How To Combat Hormonal Imbalance After a Hysterectomy

After running the necessary tests, your doctor recommends that you undergo a partial or maybe even a full hysterectomy.  Fortunately, this means that the bleeding, pain in the pelvis, and some of the other issues you’ve been experiencing will go away.  It also means you will have a few new matters to deal with, including a hormonal imbalance.  The good news is that by working closely with your physician, the right course of treatment will restore your balance and make life a lot easier.

Evaluating Your Condition

Before attempting to treat you for a hormonal imbalance after the hysterectomy, your doctor will need to determine exactly what type of imbalance is taking place.  If you underwent a full hysterectomy, that means both of your ovaries are now gone.  Part of the therapy will certainly focus on providing the estrogen that your body is no longer making.  Even with a partial hysterectomy where your body retains some ability to produce estrogen, the situation may be more complex.

For example, you may find that your levels of testosterone are also outside of normal limits.  While low levels of testosterone are usually associated with men who are experiencing a hormonal imbalance, it is possible for women to not produce this hormone in necessary quantities. Since you do need a proper balance of all hormones to enjoy a higher level of health, the approach will involve more than providing you with a reasonable supply of estrogen.  The activity will also include some form of HRT testosterone treatments designed to correct the imbalance.

What About Side Effects?

You’ve probably heard about side effects of undergoing any type of Hormone Replacement Therapy.  While there are some possible effects like mood swings that seem a lot like what you were experiencing before the hysterectomy, rest assured that these indicate that the HRT needs some adjustment.  No two people are exactly alike, so the dosage and frequency may be different for you.  By keeping your doctor up to date on how you are feeling, it won’t take long to determine how much you need in order to bring your balance back in line.

Will It Take Long?

Remember that any type of invasive procedure does result in trauma to the body.  You will need time to heal from the hysterectomy, and that may or may not mean putting off treatments for hormonal imbalance for a time.  A lot depends on how quickly you heal and your general state of health.  Typically, the replacement therapy can begin soon after the procedure.

In the best case scenario, you'll begin to notice positive changes that provide you with a more positive outlook, restore your ability to concentrate, and in general help you feel in control of yourself.

The fact that the therapy used to correct the hormonal imbalance does not make you feel better immediately is not a sign that it isn’t working. As with most types of therapy, it will take a little time for your body to respond to the presence of those balanced hormones.  Don’t expect to wake up one morning and feel like you did before all the madness started.  The more likely scenario is that you will notice things getting a little better over a period of weeks.  

Remember that even after the right approach to the replacement therapy is identified, your needs may change over time.  That makes it all the more important to communicate with your doctor if you notice any reversals in your health, including your emotions.  Adjusting the therapy may be all it takes to get things back on the right track.

Signs of Hormone Imbalance in Women

Recognizing a hormone imbalance in women can sometimes be difficult. The normal signs of hormone imbalance usually start with symptoms that can mimic other health issues or be caused from lifestyle choices, such as sleeping problems or fatigue. Although it may be common for many women to “blame their hormones” for many symptoms, recognizing a serious problem may be more difficult. When a hormone imbalance begins to affect your quality of life, sleeping patterns or overall health – then the problem must be addressed. Here are some signs to look for when recognizing a hormone imbalance in women.

You’re not as active as you were.
Fatigue is a common sign of a hormone imbalance in women and is sometimes confused with lack of sleep, aging or other health issues. If your once-easy daily routine suddenly starts feeling exhausting or your normal run to the gym is knocking you off your feet… check your hormones. The thyroid hormone, which controls your body’s metabolism, could be to blame for a lack of energy and constant fatigue.

Resting soundly proves to be difficult, if not impossible.
Sleeping disorders are another common symptom of hormonal imbalances. In women, restlessness or insomnia is usually due to a lack of the progesterone hormone. When this hormone drops, it can cause a lack of sleep. Many women experience this feeling before their period, and it can appear again later in life as hormones decrease in the body.

 Your face looks like a teenager’s again.
Acne is an unwelcome but unfortunately common sign of a hormone imbalance in women. You may have thought those pimple days were over after your teens… but changing hormones in the body can make your pores flare up again. These nasty side effects can be caused by too much testosterone in the body.

The room is never cool enough.
Hot flashes are a signature sign of a hormonal imbalance, and even the subject line of many television shows, movies and Broadway musicals. If you’re experiencing hot flashes, however… you’ll hardly be singing a happy tune. Many different hormones could be to blame for the feeling of fluctuating temperatures, including an imbalance of estrogen, progesterone and even thyroid hormones.

You can’t stop popping aspirin.
Headaches and migraines are a painful and very real side effect of hormonal imbalances in women. For women that have experienced migraines most of their life, realizing the association between hormones and head pain may be hard to recognize. Hormonal changes can cause an onset of pain in the forehead, temples and behind the eyes. Balancing these hormones may be the key to relieving reoccurring headaches.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be a sign that you are suffering from a hormonal imbalance. Recognizing a hormone imbalance in women can be difficult at times – it is always important to consult with a healthcare professional first to diagnose your problem and decide on the right course of action. Many hormone imbalances can be treated with hormone replacement therapy. By balancing the levels of hormones in the body, many symptoms can be relieved and you can start living a normal, healthy life again.

If your quality of life or overall health is affected by any of these symptoms, contact a hormone replacement therapy specialist to learn about options for treating your condition. Start feeling balanced, happy and back to normal today.

Diseases Caused by a Hormonal Imbalance

You have heard about some of the health issues that can develop due to a hormonal imbalance, but are you aware of how many different diseases may be caused by a too much or too little of one of the essential hormones?  Along with treating these conditions directly, a physician is also likely to monitor hormone levels to determine if some type of hormone replacement therapy would aid in the management or the recovery from the disease.  Here are a few of the more common issues that may arise.

Addison’s Disease

This health issue can develop as a result of the failure of the adrenal cortex to secrete a normal amount of hormones.  Some of the more common symptoms associated with Addison’s Disease are low blood pressure, feeling physically depleted, lower cognitive ability, and anemia.  

Cushing’s Syndrome

This disease also involves the function of the adrenal cortex.  In this instance, there is an overabundance of hormones secreted and released into the system.   Sometimes known as hypercortisolism, this disease will trigger dangerously high blood pressure. You may also gain weight and have trouble regulating your blood sugar levels.  In some people, tiny lesions that look like pink or purple stretch marks will appear on the arms, back, and legs.  There is even the risk of losing bone density unless treatment is sought.

Mineralocorticoid Deficiency

With this condition, the body is not capable of retaining a healthy amount of sodium.  This paves the way for issues like heart palpitations, weakness and mental issues like depression and anxiety.  Along with using HRT to deal with the hormone imbalance, treatments to increase the sodium level in the body are necessary to reverse the symptoms.

Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism

The thyroid is one of the essential organs in terms of promoting a healthy balance of hormone production.  When a hormonal imbalance occurs elsewhere in the body, the thyroid may begin to produce too little or too many hormones.  

With hyperthyroidism, the thyroid goes into overdrive and produces more hormones than the body can handle.  The results can manifest in the form of panic attacks in conjunction with severe anxiety, insomnia, an unexplained weight loss, and generally feeling tired all the time.

Hypothyroidism tends to cause weight gain, produces mental fatigue and an inability to concentrate, and may cause the heart rate to drop to an unsafe level.  The hair may not grow as quickly, and the skin may begin to take on a rough texture.

Hypoparathyroidism

Thanks to the abnormal function of the thyroid, there is less of the parathyroid hormone released in the bloodstream.  The result is a lack of sufficient calcium and phosphorus delivered to various parts of the body.  While this type of hormonal imbalance does prevent proper absorption of these two nutrients, it does not actually remove calcium from the bones.

These are only a few of the diseases that can be triggered due to a hormonal imbalance.  Some of the conditions are permanent, and will require treatment for the rest of your life.  Others can be reversed, along with using HRT testosterone or estrogen treatments to correct the underlying imbalance. If you are exhibiting any of the symptoms associated with these diseases, see your doctor as quickly as possible.  A prompt diagnosis will lead to formulating the right type of treatment process and help you to feel better again.