Do you regret having your ovaries removed?

Posted by blueskies1530 @blueskies1530, Jan 25 8:23am

Since getting a total hysterectomy four months ago for adenomyosis and endometriosis, I do feel better without my uterus. However, because I had been dealing with the awful genitourinary ups and downs of perimenopause for two years, I opted to go for ovarian removal and manage the symptoms using HRT. I didn't process how difficult these post-op months would be to get my HRT right. I move lighter now that my uterus is gone, can walk without needing a belly band, no longer feel like I'll prolapse and my skin stopped burning. But I have to say that my bladder and vagina miss my ovaries. Since surgery, I've been dumped into a genitourinary wasteland. I'm too dry for Vagifem, though I wish I wasn't because there are just a few ingredients in those little tablets. Imvexxy, which used to be enough, became insufficient, too, so we tried Intrarosa which for the first three weeks was glorious. Then I got irritable, hungry and sleepless and my vaginal skin turned red which I assumed was just irritation. A few weeks passed then I needed a small operation requiring an antiobiotic and my gyno said I have another yeast infection, making it two of those buggers post-op. Yeast infections look different without a cervix. It's only been four months so I know it can take a year to get the worst symptoms under control. Can anyone relate?

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Profile picture for blueskies1530 @blueskies1530

@gravity3 The studies have been changing. I'm 49 and my mom is of the generation that is terrified of hormones. No one has told her that her bones might be healthier now had she have received estrogen. She's had several fractures over the years. My stepmom is on the Prolia shot due to bone pain and fragility. Both insist they didn't need the hormones but no one has told them. My mom at 72 still has hot flashes.

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@blueskies1530

I am so sorry. It must worry you a great deal.

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Profile picture for gravity3 @gravity3

@blueskies1530

I am so sorry. It must worry you a great deal.

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@gravity3 Lately, the what-ifs plague my mind. All I could think pre-hysterectomy was that I was trying so many hormone options to stop the chronic bleeding that I was sarcastically going to give myself cancer. So I asked my gyno to pull everything out when at first I told him I wanted to keep one ovary. I think my original gut instinct was tight.

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Profile picture for blueskies1530 @blueskies1530

@gravity3
Did you feel like you went through a second menopause after having your hysterectomy? My mother-in-law had a hysterectomy last year at 78 and started experiencing hot flashes again. Her last period was when she was 54.

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@blueskies1530 I had a hysterectomy at 75(2 yrs ago)
Started getting hot flashes again. Diagnosed with high risk fracture osteo a year later. Seriously thing if taking hormones .

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Profile picture for Susan @csuhilty

@blueskies1530 I had a hysterectomy at 75(2 yrs ago)
Started getting hot flashes again. Diagnosed with high risk fracture osteo a year later. Seriously thing if taking hormones .

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@csuhilty I started having joint pain that kept me awake at night around 48, before a hysterectomy. My NP started me on the patch and the pain mostly went away. Post hysterectomy, I have lots of shoulder blade pain. My chiropractor said he sees that in women postmenopausal. It's difficult to pull on a shirt; button-up is easier. I'm only 49. My gynecologist said that my Estradiol can be raised closer to 100. I'm at 62 right now. I'm thinking of adding a patch to my gel. So I'll talk to him about that next week. I've had lots of genitourinary pain which I still need more help with.

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