How did you handle stopping your Estrogen before surgery?

[MsFierce]

I'm just curious how some of you girls handled not being on E for a month and stopping T-Blockers also? I have to stop taking E soon(surgery coming up) and I'm kinda scared.



-Giselle.

[Flan]

Since I'm on injectable the only option aside from switching to oral E for a couple days after stopping injections, is to go cold turkey (at least) 2 weeks before surgery. x_x

I plan on stopping spiro 7 days before. (again, cold turkey)
(quote from my surgeon)

Also stop spironolactone within 2 weeks of your procedure as this medicine may interfere with the response of certain drugs administered during anesthesia called vasopressors.

[MsFierce]

I'm on injectable also every 2 weeks. I'm gonna stop it cold turkey and the spiro weeks before my surgery.

I just heard different things on stopping the E (hot flashes,mood swings)

I'm also scared the T will come back up is that even possible?

[rejennyrated]

I have to confess that I didn't.

I took an enormous risk which I really wouldn't advise anyone else to do, but back in those days the risks weren't quite so well understood, besides I was given a vey short notice operation so I didn't know I was going in until the day before. Happily I got away with it.

You'll be fine I'm sure. Loads of others here have got through it and you have the excitement of the operation coming soon to pull you through.

[Flan]

I just heard different things on stopping the E (hot flashes,mood swings)

I'm also scared the T will come back up is that even possible?

same, I really don't want to be a bitch-in-a-plane.

T levels will go up after dropping spiro but they shouldn't go up enough to cause problems. (keyword, shouldn't, there will be effects, how well they are handled psychologically is up to the individual.

[FairyGirl]

I've been concerned about this too, though I hadn't heard the reason that Flan gave for it. I looked this up and read  "In anaesthesia, vasopressors are administered to produce an increase in systemic blood pressure", which makes sense as spiro is given to reduce blood pressure. It's only 2 weeks, a small price to pay I suppose for being complete the rest of my life.

[gothique11]

I smoked a lot of pot. 

[MsFierce]

I smoked a lot of pot. 

LMAO

[Sarah B]

I vaguely remember being told to stop hormones before surgery and as far as I can sense or tell I did stop my medication.  I was following the instructions on the bottle so to speak leading up to my surgery.  I did not think any dire consequences would occur from me stopping my intake of hormones for the short period that I would not be on them and once I had my surgery I would be able to start them again.

At the time I was on a fortnightly injection of Depo Provera.  How this would affect my surgery at the time I did not even think about it.  Eventually I had my surgery and then I had to consider taking my hormones again, which required me talking to my doctor about my tablets and injections and in which case I did do so.  In hindsight one should consult a endocrinologist to get a good level of hormones for your body after you have had surgery.

But, the most important thing is to continue taking your hormones especially after having surgery.  My health and well being suffered, because I did not continue with them for awhile, but that is another story.  However, suffice to say I am taking them regularly again and as a result I'm very happy, my health is very good and once again I'm living my life to the fullest.

Take care

Kind regards
Sarah B

[blackMamba]

3 painful weeks.  I didn't really notice any difference for a few days.  Some consider it a rite of passage.

[Richenda]

Thought I would pick this up unless there is a more recent similar thread on it.

I've been told to cut E two weeks before my orchiectomy but that my finasteride is probably fine to continue. Seems a reasonable compromise I guess but I must admit I'd quite like to push the E to 7-10 days before.

What do folk on here do?

[karmatic1110]

I was very reluctant. Honestly though, nothing really noticeable happened and I found it easy to handle. That being said, I had an orchiectomy years earlier so I'm sure that eased the process a little

[AnonyMs]

I'd do what the surgeon recommends, but fortunately you're allowed to stay on estrogen if your using implants.

[Richenda]

Good point AnonyMs. I'm not on them but it did make me wonder about using gels which are also ok I think? It's under 4 weeks now until the op so I think I should just accept the slight hit for a little bit

Karmatic, as a matter of interest, after the orchiectomy did you drop all anti-androgens and just return to estrogen?

[AnonyMs]

Good point AnonyMs. I'm not on them but it did make me wonder about using gels which are also ok I think? It's under 4 weeks now until the op so I think I should just accept the slight hit for a little bit

No harm in asking. Better than suffering if you don't need to.

[V]

I stopped all hrt for 6 weeks before my surgery, as instructed.
My boobs got bigger (about 1 cup size, from A-cup to B-cup) albeit only temporarily, became very tender, and they began producing milk. Yep, I had lactating breasts for about 2 weeks. Then they kinda went back to how they were before (A-cup) and have stayed that way ever since. Once I restarted hrt after my op, I was hoping they'd get bigger again, but they didn't. A-cup it is.
The milk tasted very sweet BTW.
I didn't have any other effects from stopping the hrt.