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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
Navigating Hormone Replacement Therapy After Surgery
Speaker 1
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
2:44
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
3:25
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
3:55
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
5:07
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
5:39
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
7:04
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
Continuing the Conversation
Speaker 1
7:39
.
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
.