I usually post on the K pouch site but this is more a woman thing than a pouch thing.
I have had numerous surgeries and notably 11 in the last 7 years. I am 47.
After a major pouch/valve revision in 2005 my period got shakey and started to disappear.
Last year I had 5 other surgeries and have since had no periods.
It seems to give no sign of it ever returning.
Is that it? Am I done with?
Are there any natural 'drugs' that I could take to at least bring some sort of cycle back?
Sharon

If you don't have other signs of menopause and you think your menstration cycle is just off, then your doctor can prescribe 10 days of Progestin which will cause you to have your period at the end of it. Sometimes this will kickstart your system back into rhythm.
Might be a good idea to see a doctor and they could test your hormone levels, this will probably give you an idea of what is going on.
I think they have 'natural' estrogen cream but I don't know anything about them. And I've read that some menopausal women use wild yam cream because they believe it has some sort of association with hormones. I think. Don't quote me on that

Hi Sharon,

Like you I've had lots of surgery and they have all affected my hormone levels to the point where they totally dropped off the scale. I am now on HRT and have been on and off it periodically for the best part of 17 years. I had to have laser ablation surgery years ago because of heavy bleeding due to endometriosis. I was also losing a lot of blood with my UC so was very anaemic which is why it was decided to do the ablation. I haven't had a period since then and have had many premature menapause episodes since then which are invariably caused by stress and trauma from the operations and being so ill.

Every time I try to come off the HRT I spiral into horrific menapause symptoms. For me they are crippling and cause me not only constant hot flushes and night sweats but absolutely wipe me out and make me feel very ill. I'd like to get off it but none of the natural remedies have helped at all and believe me I've tried them all.

Anyway, what I am saying is that all your surgery and stress could certainly have pushed you into an early menapause which could very well be perminent given your age.

If you know of any effective treatment other than HRT then let me know because I'd really like to get off them given the risks of cancer after being on them for so long.

Good luck.

Shell

Thanks Pixi, Shell,
I was taking a natural soya/yam mix from GNC (phyto estrogen)in the states that seemed to diminish the bad symptoms (are there ever any good ones?) and I have since gotten a different product from Canada that just doesn't seem to do the trick...
No hot flashes (anymore) but my skin is thinning and becoming more fragile, marked and red.
Weight gain (ok, yes, I have been hitting the ice cream and yummies but not as much as usual) that make no sense and a general softening of my body (yuck!)...So, yes, I think I may just need to consult....I still hope to get some of that yummy phytoestrogene again and go naturally back to normal (normal?).
Thank for the input girls
sharon

Hi Barbara and Shell,

I had almost constant bleeding (mild) after my j-pouch surgery possibly due to a cystic ovary, had one removed during surgery, and my gyn did not want to do a hysterectomy because of adhesions, so I had a Mirena coil fitted (IUD)

That was 5 years ago, and it stopped all the horrible menopause symptoms, hot flushes etc, also stopped all bleeding after a couple of mild periods. The coil is impregnated with hormones which are slowly released over a period of about 5 years. It was actually developed as a contraceptive, but then they discovered that it stops most women having preiods. Maybe not everyones idea of a good thing, But for me it
was wonderful

I had it removed this week, and so far... no problems.

This is an alternative to HRT that I would recommend

Best wishes,
Marina

Cross by name but not by nature

J-pouch 2001 now chronic pouchitis
J-pouch removal and perm ileo scheduled 22nd July (not long to go.....)