24 Days And Counting: My Journey to Prevent Ovarian Cancer

Most women go into menopause, gradually, in their 40s. I'm in a different category. When I get my ovaries removed and undergo a hysterectomy in just a few weeks, I'll wake-up from the operation 37-years-old and I'll immediately be in menopause.

It's called surgical menopause, and I'm told, it'll be unlike regular menopause. Because it's not gradual, my symptoms might be worse than those experienced by women who go through it naturally. There are a multitude of possible side-effects including, hot flashes, fatigue, and moodiness. Moodiness is one of my husband's biggest concerns; I'm bitchy enough already.

I can, of course, take hormones and there are a lot of options. I could take pills or stick on a patch. There are regular hormones and bio-identical hormones. I could choose commercial hormones or compounded hormone preparations. Compounded hormone preparations sound fancy but they're actually just custom-made cocktails designed to meet the needs of the individual woman taking it. The tricky thing is they're not FDA approved. I've learned a lot about my options by visiting the surgical menopause section of FORCE's website. The website is designed specifically for women like me who face a hereditary risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

In the months that I've been researching my options, I've met a lot of women who share my BRCA1 status and who've also chosen prophylactic surgery. Some opted to have a patch put on right in the recovery room. Others began taking hormone replacement pills before they were discharged from the hospital. Others waited.

I'm in the "wait and see" camp.

How can I choose which hormones to take (if any) when I don't even know which symptoms I'll have? I'll decide later. Maybe I'll choose to do something, or maybe - just maybe -- my symptoms won't be that bad and I'll do nothing at all.

One thing at a time; just let me get through the surgery first.

Comments

[MinniePauz]

Allison, I wish all the best for you no matter what decision you make. We each face these decisions although not for the same reason that you are having to do so.

Over the last 10 years I have had thousands of women post on my message board and many of them in surgical menopause. I don't remember any of them who started taking the hormones before their surgery. I think you are right to wait and see what happens mainly because there is so much controversy over any kind of hormone therapy these days. Do you need the extra worry? Hopefully, you can rely on your doctors to help you decide.

If you just need some positive support please visit us at www.minniepauz.com/forum . At the very least you will find that you're not alone. We use a lot of humor to get through it all. I hope you'll join us!

Dee aka "Minnie Pauz"
Rebel with the Pause
http://www.minniepauz.com

[ljsfolly]

Self education as you already know is the best medicine here and you listen to your body then do what your intution tells you. Luck and love.

[Guitarsandmore]

There are lots of good drugs on the market and they work differently in different people. Under the guidance of a good physician you can try them all and choose the one with the side effects you can best live with.

[TheKiddy]

Good luck. I had cancer and the surgery you are facing. Stay brave.