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Menopause because of a Hysterectomy

by Deborah K.
(Danville, AL, USA)

I was 41 when I had a hyst for a fibroid on my left ovary. I was not told that I had a choice to do Natural bio identical progesterone to shrink the fibroid. When I woke up I had lost the ovary and she took my uterus too. I was in so much pain in the hospital I was just numb. When I got home three days later I had an attack that sent me to the hospital. They thought a blood clot had broken loose from my legs. After tests and being told I was fine I was sent home. I still kept having these awful attacks. I thought I was having a heart attack, I could not breath, could not walk and had a burning sensation in my lower back. I lost my job and could not work or do everyday chores. I kept feeling like I was going to die.

So this whole time I am going to my surgeon and my regular Doctor and they are telling me I am depressed and that I need to see a shrink to take a antidepressant. I am yelling at them that there is something hormonally wrong. They take test and say no your estrogen is fine. OK how about the adrenals and the thyroid or how about my progesterone. No all is fine!! NO IT IS NOT I keep telling them. My surgeon says there is nothing more I can do for you my regular Doctor gives me Xanax. I gain 70 lbs, my feet are so swollen I can't walk. I am going to the hospital for chest pains. I am not sleeping my family is beside themselves. I am a wreck in two years I am DIEING!

I get online and start to do 5000 hours of research working everyday and night when I am not asleep from exhaustion. I read Susannah somers book I read Dr. Hotze I read everything I can on bio identicals. I see a therapist she insists I get my thyroid checked. I do and find that I have low estrogen, Progesterone, testosterone, thyroid adrenals, you name it my body is like what the hell I am dieing on you. I go online again and look up a bio identical Doctor in my area and make a appointment. She tells me she can help me. So we start Bi-est and Progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, Thyroid, Pregnenolone, Vitamin D3 5000 IU and Vitamin B12 complex. I felt a little better for the first day but started to feel worse. Talk to the Doctor on day three and she tells me to get off of the Bi-Est, Testosterone and Progestrone. I think no I want to stay on the Progesterone and the testosterone. So after Day five I just take the Thyroid, Progestrone, Testosterone, DHEA, pregnenolone Vitamin D3 and vitamine B12complex.

Guess what I feel a lot better. I am going to keep this up for three days and see how I do then I will let my Doctor know what I am doing. I think the most important thing for us to remember is that we know our bodies and we have to heal them ourselves at times we need a Doctor to help us along too. Find a Doctor who is a partner and works with you. I have been through 8 Doctors before I found the right one. Keep fingers crossed and Good LUCK to all of us!

Comments for Menopause because of a Hysterectomy

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May 27, 2010
 Menopause because of a Hysterectomy
by: Wray

Hi Debroah. What an horrific journey you've had! I'm shocked, but not surprised, nothing surprises me now, as I've heard it all. Some women can transition from 'castration' without too many troubles, but for others it's a total shock to the system. All your hormones would have plummeted, your neurotransmitters too from the shock, but the significant hormone would have been the progesterone. This is needed not only by the uterus, but to activate the GABA receptor sites, GABA is one of our most calming neurotransmitters. A lack of GABA leads to anxiety, two of your symptoms, difficulty breathing and a 'heart attack' was due to a lack of GABA. Please see here. A lack of progesterone also leads to myopathy, or muscle weakness, which makes walking difficult.

I'm glad you're off the Bi-est, we have more than enough oestrogen now, in fact it's impossible to avoid it, please see here. And here. I also don't believe you need testosterone. It's often given in the mistaken belief it helps libido. There is scant evidence of this, please see here. It also increases the risk of getting adult acne, hair loss, or facial hair. And please come off the DHEA, it can cause ovarian cysts and cancer, please see here. And here. And here. I'm glad you're taking 5000iu's vitamin D, it's a good dose. Interestingly a lack of vitamin D reduces the benefits of progesterone, see here. And here. And here. Take care, Wray
May 29, 2010
 Wray on menopause
by: Deborah

I was taking the progestrone 100mg micronized capsules but I am having problems with my blood sugar hitting low. I tried to work through it but it became worse and worse. I am very chemical sensitive and once I stopped the progesterone I felt better today. I worry though I really know I need to take the progestrone. I have heard that the cream can build up in the fat cells and cause you to have a surge of progesterone and can make you sick. I had no DHEA was not good for you. I will be reading up on that.

Wray, what do you use to get your libido back? I have not had any feelings in over two years since my hyst. Thank you for this wonderful site. It is nice to be able to ask questions and have someone to help you search and find a way to get better.
May 30, 2010
 Wray thank you for your help
by: Deborah

Wray, I am so glad that my family had put you on my face book. I am so excited about getting on the Natpro. I ordered it last night. Well this morning I was talking to my sister and told her I am putting my Daughter on Natpro too because she has had really awful painful periods. I had them too at that age. I DO NOT WANT HER TO GO THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH! So anyways my sister has been suffering from endometriosis for almost 20 years. I told her about all your information and that I will send her your page. She is so excited she has heard that progestrone is so good but could not find a good quailty progesterone. And then her daughter suffers from IBS and allergies so she is going to look into it for her daughter too. I will be putting my husband on it and she her husband.

Wray your a God send and it is so wonderful to have found your site. I appreciate all you do and for being out there helping my family and me. It is so confusing and it sure helps to know you're not alone on this journey called LIFE. Again Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Jun 04, 2010
 Menopause because of a Hysterectomy
by: Wray

Hi Deborah. Bless you for the kind words! Progesterone must saturate the fat cells in order to work... "may have a preference for saturating the fatty layer below the dermis. Because there appears to be rapid uptake and release of steroids by red blood cells passing through capillaries, these cells may play an important role in transporting progesterone to salivary glands and other tissues." See here. And here. I've never heard of it causing a surge and making you feel sick! As for libido, please read that paper I gave you, it's long but worth reading. I suggest you use some cream in your vagina every night, it can prevent dryness, and hopefully increase libido too, but as with all natural substances it can take time. Oral progesterone is not the best delivery system, as most gets destroyed in the gut and liver, please see here. And here. The reason you felt better when you stopped the progesterone is that initially it can have a stimulatory affect, but once you have enough in your system, everything quietens down. Do read that page on oestrogen dominance, as it can take us by surprise, most disconcerting when it does. I suggest you use a high dose initially, about 200mg/day, maybe more, as I think you will feel worse on too low a dose. Your reaction to the oral progesterone makes me suspect this. It's easy enough to reduce once you're feeling better. I put my daughter on progesterone. She was 14 at the time and talking of feeling 'down', I had bad depression during puberty and like you did not want her to suffer it too. She's now 28 and still using it. Progesterone can help endo, please see our page on it here. But the dose has to be very high initially, this is the protocol I suggested to one woman with pain 24 hrs a day, she now has none and cancelled the hyst she had scheduled...
Tsp -- Days-- mg-- Tubes
3-- 4-- 500mg/day-- 1
2-- 6-- 330mg/day-- 1
11/2-- 8-- 250mg/day-- 1
11/2-- 8-- 250mg/day-- 1
Total-- 26-- 4
I asked her to use it daily, throughout her period too, and to continue daily on the 250mg/day for 2-3 months. Then reduce slowly till the optimum is found, finally to follow her cycle again. IBS... what is she eating? The allergies are probably caused by a leaky gut, allowing undigested food into the blood stream, I've run out of space to continue! Take care, Wray

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