His and Her Health

I am 39 years old and had a hyst on May 9th 2005. Everything was removed but my cervix.

I am on HRT Estroderm patch 0.05 mg 2x a week. I still realy struggle. I am constantly having hot flashes..and my god the night sweats !!! I wake up in the middle of the night (if I am able to even sleep during the night) soaking wet !! I also suffer from insomnia and some mood swings !!

I suppose I need a stronger patch, but I am concerned about side effects and so on. I know my doc siad we have to monitor if I do go on something stronger because he is concerned of me developing Endometriosis from the Estrgen. I had Adenomyosis, but he said he knows that Adeno is internal Endo,and usualy once the Uteris is out you don't have to worry but I was so sick he is concerned that I could develop Endo.

Also, I have been dealing with some hair loss which I noticed when I started having problems with my ovaries. I have also dealt with hair above my lip and under my chin for years.

I am also on Metformin. I am seeing my Endocrinologist in a week to ask some questions.

Is there anything else I can do to help with the menapause besides the patch ??
Thanks

Hi there.........I like you had a total hysterectomey ( cervix and all ) when I was 35 years old due to severe endometriosis. I had a laporoscomy 7 or 8 months earlier and it grew back at a very fast rate. I explained that I already had my child and I was not interested in more children so he talked to me about a hys. I, being very un-knowledgeable about the whole thing thought that that would make it all better and that I would not have to think about more children. I have been divorced for 18 years and not remarried since. I do look forward to marrying again now, my daughter graduated high school and now I am looking forward to meeting someone but am not so sure of how my body will react? I have not been sexual with anyone on a regular basis and am concerned about how it is going to affect me.......Back to the symptoms. I went through total menopause. My gyn kept me off any estrogen for three months after the surgery..........I was not me !! I tried like eight or so different estrogen pills and even black cohash and none worked ( my liver won't allow the estrogen to be absorbed , go figure ! ) so my gyn finally tried the patch. He gave me one that was so huge that I just could not feel comfortable with it on so he gave me estraderm.......ahhhhhh..........I could sleep. Now, I have been on it for close to five years and no, it does not completely relive me of getting hot at night and losing sleep but it definatly is the best thing yet. I would like to see if there is anything more natural that might help as I am not extra concerned about breast cancer and all but it is in the back of my mind and would definatly look into it if I knew of a product to check out. I truly know what you are going through and if you would like to chat some more about this , write back.
Thanks Cammie

<small>[ 09-30-2005, 05:39 PM: Message edited by: Moderator ]</small>

Hi Cammie
Thanks for writting back !!

So what dose of Estroderm are you on ??
I tell yah I still get very tired !! I am exauhsted right now !! Yet it is hard for me to sleep at night.
It actualy gets depressing sometimes, but it is a heck of alot better than dealing with the pain I used to be in that is for sure. Instead of waking up in the middle of the night in horrible pain I wake up sweating.

Please lets keep in touch !!!
THANKS !!!