Ovarian surgery in 2 weeks

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Drained6513
Drained6513 Member Posts: 82
edited January 2018 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I am 56 years old and have been in menopause since the age of 48 basically. I have 2 cysts on my right ovary, one is fairly large. Left ovary is fine. I've opted for just remove the right ovary. Should I do both? The peace of mind to doing both keeps me hesitating here. The doctor said at my age the ovaries do nothing now. So I won't have like a second set of menopausal symtoms, as I am past most if not all my menopausal stuff. After some reading, I've seen that you can get back to an even lower level of menopause from them being removed, so I opted to keep one of them. Anyone able to give me advice on this? Did any post menopausal women on here have medical issues or any issues from getting rid of them, or should I keep the left one?

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited December 2017

    I had mine removed at 54 almost 55 but pre-menopausal.I was quite surprised to find out how much my body missed that estrogen even at that age. Not sure I’d do it again but it’s nice to get the possibility of ovarian cancer off the table

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  • Drained6513
    Drained6513 Member Posts: 82
    edited December 2017

    Pre menopausal at 54... so you were really late in getting into menopause? And of course...yours was brought on by this surgery. I would imagine you saw a big difference after the surgery, being in pre menopause and not post. I am just wondering if I will have any major issues since I don't think I have much estrogen etc coming from them any longer. I can't do HRT any longer to combat any issues like I did before. I am worried if this will effect my bones more etc?

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  • LeesaD
    LeesaD Member Posts: 383
    edited December 2017

    Drained - I am 49 and was pre menopausal at dx in Feb. No signs of menopause at all. I got my last period the day of my first chemo treatment in May. Did not get it during 9 weeks of chemo so I was put in a 'chemopause'. I knew I wanted to go on AI's instead of Tamoxifen so I started Zoladex shots in August to suppress my ovarian function and keep me in the menopause. Started menopause symptoms during the chemo and it was really just hot flashes. I didn't notice anything different as far as intensity of them during my four months of Zoladex and they were even less frequent. I just had both my ovaries and tubes remved three weeks ago so I don't have to get the shots anymore. After getting ovaries removed I feel same as I did prior. Nothing new, no more than the usual one or two hot flashes per day and that's it. It was a gradual progression since May but after the removal I have not gotten worse at all and actually feel good. The surgery was laproscopoc and ambulatory. Was grocery shopping for Thanksgiving four days after. I did too much on Thanksgiving and had some bleeding but other than that I was ok. It'll be 3 weeks tmrw since and today I ran 2 miles. If you've had cysts on one you might be prone to develop on other one somewhere down the line and it is really one less part that could be diseased to worry about it. I didn't need them anymore so I was fine with getting rid of them. I don't think you will have issues or even notice a change when they are removed as you've already been in menopause. Best of Luck.

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  • Drained6513
    Drained6513 Member Posts: 82
    edited December 2017

    Thanks for your responses. I started peri menopause in my late 30's and had alot of hot flashes and other symptoms and it was not pleasant. By the time I did hit menopause I got onto BHRT for about 5 years. And of course, getting BC had to get off of them. The BHRT got me thru the worst of menopause. Since I've been off them I feel fine. No menopausal symtoms anymore. So, it makes sense what the dr says, they arent useful for hormone production anymore. I don't trust doctors, and of course, I want to stay healthy and functional for as long as possible. So hopefully, being in Post Menopause there really is no benefit still from them which could keep me safe guarded from ill health? As in keeping one of them

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  • Drained6513
    Drained6513 Member Posts: 82
    edited January 2018

    I had both my ovaries and tubes removed last week. It was a very easy surgery, laporoscopy. So thank you for all your responses again. I did go through a lot of the posts on here and read the ones regarding this particular surgery. It was also very helpful. Because ovarian cancer doesn't usually become symptomatic until it is at a late stage, I just felt it was the safe way to go. I am posting this, because it may help someone else worried about the same thing. Being post menopausal, I have not experienced any difference without them. There was one unique development though. As my gynecologist was in the surgery, they discovered my appendix was enlarged, which is right by the right ovary. So they removed it too. lol I mean I don't know why I am laughing, except you have to have a sense of humour in all of this and also just glad it was caught. My GP said it was chronic appendicitis, and you can have that with little to no symptoms. It can mimic bladder infections etc.. which I get alot of, so it can be hard to diagnose. Apparently, it can come and go for weeks, months, and even years and is suppose to be rare. Just another shocking moment in my life. lol Has anyone ever had a similar experience?

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  • ML1209
    ML1209 Member Posts: 241
    edited January 2018

    Drained - thank you for sharing. My MO wants me to have my ovaries removed. The tamoxifen is causing hypertension and causing my liver enzymes to be elevated, so she thinks I will not be able to do the Tamoxifen long term. Most I have talked with said it was not a bad procedure. Thankful to hear that - just seems like one more thing on this crazy roller coaster!


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  • Wonderwoman386
    Wonderwoman386 Member Posts: 48
    edited January 2018

    hi ladies I’m glad I found this thread. I’m 31 ER+ just finished chemo and my MO was talking to me about ovary removal. I guess women under 40 with hormone positive BC are recommended to be on ovarian suppression AND tamoxifen-

    Since can’t have any more children, I can either get shots monthly or have surgery. It’s a big decision I’m having a hard time making.

    Thank you for sharing your symptoms, leesaD why did you want AIs instead of tamoxifen

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