Is Menopause FOREVER? - Menopause Message Board

needhealing777 · 05-26-2006, 09:53 AM

Do Menopausal symptoms last forever or is it just a specific amount of time and then you level out? I'm asking because I've never been sure about this whole thing and I am having a hysterectomy next month and Doc recommends taking ovaries, only because of my age (47)...I will then be smacked in the face with menopause and am scared of all the symptoms...if I go through it naturally is it easier to handle? And if I knew it was just for a "time" I might be able to handle it better..I don't want to take hormones, but if I have my ovaries out will have to I guess...I am most scared of depression and anxiety and irritablilty...

Belle2003 · 05-26-2006, 07:01 PM

I have not had a hysterectomy, but I have read that if your ovaries are taken out, you are thrown into immediate menopause with some symptoms. My mother had this done and she immediately went on HRT from age 45 to 74. She just went off of the HRT this year with no breast cancer problems, etc. The HRT was a lifesaver to her. Whereas if you have your ovaries that are still producing some estrogen, your symptoms could vary due to how much or little estrogen your ovaries are producing. You could just have mild symptoms. It is always best to keep your ovaries, unless there was cancer or something.

There are several ladies on this board who have had hysterectomies and they can give you first hand information on how it effected them. I think the length of menopause symptoms depends upon the individual.

If the doctor feels that it is in your best interest to have your ovaries removed, ask him about bioidentical hormones instead of HRT. I have heard wonderful things about them. I hope your surgery goes well and you are feeling better soon.

needhealing777 · 05-27-2006, 09:14 AM

I always thought it was better to keep ovaries too...they only want them because I can cut risk of ovarian cancer and since I am 47 they don't think the few years I may have before menopause is worth it...I don't know..it makes sense, but I'm scared being thrown into it would make symptoms more severe and what if I couldn't tolerate HRT...also docs only keeps people on HRT for 5 years..then what? I don't understand why..I haven't really asked him about other methods like natural hormones...because I was planning on keeping ovaries all along.

lauralu2000 · 05-27-2006, 04:35 PM

Hi..I do not know much about Hysterectomy's however I would like to suggest to you....and maybe you already have...but if I were you ...I would go ahead and post this question on the Hysterectomy board that there is here. There are some really knowledgeable helpful women on that board that I know could help answer your questions...Good Luck to you

Middleagedcrazy · 05-29-2006, 09:13 AM

I had the surgery ten years ago. I still have my ovaries, but the doctor never bothered to tell me that even removing just your uterus still sends you to menopause sooner than otherwise. I had read so much stuff about women not feeling like women after the surgery, but for me it was the most wonderful thing that ever happened.
To be free of that monthly grind, plus, I can tell you that after reading on this board, I know I dodged a whole lot of extra misery that I might have had to deal with. I have read on here where so many women are dealing with extra misery due to periods that won't stop, and profuse bleeding from periods that last weeks.
With you being 47 and already at an age to experience peri, you should check into bio-identical hormones. I know I sound like a broken record on here about them, but I wish someone would have clued me in 5 or 6 years ago when my symptoms started and I could have avoided so much misery. My insurance doesn't pay for my hormones and they are 24.00 a month. I felt better within one week of starting them and I have cut my BP medicine in half! I am sure you could benefit from them even if you weren't having the surgery. Good luck to you.