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Forced menopause has changed me can anyone relate?
Three months ago, my life changed in ways I never expected. I understand that my cancer treatment is helping protect my future, and I'm grateful for that, but no one could have prepared me for the emotional toll of being thrown into menopause, while also taking an aromatase inhibitor. I don't understand how women get through this. The crying comes out of nowhere. One minute, I'm okay, and the next, I'm in tears for no reason I can explain. I've always been a strong, resilient woman. I've handled life's challenges head on. Now I barely recognize myself, and it's frightening. I keep asking myself, what is happening to me? Is this really what estrogen loss feels like?Is it the medication?Is it all of it together? I feel like I’m falling apart, and the last thing I want is to do is take another medication to manage the side effects of the medications I'm already taking. One thing I have noticed is that when I'm outside in the sunshine walking or just sitting in nature, I feel a little more like myself for a while. It's as if I reconnect with the woman I was before this happened. Those moments give me hope that she's still in there. I'm reaching out because I need to know I'm not the only one. If you've been forced through menopause and taking an aromatase inhibitor did you experience these emotional ups and downs? Does it get it better with time. What helped you cope? Sometimes just hearing from someone who's walked this road means more than anything a doctor can say. Thank you for listening.
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@gravity3 I'm going to end up needing to try laser of my upper lip. Electrolysis is super painful in that spot. I'm currently dermaplaning and doing some tweezing. No matter how well I wash my hands I think I end up rubbing Estradiol and testosterone on my face. The patch didn't help me enough post-hysterectomy. I ended up on gel that I rub on everywhere. Maybe I could ask later for a .100 patch plus another dose of patch to add to it.
@blueskies1530
Do you take progesterone and vaginal estradiol cream.
Even if you don't have a uterus there can be benefits to taking progesterone.
I forget if you've stated your age. I was started on .025 because I was 77 when I started with menopause happening for me at 38. I think that my current .0375 will be my highest
@gravity3 I'm 50 and had a total hysterectomy at 49 due to bleeding that wouldn't stop. I take 100mg Progesterone at bedtime, sometimes more. After my hysterectomy, the .100 patch wasn't enough for me so my gynecologist put me on a Estradiol gel that I rub in all over my body.
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2 ReactionsI am not in your situation and would never presume to relate. For information, you may want to consider checking out Dr. Corrine Menn on Substack or her website. She is a OBGYN, Menopause expert and cancer survivor:
https://open.substack.com/pub/drmennobgyn/p/menopause-and-cancer-start-here
Podcast with Dr. Corrine Menn & Dr. Lauren Stricher:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-streichers-inside-information-menopause-midlife/id1615785832
I had a surgical induced menopause after total hysterectomy 7 weeks ago.
I’m feeling terrible. Not sleeping well. No energy. My skin has suddenly lost elasticity . I had grade 1 uterine cancer which I think was either caused or exacerbated by having been prescribed oestrogen gel without progesterone for 6 months. My cancer was oestrogen receptive. I was on the oestrogen prior due to hot flushes, joint aches and pains.
The oestrogen certainly made me feel better. I now feel exhausted. Hot flushes have returned with a vengeance day and night. I am grateful to be alive but hating the way I feel. There is controversy about taking oestrogen again . Can anyone relate to this and help. I just want to feel better or what is the point
@blueskies1530
I liked the estradiol and testosterone pellets . But I switched back to patch and cream....expense and too many office visits.
@gravity3 What's your dose on the patch?
@blueskies1530
Now it is .0375. started at .025 with 100 progesterone (no uterus), testosterone , estradiol cream
Now progesterone 200.
I was 77 when I started.
Started with estradiol/testosterone pellet. Now patch and cream.