Hello ladies or spouses of ladies who have experienced this,

I am 54, and am on Estrogen replacement. I have read many stories of how people leave the hospital after surgery and are told to abruptly stop many, if not all medications. I am reaching the age of the natural change of life, although went through surgical menopause at 29. If anyone has had the experience of stopping HRT as part of the surgery, I would like to know the effects. I personally think using old, stored calories is enough of a challenge to start with, yet do I take advantage of this time to stop the HRT? I do not want the effects of menopause (lack of libido, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings etc.) to come crashing down on me on top of all the physical and emotional changes associated with VSG.

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am obviously not mature because I had to open this to find out what HRT stood for. I would think, however, that this is something you definitely need to discuss with your doctor. I don't see how the weightloss will have much to do with your use of hormone replacements. Not something to do on your own.

Everything I have read and also talking with my surgeon, says that you need to have your medical team discuss the best way to ramp down medications, if necessary. You need to sign whatever paperwork (HIPA stuff) so that they can talk to each other. Everyone, PCP, Gyn, Psych, surgeon ... needs to know what you are doing and how to have you in tip-top shape. This is true for anything medically related, not just WLS.

It drives me crazy when one Dr is not aware of the big picture and says things that go against your better sense. Just make sure your WLS surgeon talks to whoever has put you on HRT well prior to surgery so as to make a plan.

I went off HRT several years ago after being on it for over 25 yrs. My doctor slowly ramped me down, reducing the dosage by half every 2 or 3 months until I stopped. I had very few symptoms along the way and don't regret the decision to stop taking them. I agree with others that this should be something discussed among your doctors, but I, personally, would strongly object to going cold turkey. Good luck.

Hmmn so many opinions about HRT. Even though I begged for some they would not give me any due to having endometrial cancer. Well after the complete hysterectomy I got to go through Menopause a second time. I guess there are medical reasons for discontinuing it but then there is my 80 year old mother who still takes her premarin....