My mother who is 48 years old has had her womb and both ovaries removed in October of 2017.
She has decided against hormone replacement therapy ( estrogen ) because she is worried about an increase in her risk for breast cancer.
The first weeks after surgery everything went smooth. No hot flashes, no mood swings, nothing. Around december is when the symptoms started. Hot flashes, night sweats, migraines, dry skin, tiredness, forgetfulness. She is going through a rough menopause.
My mother doesn’t believe doctors can do anything against her symptoms as they are not life threatening and as she refused hormone replacement therapy.
I’m currently looking into over the counter remedies that are non-hormonal to help her take precautions against osteoporosis,... My mother looks young for her age.
Her hair is thinning out though. She is regularly going for fillers and Botox to fight the ageing symptoms of estrogen loss. Her skin looks good as she moisturizes regularly and she went in a bronzer cabine a few times so her skin is nicely tanned.
It’s especially the insomnia and hot flashes that we are looking at to relieve.
Has anyone else gone through a surgical menopause here and opted to go without HRT?
What were your experiences with it? Do you know someone who has gone through the same as my mother?
Hopeful anecdotes are welcomed.
I’m worried about her developing heart-disease longterm without any form of hormone replacement therapy.

My mother went through regular menopause. Her symptoms got better with time. She should probably take a multi vitamin and keep using lotions. She could ask the pharmacist for recommendations of over the counter hormone products.

Sister went through menopause without drugs. It lasted a few years. She carried a folded hand fan for the hot flashes. Eventually nature took its course and she survived. Breast cancer is always a concern, especially women from 60 to 70 years--give yourself a self exam monthly and clinical mammogram every year and be done with it.

Fillers and Botox and she is afraid of HRT??
I went on HRT when the symptoms got so bad, as your Mother's have.
I went in for a shot once a month.
After about 6 months I thought to ask,'How long will I be on this?'
Doctor said, the rest of your life.
I stopped immediately.
Never had another symptom.
I do not know why nor did the doctor.
Nonetheless, for 6 months of HRT it was all that was needed.

My mother has no ovaries or womb anymore.
That might be an explanation for the difference in severity of symptoms?
Someone who goes through natural menopause still has ovaries that produce a little bit of Estradiol and lots of Estrone.
Someone who has gone through surgical menopause only has a bit of production from the adrenals left.

I hope her symptoms will lessen with time.
I’m looking into letting her try a pollen extract. Pollen have been investigated by some scientifics who claim they can reduce hot flashes. Maybe it might help her. We’ll see.

She doesn’t want to go on HRT because she saw how much weight it made me gain ( I’m on HRT ).
I get an estrogen shot every week. Between shots I get mood swings when my estrogen is about to run out. She hates the risk of mood swings and tearing up that comes with HRT.

Mine was surgical at 28.
Ovaries intact however, so I got real lucky and was able to go through
menopause twice (they never tell you that each ovary can go into
menopause independent of the other) once at 28 with a hysterectomy
and once (again) at the normal age of about 42.

The HRT pumps you full of estrogen, a feel-good hormone..when it
exits one can feel the difference in moods.

At the end of my 49 yrs I finished my year of no menstration. Menapause. I had premenapause for 10 yrs. It was awful not only hot flashes, but I had severe mood swings. I tried over the counter natural medicine. I heard pre natal vitamins help the best. Whether menapause happens naturally or from surgery it's not fun.

I'm not a woman and have never experienced it first hand but I ... survived 3 women that have.
My mother had a full hysterectomy at 49, My X had a full hysterectomy at 45 and one of my girlfriends had a full hysterectomy at 47.

Hot flashes and mood swings in all, but in all fairness my mom's was seen by me as just how she was, because I was too young to understand what she was going thru.

With my X it was the worst. Her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer (eventually died from it) and the hormones were off the table. I believe her mood had a lot to do with her abrupt and severe change, her starting to use drugs and her craziness (constantly being thrown in jail for stupid stuff) that ultimately lead me to finally just give up. She also got really mean and spiteful to everyone, including the kids (still is).

My girlfriend (roommate) was nothing like that at all. She also declined the hormone shots. She had hot flashes but nowhere near as severe as my X. Perhaps she had a higher tolerance? Her mood swings were less too but she turned to drugs and was getting thrown in jail, then lying to me about it all. Had to walk away from her too.

Now, at 57 years old I am looking for someone that is already past menopause and thinking a bit clearer. I don't want to go thru it again.
If you're close to your mom, pay attention to the mood swings and be ready to step in if needed. Had I known with my X I might still be married.
To this day, I can't figure out her complete personality change?

I had an ovary removed when I was 19-years-old. I've never had any bad effects from it. I'm not having any signs of menopause at the age of 51. I feel the as when I was 20. Not all women go through menopause the same way.