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Within three or four hours after surgery, Lindsay received her first estrogen patch. The goal is to help her recover without having to worry about menopausal systems, Dr. Ellman says. After all, we dont want to have to wonder if shes having a fever from surgical complications or from hot flashes. Once shes recovered, then we stop and say, Okay, how do we dose this over the long term?
The answer influences not only issues like mood swings and night sweats, but also bone density and heart health. Doctors used to give every woman who went through menopause a prescription for hormones, but now we are seeing the need to be much more individual in our approach, Dr. Ellman says.
The Aftermath
Four weeks after her surgery, Lindsays hair was falling out in chunks. This happened after the mastectomy, too, Lindsay says.
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Hair loss is a common side effect of surgery. Called telogen effluvium, it occurs due to the physiological stress of surgery and can result in half or more of the scalps hairs entering a resting phase in which they can be shed.
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'I Had My Ovaries And Uterus Removed'
Im taking vitamins to try to manage it, but its really freaking me out, she says.
Lindsay also donated the contents of her tampon drawer to her two step-daughters. Im not going to need them anymore, she says. The finality of no longer having her ovaries or uterus hit Lindsay harder than she had imagined.
I had this very intense period of two weeks after the surgery where I was like, I think I want another baby, she says. Though it was just a passing urge, Lindsay says knowing shes now unable to have children still feels like a loss.
Looking Forward
Lindsay hasnt decided what she wants to do next, acknowledging that, in many ways, she is ready to move on from talking about breasts and ovaries. I dont want it to be 10 years from now, and Im still talking about the mastectomy I had at 23, she says.
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'I Had My Ovaries And Uterus Removed'
While she thought removing her uterus and ovaries would feel like closing a chapter in her life, shes realized thats not quite the case. I now realize that the journey wont end. It will just change. This will always be part of me. Im just looking forward to it not being the thing that defines my life.
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'I Had My Ovaries And Uterus Removed'
Lindsay Avner is the founder of Bright Pink , a non-profit organization dedicated to educating women and medical professionals about risk factors for breast and ovarian cancers. Check out Bright Pinks Assess Your Risk tool to learn about your personal cancer risk and steps you can take charge.
Photography by Lindley Warren Mickunas