Anon, you're very welcome. Hormones and whether to replace them is such a complicated, multi-layered topic. It's almost like we each need to be a scientist for our own individual bodies.
I hate the fact that your doctor was paternalistic about your hormone prescription and I'm very glad you changed doctors when you felt you needed to. However, since hysterectomy (and taking out the ovaries) puts you into menopause immediately, many doctors start quickly with HRT. To not do so, for some women, risks a quick and deep depression because so many processes are linked to those hormones. From the Mayo Clinic:
"Also, hysterectomy with removal of the ovaries can lead to an abrupt onset of menopause with more severe symptoms, including mood changes and sometimes depression."
Here's a good primer on how to decide whether HRT is for you. Because you had a hysterectomy, a couple of them do not apply to you. But it's a good place to start in gathering information about yourself and in beginning to evaluate it.
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Anon, you're very welcome. Hormones and whether to replace them is such a complicated, multi-layered topic. It's almost like we each need to be a scientist for our own individual bodies.
I hate the fact that your doctor was paternalistic about your hormone prescription and I'm very glad you changed doctors when you felt you needed to. However, since hysterectomy (and taking out the ovaries) puts you into menopause immediately, many doctors start quickly with HRT. To not do so, for some women, risks a quick and deep depression because so many processes are linked to those hormones. From the Mayo Clinic:
"Also, hysterectomy with removal of the ovaries can lead to an abrupt onset of menopause with more severe symptoms, including mood changes and sometimes depression."
Here's a good primer on how to decide whether HRT is for you. Because you had a hysterectomy, a couple of them do not apply to you. But it's a good place to start in gathering information about yourself and in beginning to evaluate it.
http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/azhealthtopics/ht/hrtdecision.htm
January 21, 2009 - 9:15amThis Comment
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