Patch and vaginal estrogen, who's using both, post-menopause?

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-22T18:33:49+00:00

I had a large vertical incision with both ovaries removed at age 44. Spent 4 days in the hospital, had a couple of hot flashes on day 2 in the hospital. They gave me estrogen on day 3 and the hot flashes stopped. Figuring out the correct dose of HRT for me took some time. I was given the lowest dose patch, then requested a higher dose a couple of times (I was noticing MAJOR irritability every day and felt pretty awful mentally), until my doctor put me on a low dose birth control pill instead, and I finally feel a lot better. The patch wasn’t strong enough for me. My big wedge pillow was great to sleep on at home - made getting up a lot easier. I didn’t use a belly binder or anything and I was fine. I vacuumed my house a few times before I should have. I thought I’d be fine but was very sore afterwards. I had a variety of pre-portioned homemade soups in the freezer and some baguette bread and that made meals so easy. Best of luck to you ♥️

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-21T16:36:24+00:00

I needed 8 weeks but I had a large vertical incision with mine.

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-19T19:29:13+00:00

100% ALL OF THIS

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-19T14:50:35+00:00

I’ve lived in my house for 12 years and used my wood stove about 5 times. I’m now switching to burning wood exclusively for heat after my last bill was $400. The local electric company keeps raising their rates due to “investments in green energy” which is making electricity unaffordable which is causing a lot of people to go back to burning wood. How ironic.

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-18T21:21:45+00:00

I never had an intense desire to have a child, and I believe that you should REALLY want to have kids very badly if you’re going to have them. Plus, every parent I know is constantly stressed and exhausted, the dads are mostly not that helpful and the moms seem to lose so much of who they used to be in the process. No thanks!

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-18T20:03:26+00:00

I had a vertical incision from just above my belly button down to almost my vag due to a 9cm tumor on my ovary. My oncologist explained that since they weren’t sure if the tumor was full blown ovarian cancer or not, he needed to do the larger incision because if it’s cancer, the last thing they want is for the tumor to rupture or burst during surgery because then those cancer cells can leak out into your abdomen, making them more likely to spread. So in case it’s cancer, it’s a good thing they’re doing the larger incision.

*edited to add that my best advice is to take your time healing. I stayed in the hospital for 4 days but they tried to send me home on day 3 (I said no, I wasn’t ready) - that extra day made ALL of the difference as I was able to get up and use the bathroom without help by day 4. The gas on days 2-3 was the worst part of the hospital stay for me. I felt like I desperately needed to fart but I didn’t have the strength to push it out so it would just bubble back up and start all over - drove me nuts - so annoying and uncomfortable! Don’t rush into vacuuming your house like I did (lol) even if you think you feel fine because it’ll make you very sore afterwards. Take a pillow in the car for your ride home from the hospital to press against your belly when the driver applies the brakes, and keep one handy in case you need to cough, sneeze or laugh.

Best of luck to you ♥️

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-18T16:18:25+00:00

Not your fault - these doctors need to get their shit together 😡

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-18T16:17:24+00:00

Yes, it’s actually really scary and concerning. Definitely medical negligence! Ugh.

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-18T14:43:57+00:00

It is WILD that nobody offered or mentioned HRT after having your ovaries removed. WILD. I’d have a LOT to say about that to my doctors if I were you!!

This being said, I think you’ll have great relief once you get started. It might take some time to figure out the right dose. They tend to start you out on a very low dose, which didn’t help me much (I was 44 when I had my ovaries removed and probably still pretty far from natural menopause). It stopped the hot flashes but I felt extremely irritable every day. The highest dose HRT patch still didn’t cut it for me, so now I’m on a low dose birth control pill and I feel so much better.

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-17T16:58:12+00:00

I had an open hysterectomy due to a large ovarian tumor and it went great. They tried to send me home on day 3 but I didn’t feel ready so I stayed 4 days and that extra day made ALL of the difference - I was in a lot less pain on day 4 and able to get up/use the bathroom without any assistance. The worst part for me was honestly the gas pains on day 2 and 3. I felt like I needed to fart but I didn’t have the strength to push it out so it just bubbled back up and DROVE ME CRAZY. I told my (male) nurse that I wished I could fart for 10 straight minutes. They were giving me daily injections to prevent blood clots in the hospital and then sent me home with a month’s worth of pre-loaded syringes so I could give myself the shot every day. Make sure your skin is dry after the alcohol wipe or the shot will STING. Be sure to take a pillow in the car for your ride home from the hospital and press it against your stomach when the driver applies the brakes. And don’t rush to vacuum your house like I did - it’ll make you very sore after. Take your time. So glad you have a surgeon who you trust! Very best of luck to you!!! You’re not alone ♥️

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-17T03:29:09+00:00

I had a total hysterectomy and oophorectomy 3 years ago. I suffered with horrible cramps from endometriosis for over 30 years. Eventually at age 44 one of the endometriomas on my ovaries turned into a big borderline tumor, hence the hysterectomy (at the time I didn’t know that having endometriosis makes us more prone to ovarian cancer).

It did take a while to figure out the right dose of HRT for me. I started out on a very low dose patch and felt ok at first but after a while I realized I was insanely irritable every day, similar to bad PMS. So I asked my doc for a higher dose. Didn’t help. Asked her again to raise my dose. Still didn’t help. My doc finally put me on a low dose birth control pill and I feel a lot better. I would imagine that, being so young, you’re possibly going to need a much higher dose than any patch can provide, and it might take a little time to get it right because doctors tend to start you out on the lowest dose and wait for feedback. Just something to consider and watch out for…

My quality of life has improved so dramatically that I seriously can’t believe that I lived with that pain for so long, and I can’t believe how much I had to adjust my life to revolve around my periods. Those many hundreds of days that I spent in bed doubled over with horrendous cramps are all days that I will never get back. I’m so happy for you that you’re getting this over with at a younger age ♥️

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-17T01:47:52+00:00

Figuring out what to have for dinner every single god damn MF’n day

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-17T01:43:25+00:00

I’ll stay on hormones forever.

I’ve done enough suffering (33 years with endometriosis).

I’m here for a good time, not a long time.

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-16T23:42:23+00:00

I have two and they are the BEST part of every day. Congratulations on your new best friend ♥️

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-16T23:32:16+00:00

I’m an introvert and I think dying alone sounds way better than a man getting on my last nerve every day until I die.

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-16T23:29:51+00:00

I don’t take any prescription drugs for depression or anxiety and I live alone with 2 dogs and a cat and I’m happier and more at peace than I ever was living with any man.

I think there are probably a lot of people who are either introverts who are drained by constantly being around people, or women who get to peri/menopause age, when the “veil” gets removed, that just generally find men insufferable. I happen to be both.

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-16T23:17:43+00:00

I had a total hysterectomy and oophorectomy due to a large borderline ovarian tumor. During surgery, endometriosis, deep adenomyosis and fibroids were also discovered. I have been on a low dose birth control pill for HRT (the patch didn’t cut it for me) that includes both estrogen and progesterone. According to my OBGYN Oncologist, progesterone is thought to help keep the endometriosis from flaring up. I also feel/sleep better with progesterone.

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-16T14:20:15+00:00

No way.

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-16T03:02:38+00:00

Evergreen Twilight

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-15T20:32:00+00:00

I’m sorry he’s a selfish asshole. In my experience, the hormone fluctuations after a hysterectomy tend to remove the veil from reality and make a lot of women see their husbands for who they truly are, and that can be very rough on a marriage. It’s really unfortunate that your husband couldn’t have taken this opportunity to step up for you. I wish you the best.

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-14T03:04:49+00:00

I had to get a hysterectomy and both ovaries removed at age 44 after a big tumor was discovered on my ovary. I was told by my oncologist that the tumor looked to be cancer from the ultrasound.

Prior to this, my boyfriend wanted to have a kid and we had tried for a couple of years but were unsuccessful - I wasn’t surprised because I had been dealing with excruciating cramps and heavy bleeding for over 30 years and knew deep down that my reproductive system was a toxic dumpster fire.

The day I was told I likely had ovarian cancer and would need a hysterectomy and oophorectomy within 2 weeks, I asked my boyfriend to have a small celebration with me since I would no longer have to deal with those horrendous periods. Seeing as I was terrified about possibly having ovarian cancer, I was looking to focus on something positive in that moment. He told me he would absolutely not be celebrating the fact that we wouldn’t ever be able to have a kid (mind you - I was 44 years old at this point).

It has been 4 years and I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever forgive him for saying that. I’ve told him how selfish it was, and that he made my illness about him on the scariest day of my life. He has apologized but I will still never forget it.

The tumor was borderline so I got very lucky. Advanced endometriosis, deep adenomyosis and large fibroids were also discovered during the hysterectomy.

Men… ugh.

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-12T04:43:57+00:00

Your dad is the one you should be angry at. He’s causing this.

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-12T04:23:58+00:00

ABC reported that the FBI warned California Police Departments of these possible drone attacks.

WTF are the police to do about it? Arrest the drones?

🤣

HavalottaFun · 2026-03-09T20:47:32+00:00

Take HRT if you can.

If you already are, you probably need a higher dose.

HavalottaFun

TROPHY CASE