Hormone Replacement Therapy

wolfera

I have to have a full hysterectomy in the next week or two. I’m 37 and not close to menopause. My doctor has told me that I’ll to begin hormone replacement therapy, both to ease symptoms and to replace what I will no longer produce. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

thank you!

wolfera

oldbeauty said:

No opinion, just sayin'....

You seem to be very early in your process, still with pre-surgical consults to go.  I was past menopause when I first was diagnosed so I did not have the "instant menopause" issue to deal with as do ladies your age.  However, be an informed consumer of HRT.  My own path in survivorship is to limit estrogen in my life because my type of cancer, endometrioid adenocarcinoma, feeds on estrogen.  So, I limit my intake of soy-based foods, as an example.  More importantly, I have worked diligently to lose weight because fat stores as estrogen.  I follow a keto-genic diet to maintain my weight loss.  Be alert to what your pathology and tissue-testing shows once you've had the hysterectomy, and be questioning of post-surgical hormone replacement until you have been assured that it will not feed cancer cells that might remain after surgery.  Best wishes, Oldbeauty

Thank you for the advice!

Thank you for the advice! Trying to take it all in. 

oldbeauty

No opinion, just sayin'....

You seem to be very early in your process, still with pre-surgical consults to go.  I was past menopause when I first was diagnosed so I did not have the "instant menopause" issue to deal with as do ladies your age.  However, be an informed consumer of HRT.  My own path in survivorship is to limit estrogen in my life because my type of cancer, endometrioid adenocarcinoma, feeds on estrogen.  So, I limit my intake of soy-based foods, as an example.  More importantly, I have worked diligently to lose weight because fat stores as estrogen.  I follow a keto-genic diet to maintain my weight loss.  Be alert to what your pathology and tissue-testing shows once you've had the hysterectomy, and be questioning of post-surgical hormone replacement until you have been assured that it will not feed cancer cells that might remain after surgery.  Best wishes, Oldbeauty

Armywife

oldbeauty said:

No opinion, just sayin'....

You seem to be very early in your process, still with pre-surgical consults to go.  I was past menopause when I first was diagnosed so I did not have the "instant menopause" issue to deal with as do ladies your age.  However, be an informed consumer of HRT.  My own path in survivorship is to limit estrogen in my life because my type of cancer, endometrioid adenocarcinoma, feeds on estrogen.  So, I limit my intake of soy-based foods, as an example.  More importantly, I have worked diligently to lose weight because fat stores as estrogen.  I follow a keto-genic diet to maintain my weight loss.  Be alert to what your pathology and tissue-testing shows once you've had the hysterectomy, and be questioning of post-surgical hormone replacement until you have been assured that it will not feed cancer cells that might remain after surgery.  Best wishes, Oldbeauty

Oldbeauty

Aside from the fact that I love your name, I love your description of diligently working on your weight.  Would you be willing to share some of your best practices?  I need to lose 50 pounds and avoid estrogen triggers too.  

oldbeauty

Armywife said:

Oldbeauty

Aside from the fact that I love your name, I love your description of diligently working on your weight.  Would you be willing to share some of your best practices?  I need to lose 50 pounds and avoid estrogen triggers too.  

Diet

Thank you, Armywife.  My screen name is what my husband calls me; it's the endearment the Welsh coal miner patriarch calls his wife in the novel "How Green Was My Valley."

My diet is the keto-genic diet, which you can find by googling the term.  I use as a reference the site "Diet Doctor."  I lost 25 pounds in a few months.  It is a very low carbohydrate, high protein and moderate fat diet.  I think the chemo messed up my metabolism.  I never lost weight during treatment but afterwards, even though I continued eating my regular healthful diet, I gained and gained until I was 150 pounds (I'm 5 feet tall).  I think my weight loss might also be helped by the Metformin I started taking this year, now up to 2,000 mg per day.  The Keto diet is not easy.  I think it's probably easier for a single person.  If you are in a family household, I would think it would be helpful if everyone was sympathetic to what the dieter is trying to achieve.  The science of the diet seems sensible to me.  The body can burn only two substances for energy--sugar or fat.  If you "starve" the body of sugar from sugar-laden foods like beverages, fruits, starchy veggies, and grains, then the body will burn fat and weight loss results.

It was easy to follow the diet in March-June, before the summer local fruit and vegetable season started.  I did eat berries, peaches, sweet corn and tomatoes galore this summer but I balanced that with adherence to the daily "carb count."  But it's hard to eliminate most fruit, all grains, potatoes, pasta, starchy veg and fried food, of course.  That's the part the rest of the family might protest.  But it worked for me.  I also go the gym at least 5 times a week.  Nothing really overwhelming.  We walk there and back, 1.25 miles, and then I do another 2 miles at a brisk pace on the treadmill, and then I spend an hour or so on balance exercises for my neuropathy, yoga, and strengthening machines.  I am retired so it is easy for me to make this modest commitment.

Check it out, it may work for you.  Good luck.  Best wishes, Oldbeauty

Armywife

Thank You!

Much to ponder here!  I have a treadmill at home, but of course with a broken ankle I'm just hoping to be able to walk properly again - very long road ahead.  Yes, you're right that it would be easier single - Armyhusband would never give up his potatoes and pasta!  I'm going to work on trying it myself though.  Thanks again!

NoTimeForCancer

I had not gone through

I had not gone through menopause (49) when diagnosed with both the typical "garden variety" and agressive UPSC.  Surgery threw me in to menopause, and while I wondered about it, I think I was more concerned with killing the cancer.  I was fortunate my side effects were minimal, I would wake up feeling like I would spontaneous combust - not so much sweating, but I think it is how I see how the lack of hormones have changed my skin and more.  

As hormones would feed UPSC, they are out for me, and like oldbeauty, I read packages and avoid soy as the body sees/processes it like hormones.  

TeddyandBears_Mom

wolfera

My neice had to have a full hysterectomy at age 35 for cervical cancer. She went into surgical menopause and had anxiety issues for about 6 months. She was not warned that this happens about 50% of the time with younger people. They put her on hormone patches and anxiety meds to get her through the worst part of the impacts. She is now 40 and doing well. She is still on the patches but only stayed on the anxiety meds for about 6 months. I hope your surgery goes well and you get good news post surgery. Please keep us posted!

Love and Hugs,

Cindi

wolfera

Thanks for the info! I am

Thanks for the info! I am curious to see what my doc recommends. I have come to terms with permanent infertility and the hysterectomy. Saving my life is more important. It is strange to wrap my brain around suddenly being in menopause in my 30’s, but I will get there...

LadyMox

I am 42 and will soon get

I am 42 and will soon get gutted of my female parts (Stage 4B).  I'm a bit scared of the sudden menopause too and what it do to my body, but I'm more scared of the cancer as I'm at an advanced stage and it might take me even with the surgery. I had hopes I might have a child with my husband but I suppose I still have my cats

CheeseQueen57

Menopause

I went through early menopause at 39. I was on HRT for 5 years because that’s what they did back then. But I stopped when studies came out that it did more harm than good. I had minor hot flashes but it wasn’t so bad. And I enjoyed not having periods although I was thinking about having a second baby at the time. But luckily I have my prince who I had at 35. Guess it was meant to be