starting hormones again after surgery

[Open Mind]

I know that you need to/should stop hormones a few weeks prior to SRS.  At what point after surgery do most people start back on hormones?  Thanks.

[mrs izzy]

Soon as back home started back E only.

Izzy

[Vicky]

I was only off of E the day of the surgery, and they handed me one double my normal dose in the hospital the morning after my surgery. My endo made me cut back to my pre-op dose when I got home (WAhhh).  I am happy with what I have got though.

[suzifrommd]

I've been told I must be off E for two weeks after surgery.

[Open Mind]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. 

@Izzy, how long was it between your surgery and your return home?  Did you notice any big emotional or physical changes being off for a while, then back on?

[teeg]

I'm really not looking forward to stopping estrogen before SRS.

My biggest concern is starting/stopping hormones. I've talked before about how it seems many people underestimate how important hormones are to the body, some seem to use them just to make themselves feel mentally better.

I understand surgeons wish to mitigate as many risks of complications as they can, but in my opinion the disadvantages of stopping estrogen could outweigh the advantages.

I thought taking estrogen sublingually (or injections, etc.) are supposed to bypass the liver to mitigate the risk of clotting? Especially if it's a low dose, why do we have to then stop taking it?

I've seen many people complain of mood/psyche changes, hot flashes, etc., because of stopping -- to be honest I don't want to be experiencing this while going through such a big surgery. And also, I'm not a doctor, but I can't imagine starting, stopping, and starting again can be healthy or positive for the body...

[Vicky]

Teeg -- My surgeon was Marci Bowers, and she has everyone who will have surgery with her to cut down to a dosage she considers safe several weeks before surgery that is also what her recommended post op dose is.  My normal dose of oral estrogen (which I do take sublingually) is half of her recommended post op dose, but I did let her speak to my endo, and I did not get to double my dosage, dang it.  As said, my dosage works great for me and I am the healthiest I have been in 60 years.  Point really is that there is no one single answer to this, and it is something to consider in your choice of surgeons.  The big thing is, do it your surgeon's way as part of the SRS contract.  The people with severe medical regrets are almost 80% the ones who did not play by the rules.

[Jenna Marie]

I stopped 3 weeks before, and I was allowed to resume as soon as I left the recovery residence, but I was so caught up in the aftercare that I *forgot.* Oops. I didn't remember to put a patch on until 1-2 days back home (or about 5 weeks total since I'd quit).

[Flan]

I want to say it was a week before I went back to nomming the happy pills, mostly because of surgeon orders and that it was a couple days before I was up and about (due to a certain complication).

[mrs izzy]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. 

@Izzy, how long was it between your surgery and your return home?  Did you notice any big emotional or physical changes being off for a while, then back on?

10 days from GCS day to back home. Was off 2 months before my date.

I did not find anything that i could not handle. Maybe a little more of a bi*ch.

HRT also for me was not that big of a emotional thing for me. Made me feel better being on HRT but was not the so called magic pill.

Isabell