The Hidden Struggles of Surgical Menopause: What No One Tells You
Table of Contents
Introduction
Understanding the hidden struggles of surgical menopause is essential for those experiencing it, as many symptoms are often overlooked or misunderstood.
If you’re not very familiar with the term “surgical menopause,” you may not know too much about it. Read more about the differences between natural vs. surgical menopause here.
When I had my fourth and final surgery, a bi-lateral salpingo-oophorectomy, (removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes,) I wasn’t told about ANY of the issues that might come up.
Some Common Issues Are:
Weight gain and weight shift: Weight shifts from your butt/hips to your belly and it’s stubborn!
Fatigue: This doesn’t happen everyday but some days I’m SOOOOO Tired!!
Joint pain and body stiffness: Sitting or being in the same position for any period of time and I’ll be so stiff and my joints will ache. I never had these problems before my surgeries.
Memory and cognitive issues: I know that age does play a part in this but like I’ve said above, it all started after my oophorectomy. Wait… what was I doing??? LOL! 😕
Hair loss and skin conditions: This is definitely a hormonal issue but the good news is that oftentimes the hair will grow back and skin issues are very treatable.
When I shopped for remedies for these symptoms, all I could find were just a handful of items for menopause. Nothing for surgical menopause, and only a small section of women’s vitamins specifically for women over 50.
I’m seeing this trend in a lot of places and it’s unsettling. When I started my blog, I knew that I would be learning a lot about surgical menopause and going through it without HRT, (hormone replacement therapy.) I was shocked to find just how badly it’s been misrepresented and ignored!
Doctors seem to know very little and offer even less about life before and after a bi-lateral salpingo oophorectomy, and I’m talking about gynecologists! Women all over the world are actively in perimenopause, menopause or post/surgically induced menopause, at different stages in their lives. It’s frustrating to see how little it’s been studied or normalized.
On my blog and in this article, I plan to shed light on some of the less talked about issues that women in surgical menopause with or without HRT, are experiencing.
The Physical Challenges Beyond Hot Flashes
The Hidden Struggles Of Surgical Menopause Are Real:
- Sleep! This is such an important part of our lives and when it’s disrupted for periods of time or when sleeplessness is chronic, it can wreak havoc on your changed body.
- Pain & Stiffness! I’m 57 years old but I’m not decrepit and I don’t have old injuries etc. I’m embarrassed to say that when I get down on the floor for any reason, I can BARELY get up!!
- Cognitive Health! I’ve ALWAYS been sharp mentally. I keep my brain very active and ever since my hysterectomy/oophorectomy, I’ve been having memory problems. Short term memory has been affected the most.
None of my gynecologists, oncologists or primary doctors told me anything about the symptoms I’ve mentioned above. It’s never been explained to me WHY it’s happening, or WHAT is going on inside of my body. It’s as if they think hot flashes are the worst of it and hot flashes are just the tip of the iceberg!
Navigating Life Without HRT
Some women can’t use HRT, either for personal reasons or because they’ve had breast cancer or a hormone sensitive cancer like mine, low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LGESS.)
Surgical menopause is hard enough all by itself but when you can’t use HRT, you are left trying to find other ways to cope.
I didn’t realize that there would come a time when I would ask for HRT even though it was risky but at one point, I was having 20-25 hot flashes per day and I couldn’t tolerate it any longer.
I was promptly told no and not really given any other options or ideas. I’m pretty sure that the doctor didn’t have any.
The Emotional Battlefield
Things Will Change
When your hormones are suddenly cut off, any change that happens as a result will be abrupt, leaving you with no time to adjust or get used to what is happening.
The realization that your child bearing ability is over can be hard for women even if they weren’t planning to have more children.
Women may have fears about aging prematurely, especially those who are younger at the time of surgery.
Younger women in surgical menopause can also find it hard to fit in with their peers who haven’t experienced menopause yet.
Having to deal with these issues all at once, instead of the gradual transition that you would go through in natural menopause is not easy to say the least.
Relationship Dynamics Shift
Not All Change Is Bad
When your hormonal changes affect your mood, energy and intimacy, the dynamics can shift in your relationships.
You REALLY need to sit down with your partner and have a DEEP conversation about what has changed and what it means to both of you going forward.
There are parts of your relationship that will become more important than before and some will require less energy to maintain.
The best advice I can give here is to be totally honest with your partner. If you’re both committed to being together forever, then why not just lay it all out and deal with things head-on?
Professional Impact
One of my recent articles was all about surgical menopause and the workplace. I’ll touch on it briefly here.
I was affected, so much so that I had to leave the job that I thought I would retire from. I’ve always been in leadership positions in retail and that kind of a job requires some physical work that I just couldn’t do anymore.
It’s really hard to be professional and put on a happy face when you’re chronically miserable, it truly is. I tried for several years but I started getting into trouble because of my attitude and my physical symptoms were unbearable.
Having to leave my job was a very upsetting and scary thing. I never thought that I wouldn’t be able to work and I’ve actually considered disability, although two doctors have literally laughed at me when I brought it up!
Alternative Approaches and Solutions
Remember, every single woman will go through this part of their life differently. Some will make it through much easier than others. I used to think I had it worse than most. Turns out that my experience hasn’t been a walk in the park, but there are others who have really suffered.
Evidence Based Treatments
I stumbled onto a doctor who happened to know a little about hot flashes and he actually helped quite a bit before he moved away.
Venlafaxine: The brand name is Effexor and it’s an antidepressant that does help a little with hot flashes. It works well for depression, typically in 3-4 days instead of 3-4 weeks!
Clonidine: This is a blood pressure medication that I was already taking at night to prevent migraines. It helps with hot flashes but I couldn’t take it while at work because it can make you light headed.
Oxybutynin: This medication is prescribed for people who have an overactive bladder but it can be used off label for sweating and hot flashes.
SIDE NOTE: I just found this out on my own that Oxybutynin should only be taken for a short period as it can potentially affect cognitive ability.
Lifestyle Modifications: You’ve heard this many, many times, I know.
Basically, lifestyle modifications are just things that you should change, quit or add to your daily life, to keep you healthy and attain your goals of weight loss and surgical menopausal symptom management.
Complementary therapies for surgical menopause are things that you can do “in addition” to lifestyle changes to enhance them even more. They are things like:
CBT, (cognitive behavioral training,) herbal remedies, acupuncture, yoga and change of diet to manage the symptoms of menopause/surgical menopause.
Always check with your doctor before starting any supplements or an exercise program.
Conclusion
I don’t care what ANYONE says…..Menopause is a big deal!! PERIOD!! No pun intended! Lol!
Anyone who says different, just doesn’t get it or has never been through it. So many women have been told to “get over it,” or ‘just deal with it.”
What a horrible thing to tell a woman going through this time in her life!
I can be a fierce advocate for this, especially because I know how it feels and I know I’m right! I’m not tooting my own horn here, it’s just when something like this hits so close to home and all of the things that we go through are down played, it makes me so angry!
What I can tell you is to please keep following my blog for information and education about this topic.
KNOW that I will always hear you, believe you and stand up for you! I will always take this seriously and try to educate and inform as many people as I can!
