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[Tempest]

Hello, fellow surgical menopause sisters!

I thought I would start a thread so that we can all catch up and see how we're getting on.

Looking forward to hearing from you! xxxx

[racjen]

Am I included in this group? My menopause was precipitated by chemotherapy rather than surgery but the result was the same - overnight menopause at the age of 50. As my private specialist said, my ovaries were completely clobbered. Doesn't seem to be anyone else on here who's had this experience so I'd really like to be in your club please  xxx

[CLKD]

>wave< Tempest .......

[Tempest]

You are very welcome, Racjen! Yes - you're very unfortunately in that 'special club' which is not particularly fun to be in! (Total understatement)!

I'm hoping we can all reconnect and share experiences - there were quite a few of us around at one point and it helps as our situations are quite different in many ways to natural menopause.

Remember - there is always light at the end of the tunnel - even though that tunnel has many twists and turns along the way. We will all 'get there' eventually and better days are ahead, although it can be so very tough. Much love!! xxxx

[racjen]

Thanks - let's get a t-shirt made! I'm really struggling to keep seeing that tiny spark of light at the end of the tunnel right now, my life seems to be unmitigated hell. I honestly can't remember what it was like to have a single day when I didn't wake up dreading what was in store, feeling some variation on acute anxiety/deadening depression or at very best lack of any feeling at all, and always that background dread about something completely unknown but potentially overwhelming. Happiness - what the hell is that? 

[Annie0710]

I never know which category I belong to ( story of my life lol)

2nd menopause literally came on one day at work, no lead ups with strange symptoms etc just wham! A wash of sudden, scary symptoms that floored me.  I now reckon that was the day my ovaries packed up and disappeared ! X

[Annie0710]

Deffo and I think I baffled everyone as to why I had this sudden onset of differen and horrendous symptoms as I was a long term oestrogen user .  That was 2012 and I finally got to try testosterone in 2016.  It's hellish feeling like that for a week let alone years ! X

[Tempest]

It's nearly 3.5 years post surgery for me and as much as I've always tried to put a positive spin on things, I'm going to be completely honest. Things are getting WORSE. And I really don't know how much longer I can keep on doing this........

My Neuro. has just 'cracked a light' this week and told me that a whole host of my symptoms are due to estrogen deficiency. I always wanted to believe that things would get better - that my body would adjust. Well - it isn't. It's actually falling apart - and just lately, my mind with it. The panic before hot flushes is horrendous, the morning anxiety crippling.

I have 2 appointments in about 3 weeks time - one at the menopause clinic and one at the gynae. who did my oopherectomy surgery. I'm going in all guns blazing - no one should have been made to go through surgical menopause cold turkey or with very low dose HRT which didn't work at all, it is inhumane and barbaric.😥😥 xxxx

[Annie0710]

Tempest you really deserve to get to the bottom of this so you can start living your life again.  I agree it's wrong they take away your production of hormones and leave you high and dry, it is inhumane xxx

[Tempest]

My Neuro. is writing to my GP to say that I need to be on HRT, and that it's beyond his specialty to advise but that I need someone capable who can take into account my complex presentation.

My endocrinologist has already written, stating the same. I saw GP last week about something completely unrelated and brought up the subject again, and they gave me a prescription for beta blockers, telling me 'this will help with vasomotor symptoms'.

That was the final straw. I was sobbing on the phone to Breathing Space the other day and the lovely man on the end of the phone said it was ridiculous! His advice was - change GP. I've wanted to do this over the last 18 months, but because I was undergoing so many tests I just continued with them for continuity.

My Neuro. also commented that because of my previous allergy profile (which has settled lately), he thinks I may have a problem with soy when I explained the rash on the gel and feeling awful on patches. I know soya milk makes me vomit - so that should have been a clue! I'm also lactose intolerant (diagnosed by Gastro.) and trialled soya milk then.

So that pretty much leaves Premarin or Tibolone, doesn't it? Unless anyone knows of any other alternatives. xxxx

[Annie0710]

Are you ok with BBs and allergy ?
If I were you I'd give Premarin a try first, then retry Tibolone.  The sad thing is a pellet might work but could they remove it quick if it wasn't the right choice ? X

[Tempest]

I was always told no on BB's Annie, as you know! I checked on internet again and yes - they are contraindicated! This GP doesn't have a flaming clue - I've had a gut full of them now. 

I have Premarin and Hubby is off for 10 days starting Monday, so think i'll start it then. I know the 'script' with this one so i'll just push through the initial vertigo this time. I cannot go on like this.....it's like something from a Stephen King novel, and that is no exaggeration! xxxx

[racjen]

I don't know your history Tempest, but what you're going through sounds an awful lot like me, even though I'm on a pretty high dose of HRT - for me the anxiety is the killer and so far nothing helps. Why were you made to go cold turkey after hysterectomy? Sounds bloody ridiculous, although having said that I've been met with a similar brick wall in terms of professional recognition and treatment, even though it's well-known that chemo kills your ovaries, so is pretty much the same as surgery. I also resisted changing GP for a year and I'm not sure why, cos now I have I'm finding things are moving a bit. So I really encourage to do that. And know that when you're waking up tomorrow with that awful feeling of dread and panic and wondering how the hell you're going to get through another day you're not alone, I'll be in there with you xxx

[Annie0710]

Ladies, I know tempests situation is slightly different as first and foremost the poor woman needs to get established on an oestrogen that works for her, but for me, having no ovaries, testosterone has been the game changer for me.  It has literally turned my life back up nearly the right way.  I'll never be who I was when I produced my own hormones but my god I'm grateful every single day I feel well for those specialists who promote testosterone and want  to poke those gps in the eye with a stick who poo poo it  (Well maybe not poke them but threaten to ) x

[racjen]

Trouble is, I've tried testosterone several times and although it helps with my anxiety, energy, well-being etc. initially, within a week or so that stops and it kicks off the extreme depressive reaction i get with drugs like ADs, beta-blockers,  pregabalin, so it's clearly doing something similar in my brain. Incredibly frustrating as I think it could really help, but I just don't seem to be able to tolerate it, andno-one seems to understand why.