I had my BSO in May of 2008. The following Feb. I had my gallbladder removed. I have done nothing but gain weight since. I started (seriously) trying to lose in Nov. 2012. I have lost 15 lbs. so far but CANNOT get back to my pre-surgery weight yet. I'm not on HRT--tried it for a while but dr. says I don't need anymore.

I know what you mean. Having the surgery made me feel really old and now that I can't get back to that pre-surgery weight, I'm feeling really old again, only fat and old this time. I know it's mostly mental but I'm struggling to find the right combination to break through the plateau.

I'm 45 and had my total hysterectomy last April because of cancer. I feel so fortunate that I haven't noticed any menopause symptoms even though I'm not taking HRT. I *might* have some of the sleep related symptoms, but they're pretty mild and I'm in shock that I never had a single hot flash. I've lost 70 pounds since the surgery and it seems a little harder to lose than when I was younger, but it's not impossible.

how about almost 50 surgical menopause....i was early 40th when it happened though!

I had surgical menopause, had hormones (the horse urine ones), then compounded hormones worked best. Gained weight. I had gallbladder surgery too. Continued to gain weight. Lots of thyroid (low)/hypothyroid issues.

If you have trouble losing weight or continue to gain weight you may want to have your thyroid checked out. Mine was very low.

I had my hysterectomy 10 years ago at 38, but I kept my ovaries. Didn't have too many problems at first, but starting soon after I turned 40, mild hot flashes that became major and weight just crept up on me. I use compounded natural progesterone cream and have off and on for years, but only for the last 9 months on a regular basis. I have not had a hard time losing weight, but I do have to be vigilant, and I cannot lose without exercise, but that may be because I love to eat.

I have breast and cervical cancer in my family, so I am only willing to use the natural progesterone--my aunt's breast cancer developed soon after she began HRT and my grandmother's cervical cancer did, too. Luckily, it works pretty well. I still have hot flashes and night sweats, but they are infrequent and bearable if a little embarrassing sometimes.

ETA: hysterectomy was due to endometriosis. Even with the menopausal stuff starting early and seeming unbearable at times a few years ago, still the best decision I ever made. The endometriosis made me miserable, and I in turn made everyone around me miserable.

Lapband surgery in August 2011. Lost 130 pounds by January 2013. Had hysterectomy in February 2013 and have gained 10 pounds. No change to my diet or exercise routine. How can I go from consistantly losing to nothing almost overnight? Sooooooo frustrating! I'm only 48 and at this rate will never hit my goal weight.

I did the same thing! I've gained about 9 pounds since my surgery in April this year. It's depressing. The hot flashes have gotten more tolerable, but the mood swings seem to have gotten worse. I can't have hormones due to having had cancer, but I"m scared to try the Lexapro for my moods because antidepressants could make me gain even more weight! Giving this my best shot, I'm only 41, but at the rate I"ve gained weight they'll be rolling me around by the time I'm 50, lol!

Lexapro didn't make me gain weight. If anything, it makes me feel good enough to get out of bed and exercise. It could affect you differently, but if so, you could talk to your doctor and taper off of it. Also, I have fewer side effects with Celexa, which is cheap Lexapro, so if one doesn't work, there is another similar-but-not-completely-identical medication you could try.