Anxiety about SRS and stopping Hormones.

[jade_d]

So my SRS is looming just around the corner in 33 days and I have to stop taking my hormones 2 weeks before the surgery. I have been on HRT for 18 months now, spiro , e2 combo, and am terrified that i will shed tons of my hair during those 2 weeks time. Anyone have any experience with this ? Am I just , as we say in germany, making an elephant out of a mosquito? How long does it take for the ol' T factories to start up again? I get to keep taking my spiro for another 9 days after that, so there is that at least, but I am very curious, and worried, and have not found anything really good regarding this so far.

Thnx gals,

Jade

[Dani]

All of us post-op ladies had to stop HRT before surgery.

You will be just fine. Follow your doctors instructions. If you do not, you may have problems with post surgery venous blood clots.

[jade_d]

Im following em, however im still nervous about the effects after 2 weeks of no hormones. From what I hear it takes time for the t production to start up again, plus i have my AAs till five days before hand, ugh, im super happy but a nervous ball of anxiety too atm, xD.

[Devlyn]

I've been off the 'mones twice and I'm fine...<twitching> 

It's part of the process, as we say here in the U.S., "Keep your eyes on the prize."

Hugs, Devlyn

[Becca Kay]

i'm in the same boat.  Stopped HRT a couple of days ago for FFS in less than two week.

filled with anxiety.  My fear is that I'll start getting erections, I'll get angry, my depression will return, etc. etc. 

But everybody I know who's gone through it says it's no big deal.  So my fingers are crossed
. 

I'll be glad when it's over.

[Michelle_P]

i'm in the same boat.  Stopped HRT a couple of days ago for FFS in less than two week.

filled with anxiety.  My fear is that I'll start getting erections, I'll get angry, my depression will return, etc. etc. 

But everybody I know who's gone through it says it's no big deal.  So my fingers are crossed
. 

I'll be glad when it's over.

Honestly, it's not great, but the old testosterone stays knocked down pretty well for a few weeks being off HRT.  The biggest effect I had from being off Estradiol was just feeling low-energy. 

Like Devlyn says, keep your eye on the prize.

[LizK]

Interesting conversation with my HRT Dr regarding stopping HRT prior to surgery...her view is that this is based on old outdated data and really about those taking oral Oestrogen which can increase the risks of clot issues. She said most of the younger surgeons tend to not worry about it unless you are on Oral as the risk from subdermal is significantly lower than oral which all the studies used.

However having said that, she was adamant to say that I MUST follow whatever my surgeon recommends...which I will do but in her eyes I shouldn't need to stop because I am on Gel and in the same conversation as an aside she indicated that there were some studies coming out soon about progesterone and if they show there is a benefit then she will happily prescribe if I want it.

[Anne Blake]

You might want to check with your surgeon. Mine definitely had me off of my estradiol and progesterone because of risk of DVT but did not require me to stop the spiro.

[Sydney_NYC]

I had to stop HRT 4 weeks before surgery last fall and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I did have some hair shedding but it was NOT from having to stop HRT because my T levels never rose. It happened because of anesthesia. Anesthesia is known to cause some temporary hair loss with most people. My mother had replacement surgery two weeks after mine and she lost more hair than me, but we have both recovered already.

One thing to pack for your hospital stay is a satin pillow as it will help prevent hair breakage and keep as much hair as possible. Also, it was a lot more comfortable than the hospital pillows which don't breath at all and made me sweat.

[jade_d]

i'm in the same boat.  Stopped HRT a couple of days ago for FFS in less than two week.

filled with anxiety.  My fear is that I'll start getting erections, I'll get angry, my depression will return, etc. etc. 

But everybody I know who's gone through it says it's no big deal.  So my fingers are crossed
. 

I'll be glad when it's over.

A few months back my doc said i could try to reduce spiro because ive been taking it for a year now, i literally got morning erections withing 3 days. It made me lose my mind and reupped. Luckily i can keep taking spiro after i stop my e2 for another 9 days.

Interesting conversation with my HRT Dr regarding stopping HRT prior to surgery...her view is that this is based on old outdated data and really about those taking oral Oestrogen which can increase the risks of clot issues. She said most of the younger surgeons tend to not worry about it unless you are on Oral as the risk from subdermal is significantly lower than oral which all the studies used.

However having said that, she was adamant to say that I MUST follow whatever my surgeon recommends...which I will do but in her eyes I shouldn't need to stop because I am on Gel and in the same conversation as an aside she indicated that there were some studies coming out soon about progesterone and if they show there is a benefit then she will happily prescribe if I want it.

Oh here in Germany they only presecribe oral estrogen usually unless you have health issues. There isnt enough data to support sublingual and the insurance here will not cover it if you use it like that because the pills were not developed for that method. So yeah, the surgeon told me to stop 2 weeks pre op cuz of that. Plus you will be in bed for a week after, so there is a huge risk of dvt if u keep taking it, even after stopping ull be given anti coagulant shots once a day where i get my surgery. Just in case.

He told me 5 days prior i gotta stop spiro, because it can thin your blood. :/

I had to stop HRT 4 weeks before surgery last fall and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I did have some hair shedding but it was NOT from having to stop HRT because my T levels never rose. It happened because of anesthesia. Anesthesia is known to cause some temporary hair loss with most people. My mother had replacement surgery two weeks after mine and she lost more hair than me, but we have both recovered already.

One thing to pack for your hospital stay is a satin pillow as it will help prevent hair breakage and keep as much hair as possible. Also, it was a lot more comfortable than the hospital pillows which don't breath at all and made me sweat.

You might want to check with your surgeon. Mine definitely had me off of my estradiol and progesterone because of risk of DVT but did not require me to stop the spiro.

Ill def look into that , good investment considering next February i also have vocal chord surgery and adams apple reduction.

[Becca Kay]

A few months back my doc said i could try to reduce spiro because ive been taking it for a year now, i literally got morning erections withing 3 days. It made me lose my mind and reupped. Luckily i can keep taking spiro after i stop my e2 for another 9 days.

I've been off HRT for 10 days now...  Erections in the morning, at night during the day... It's awful.  It started the third day.  I wake up every day and start to cry.   

For about 8 days I had a constant mild head ache.  And over the past few days I've been having some problems concentrating.  Like i used to have all the time pre transition.  Its mild Attention Deficit symptoms.