of testosterone would help? I am getting quite distressed with it all n have become very self conscious, anxiety, depressed. Has anyone else had this problem who had total hysterectomy?
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Taz2

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Re: Testosterone & premarin
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2016, 05:42:10 PM »

How old are you Lucy-Mae? Some consultants will prescribe testosterone for younger women following a total hysterectomy but it isn't available on the NHS usually and I'm not sure that it would be prescribed even by a consultant to preserve muscle tone etc. It is very difficult to keep muscle tone and strength as we get older sadly.

Taz x  :hug:
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Lucy-Mae

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Re: Testosterone & premarin
« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2016, 06:07:49 PM »

I know, I'm 51, but in my head I'm 35,lol. I'm very small boned and with having the total hysterectomy, I know we lose 50% of testosterone so just thought I may need a bit, it is really distressing me. GP just says I don't need any. Was going to see a hormone specialist to have hormones tested to see where I'm at. My clothes don't look n fit right, I've got this big tummy and little legs, I look ridiculous. And when I exercise and cut down, I've still got the big tummy but it comes off everywhere wher I don't want it to. I never had this problem before the surgery.
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Taz2

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Re: Testosterone & premarin
« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2016, 07:15:12 PM »

I'm older than you at 61 but I have had the same problem since the hysterectomy. Have you asked for advice on the Hysterectomy UK forum? You can read posts without joining much as this one. http://www.hysterectomy-association.org.uk/

Did you retain your ovaries as "total" usually means uterus and cervix not ovaries.

Taz x
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Lucy-Mae

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Re: Testosterone & premarin
« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2016, 07:28:20 PM »

Thx for ur replies TazNo I haven't , I'll have a look. When did u have ur Hysterectomy? I wished I'd never had mine, it's ruined my life. I was only supposed to have 1 ovary taken away, but was talked into it by surgeon. It's really changed me. I've lost all my confidence.xx
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Taz2

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Re: Testosterone & premarin
« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2016, 07:40:00 PM »

I had mine in July 2014. I kept my ovaries. If you had your cervix removed too then you have had a total hysterectomy plus oopherectomy I think!  I would recommend hysterectomy to anyone unless they had to but, then again, mine was because of prolapse and not heavy bleeding. It took me a year to feel better but it has changed my shape. Have you read this http://www.hormonesmatter.com/post-hysterectomy-skeletal-anatomical-changes/   It does explain it a bit - I think they should explain much more to women who are offered the op - especially regarding the sexual changes.

Taz x
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Lucy-Mae

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Re: Testosterone & premarin
« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2016, 08:24:08 PM »

Hi Taz, yes I've read that. Yes he removed my cervix,everything. I had cysts a complex cyst on one ovary, which was growing into my left side, so that had to go. The other cyst was a simple cyst, which wasn't very big n they could of got rid of that without removing the other ovary, and I had endo. The first surgeon I saw, who was a woman, told me she would do keyhole surgery, n just remove the one ovary and a scrape for endo, so everything was booked. While I was waiting I had a phone call from the hospital, asking if I would go to another hospital, which was private, but still on NHS, because there was a long waiting list at my local hospital, so I said ok, as Mother-in-Law had hers done there and said how nice it was. So off I went, I had to go all through the scans again. When I saw the surgeon, I thought he was abut weird, but thought well he has been doing it along time. Anyway, he looked at my scans n said, have I ever considered a hysterectomy, has I had a garden growing inside me, and it would prevent anything sinister happening later. So I agreed, but didn't do proper research. He took everything away. But what made me wonder after was, every woman who worked in that hospital of a certain age, had had a hysterectomy done by him. I wished I'd never gone there. I would of just had my one Ovary taken away if I'd had it done at local hospital. Since the operation, which I got over ok, but now I have got depression, GAD, insomnia, I feel like I've lost myself. I get night panics as well. I feel like a shell of my old self. Plus he did it with abdominal surgery, so I was cut aswell, he was going to cut me from my belly buttons down, but I said no way, I won't bother n he said ok, get cancer then, anyway he did a bikini cut. Thank God I mentioned it before I went down for the surgery. Sorry for the essay, but just wanted to get my story across to you.xx
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Taz2

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Re: Testosterone & premarin
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2016, 09:41:54 PM »

It sounds as if you were treated really unfairly Lucy-Mae - it's no wonder you feel as you do.

The GAD, depression, insomnia and night panics can all be part and parcel of menopause especially when you are thrown into it by surgery. Have you tried any other types of HRT? Different ones can give us different side effects and it may be that Premarin doesn't suit you.

Taz x
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Hurdity

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Re: Testosterone & premarin
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2016, 05:47:39 PM »

Hi Lucy-Mae

This is just to say that I take testosterone but still have my womb and I am 62. I started it last year - the main reason for being prescribed it is low libido but of course the other symptoms come along too.

The one that bothered me most was the muscle aches and pains and fatigue - like you I take exercise - I go to 3 classes per week but I was getting exhausted as I did more rather than fitter and the exercise gave me muscle pain which I would wake with in the morning, and stiff neck, back ache etc and I would feel really tired despite a night's sleep. I made myself carry on with the exercise but it was making me feel worse.  I can honestly say that I am so much better since the testosterone started last May. I still have a problem with morning tiredness and sleeping too deeply but I no longer wake with the muscle pain and can do the 3 classes quite happily. It hasn't done much for my libido although response is back to normal, but I would not want to use a higher dose without higher oestrogen as I don't want to become "testosterone dominant" as the male side effects would become more apparent as my oestrogen levels are not high and at my age don't want to increase them.

The new NICE Guidelines on menopause do make provision for women to be prescribed testosterone off licence for low libido but in any case after a total hysterectomy you should push to be referred for this - especially if you have low libido - which is a sure sign of low T. As Taz says it is not universally available on NHS even for total hyster.

Here is the info on this site which you might not have seen:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/aftermeno.php (scroll down for info on T)
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/testosterone.php

Hurdity  x :)
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Lucy-Mae

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Re: Testosterone & premarin
« Reply #9 on: January 30, 2016, 03:22:57 PM »

Hi Hurdity, sorry only just seen ur post. Thx for ur reply. I had my surgery in 2010, n have never felt right since. When I exercise I don't feel anything in my muscles,just pain which seems to come from my bones. I had my surgery in 2010, n haven't felt right since. Sadness, not being able to cope with stress, loss of confidence, now I've got full blown depression & Anxiety. I am struggling. I know GP's don't want to know about testosterone. How did you get it?x
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Taz2

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Re: Testosterone & premarin
« Reply #10 on: January 30, 2016, 04:10:50 PM »

Just want to ask whether you have had your vitamin D level tested? So many people nowadays are deficient in this vitamin which can cause joint and muscle pain. My GP tested mine which was found to be a bit on the low side but not seriously low and I feel so much better pain after using a daily under the tongue spray.

Taz x
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Hurdity

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Re: Testosterone & premarin
« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2016, 05:15:01 PM »

I went to Dr Annie Evans (privately - she is in Bristol and Truro) and I have had enough to last about 9 months but will be testing out the system soon as I am going to ask for it to be renewed through my GP. Even if I can't, I don't have to go back to Dr E to get another prescription as apparently you can phone and then buy it at the hospital pharmacy.

Hurdity x
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Lucy-Mae

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Re: Testosterone & premarin
« Reply #12 on: January 30, 2016, 07:00:48 PM »

Hi Taz, well it's funny you should ask about vit.D, because I went to an herbalist and she asked to be tested for this plus B12 etc. Everything came back ok but they never received VIT D results. I feel like I'm always at the GP's, begging to be heard, they just are not concerned. I will try again. I'm just getting worn out with it all.xx
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Lucy-Mae

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Re: Testosterone & premarin
« Reply #13 on: January 30, 2016, 07:04:17 PM »

Hi Hurdity, yes I have heard of Annie Evans. How much does it cost, and did she test all your hormones?xx
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Hurdity

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Re: Testosterone & premarin
« Reply #14 on: February 01, 2016, 11:26:03 AM »

Her website is here with the info on costs on this tab:
http://www.drannieevans.com/#!contact-consult/c1pak

When I went she didn't do blood tests as a matter of course - there may be other women who have seen her who have arranged for them to be done but you would have to go back on another day. When I asked I would have somehow had to arrange for private tests to be done at the hospital nothing to do with the consultation.

Here is an extract from the e-mail I got about this:

"Dr Evans can arrange blood tests while you are here but I cannot arrange them in advance because she will not be here to write out a request form asking the laboratory to process the blood samples.

She doesn't measure testosterone levels and it is very difficult to judge what is normal for a woman as the normal level in the laboratory is set for men."

Hurdity x

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