Anyone else feel fantastic in chemical menopause?

Anonymous · June 2020

Ohthatcat · June 2020

I'm 35. I started my period early (8-9 years old) and have hated it forever. It used to be super painful and then after having my kid it wasn't, but good lawd I was always puffy and bloated and miserable like 80% of the month. Constantly tired. For years.

After chemopause and Lupron, I felt better than I ever did in my life. Energy, weight loss, less appetite. No puffiness!!

I honestly think I had ridiculously high estrogen levels and dropping them off helped tremendously. I opted for the AI + Lupron for this reason.

I told both my gyno and oncologist this and naturally, they said it's unusual. I've also spoken to my BS and gyno about oopherectomy to cut out the middleman and they're fine with it. I am saving that convo with my MO until after rads, as she's more conservative in general haha.

I just wanted to share this to see if anyone else felt this way and to also give hope that you might not react how you think!

Thanks all!

EDIT: I mean, feel better iN this aspect of life lmao. Everything else with treatment sucks 🤣so this is one silver lining lmao

LaughingGull · June 2020

You cracked me up.

I think I also had insane estrogen levels all my life, and then perimenopause started, with periods every three weeks and the accompanying ovarian pain and emotional roller coaster, plus random, terrifying bleeding episodes -due to said perimenopause process.

When I got diagnosed with breast cancer at 47, started chemo and lost my period, it was a relief. A big relief. By the way, not having hair for six months was also a relief...all the freaking coloring and masks and keratin treatments! I didn't get a wig and I realized I didn't want more periods or keratin. I had an oophorectomy, and I wear my hair short now.

There are serious problems with not having *any* estrogen on you, though (I am in an aromatase inhibitors after oophorectomy), like: you become old; your hair, your skin, they age and they age fast, and they become the hair and skin of an old lady; your bones crack; sex becomes painful, difficult, dry, next to impossible; that sucks; really sucks. I will gladly give that away to stay alive, for sure, but it is not irrelevant.

So I'd say that, after the first months of relief, the reality of life without estrogen is still good, but not a picnic. And at 35, you are still so young! Make sure you check ALL the pros and cons of oophorectomy before going ahead, since it is irreversible

Best,

LaughingGull

Anyone else feel fantastic in chemical menopause?

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