Hormone Replacement Therapy, yea or nae and why?

[TeresaNJ]

I had a total abdominal hysterectomy 2 years ago at the age of 46 due to severe endometriosis. I did not start HRT because I am afraid of the side effects, and my gyn did not push it. I do experience pretty severe night sweats, have difficulty sleeping, and do have frequent mood swings and bouts of depression. I just went to a new gyn since my former one left the area, and the Nurse Practitioner I saw the other day was aghast that I was not on HRT. She was pretty insistent and persuasive that I should be taking it, so she prescribed a low dose of Premarin. I'm still leery about starting this, so I was wondering if any of you would share your thoughts on the pros and cons, and relate some of your experiences. Thanks.

 

[gr8tpanther]

You can go on HRT without the scripts. Go to GNC there is a multi-vitamin pack for women going through Menopause. I have had alot of customers (when I was manager) have alot of success with this.
It is all natural and will help with the symptoms of menopause without the prescription side effects. You can also try Phyto Estrogen from GNC as well. GNC Menopause VitaPak

 

[ladydancer]

I was on premarian for several years. After having my ovaries removed in my mid-forty's. I was taking it when the news was announced about the side affects. I tryed to get off cold turkey. It was a bad experience. I felt like the whole night sweats, couldn't sleep, depression was worse than at the beginning.

I got back on it for another year. Then I gradually got myself off. First I started with every other day for a couple of months then 2x a week down to once a week then stopped. I have very little symtoms now. I don't know why.

If I were still having problems I would still take it. Maybe not every day but every other day or 2x a week. Something like that.

I guess it depends I how you feel about it and what are your other risk factors for side effects. I don't have any other risk factors.

Hope this helps.

 

[nativetxn]

I took HRT until the study came out that said that HRT doesn't protect your heart, as they originally thought. I stopped taking it then (the risk of stroke wasn't worth it to me.)

I had a few hot flashes and a few night sweats but no mood swings or depression. I just went straight through to menopause with barely any symptoms at all. I was lucky, I guess.

Katholyn

 

[arminnie]

Originally posted by TeresaNJ
I had a total abdominal hysterectomy 2 years ago at the age of 46 due to severe endometriosis. I did not start HRT because I am afraid of the side effects, and my gyn did not push it.

My sister had the same surgery at the same age for the same reasons about 18 months ago. Her doctor really, really pushed it and said she should at least try it because of the shock of surgically induced menopause. My sister chose not to and has been okay.

I tried premarin about 12 years ago and it made me VERY depressed. I only took it about a month. It's a rare side effect.

Before I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue I spent a year going to an endocrinologist. At one time I was on a dosage 4X the usual and could tell no difference on or off the hormones so I went off (gradually).

I guess the one thing that I have learned with all of my friends going through this is that everyone is different. Some say they would not give up their hormones for ANYTHING.

 

[momsgonwild]

I had my complete hysterectomy at age 25. I too had serious endometriosis that did not react to other treatment. I started taking Estradial 2mg once a day, and have taken it everyday since. My gyn explained my body was too young to be without these hormones. Not only do you become a greater risk for Osteoporisis, but many other breakdowns of your body as well.
I am also at a high risk category from taking hrt because my aunt dev breast cancer while taking these hormones. I have to be very studious about self-breast exams, and mamograms. Instead of yearly mamograms, I have to go every six months as a precaution. I got a wild hair once, and decided to try to take myself off the hormones. My family threatened to disown me. I made it through three weeks of torture, and could stand no more. I am sure there will come a time my gyn will decide to decrease, or take me off hormones, and until then I just
concentrate on taking care of my body the best I can.

 

[pumba]

femhrt.. My doctor at the time said that the jury was basically still out on the pros and cons of the meds. I asked when he came back from the AMA meetings taht he attended last year and he said. THAT THE good still outweighs the bad. My mother has severe osteoporosis and for that reason I will continue for another year or so.

 

[house_of_princesses]

Our local Chicago CBS station just did a story on HRT and it's side effects. One alternative is Prolief, a botanically based, natural progesterone cream that comes with a pre-measured pump on top. I have been a consultant for Arbonne International for a while now, and this is one of our biggest sellers. You can see more at www.windycitynaturals.com. And if you have any questions, please pm me.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I think without you need to monitor yourself better.

I have two older sisters. My mother is 84.
My oldest sis (in her 60's) has never taken hormone replacement that I am aware.
My mother never has.
My other sis is in her 50's. She is an RN and has always taken care of herself -- ate right, exercised, etc.
Her doc kept after her on HR and she always insisted not to, as she knew the risks involved.

A compromise was finally reached. She went in for a bone density scan. The results came back that she had the bones of an 80 year old.
Needless to say not only did she go on HR she had to take an additional drug for her bones.

So far I have had no effects from menopause. But I am also in a strange but true category. My body is still producing some HGT hormone (pregnancy hormone).
My count should be zero. I range in the 2.5 - 10 category.
If a doc ran a pregnancy test on me it would come back positive.
I have a feeling that is just me and I have always produced excess. I use to have a heck of a time on birth control pills years ago. I always had to be on a low dosage.

 

[CyranoJones]

I had to have a complete hysterectomy 14 years ago when I was 36. I tried stopping my Premarin earlier this year but felt so awful that I went back on. Stopped it again about a month ago, and other than a very occasional hot flash, I've had no problem. I'm not sure why I had a hard time on the first attempt. Hey, one less pill a day is a good thing, lol.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

I had a complete hysterectomy last August, at the age of 43. I didn't want to use any hormones since my grandmother died of breast cancer. I lasted three weeks. I woke up soaking wet! The next morning, I slapped that hormone patch on and have been using it ever since.

My gyn told me that since my grandmother was 70 when she got cancer, I'm not really at great risk.

Also, she said that I was too young to not have any form of hormone replacement.

I'm on a 1.0 patch, Vivelle Dot (which I love, BTW). I will be on this dosage for one more year, then she is cutting me down to .5, for one year, then she's taking me off it completely. But, if I still get hot flashes, mood swings, etc, I'm going back on it.

 

[chyam]

I'm not there yet, but I have given Premarin serious thoughts and if I were ever to need HRT therapy I would try anything but Premarin and anyone that has an feelings for animals should read exactly what the ingrediants are in Premarin. The mares (female pregnant horses) that are used in the production of this ingrediant are treated horribly and most of their offspring are sent to the slaughter house, and then the mares are impregnanted again since they have to be pregnant to produce the ingrediant. I am not a scientist and I am not a member of PETA but I do believe that people and animals should be treated humanely and I am sure there are other HRT's that can be used and are more natural. That is just my 2 cents worth, and I don't want to start any contravercy. It's just that I do not believe in Premarin.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Thank you all for your responses. I really appreciate you taking the time to tell me of your experiences. Other than smoking, which I know is a huge NO NO, I don't think I have any risk factors. I take good care of myself (other than the smoking, which I fully intend to stop, started three years ago, crazy I know), I eat right, walk a few miles several times a week, and take calcium and multivitamins, and no one in my family has had breast cancer or blood clots. I just ordered Suzanne Somer's book about natural hormone replacements to get a better idea of what they are about. Apparently she has done extensive research on this. house_of_princesses, thanks for the link, I will definitely check it out. My job is extremely stressful, and I think adding to my symptoms, so I am considering switching positions in hopes that it will help. So the premarin sits in my cabinet. I did take it for three days, but forgot to take it yesterday, and today I am so stressed out over everything, feel like crying at every little thing, more than usual, and am wondering if not taking the Premarin yesterday could be making me more nuts! I don't think it could have had an effect like that yet, but who knows. I HATE taking medications, but I also hate feeling like this. Chyam, I did read about the horses when I was looking up Premarin websites. So sad. I'm hoping I can find some other alternative.

 

[ilovepcot]

I had a total hysterectomy at age 38 for endometriosis and used Premarin for YEARS! Way, way too many years. I knew it was harmful and tried numerous times to stop. Each time I did the hot flashes, UNBELIEVABLE irritability and mood swings drove me right back to it. Finally, I decided to stop cold turkey and deal with whatever happened. Nothing did! It's been several years now since stopping and I have no flashes and feel even tempered all the time. I believe at an early age you do need to avoid the "shock" to the system and use the HRT for a time and gradually work you way off it. My gynecologist (once worked for him) agrees.

 

[catsrule]

Well, I had a total hysterectomy at age 30 becasue of endometriosis. I have been on premarin ever since. I have to say that I love premarin. I feel so much better with this drug. I have so much more energy, my heart doesn't race, no night sweats, it has been wonderful for me. I will continue to take it as long as they let me. It has improved the way a feel dramatically.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Bumping for more opinions.