Is there anything I can do about this hormone situation?

I have to admit. You all were not exaggerating about the wacky post-op hormones.

First of all, prior to surgery, I hadn't had a natural period in ages due to my PCOS. I was so excited that my period came back after surgery. Well, let's just say that Aunt Flo is wearing out her welcome. It has been over two continuous weeks, and I am just completely drained and exhausted from dealing with this. I'm told this is normal, but wow, does it suck. 

I can feel the surge of estrogen and it is not pretty. Most of the time I'm fine, but I have these little flashes of craziness. Like, I'll just suddenly feel enraged with little or no provocation. Or, I'll start crying for no reason. 

Did anyone else have this sort of experience? More importantly, did anyone find a treatment that was successful at tempering the hormone overload?

Thanks,

Jenna

Sounds like PMS, Jenna.  I seriously have to take a step back on those days and realize its me and not EVERY single person that comes in contact with me.  Once I do, I can just know it will be over soon.  But two weeks?  I'd be going nuts too.  Best of luck to you

Huh, I guess you're right. It's been so long, I don't even remember PMS! 

Before I stopped getting my period, I only got it 3 times a year. This is the freakin' pits, no wonder women complain. I hope that my periods normalize the further out I get, because if I have to put up with this for 50% of the month, I am going to wind up on the 11:00 news.

 That was me, too.  I only had a few periods a year if I had them at all.  I've had a period every month since surgery and someone had to point out to me that I was PMSing!  I was never PMS before but I get that way now.  I would say the 4th and 5th month were especially bad for me.  And I also felt exhaustion like I've never experienced before.  It was a chore just to sit upright with my shoulders back instead of slumping over.  Hopefully it gets better... good luck!

Yes.

No.

Yes - normal normal normal in terms of the emotions.

No - no treatment but a good therapist to remind you you're sane and not a slave to the chemicals, that you're a rational human being.  Meditation helps if you can sit still long enough (I couldn't at that point).  Otherwise I just had a lot of people around me that understood and let me cry or scream or get mad.  Seriously - I was a crazy lady for about a month and they needed to just deal with it and cater to me a bit.

As far as a two week period - I have (had?) PCOS and getting my period made me so happy.  The first one was normal.  The second one was the heaviest thing I've ever seen.  The third one was pretty normal.  If yours goes on for much longer, I'd see your gyno - he/she might be able to help you out with a drug to stop the blood if necessary.  But this may just be your 'backlog' as it were. 

Honestly - best thing to do is pamper yourself and ride it out.  It'll be over soon, promise. 

Thanks, Kristin. It's at least reassuring to know I'm not the only one. I was happy to get my period too, but it feels like it's never going to be over. I actually called my gyn, and she said this two week thing is likely endometrial build-up, especially since I tend towards hyperplasia.

If this keeps up, I will definitely be seeing a therapist. 

Anyway, thanks for the good advice. Here's hoping it gets better from here on out.

Honestly - it took me about a month of major 'hormone dumpage' - maybe six weeks but that wasn't constant.  I'd feel fine for a week and then two weeks of just a wreck.  But I promise promise it goes away.  It's just another thing to adjust to and yeah - we were not joking - it's serious but manageable.  And if it gets unmanageable and you honestly cannot handle it, keep something like wellbutrin in mind.  I was just on the verge of going onto an anti-depressant to help even me out when it got better and has stayed better. 

Short term Xanax might help, too.  That stuff makes the whole world a lovely place.

That sounds really similar to what I'm going through. I am managing okay, but I guess I just needed to hear that I'm not alone and that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. 

If it doesn't abate, I will definitely be looking at temporary pharmaceutical remedies.

Something does occur to me - my therapist recommended I write down how I'm feeling and what is going on physically when i feel that way to see if I can find patterns in my emotions based on whether I was dropping pounds or stalling for a few days.  That helped feel like I could see when things were going to come up and feel like I had control.  (also, FYI - irritibility is one of the first signs of needing water - before you feel thirsty)

Also - being able to 'talk' to the emotions - literally thinking to myself "ok, this is chemical, this is not ME and this will pass" helped me remember I'm rational and this is just a physical response to a dramatic surgery and weight loss.

Hope that helps!

 I really like that idea, and I think I will start doing it. Maybe the mood swings aren't as random as I'm thinking.