Talk to me about HRT

Hi All,
I have not posted on here in ages, but I saw this thread and had to add my 2 cents. I had a partial hysto when I was 42, and slowly started down the meno road. I probably would have sucked it up, except that I teach high school and it was not fair to my students. I had mashed potato brain to the max and could not sleep.

I am doing bioidenticals, a mix of estrogen patch, a progesterone pill that is compounded. I am adding my 2 cents because it took a few tries to get it right. Once they did I had immediate relief. I feel like a new person.

Could it be that perhaps your doc needs to change your formula or combination of drugs?

My gyn ("Groin-a-cologist, per Archie Bunker) put me on Elestrin. It's a pump, very small amount of beta estrodial that I can titrate up & avoid side effects. It is a bioidentical hormone but not compounded. He doesn't like compound labs because there is no quality control. In fact, a compounding pharmacy here got in trouble due to slip shod practices.

Said we'll have to add progesterone eventually. The goal at present is to stop the hot flashes. It was 107 degrees in Tucson today. Thinking of the old Dwayne Wade commercial where he's locked in a room & pounds on the door chanting, "Get me outta here! Get me outta here!"

That sounds like a positive solution. I sure hope it works for you.

My doc uses only one compounding pharmacy, and it is in Utah, so I send for my meds. He said he had tried a number of them and this one is the bext that he has found. So far it seems fine. I have been on it for two years.

"Although some schools of thought say that you can't measure hormones because they fluctuate so much, my PCP said my estrogen level was zero. I'm not sure how that could be but in any case, it's really low. That probably explains the flashes/sweats."


I have had all sorts of strange things in the past year. Night sweats, bad heart palps, sever mood swings. They said my hormones were at normal levels. I don't believe it either. I heard the same thing you did, that you have to measure them right at the right time or you don't get an accurate reading.
I am under control a bit more then I was. Mainly cause I figured out what was going on. But no Dr would totally confirm I was hormonal. They would say "well maybe" " It could be" part of it is because I am 43 they think I am to young.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brandi

t could be" part of it is because I am 43 they think I am to young.

---

I started the mood swings and hot flashes a good ten years before my last period - right at your age.. My hormones read normal during part of this time. Then, they read "menopausal." It was like going from 60mph to zero.

I've read that cortisol does fluctuate during the day - so why not estrogen/progesterone? Heaven forbid that we should have a medical reason for these things rather than being labeled a b*tch! (Oh there is my inner Gloria Steinman coming out again!)

Isn't it funny (I severely digress) that low testosterone is called "Low T" on the TV ads? Why can't they just say it - buddy - you're going through andropause! Put down the dumbbells & pick up the Reader's Digest - it's over!:p

Brandi, I started peri symptoms at around 38.
You are not too young.

Im sooo glad I'm not alone. I have been going through some rough times the last couple of years. I'm 42 and know that I am pre menopause...YEA NOT!!! Doesn't help much that my oldest just graduated and is starting college. STRESSSSS doesn't help much either. I have found that for the sleepless nights I usually take CalMag in a powder form and mix it with water then drink something else to get rid of the taste not that it taste that bad but not the first thing I would want to drink if I were thirsty. Exercise helps with anxiety and depression too. Thats all the symptoms I have so far and by the sounds of it I don't want anymore!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dogmama

I started the mood swings and hot flashes a good ten years before my last period - right at your age.. My hormones read normal during part of this time. Then, they read "menopausal." It was like going from 60mph to zero.

I've read that cortisol does fluctuate during the day - so why not estrogen/progesterone? Heaven forbid that we should have a medical reason for these things rather than being labeled a b*tch! (Oh there is my inner Gloria Steinman coming out again!)

Isn't it funny (I severely digress) that low testosterone is called "Low T" on the TV ads? Why can't they just say it - buddy - you're going through andropause! Put down the dumbbells & pick up the Reader's Digest - it's over!:p

---

Glad I am not alone!

Looking back, I think my awful PMS symptoms were part of perimenopause. I have a friend who is going through it & I can tell when she's due to start her period because NOTHING is right.

I am using Elestrin, which is a very small amount of estrogen in a pump form, so I can still titrate the dosage. How long does it take to work? Granted, I'm really not using a lot of estrogen, but I was hoping to get some relief soon. Looking at 100+ degree days for the next week...ugh.

Just chiming in here. I have 2 older sisters 54 and 55 years old. One has all the most horrible symptoms. Most docs would not prescribe HRT to her, finally one did. I'll try to find out which drug. The crying jags, hunger pains, sleepless nights are mostly gone.

The other sister has hot flashes from time to time, but no other real symptoms.

I'm 50 and have noticed a few things, but nothing to be negatively obtrusive in my life. Time will tell to see if my symptoms worsen.

We are all so different.

Good luck to you.