Early Menopause Triggered by Surgery?

[brocansky]

Hi folks. My aortic root and valve replacement surgery was a year and half ago. I'm now 36. I'm doing great BUT just learned last week that I'm in menopause. I was having symptoms (hot flashes, palpitations, insomnia, no period for four months) and the blood tests confirmed that my FSH level is at 54 which is menopausal.

My question is...does anyone know if open heart surgery can trigger early menopause (or Premature Ovarian Failure as it's technically called). My gynocologist and primary care docs didn't think so. I have a call into my cardiologists. You're all usually more responsive than the docs. What can you tell me?

Michelle

 

[Elcarim]

That is interesting... I found that when I had my OHSs they brought on my period, even though after the second one I had not started getting them again after pregnancy and breastfeeding (my bub was only 3mo when I had my second OHS). So who knows, perhaps it can.

It is easy to blame everything on your surgery/medical conditions though. I know that when I first got my pacemaker everything from being tired to having a runny nose was blamed on the pacemaker.

Premature menopause on top of OHS sounds like a rotten bit of luck, either way.

 

[sue943]

I was having an early menopause, completely unrelated to my OHS. My symptoms began at about thirty-six or thirty-seven. Certainly at thirty-seven I was put on HRT as my doctor said I was very young and it would protect my heart - as was the thinking in those days. HRT suited me and due to my young age I was kept on it right until the day before my OHS then the cardiologist said to stop taking it.

 

[Mary]

Hi folks. My aortic root and valve replacement surgery was a year and half ago. I'm now 36. I'm doing great BUT just learned last week that I'm in menopause. I was having symptoms (hot flashes, palpitations, insomnia, no period for four months) and the blood tests confirmed that my FSH level is at 54 which is menopausal.

My question is...does anyone know if open heart surgery can trigger early menopause (or Premature Ovarian Failure as it's technically called). My gynocologist and primary care docs didn't think so. I have a call into my cardiologists. You're all usually more responsive than the docs. What can you tell me?

Michelle

It certainly wasn't my experience.
I'm two years out and still having periods.
I'm 55.

 

[Creed3]

Hi Michelle!

Hi Michelle!

I was so excited to see this post. I am pretty much going through the same thing. I had my surgery almost five years ago. I was 34 years old at the time.
I remember after my surgery some nurses explaining to me about how my hormones were completely shut down and rebooted and that I may feel like I was pregnant again after the surgery. Somewhere else along the line I kind of remember someone saying to me that the OHS could bring on early perimenopause. Who knows though, it may or may not be related to the OHS.
I started having problems once my periods started back up again. I thought everything was due to be on coumadin but later found out that some of it may have been due to coumadin but not as much as what I originally thought. I almost had an ablation done but then my cycles started changing again. I haven't missed any periods yet but they are all over the place. I never know from month to month when I am going to get one. They aren't as heavy as they were for the first couple years after surgery. I still have heavy moments but not like early on. As the months and years go by I am able to tell how the symptoms are changing. Everything I have talked to my gyn about he has confirmed as being typical hormonal perimenopausal changes. His only concern is that his normal treatment for someone would be to put them on the pill but he doesn't want to do that with me because of the valve and a chance of a clot. He actually is in contact with my surgeon to find out more specifics about my valve and whether or not I will be able to use any amount of estrogen at all whether it be pill or cream. I am hoping to not have to take any estrogen if at all possible.
If you want to talk please pm me. It would be nice to talk to someone else going through something similar.

Take Care!
Gail

 

[Karlynn]

I wish mine had. Would have solved a lot of problems. Birth control, periods on Coumadin, did I mention periods on Coumadin? PMS, bloating etc etc etc.

I have several friends who all went through menopause by the time they were 40. None had heart surgery. So I guess the answer to your question is - Maybe.

 

[Bina]

We had a thread about this a while ago......I was starting menopause a couple of years before OHS. The hot flashes, weird sleep, etc.....the surgery may or may not have stopped those symptoms for me.
I feel great!!!! No more moods, no flashes, nothing

 

[Elcarim]

A few of you mention problems with contraception and periods while on Coumadin. I have found a great solution to both of these. I was going to have my tubes tied, but after discussion with my GP and Gyn I got a Mirena IUD. It lasts for 5 years and is a plastic, progesterone-coated IUD. I had a bit of spotting for a couple of months, but now I don't really get periods at all. I don't know if they are available in other countries, but perhaps ask your doctors about it. I had IV antibiotics when it was put in, but that was all.