Hormone Replacement therapy...

[Tink rules]

anyone doing it????

I'm suffering really bad from all the symptoms of Peri-menopause and I have a blood test scheduled for tomorrow to see what's up... I know there is alot of controversy about it... anyone experiencing the therapy and can give any thoughts?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My sister is taking something for night sweats. She is in active early menopause. She is 39.

I think it is an anti depressant. I don't think she is taking hormones though.

 

[claudia]

I think it is a very personal thing. For me I would not take any HRT and I suffered for over 10 years with severe hot flashes and night sweats. I have a cousin who takes a small dose just to take the "edge off". Do your research and make the best decision for yourself.

 

[rie'smom]

I had to have a complete hysterectomy at 39. My doctor suggested HRT and I tried it but it made my skin crawl. I got off of it after a few wekks. This also happened to my SIL a few years later. She got off of it too. Then after having read all the bad articles about hormone replacement therapy, I'm glad I quit. I had hot flashes for awhile and big time night sweats but I bought a small fan and let it blow on me. Now I know longer need the fan but I'm used to it.
My doctor told me that I would gain weight but I didn't and neither did my SIL. I would suggest you have your thyroid levels checked too because low levels can mimic perimenopause.

 

[eeyore65]

Thinking about it. I feel like crap most of the time. I'm 43... I may try more excercise and some diet changes first. But the sleeplessness, hot flashes, mega constipation, depression, all just stink. This is all new too me as I have had no PMS ever and no post partum. I was sure I was going to breeze through this time too. No such luck!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I started in January (I'm 50), and I call it my miracle drug. I was so miserable beforehand, and it's changed me so much for the better. I take Activella, the lower dose.

Before I started taking it, I said to my DH "This (menopause symptoms) could last for 8 years!" and he said "Oh no it can't!

" LOL We're ALL much happier now.

For me, it's a quality of life issue. Everyone has to decide what's best for them. Good luck!

 

[RN4Babies]

I know of two people personally who used hormone replacement therapy: myself and a coworker of mine. My coworker was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years after starting hormone replacement. I was diagnosed with cancer five years after starting low dose hormne replacement therapy. There was no history of cancer in my family or in my coworker's family. My mom had a total hysterectomy when she was 38 years old due to severe endometreosis, and chose to not receive hormone replacement therapy.

I now deal with my symptoms of perimenopause/menopause with black cohash, and I drink a glass of soy milk twice a day. It does help with the night sweats, hot flashes and the moodiness.

 

[LindaG4458]

I'm 60 and just started HRT for the second time. I had been noticing some memory problems. All the physical neurology tests came back normal. The neurologist suggested one of the Alzheimer's drugs as a preventative measure - I don't think so!

My regular MD suggested a different kind of HRT. She embeds 2 granules about the size of a grain of rice into the muscle of one buttock. One is estrogen and the other is testosterone. The strength of each granule is determined from prior blood testing. The granules can last as long as 6 months! In addition I take a progesterone pill each day. It's only been 4 days and I already feel a difference. Sleep is better, gastrointestinal symptoms seem improved. It will be a while until we see if there is any change in memory issues.

I guess this is something fairly new but my MD is very enthused about it and uses it herself.

 

[Tink rules]

Thanks everyone... I think I can handle most of the symptoms, but lately I've been a moody you know what and that, well along with the insomnia, achyness, hot flashes and about 20 other symptoms... If I could just get some relief for those biggies for a bit then I think I could handle the rest. I have researched the therapies and I think I may like to try something short term - but will be seeing the Dr. on Monday.


They did take 6 vials of blood today... we'll see...

 

[minniecarousel]

I used a low dose HRT for a few months. I developed a side affect that I didn't like, so stopped. I guess it was all I needed to get past the worst of it.

I think many women could get by with a mild anti-depressant during these symptoms. I'm no doctor! Each person is different and some respond better than others with the different therapies.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I think this sums up the latest thinking pretty well: http://www.webmd.com/menopause/features/hrt-revisiting-the-hormone-decision

 

[kirbydog48]

Have you considered any alternative treatments, such as herbs/supplements? Acupuncture? I was getting really frequent hot flashes (around 25-30 a day) and after 4 acupuncture treatments (once a week for 4 weeks), they are GONE! It can also help with PMS, irritability, depression, etc. Personally, I would exhaust all other options before even thinking about HRT. Also, Dr. Christiane Northrup's book "The Wisdom of Menopause" has some great information. Good luck!

 

[C.Ann]

I started peri-menopuase at 35 - and completed menopuase at 48..

I did a lot of research on HRT and decided to opt out of it due to the dangers involved - as well as the fact that I don't tolerate medications well.. I'll be 60 this fall - and I have managed just fine..

Years ago there was no such thing as HRT - and women managed to get through it just fine.. For me it was kind of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it.."

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Feralpeg]

I had a complete hysterectomy at age 50. I have not taken any HRT. My doctor recommended against it since I had breast cancer that was estrogen positive. I do have hot flashes and night sweats. It's not great, but it isn't the end of the world. Or maybe it will be. Sometimes I think I am the one responsible for the melting of the ice caps!

 

[HeatherC]

This may sound crazy, but have you tried eliminating a lot of the bad carbs from your diet? I am 43 and have similar symptoms when I don't really pay attention to what I'm eating.

I noticed this last year when I was on the WW Core Program. Within 3 days I started feeling like a new person. Literally. I think it was because I was eating all the fruits and veggies I wanted along with high fiber foods and lots of lean proteins. Basically the stuff we're supposed to be eating and not the stuff that's not good for us.

I immediately felt my energy levels rise, stress levels drop and started sleeping better. I was astounded because I didn't do it for that reason...just wanted to drop a few pounds.

I certainly don't always do this, but when I do start to feel lousy, I try to regain control of my diet and it really works wonders for me. I guess my body is just super sensitive to foods.

I also take fish oil capsules.

As far as HRT goes, I don't plan on taking it myself. My reason is because I personally know 6 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer. All 6 of them had taken HRT but had no other history of cancer in their families. That scared me enough to say it's not for me.

I wish you all the best and hope you are feeling better soon.

 

[Holly]

I just wanted to ask that anyone considering taking the HRT Premarin/ Prempro/ Prempac, etc., please research how those drugs are produced.

Google or http://www.premarin.org/


There are synthetics and organic treatments available. Best wishes to everyone with whatever they choose.

 

[Lassie Lynne]

I had a hysterectomy and take HRT......my life was really really bad the months right after while my doc wanted me to wait to see if I needed them. Even my DH said "you gotta go on something dear". Now I take them and Menopause, what is that?!?! I am still young, so I am sure that as I get older, that will change, but for now, this works for me.

 

[DebbieB]

I've had some peri-menopause symptoms including bleeding between periods. The doctor wanted to put me on a low dose hormone for it but I said no because both my mom and grandmother had breast cancer. It has kind of worked itself out so I was glad I didn't.

 

[momrek06]

I have done allot of reading on HRT and Bio-Identicals and have made the decision to NOT take anything. So this is the direction I have gone in....vitamins and supplements.

I make this shake every single day; 8oz (diet) cranberry juice, a scoop of powered soy, 1 tbsp of brewer's yeast and 1 tbsp of ground flaxseed.

AND I take fish oil, flaxseed oil, red clover, black cohosh, a daily vitamin, magnesium and calcium everday. I make sure I take the vitamins/supplements after a meal. I break them up, some in the a.m. and the rest in the p.m. I started all this over a year ago and I feel great. I still have hot flashes but not nearly as bad as they were before I went this route.

I also walk. ALLOT. 5 miles a day!

 

[Tink rules]

Just wanted to let you know that the Dr. put me on Angeliq - a combo of both estrogen and progesterin (in small doses...) and all of my symptoms have cleared up...

Will make sure I do frequent check ups while I am on it and may try in a couple of months to wean myself off to see if I need them anymore... but so far it's helped...