Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[linz57]

Hi. I have recently undergone surgery for a hip replacement and was told by the hospital I could continue to use my HRT patch as it’s transdermal. Apparently it’s oral HRT that can have a higher risk of blood clots after surgery.
Anyway, a couple of days after surgery a young doctor said he wasn’t sure, but he thought it best to take the patch off for a few weeks.
It’s causing me extra pain and discomfort on top of the surgery and rehabilitation pain , plus I’m having to go pee all the time. I realise this symptom can happen irrespective of using HRT or not, but it’s really making me hot and miserable to he honest.
I have read on Louise Newsons page that I don’t have to remove the patch at all. I don’t know what to do as I could do without the additional distress this is causing me.
Has anyone else had any experience of this situation and could offer some advice please?

[bombsh3ll]

You absolutely do not need to discontinue transdermal estradiol for surgery!

Young women are not placed into chemical menopause in advance of elective surgery, and there is no good reason to expect someone who is getting their estrogen through the skin to endure abrupt estrogen withdrawal at the same time as undergoing/recovering from surgery.

This is actually harmful and if anything will delay your healing as well as causing unnecessary suffering. Think how long it takes lacerations on frail, dessicated little old ladies' legs to heal because they have no gonadal hormones, and all the urine infections they get.

The estradiol in the patch is exactly the same molecule and your body doesn't know or care where it came from.

I wonder how he would fancy a few weeks without his testicles?

[linz57]

Well exactly, these men know virtually nothing about HRT yet feel they can tell us what to do.
I stayed on it before surgery, so why the hell he advised leaving it off after is beyond me.
I know there is an increased risk of blood clots post hip surgery,  but the way I feel now after stopping abruptly is not helping either my mental or physical health.
I’ve often thought, how about those women who still have their hormones and undergo the surgery. They can’t suddenly remove them before their operation.
I am on blood thinning injections for a month and am mobilising so I think I might start to add the patch back.

[bombsh3ll]

Estradiol in its natural form at physiological levels is not thrombogenic.

He is getting it mixed up with birth control or oral HRT tablets both of which do confer a (small) clot risk with surgery.

[linz57]

Thank you.
I’m sure my recovery will go quicker if I don’t feel so awful all the time.