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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Maxine on April 18, 2000, at 11:12:23
Last year I had a full hysterectomy (at age 27) before having it my doctor induced menopause via Lupron. It was awful...hot flashes, cold sweats, dizzieness, fainting...worst of all watching my family go through it with me.
While on Lupron I was an emotional wreck...so I asked my doctor if there was something I could take to stop crying. She put me on Prozac... did that for 6 months, but didn't help so then switched to Paxil, which was ok for awhile. I continued the Paxil for 8 months.
About a month and a half ago I went to my doctor to tell her I still have the hot flashes and feel even more depressed now then ever. She told me the hot flashes couldn't be happening...the hormones are taking care of it, then referred me to mental health.
The new doctor, put me on Wellbutrin 150mg twice a day, he wanted me to continue the Paxil for two weeks then come off it.[Although I've felt depressed before I usually can make myself get through it]
So I've done this, but I feel awful. I'm sick to my stomache all the time, dizzy, I also have this weird feeling sometimes...like a wave is gong through my head it makes me disoriented and feel so out of it. I can't eat which is fine because I end up tossing my cookies with in minuites, but I'm finally losing the weight I put on from the surgery (one plus I guess). I'm constantly giving myself little pep talks just to make it through the day.
I know I should be grateful for all I have and that I'm alive and all that, but I just feel so desolate. I have been removing myself from as many possible social interactions possible which is so out of character for me...I am or was a big time extrovert. I don't even want to go to church anymore. I even gave notice to my job...my reason being I just wanted people to stop looking up to me (Cmnty Youth Leader/Counselor) how can I tell people everythings going to work out when I don't feel that way at all.
I have this overall feeling of disgust and resentment for people, I don't want them to come up to me and talk or call...I've disconnected my phone, and seldome turn my cellphone on now. I feel like their all just a bunch of hypocrites...and I don't even know why!
Worse of all I feel like I don't have any one I can talk to about this. My husband can't understand, my GYN thinks it's all in my head, others give me wierd advice like to "mourn" the loss of my uterus or suddenly the friendship becomes uncomfortable and we just stop calling eachother. I just can't believe this is all happening to me. I just want to be left alone, which I know isn't the right thing.
I feel so tired of life.
So I'm concerned that the Wellbutin is making me soo sick. Does anyone else feel this way with it? How about the wierd wavy feeling?
thanks
Posted by Liza on April 18, 2000, at 12:24:53
In reply to just going crazy, posted by Maxine on April 18, 2000, at 11:12:23
Hi Maxine,
I just wanted to comment that it isn't very
affirming of your doctor to tell you something
isn't happening that is happening to you, i.e.
the hot flashes. Your doctor seems to think that
it's all in your head. But a hysterectomy is a
major operation and messing with your body's
natural hormones is no small thing.I haven't experienced it myself, but I would be
inclined to get as much information about the
after-effects of a hysterectomy as I can. The
internet is a great place for arming yourself
with information!I wish you all the best.
Liza
Posted by TG on April 18, 2000, at 13:20:58
In reply to just going crazy, posted by Maxine on April 18, 2000, at 11:12:23
I had a total hysterectomy and I was put on estrogen before the surgery so I would not have to go through menopause. I have no idea why your doctor would want to induce menopause. That is brutal. I think I would go see another gynecologist. I would even do better than that and go to an endocrinologist. Your going downhill fast I would check out all the physical mimickers of depression first before even going to a psychiatrist. A good psychiatrist would have you do this anyway.
That sounds like a lot of Wellbutrin, I prefer to start out lowest dose possible (which may be less then what it recommends) and work way up.
Good luck and keep writing for answers and support.
Posted by Maxine on April 18, 2000, at 13:34:46
In reply to Hi Maxine,, posted by TG on April 18, 2000, at 13:20:58
We had to induce menopause because I was diagnosed with Endometreosis...also because they wanted me to be prepared for what I would be going through after the surgery.
I wish I could get a second opinion. Unfortunetly it's just about impossible. I'm stationed in Naples Italy with my husband. There's one GYN, and one Psychiatrist. I have to wait literally months to get seen by them, and most of the time don't get my questions answered. I don't blame them...they have alot of people to see and meet the needs of.
thanks for your imput...max
Posted by TG on April 18, 2000, at 14:30:52
In reply to Re: Hi Maxine,, posted by Maxine on April 18, 2000, at 13:34:46
I had endometriosis also. My other 3 sisters have had total hysterectomies also due to endometriosis and guess what...none of us had to go through menopause symptoms. We took the meds before surgery. There is no need to go through menopause.
How much estrogen are you currently taking? I take 1.25mg of Premarin daily and have never had a hot flash.
Problem with depression is that you will want to give up easily and is hard to concentrate. Show these posts to your husband and enlist his help in finding you good treatment. He is more able to do that then you are at this time. I dont care how busy a doctor is..they are dealing with human lives.
Try to check out message boards where women have had hysterectomies and get more input.I did forget to give you this website.
How to determine if a 'physical' illness
is causing what looks like a 'mental' illness.
Written and Revised (1/28/96)
by
Ronald J Diamond M.D.
University of Wisconsin Department of Psychiatryhttp://www.schizophrenia.com/ami/diagnosis/organic.html
Posted by allisonm on April 19, 2000, at 21:09:44
In reply to Re: Hi Maxine,, posted by Maxine on April 18, 2000, at 13:34:46
Maxine,
You say you and your husband are stationed in Naples. Are you active military or a spouse?
If a spouse, do you have Tricare there or is it still CHAMPUS or something else? I do ombudsman work for the Coast Guard. We're just getting Tricare here. The biggest problem is that there are no military bases near here. It is a big pain trying to find private physicians who will accept Tricare or Champus. Is there another military base nearby where you might get a second opinion? Or even a reputable private doctor? I don't know a lot about chains of command, but could a corpsman help?
Anyway, I have some info on Tricare. I have not had to help anyone with second opinions, but it sounds like something to think about. I can dig around if that would help. Or Tricare has a website, too.
I may be way off base. Just some thoughts.
Best wishes.
Posted by Maxine on April 20, 2000, at 1:16:30
In reply to question, posted by allisonm on April 19, 2000, at 21:09:44
Husbands active duty. The closest base around with a good medical center is up in Garmish, Germany. They have an incredible waiting list (literally at least 4 months). To be honest I just don't want to be poked or given any more opinions on what "they think" is the problem.
Back home (California) we used tri-care and it was great. I had a good private physician.
Here, private physician's are all italian. You have to make arrangements for a interpreter (done through the hospital) to come along. I haven't heard to many good things about the care received out in town, so I haven't wanted to go there.
I'm gonna call my doctor today and ask if I can discontinue the Wellbutrin...I haven't been able to hold food down for a week now.
Thank you for your response...Max
Posted by Maxine on April 20, 2000, at 1:28:32
In reply to Re: Hi Maxine,, posted by TG on April 18, 2000, at 14:30:52
I'm taking Estrotest (doesn't give me the dosage level just saids solvay 1023) and Premarin 1.25 everyday. The doctor just changed the Estrotest to a lower dosage about a month ago.
I agree with the easy to give up mentality, I'm there right now. Problem is I can't help thinking this is all mental...that if I could just tell myself to cope and get over it, all will be better.
I agree my husband would be great support, but he's very busy now...just got promoted and in a new position, the last thing he needs is to worry about whether his wife will make it through the day or not.
As for the menopause, the reason I was given was that the endometreosis was in to far of a stage. They wanted to try and shut down my body to see if the could send it into remission. They did tell me a hysterectomy was very probable, and that there was a good chance, depending on how much had grown back and settled on my intestines and colon, they would not allow me to start any hormonal thereapy for six month after the surgery.
Out here it seems to be a common diagnosis...I have a friend who just had an ultrsound...the doctor told her she probably has endometreosis and wants to put her on Lupron to see if they can get it to stop growing. She's seen what I've been going through and has refused this method of treatment.
should go now, thank you for the reply...max
This is the end of the thread.
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