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What happens after a hysterectomy, and how do women navigate the complex world of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) post-surgery? Join me as I reflect on on episode 67, when I sat down with the remarkable Kate Boyce from Endo Girls Blog, who courageously shares her personal journey through the misconceptions and challenges surrounding estrogen and testosterone replacement. Her story is not just an eye-opener but a rallying cry for self-advocacy in a healthcare system that often overlooks women’s hormonal health. From maintaining bone density to nurturing brain health, Kate reveals the indispensable role these hormones play in overall well-being, providing a lifeline for those adrift in their hormonal health journey.
As we continue the discussion, we stress the critical importance of community and advocacy. This conversation isn’t just for those directly affected; it’s a resource for friends, family, and healthcare professionals alike. By extending this dialogue, we cultivate a supportive network grounded in education, empathy, and empowerment. We urge you to share your thoughts, reviews, and connect with us on social media. Let’s champion for ourselves and our loved ones, reminding everyone that they are not alone in this journey. Thank you for joining us and for your commitment to advocacy and change.
Website endobattery.com
0:02
Welcome to EndoBattery, where I share my journey with endometriosis and chronic illness, while learning and growing along the way. This podcast is not a substitute for medical advice, but a supportive space to provide community and valuable information so you never have to face this journey alone. We embrace a range of perspectives that may not always align with our own. Believing that open dialogue helps us grow and gain new tools always align with our own. Believing that open dialogue helps us grow and gain new tools. Join me as I share stories of strength, resilience and hope, from personal experiences to expert insights. I'm your host, Alana, and this is IndoBattery charging our lives when endometriosis drains us. Welcome back to IndoBattery. Grab your cup of coffee or your cup of tea and join me at the table, because you're always welcome here.
Speaker 1:
0:50
As we continue our Indo Year Reflection Series, I've loved revisiting some of the most impactful moments we've shared this year, From expert advice to those unforgettable aha moments. It's been such a joy to celebrate how far we've come together, Whether you've been here from the start or joined us along the way. I'm so glad you're here. Let's keep the momentum going and dive right into today's highlights. I'm reflecting back today on episode 67 with Kate Boyce, where Kate tells her story and it really hits home. It shined a spotlight on the glaring lack of information we're handed when making these monumental, life-altering decisions like a hysterectomy or a nephrectomy. I mean you go in thinking, okay, snip, snip, bye-bye uterus and ovaries and hello, pain-free life. But no one pulls you aside to whisper oh, by the way, here's a roadmap for the long-term effects and crash course and why. Hormone replacement therapy is kind of like Wi-Fi for your body. You don't realize how vital it is until it's gone.
Speaker 1:
1:54
Kate's honesty about her own experience was equal parts sobering and empowering. She didn't sugarcoat it and, honestly, we need more of that. These are real conversations about real bodies and real consequences. None of that. I'll be fine, just drink more water nonsense. This episode made me feel seen, heard and like I could high five the universe for connecting me with someone who gets it. If you made the right decision or if you're battling, what the heck now phase post-surgery, let this be your reminder. You are not alone in the fog. There's a tribe of us out here, hormones or no hormones, cheering you on and figuring it out, one hot flash at a time. But I was relieved to hear that I was not the only one experiencing similar confusion when it comes to hormone replacement therapy.
Speaker 2:
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I also didn't know anything about the implications of removing an ovary, right, I was told, oh, you'll be fine, the other ovary will make up for it, and that's nothing on my surgeon's, that's not my surgeon's fault, that's what everybody believes, right? This is a very not well navigated realm. You know, when we lose an ovary or have a hysterectomy, you know, just having the hysterectomy itself, the ovaries can go through kind of a shock period, which I was told is. But I was also told everything will go back to normal within a few months. So in a way I didn't learn a lot about what I had done until after. Right, it's not like I went into it knowing all the details.
Speaker 1:
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Thanks to Kate, I'm feeling a little bit more equipped to navigate this journey and maybe a little bit more convinced. I need a t-shirt that says ask me about HRT. Now I'm onto something. Kate does an incredible job detailing the absolute roller coaster that is trying to find a provider who truly understands hormone replacement therapy. Spoiler. It's not as simple as slapping on an estrogen patch and calling it a day. She dives into something that really doesn't get enough airtime.
Speaker 1:
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The fact that testosterone replacement therapy for women is so misunderstood and, frankly, so under-researched it's almost laughable except well, it's not funny because it's your body, your quality of life and your sanity on the line. The lack of understanding about why women need testosterone after surgical menopause is shocking. It's like someone ripped a critical chapter out of the medical textbook and we're just left trying to piece it together ourselves. What's even more alarming is how many people patients and providers don't fully grasp why hormones like estrogen and testosterone need to be replaced after a hysterectomy and oophorectomy. These aren't just extras. They're essential for everything from bone density to brain health, to basic functioning. And yet here we are navigating a healthcare system that often treats women's hormonal health as an afterthought. Kate's experience isn't just her own. It's a reflection of what so many of us face, and the way she breaks it down is nothing short of empowering. So let's just jump into this conversation with Kate, where she shares her journey, her challenges and why advocating for yourself in this space isn't just important but downright necessary.
Speaker 2:
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I thought I was going through early menopause because I was having all of these symptoms that, honestly, could only be linked back to hormones. So I knew something was going on, like my skin was burning, it was drying, I had zero sex drive, I was gaining weight in my midsection like crazy, I was having panic attacks. At 2am I hurt all over. I was just like a puffy disaster and I could not figure out what was wrong with me and I was like, oh well, that's it, it's menopause, it's gotta be menopause. So I go to my primary care doctor and she tests my hormones and everything's good and I'm like you've got to be kidding me.
Speaker 2:
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She's like your ovary is working great. I was like, how am I like this? So I, you know, fortunately having the knowledge of a patient advocate and just like science background, I looked at my blood work and I noticed that I had like no testosterone. Like well, like I know better than to just be like, oh, that's fine. So anyway, I sought out somebody that I trusted to take a closer look at that, and so I found my current hormone replacement therapy doctor, who I am so blessed to have found. He's taught me everything I know now and he kind of just explained it to me. It's like, yes, your ovary is still making estrogen, but you're not making testosterone anymore. And I'm like, why does that matter? And he said, well, funny story, uh, as a females make more testosterone over their lifetime than estrogen.
Speaker 2:
6:26
And I'm like sitting here like are you kidding? He's like, after menopause, the ovaries do still serve a purpose. They continue to make testosterone. And I'm sitting here like, oh my God, I did not know this, I knew nothing about this, and so you know. Then I started my journey down that and I started my testosterone replacement therapy journey and every single symptom resolved and I was shocked by that. But as I kept working in that realm and meeting more individuals going through this hormone replacement journey, I started to realize that no one's even being really told why like you were saying, why they need this replaced.
Speaker 1:
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I'm so grateful for Kate and her honesty, vulnerability and advocacy in sharing her story. It's conversations like this that remind us how much work still needs to be done, not just in raising awareness, but in demanding better care, more research and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to navigate life with these complex conditions. As we reflect on this past year, let's remember the power of stories like Kate's to inspire change. They teach us that we're not alone in our struggles, that our voices matter and that our health is worth fighting for, even when it feels like the odds are stacked against us. Now I want to leave you with a challenge. Let's keep this conversation going.
Speaker 1:
7:43
Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it, a friend, a family member, even your doctor. Advocate not just for yourself, but for the millions of people navigating the same uncertain roads, and if this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Drop me a message, leave a review or connect with us on social media. Together, we can continue to build a community where education, compassion and empowerment lead the way. Thank you for being here, for listening and for being part of this journey. Until next time, keep advocating for you and for those that you love.