jazzmynn, I am 50 yo and had a complete hysterwrectomy almost 2 years ago. I went into surgical menopause and it's been HELL ever since. My life has taken a nose dive and I now deal with anxiety, panic, severe depression when the estrogen is low and mild when it's somewhat normal.

I have heard that if a woman keeps her ovaries and just has the uterus removed that she will experience "natural" menopause within a couple of years after her surgery or at natural menopause age(which you are now at for your own body). If she has her ovaries removed at the same time she will go into surgical menopause immediately or within a few weeks/months, depending on her storehouse of her own hormones built up in her body.

If you kept your ovaries then you are now in "natural menopause" even without your uterus, because its all about the ovaries during menopause. But if you had them removed you do not go through menopause now, just because of your age. You would be post-menopause from the time of your surgery without ovaries.

If you have your ovaries, what you are experiencing is normal...it's the lovely phase in our lives that we are never prepared for. Estrogen will help all of these symptoms and it does help to elevate most of the misery. But it sounds to me that you are not on enough estrogen. Your body needs a higher dose to be a bit more comfortable. I have used creams, patches, pills, gels, pellets and compounded formulas looking for the peace, calm, and interest in life again. It sure isn't fun and I was not even warned nor prepared for what my body was going to experience in the land of "surgical menopause". Then there are women who sail through and have no issues at all. Another thing you might think of replacing is your progesterone and your testosterone, if in fact you have no ovaries. Even without a uterus there are receptors in the body that still use progesterone and though your adrenal glands will make a bit of estrogen, and testosterone, its usually not enough for us without ovaries.

If you have been doing well up until now, with ovaries but no uterus, then, yes, you are now in need of hormone replacement and you don't need a uterus to get there. Again, it's all about the ovaries at this life stage, and it can be rather harsh on some of us. You just need to use a stronger dose of HRT replacement. Start slow and work your way up. If you chose pills then go with the lowest dose and slowing work your way up to a higher dose. Sometimes our bodies will send messages to us that we still don't feel good and it's because we have too much, when we think it's not enough.

I currently, (this month)...LOL....use the Viville Dot patch. I am on .25 that I cut it in half. I put one piece of one side of my tummy and the other on the other side...(where my ovaries would have been). I then take another 1/2 of .25 and put that piece on as well. But not all at the same time, I will wait about 1 hour between these so my body can begin to absorb what it needs without hitting my system all at once with a rush of estrogen. This helps my brain too, which, yes, my brainpoor thing has been so affected by all of this mess. It gets to my head too rapidly and will cause tightness in my head, a thickness in my neck and on occasion headaches from the rapid uptake. I have found that .05 is too much for me, .25 is too little and .37.5 is just a bit too high as well. I fall about 32 range and that dose is not available. I also have to change the patch every 2.5 days vs. the 3.5 days that the manufacture suggests. This might be your problem too. The Viville maybe working, but it's running out too soon for you. Just because it's running out sooner doesn't mean you need more. It's the way our bodies take the hormones in and how much it uses. You have to listen to your body vs. a manufactor. What do they know when it comes to how we feel. If you stay ahead of the patch changing game, you might discover this is your issue. My doctor will write my order for 2 boxes of patches vs. the one. This gives me the extra to cut and add as needed. Maybe you can try this too? I will also tend to need more when I'm more active. If the patch isn't sticking well because of heat, showers, pools, etc., you can use a piece of surgical tape or water proof Band-Aid over the patch to keep it a bit more secure. I was told by my doctor that the Viville Dot patch is the best patch out there because it releases the most hormones per the ratio on the patch and as you knowthe lovely sticky residue it leaves behind.

I have not been able to find an antidepressant that works well for my chemistry, but you might want to look into this option as well. There are many women who use Antidepressants for hot flashes, depression, anxiety, etc. Effexior and the new and improved Pristiq are used and are helpful in the reduction of hot flashes and anxiety. I tried the Pristiq and it caused me to be too hyper, too much energy. Xanax or Ativan in a low dose might help with your anxiety, heart palps. It's pretty much left up to you to become your own advocate. I have been to 14 doctors since my surgery looking for answers and how horrible menopause can be. Other ways and routes to go are homeopathic and with supplements. For the HRT to work effectively you need magnesium. You should up your dose of Vit D, Bs, C, calcium.

So, yes, if you had a hysterectomy and kept your ovaries, welcome to menopause, and the slowing of the ovaries out put of hormones. If you had your ovaries removed, then you just need your hormones adjusted, you don' t have enough estrogen. For me, I think as long as my dose is comfortable it has gotten a tiny bit better in this past year, but I still have yet to have a week without symptoms, or a month without thinking about it. I think its going to take years for me to get over the trama that was caused by the removal of my female organs. Im not sad to have lost them, Im sad to have lost the women I was with my natural hormones...I'm nothing like I used to be...but hope, as the years pass this too shall get better. I heard a preacher yesterday talking that all storms pass....all storms inside of us and outside of us. I'm counting on it. Because wouldn't this be a terrible way to live out the rest of our lives? Be strong, keep looking for your dose and settle in, as hard as it is, and as miserable as you are, you are not alone. I know thats not helpful, but we all have to suffer through this at some point in our lives and though it isnt fair, there is help, its just finding it, talking with other women, working with our doctors, taking supplements, eating right (watch your soy it will mess too with HRT replacement).

Pray for yourself and for all of us too. I have heard from many doctors it gets better.when? Thats the million dollar question..

Thank you so much for your kind words. Do you get hot/cold spells?

I will see what my dr tells me tomorrow.

Take care