Thank you for sharing your story. I hope you are doing well.
I am 57 yrs old and was born with a cyanotic heart defect called Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (TAPVR). I had my daughter when I was 29 and experienced perimenopause at 33 and menopause at 35. I never experienced any of the unpleasant symptoms and have a normal bone density.
I worked in a level III neonatal intensive care unit at the time of my menopause and when I was chatting with the high-risk Obstetricians I worked with about my premature menopause, they postulated that perhaps during the first 6-years of my life, when I lived hypoxic, my ovaries took the brunt of the hypoxia, causing them to fail early. My treatment when diagnosed with TAPVR at birth, included a shunt. This created a mixture of venous and oxygenated blood circulation and I lived with oxygen saturations below the normal level. I did not have my corrective surgery until I was 6.
I ran this theory by my cardiologist (I see an adult congenital heart specialist) and she agreed that could be a feasible theory. Definitely a great question and I’d love to know what the incidence of premature menopause is among CHD women.
I have been in menopause for about 2 years now, and I love it. I'm much more even keeled in my moods.
Backing up 10 years, I had a large cyst on an ovary. But because of my CHD, I'm high risk for any surgery. I had several ultrasounds and saw an oncologist, who ruled out any cancer. This doctor did say that the ovaries do something for the heart, we know that estrogen helps the heart, but there's something else that we can't figure out. I liked his openness and honesty, but it also made me uneasy.
Am I at greater risk for more heart problems since menopause? Does my CHD play a larger part than what happens with a normal heart in menopause? I agree, there needs to be more research for CHD and menopause.
I know that it is a miracle that I am even alive, and I'm thankful to Almighty God for that, so I will continue to trust Him for what is ahead.
Thank you so much for being transparent in your experience. I appreciate the article.
The large cyst I had threatened torsion also. I saw a few doctors, that thought it should come out, but I had a cardiologist that said I would die on the operating table. The last doctor I saw about it said that it would never be an emergency for it to come out (that was my fear), but if it would twist, I would have extreme pain (managed with pain meds in the hospital) for about 8 hours and the ovary would die. Then a next move would be planned. She said it's only an emergency when you want to save the ovary, which on my case, I wouldn't be having children.
I had that cyst for approximately 2 years. When I went for a check up on it, it was gone! I'm was, and am still so thankful!
Once I had a cyst pop and the ER doctor said my pelvic cavity was flooded with blood. They wanted to operate to remove the blood, but I refused. It took my body about a month to absorb it, but no surgery!
My husband says that I just look until I find a doctor that agrees with me! 😂 I believe it is the Lord's direction.
I hope you are doing well now, with no more cysts in the future!
Thank you for sharing your story. I hope you are doing well.
I am 57 yrs old and was born with a cyanotic heart defect called Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (TAPVR). I had my daughter when I was 29 and experienced perimenopause at 33 and menopause at 35. I never experienced any of the unpleasant symptoms and have a normal bone density.
I worked in a level III neonatal intensive care unit at the time of my menopause and when I was chatting with the high-risk Obstetricians I worked with about my premature menopause, they postulated that perhaps during the first 6-years of my life, when I lived hypoxic, my ovaries took the brunt of the hypoxia, causing them to fail early. My treatment when diagnosed with TAPVR at birth, included a shunt. This created a mixture of venous and oxygenated blood circulation and I lived with oxygen saturations below the normal level. I did not have my corrective surgery until I was 6.
I ran this theory by my cardiologist (I see an adult congenital heart specialist) and she agreed that could be a feasible theory. Definitely a great question and I’d love to know what the incidence of premature menopause is among CHD women.
That's an interesting theory. Thanks for sharing!
I have been in menopause for about 2 years now, and I love it. I'm much more even keeled in my moods.
Backing up 10 years, I had a large cyst on an ovary. But because of my CHD, I'm high risk for any surgery. I had several ultrasounds and saw an oncologist, who ruled out any cancer. This doctor did say that the ovaries do something for the heart, we know that estrogen helps the heart, but there's something else that we can't figure out. I liked his openness and honesty, but it also made me uneasy.
Am I at greater risk for more heart problems since menopause? Does my CHD play a larger part than what happens with a normal heart in menopause? I agree, there needs to be more research for CHD and menopause.
I know that it is a miracle that I am even alive, and I'm thankful to Almighty God for that, so I will continue to trust Him for what is ahead.
Thank you so much for being transparent in your experience. I appreciate the article.
Thanks so much for sharing, Jennifer!
Hi Lynne,
The large cyst I had threatened torsion also. I saw a few doctors, that thought it should come out, but I had a cardiologist that said I would die on the operating table. The last doctor I saw about it said that it would never be an emergency for it to come out (that was my fear), but if it would twist, I would have extreme pain (managed with pain meds in the hospital) for about 8 hours and the ovary would die. Then a next move would be planned. She said it's only an emergency when you want to save the ovary, which on my case, I wouldn't be having children.
I had that cyst for approximately 2 years. When I went for a check up on it, it was gone! I'm was, and am still so thankful!
Once I had a cyst pop and the ER doctor said my pelvic cavity was flooded with blood. They wanted to operate to remove the blood, but I refused. It took my body about a month to absorb it, but no surgery!
My husband says that I just look until I find a doctor that agrees with me! 😂 I believe it is the Lord's direction.
I hope you are doing well now, with no more cysts in the future!
Thank you, Jen, for your vulnerability in sharing your story. As always, Leigh, thank you for your thoughtful newsletter. ♥️
Thank you! It's such an important topic.
Thank you for the kind words. That does sound frustrating! I hope you get an answer.