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[Sparky64]

Hi.. I had a total abdominal hysterectomy with both ovaries removed a month ago. I am healing nicely and not overdoing it. A week after the operation WHAM!!! Surgical menopause hit, the hot flushes are absolutely awful, i'm having them every 20 minutes night times are a nightmare  i'm lucky if I get any sleep at all     I had blood test takes just before I came out of hospital and they showed I am suffering with anaemia, the doctor has given me iron tablets with not much improvement) I am soooo tired. I don't want to go down the HRT route (my friend has and she's put on 3 stone).. I have got a box of menopace here but don't know if it's ok to take it while i'm taking iron tablets, it's also expensive and i'm on a limited budget    I'm 49  any suggestions??

Thanks Sparky x

[CLKD]

    have one of these 

It amazes me: and ANNOYS me too : that before total surgery the lady isn't given ALL the information required.  Have a read of the menus left of screen  - menopause and HRT after Hysterectomy for example. Use the search button too. I am sure someone else will be along!

Perhaps you should have been given iron supplements before Surgery!!!! so that you were supported as this is a huge operation and quite a shock to the system.  When do you have a check up with the Consultant?  If not, then make a follow up, go along with a list.  You may find if you ring the Hospital that there is a support group.

In the meantime, browse round 

[Hurdity]

Hi Sparky

  from me too!

In your position I would most definitely go onto HRT. Lack of oestrogen will likely to cause tiredness. Also you are only a month after your op which is major surgery so the body takes time to recover

As CLKD says there is a lot of info in the menu on the left.

http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/aftermeno.php (orange menu)

Also read about testosterone replacement deficiency of which can lead to symtpoms such as tiredness amongst others, especially after TAH. There is some ifno on it in that link and also in this one: (green menu)

http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/testosterone.php

Also you might be interested in what leading gynae John Studd has to say:

http://www.studd.co.uk/testosterone_women.php

and probably elsewhere on his site.

Some of the testo treatements are no longer available but gel can be prescribed if necessary (along with HRT - not usually on its own). I would recommend having a blood test to check and also if possible ask for referral to a menopause clinic where you can have specialist advice.

There is no need to put on 3 stone after going on HRT - you cannot necessarily attribute this to the HRT, unless you maybe have a reaction to the progestogen or similar. I have been on HRT for 6 years and I am only half a stone overweight - and this is not to do with HRT (I am 60). many other women on here will report the same. If you were not anywhere near menopausal before your op then yes you may need to modify your diet and exercise but as long as you are careful any weight gain can be kept to a minimum.

Here is some info on this site about weight gain, menopause and HRT
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/weightgain.php

Lastly when I think I need an iron boost I have always taken liquid Floridix, a concentrated liquid herbal iron supplement which is very gentle and effective.

Menopace is just a vitamin and mineral supplement so I would check your iron tablets and see what else they contain and compare to the ingredient list and daily dose for menopace. You don't want to overdose on vitamins but if they just contain iron then I presume this is OK? I think some vitamins may affect absorption of iron?

Hope this helps

Hurdity x

[Sparky64]

Thank You both for your replies    They didn't tell me anything about surgical menopause before I had my hysterectomy. What info I have read has been on the net, but I will have a good look on here when I have had my shower n got sorted   

I had another blood test last week and go back to the doctors in the morning for the results, I haven't had an appointment yet to go back for my follow up after my hysterectomy..

I wasn't near menopause before the op I had it done due to getting severe pain and heavy bleeding when I got my period I had tried almost everything else they offered (refused the mirena coil) hysterectomy was the last resort.. Surgery wise i'm fine just a few aches and pains and a terrible swollen stomach especially at the end of the day.. But I really wasn't prepared for the surgical menopause and think that they should offer more information on this..
Another hot flush is here so i'm going to stand in front of the freezer with the door open it brilliant 

Sparky xx

PS.. They did a blood test a week before the op and I wasn't anaemic then..

[Taz2]

I agree with Hurdity in that you really should consider HRT. Your body is in shock - surgical menopause doesn't give you any chance to gradually get used to a lowering of oestrogen. As for putting on weight while taking it - some do and some don't and some, like a friend of mine, actually lose weight.

You will find lots of help and support on here. i do get a little annoyed that women are not always told of the effects of removing the ovaries. Consultants tend to go along the lines of "May as well take the lot" without explaining that the ovaries are important.

Taz x 

[Joyce]

I agree with others about HRT. I couldn't cope off it.

With regards to weight increase. My mum was never on HRT and still put on the weight. Think it's more to do with having slower metabolism as we get older.

[Sparky64]

Thanks for your replies.. I have read a lot of the articles on this website about HRT and read what other people think of it, it has given me a lot to think about.. I will see what the results of my blood test are in the morning and what the Dr has to say.. And will go from there, I will let you know how I get on..

Anybody having a hysterectomy think long and hard about having your ovaries removed ( if you are able to keep them )..

Sparky xx

[CLKD]

My Gynae was 'take them all' - having seen ladies with ovarian cancer which is difficult to diaganose .....

I think the medical profession needs  .......... do they think women are aware of what total hysterectomy means to our future health  .  Perhaps speaking with the Practice Nurse and ask her to do 'evenings around meno/hysterectomy' . (Note to self).

[Sparky64]

Hi.. I think in my case the pain (and I can stand pain) I was having before, during and after my period was coming from my ovaries, my grandmother also died after having cancer of the womb was a big factor in my ovaries being removed. Also the consultant told me that quite often further down the line many women had problems with their ovaries ( if they kept them after hysterectomy )  Personally I did what I thought was right for me.. I just didn't realise how severe the symptoms of surgical menopause would be..

Anyway I went back to the doctors this morning for my results, I am still anaemic but not as bad as I was, he told me to continue with the tablets and go back in 3 weeks, I told him about my menopause symptoms and he said " you have had a major operation and your body is in shock at the removal of my ovaries.. He said HRT wasn't an option for me due to all the side effects and he also said that all vitamins were a waste of money and didn't work" Funny thing was I hadn't even asked about HRT (he just jumped right on it) I am just so tired.. It doesn't help that I also have an overactive bladder so now if i'm not awake to go to the toilet I am awake having hot flushes.. No man would put up with it!!

Sparky x

[Taz2]

Did your doc say what side effects he's talking about??

Taz

[Sparky64]

No!! Just a typical man!!! I had been thinking for a while about changing my doctor, time to do it I think..

Sparky

[Rowan]

Sparky64 you will find an awful lot of information here about surgical menopause

http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/

[CLKD]

GO back and educate your GP 

Take a list of your symptoms and ask what he meant exactly.  Sometimes they talk to patients as if the patient were a mind reader    ..... or if they thought they had already explained the ins and outs .........

[Sparky64]

He thinks because he has been my doctor for 20 yrs he knows best..  He doesn't... No man would put up with what us women do!! I am just so tired the flushes are bad enough through the day but I dread night time and going to bed, I have Zopiclone but don't use it all the time just when really tired but when I took 1 last week I still woke up with the flushes and couldn't get back to sleep.
They sometimes make me feel sick and when I have a really bad 1 it is followed by a blinding headache 

Thank you for all the help advice and links, it's nice to know I am not on my own..

Sparky

[Sparky64]

PS... The hot flushes make me feel sick and give me a headache, not the Zopiclone..

Sparky