The Emotional Rollercoaster of Menopause

[Biciclista]

my doctor told me that they considered 2 years of HRT to be the max, i did that several years ago now. So i delayed my bones from thinning for two years, now they are thinner. My hair has never been great, but i haven't noticed any big difference. where I HAVE changed drastically, and I am telling you guys this despite the fact that i am shy and embarrassed. but the girly bit parts have lost the natural padding that used to be there and the actual quality of the flesh there has changed as well. i tear and bruise there so easily that it is ridiculous. It sucks.

[Crankin]

Mimi, did you try the Estring? While it hasn't removed all of the problems, it has made it 95% better.

[Biciclista]

I was on hormone stuff for 2-4 years. How long am i supposed to take drugs that might cause cancer later? My grandmother lived to be 92. do the math!
(she didn't take hormones)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Isn't there a topical (cream) form of hormones that can help with this specific issue without having to taking oral pills, without having to be 'on' anything? In other words, it just treats a certain area topically and does not effect the whole body. I'm not sure but isn't there? I seem to remember it was developed for post-menopausal dryness or something.

[Crankin]

Yes, that is what I am talking about. The E-string is a ring like used for BC pills. You get 2mg of estrogen over a 3 month period, locally in that area. It's such a low dose that it actually takes almost the whole three months to feel the benefit at first, although I noticed improvement after a couple of weeks. Of course, that's not saying that some doesn't get into your system, but the dose is so low that it is even prescribed for people who have had cancer. I was still having hot flashes when I got it and it certainly wasn't enough estrogen to stop those! I like it because you just put it in and leave it for 3 months and then get a new one.
Not only did it improve my sex life, but also cycling. I was at the point where I could barely sit on the saddle and the saddle wasn't the problem. When I went for my annual exam, my doctor was shocked that I lesions! She couldn't figure out why, until I told her right away, I knew they were from cycling with my thin membranes. She had never seen this before. Now she's a tri-athlete, so she's much more aware of this stuff.
I would not take HRT for this, but this has been a good alternative for me.

[OakLeaf]

I'm sure localized applications are way safer than oral hormones, but there's going to be some systemic effect from any hormones. There's a thread going on right now about someone who had systemic side effects from cortisone injections in her joints. Most of the OTC "bioidentical" hormones are applied on the skin and meant to have systemic effects.

The whole thing scares me, especially after this summer. I'd used the progesterone cream on and off during perimenopause, and now I don't know whether that caused the cell proliferation, slowed it, or had no effect. Osteoporosis is one thing, but menopausal symptoms would have to be really, really awful for me to consider hormones again.

There are also some homeopathic preparations that don't contain hormones, but are meant to stimulate the body to produce more of its own. I don't know anything about those, but it's maybe something to consider.

[Biciclista]

when i do my next appt i will talk to my dr. thanks

[Tuckervill]

I'm only 47 and have only mild symptoms of perimenopause (no hot flashes, just trouble sleeping and an extra period a year). But I have been wondering about the problem Mimi described...I was thinking it was because I lost those 45 lbs., but I never had the "abrasion" issue when I was young and thin. I rode my bike last week and my Brooks really hurt when I "forgot" how I was supposed to sit on it for the first few feet! yi-yi-yi.

I'll have to ask my doc about it when I go.

Karen