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Chelee · 10-09-2008, 11:47 PM

Beth, I was peri-meno when dx. So after finishing chemo my onc insisted I start on an AI verse's Tamox. I wanted to make sure I was really menopausal before starting the AI so I pushed for labs. Both FSH & estradiol showed I was in "chemopause". So I started Femara.

About 3 months afterwards I was concerned because I felt like I was going to get my monthly friend back? So I requested my FSH & estradiol be checked again? When we did...it showed I was right...I was very peri-meno. So I started on zoladex monthly and it barely put me in menopause? So since I had a cyst on one ovary I requested to have it removed and have an ooph at the same time. (figuring with the ooph of course that would put me in menopause!) (NOT!) Well over a yr later labs still say peri-meno. I was checked out by two Endo's...and had a battery of tests and they can't find a reason for it. (My own research says ovarian remants syndrome?)

So then it was decided even though I had an ooph I would go back on zoladex. ARGH! But even with the ooph & zoladex my FSH & estradiol still stay peri-meno.

So regardless of the mess I've been dealing with...I would suggest you request labs to check your FSH and estradiol at least once. I see your young. The ooph probably did it's job for you so I wouldn't worry. Beth...after my ooph I never noticed any changes that one should experience with menopause. No hotflashes, dryness, nothing? That's what made me keep asking to have my labs checked. But there are a few strange things that can keep estrogen running through your body...unusal things like a 3rd ovary and as I mentioned the ovarian remants syndrome. But this is NOT the norm. I am sure your fine.

Chelee

10-09-2008, 11:47 PM	#4
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	Beth, I was peri-meno when dx. So after finishing chemo my onc insisted I start on an AI verse's Tamox. I wanted to make sure I was really menopausal before starting the AI so I pushed for labs. Both FSH & estradiol showed I was in "chemopause". So I started Femara. About 3 months afterwards I was concerned because I felt like I was going to get my monthly friend back? So I requested my FSH & estradiol be checked again? When we did...it showed I was right...I was very peri-meno. So I started on zoladex monthly and it barely put me in menopause? So since I had a cyst on one ovary I requested to have it removed and have an ooph at the same time. (figuring with the ooph of course that would put me in menopause!) (NOT!) Well over a yr later labs still say peri-meno. I was checked out by two Endo's...and had a battery of tests and they can't find a reason for it. (My own research says ovarian remants syndrome?) So then it was decided even though I had an ooph I would go back on zoladex. ARGH! But even with the ooph & zoladex my FSH & estradiol still stay peri-meno. So regardless of the mess I've been dealing with...I would suggest you request labs to check your FSH and estradiol at least once. I see your young. The ooph probably did it's job for you so I wouldn't worry. Beth...after my ooph I never noticed any changes that one should experience with menopause. No hotflashes, dryness, nothing? That's what made me keep asking to have my labs checked. But there are a few strange things that can keep estrogen running through your body...unusal things like a 3rd ovary and as I mentioned the ovarian remants syndrome. But this is NOT the norm. I am sure your fine. Chelee __________________ DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs. Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06 Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07 3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07 9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV. 9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa 9-29-09 Power Port Placement 10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head. 11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed 12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa. 3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed. 4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone. 5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy. Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time. 7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.