Surgical Menopause

[flawed_gem]

Has anyone suffered with surgical menopause? I had a hysterectomy about 8 yrs ago. 2 weeks ago I had both ovaries removed because of a 12 cm complex cyst ( which was thankfully benign).
I have been having problems sleeping since the surgery and getting dull headaches but felt otherwise fine untill the other night. I have been worried about loosing my sex drive. I was very sexualy active before my surgery, but now feel that i have lost some sensations, like my breasts, they have always been very sensitive to touch, now they just feel like 2 lumps of flesh. I think about sex, but do not desire it, I know, its only been 2 weeks but I feel that I should at least feel something, but there is nothing.
The other night I started crying and have not been able to stop since. I feel that with the removal of my ovaries has taken away that which makes me a woman, i feel a nothingness. I feel undesirable.
The thing is, I have always been a strong minded person, I have overcome many things in my life and feel that I should be able to deal with this. it has been sugested that I go on HRT.
My question is, has anyone had surgical menopause and not used HRT? is it mind over matter? Because at` the moment my mind is just running with this stuff and I feel i'm just making myself worse. If someone can tell me that they talked themself out of symptoms then I think I would be able to use that and work with it.
My mother went through natural menopause with very few problems and I am a lot like her in many ways.

[wannasmile63]

I have been going through surgical menopause for the past 9 months, and so far its the worst experience of my life. Just can't seem to get on top of things at all. I am on so much medication, HRT, antidepressant, BP and more, but still something new crops up every couple of weeks. It dictates my whole life and never know what each day is going to bring........ At the moment I have a BP reading of 187/113 and thats with being on 2 different types of meds, so go figure. I do need to lose some weight, but am so scared of to much exertion with the fear of having a massive heart attack or stroke at any time. Its all so confusing, just wish I could have kept my ovaries. After everything I've gone through, I feel our ovaries are just as important as the major organs, and need to be cherished for every moment we have them.

[hazyworld]

i had a complete hystrectomy in 1996 an i feel i have never been the same,i took hormones oops hystrectomy was in 95 for years but at least the last 8 years nothing,i always had strong sex drive but it declined,i met my hubby 7 years ago and my sex drive was wild now its almost gone,i have no energy and i struggle with anxiety and depression, should have stayed on hormones i have been on xanax for 20 years(i had tubal ligation in 86) and antidepressants off and on for years,none seem to help,dr just put me on estradiol patch,but it wont satay on and seemed to make my anxiety way bad,going to a dr on the 16th that works with bioidenticals....i dont really now what to tell you but i know i feel my life *****

[moogli]

Hi,
sorry to hear you are having these feelings. Hope this helps.

I'm kind of in the same boat, my ovaries removed May 2010, hot flushes really kicked in, but I'm sort of amused by them, as I've always been cold so they are a novelty. Cardi's on and off 50 times a day, and I'm using different girly fans to waft about, which both cools me down and lets friends, colleagues, loved ones know whats happening, and we're all in on the joke.

Wont be using HRT, (I believe in the natural approach) but have upped plant oestrogen through diet, and  am taking sage extract recommended by health food shop for hot flushes , I'm going to try a few weeks without it to see if is making a difference.

The best support so far has been Bergamot essential oil, I put a few drops on to a cotton pad and slip it into my bra, I get whiffs throughout the day, which helps regulate mood and keeps depression at bay, (seriously, try it, what can it hurt?)

I was afraid my libido would be affected, and was really worried about my response and whether I would orgasm, as I always 'felt' it in my ovaries (at least thats what I thought) but can assure you its been fine. I'll send you a message about this if it will help, but dont want to go into details others may not want to read.

I'm really a 'positive mental attitude' sort of person, and though this is having a challenge at present over breast cancer concern,  really think its been helping me.  I hope you have some good people around you, My circle are all very open and aware of whats happening to each other, we are treating my sudden menopause as a huge cosmic joke, 'cos though I'm 49 in human years, I'm still 24 in 'Moogli' years.I reckon I'll be over all the symptoms by December, as I'll be bored by then.

Good luck,

love moogli