6 weeks after TKR Ive got a DVT

[Buckeye]

Kipper,
Sorry to hear about the blood clot 6 weeks after your surgery. That was one of my biggest worries after the surgery. Thank goodness it was caught early and you are receiving medication and treatment.

I also went off HRT before my RTKR surgery last December. I have been off that for 2 1/2 months now, the first time since my total hysterectomy in 05.
I am doing ok, but I have been getting hot flashes everyday since the surgery. Not sure if it's a combination of post surgery and low hormones. Those hot flashes are a real pain for me, so I am having some testing done to see what hormone levels are abnormal.
At almost 8 weeks post op, I can honestly say, that I am finally starting to feel
frequent times of being pain free. I had great amount of bruising and swelling in the early weeks and now the bruising is completely gone. Still have some swelling, but my ROM is at 118 and extension is almost at 0.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Hugs, Kathy

 

[Grandma]

Kipper I have also been on HRT for 20 years or more. I have questioned my Dr. about ending it but apparently when you stop taking it, it can lead to short term depression. Since I already have a problem with depression I'm worried about going off the HRT.
I am on 2 daily dose Aspirin, HRT's and several other drugs and not one of my doctors have told me to stop taking them before my surgery on Feb. 18th.
I have stopped the Aspirin but wasn't aware of a problem with HRT's and am now wondering if any of my other prescriptions might be a problem.

 

[kipper]

Thanks Kathy thats a nice hug! Yes, this HRT is my next test. Thats most likely why Im getting the odd feeling of over heating!

What you say Grandma about coming of HRT causing depression - that is very big issue for me too as im very prone to that.

If it wasn't for the DVT all this wouldnt have even come up for me so please dont worry either of you - -

The support I'm getting on this forum is very special! Thanks to you lovely people for talking to me and cheering me up so well! XXXX

 

[Jamie]

Kipper I have also been on HRT for 20 years or more. I have questioned my Dr. about ending it but apparently when you stop taking it, it can lead to short term depression. Since I already have a problem with depression I'm worried about going off the HRT.
I am on 2 daily dose Aspirin, HRT's and several other drugs and not one of my doctors have told me to stop taking them before my surgery on Feb. 18th.
I have stopped the Aspirin but wasn't aware of a problem with HRT's and am now wondering if any of my other prescriptions might be a problem.

Grandma, why don't you give your doctor's office a call and ask them about what meds you should and shouldn't take prior to your surgery. I would assume they know all the meds and herbal supplements you take, but if not, you need to tell them. I had to stop everything before my knee surgery.

 

[Grandma]

Thanks Jamie but I tried that and was told to try to contact OS as my doctor is just back from a months holiday and would not have time. The next available appointment is the middle of March! I sure feel cherished (not).
Small communities here in Ontario have a terrible time getting GP's so we are at their mercy.
I called the pharmicist and he was wonderful. You were right, the only meds I can stay on are the ones for blood pressure and oxycodone.
Thanks for the nudge, I would have worried for days before getting off my butt and doing anything about it.
I'm so glad I found this forum.

Grandma

 

[Jamie]

Thanks and we're glad you found us too!!!

 

[kanoneli]

Kipper...I mentioned that I have been off of HRT meds for about 3 years. I am 54 and have had little problem without the HRT, some sweats at night on occasion but no big deal!. I had a total hysterectomy about 10 years ago so I do not have ovaries (or anything else) either. I will say that I take a very mild anti-depressant so that may be the reason that I've not suffered from the lack of HRT. Personally, I think it's worth it, and very manageable! Good luck!

 

[Josephine]

I took HRT for 25 years but when I stopped it was tailed off. Not by design, I hasten to add, but because I was using implants at the time and trying to match up my schedule and that of the only (part-time) doctor in our practice that was trained to do them was a nightmare! I was supposed to have them quarterly but each time it would stretch and stretch until I was at 6 months and at that point she and I discussed it and decided it was probably time to quit anyway. Oddly, though that was about 4 years ago, I am now having the odd hot flush and whilst my bone density was off the scale at the time I stopped (GP decided to do that as a check) I am now wondering if my broken toe is a sign that I have lost bone density. I've also had the odd bout of depression but that's a lond standing thing and unlikely to be associated with the cessation of HRT.

 

[Buckeye]

Jo,
How is that toe doing? I had a little toe mishap about 3 years ago and it took a long time before I was able to wear a normal shoe. I was wearing flip flops in early November. Good luck with that.
I really don't want to be on HRT, but I have been reading Suzanne Summers' book on bioidentical hormone replacement and I find it very interesting.
Since I have been off of mine since late November for my RTKR surgery I thought it would be a good time to get my levels checked. I just sent off my saliva samples to the lab. It will be interesting to find out what my levels are.

Also, just wanted to quickly add that I drove my car for the first time since my surgery.
Whooo hoooo! It felt so good to do something on my own for a change.

Take care! Kathy

 

[calling_all_angels]

Wow Kathy,
You got to drive. I can not wait till I can drive again.
^i^

 

[Josephine]

In this country we have a charity aimed at getting information 'out there' to enable women to make informed choices on HRT. I was one of the appointed spokesmen for the organisation and appeared on TV, in magazines and newspapers and on radio, all giving details of my personal experience of it. In my time I used implants (best), pills (kept forgetting to take them!), topical gel (got a form of dermatitis) and patches (have allergic reaction to using adhesives longer than 24hrs - ended up looking like I'd had an attack of the Mysterons!).

Best story ever was a client who used patches until her husband woke up one morning and found he was wearing her patch!