Surgical menopause
Hi I’m new to here but not to endo and looking for some advice/support? I had a total hysterectomy 5 days ago after 20+ years of endo(I’m 45) and 5 previous surgeries, my last one being 8 months ago where they also diagnosed me with adenomyosis, hence the hysterectomy.
This time around the endo had grown back already in previous places too numerous to list but mainly bladder, bowel and surrounding ligaments.
Much of my pain stemmed from my remaining ovary which loved to grow endometriomas hence now being put into surgical menopause, plus I was already in perimenopause and struggling with multiple symptoms.
I’m really struggling with pain and recovery and just wondering if anyone has any advice on starting HRT and finding the right balance. I’ve been given the patches which I’m going to start tomorrow. Feel very apprehensive about it all and am just hoping that things are going to get better.
Welcome to the community, though I’m sorry to hear you’re in pain and have a tough recovery. I’m 41, and have been dealing with endo since I was 12. So I’m right there with you with understanding perimenopause and multiple surgeries. For me, the last surgery was the hardest to recover from, though I didn’t have a hysterectomy.
While I haven’t gone through surgical menopause or natural menopause myself, I do know people who’ve taken HRT. Many said they felt “back to normal” in terms of side effects like hot flashes, mood swings, and insomnia. But everyone’s experience is different.
Let me leave you with these stories about HRT from our community members: https://endometriosis.net/living/hrt-hysterectomy; https://endometriosis.net/living/hysterectomy-experience; https://endometriosis.net/living/surgical-menopause
We’d love to know how things as you recover! Sending you 🤗 - Keri (patient leader)
