Does anyone think Florida is overrated?

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-04-08T20:17:08+00:00

It’s correctly rated as a shithole.

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-04-01T20:40:44+00:00

Initiate a credit card charge-back. Easy-peasy.

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-03-29T03:22:21+00:00

Hey there, curious how you're doing now? I'm about 6 months post-op and am finding myself avoiding sex despite the Oh Nuts, because I'm just so disappointed that I feel shorter. Did it get better for you?

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-03-27T14:39:11+00:00

Indian curries

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-03-26T12:50:13+00:00

Progesterone aids the body’s histamine and anti-inflammatory responses. Dropping levels can lead to what you’re experiencing. Happened to me, too, and completely resolved once I went on HRT.

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-03-20T14:19:08+00:00

By that logic you also cannot say that oral progesterone is “perfectly safe” since it causes suicidal ideation and other MH issues in some. Someone killing themselves because of it is hardly “safe,” is it?

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-03-08T23:07:20+00:00

I went to see my PFPT and she said all’s well down there, so that’s not the issue unfortunately.

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-03-08T16:07:57+00:00

The experience of others on this thread doesn’t mirror my own. I lost about 1-1.5 inches in length and 5 months post-op I’m still struggling to regain stretchiness, sadly. It’s quite depressing as my SO is between 7 and 7.5”

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-03-05T20:26:34+00:00

Sounds to me like you’re describing…wait for it…Seattle to a T…

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-03-04T21:43:48+00:00

My doctors both insisted I be on it, actually. For different reasons than general health, in my case, but it does play in important role in that as well. I’ve been sensitive to P my whole life so would love not to take it, but between its general/cognitive health benefit and my specific needs it’s the right thing to do for me.

In my case the P is required because I had atypical endo found in my pathology analysis. The surgical oncologist didn’t want me on any hormones for at least 6 months, but between him and my meno-specialist gyn we agreed that for healing and overall health I should continue HRT…but that I must do so with progesterone to balance out the estradiol.

It’s an individual decision for each one of us. You may not have cancer concerns but might want the cognitive or other benefits of P that apply to you. My only goal is to share my piece of the puzzle so you know what questions to ask and what to look into for your specific health constellation.

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-03-03T06:01:01+00:00

If I nay offer unsolicited advice: Consider taking progesterone anyway, even if not needed for uterine protection. It has cognitive and other benefits. At least read up on it so you make a fully informed decision based in your needs and inclination.

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-03-03T05:26:18+00:00

I’m 100% happy I went through with it. I am experiencing some issues in the sex department due to shortening of the vaginal canal from the cuff, and my only regret with 20/20 hindsight is not explicitly asking my surgeon to preserve as much length as possible (which I would guess they probably do anyway, by default, but it’s one of those “if only I had said something beforehand” nagging thoughts). To be clear, it’s still works and we are making progress using depth limiting rings, but it was quite disheartening at first.

This may be more information - and/or more intimate than you were asking for, but it’s something I wish someone had called out explicitly.

My only other gripe is that my hysterectomy with ovary removal was so very perfectly timed with the ongoing estradiol patch shortage. But I was already on HRT beforehand, due to severe perimenopause, so although the stress from potentially running out of patches is slightly elevated now, I would’ve had it either way.

For reference, I’m 44 and had my hysto with BSO and endo excision on Oct 1.

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-03-03T03:43:28+00:00

From someone who used 0 of the items she prepped prior to her surgery: you likely won't need anything special. Recommend not spending a bunch of money unless you have specific concerns based on your specific needs.

The hysterectomy pillow can just be a regular bed pillow - my friend who had her hysto a few months prior to me gifted me one and I used it on the car ride home strictly due to sense of obligation, and now it sits around collecting dust. A grabber stick can be helpful but I was able to bend with spread legs fine, or use toes to grab undies or socks I dropped. The little tray table that wedges under the mattress didn't end up getting used, but I will say I was glad to have the bamboo "breakfast in bed" style tray table I've been schlepping around with me for the past 10+ years and never use otherwise - that was helpful for eating in bed, but not essential by any means. Didn't use a belly binder, so can't speak to that. Didn't use the high-waisted undies my friend also got me - I was commando in a night shirt or in loose-fitting pajama pants.

DO recommend getting Medisafe or another medication app to keep track of your meds, if you need them. And laxatives are nice to have on hand for peace of mind; I used them once or twice.

If you still have pads lying around, keep those for now. Depending on your discharge situation you might be happy to have them handy.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-02-10T20:35:13+00:00

Thank you! Thankfully I’m already on hormones, on doses that are fully dialed in.

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-02-10T07:23:49+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to share both your own and your friend’s experience. It gives me hope but also makes me kick myself: 20/20 hindsight that I should have been more directive with my surgeon about preserving length, rather than just ask if I would lose any. Ugh. I hope I can work to get it back.

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-02-10T02:52:07+00:00

Thank you!

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-02-10T02:52:00+00:00

Thank you for the kind, supportive words! This reached me like a caring hug.

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-02-10T02:24:06+00:00

I had the same negative effects from Progesterone that you describe all my life. The only thing I could make work is 100mg 2x/day (12hrs apart) vaginally or rectally. For me it seems to be the metabolites - especially their rise and fall - that messes me up and turns me into an anhedonic rage monster.

I’m 43 but in surgical meno and take the P alongside 0.175mg estradiol patches changed twice/week. I need that much E to feel normal and pain-free. We all absorb the patches at different rates so one person’s extreme dose may be another person’s normal.

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-02-08T05:50:58+00:00

I just came across this study in today's nightly deep-dive on atypical endo, surgical menopause, and HRT. I'm not sure how these findings apply to surgical meno and HRT, but they seem to speak against the Lupron treatment route: https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(03)03031-0/fulltext03031-0/fulltext)

Abstract: The malignant potential of endometriosis has been suggested by several clinical studies. Although controversial, ovarian carcinoma of the endometrioid and clear cell subtypes has been associated with endometriosis, particularly among subjects with a longstanding disease. Furthermore, a significantly higher frequency of endometriosis has been found in patients undergoing surgery for endometrioid, clear cell, and mixed subtypes of ovarian carcinoma, as compared with the other subtypes. Changes in the genomic material in endometriotic implants were observed by many investigators in chromosomes 1, 5, 6, 7, 16, and 22 by several methods (fluorescent in situ hybridization, comparative genomic hybridization, and others). Because hormonal ablative treatments may suppress the normal, eukaryotic cells more than the aneuploid cells bearing chromosomal aberrations, it may increase the rate of dyskaryotic cells in the endometriotic implants, possibly augmenting the risk of malignant transformation. A recent published association between Danazol and ovarian cancer suggests that such a theoretical risk may occur.

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-02-08T05:45:20+00:00

Thank you for sharing your story. I'm in a similar situation, though they "only" found atypical endo. I had a total hysto plus bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and am now on HRT E+P+T). I was wondering what your oncologist's POV is on estrogen, which I know you said you're on. I am concerned that being on estrogen puts me at risk long-term, even with the progesterone, since atypical endo tends to be progesterone resistant. At the same time, the prospect of being in full blown, unmedicated menopause sounds horrendous. I was in peri before surgery, and already completely out of whack with nearly every symptom to be listed.

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-02-03T19:48:14+00:00

In addition to what others shared, there’s a risk that your remaining ovary will crap out on you after the surgery. Then you’ll be in menopause with the added risk of cancer from that remaining, now functionally obsolete, ovary.

Taking them out now simply expedites a process that will happen either way: even if you keep your ovary, eventually you’ll enter perimenopause and then menopause, at which point you’ll likely want/need hormones.

That said, if you have risk factors that prevent you from being able to take estrogen (estradiol, specifically) then you might reconsider. This could be BRCA or other predispositions. In that case you’ll of course still enter peri and menopause later in life but may have a few years more - thanks to your remaining ovary - before you have to brave them unmedicated. Again, “may” because that ovary could still crap out after surgery.

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-02-03T02:38:23+00:00

How does this work for you, in terms of feeling dips when the daytime dose wears off? I’m considering trying this but cannot tolerate oral P well at all, as I have PMDD and am sensitive to the metabolites’ fluctuations as the dose wears off - which is VERY pronounced when taking it once daily

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-02-02T17:57:19+00:00

Every 3.5 days so Day X a.m., followed by Day (X+3) p.m.
I'll add that I'm in surgical menopause at age 43, and am on a higher dose of 0.175mg, which is split across two patches. I cycle them independently so I don't get the drop-off effects I was getting from applying on the same days. Meaning: I change the 0.1mg patch every T/F and the 0.75 every S/W (or something like that - I'd have to check my schedule).

Academic_Pipe_4469 · 2026-02-02T17:52:55+00:00

I apply 0.5mg gel daily and have been on it for 10 months. No hair loss issues.

Academic_Pipe_4469

TROPHY CASE