bioidentical hormones

Nooooooooooooooooooo! Don't do it. None of my docs recommend them.

I gotta run too. Just don't do it.

.

Let the buyer beware. Doesn't Suzanne Somers market a leading entry in this genre?

Let the buyer beware. Doesn't Suzanne Somers market a leading entry in this genre?

yes, she's written a few books on anti-aging and health. she swears by bioidentical (natural) hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), and so do a few other people (men and women) I know in real life. but, I have a lot of my own research to do on the matter. what works for some isn't necessarily the best for others, or for me.

John Rudy - as far as I know, most doctors do not know much about or prescribe BHRT - they are natural compounds, not a synthetic drug, and not fda approved. and not mainstream at all. from what I have heard, you must find doctors specializing in women's health who prescribe a comprehensive plan involving BHRT or HRT, along with nutrition, exercise, etc. also, the compounds are highly individualized. so, apparently if you go this route with the right doctor/specialist, then you must commit to lots of follow up until you find the right levels for you. and then its a lifelong regimen which probably requires adjustment from time to time. that's about all I know at this point. except that I have learned that depleted hormones can lead to disease, as well as a host of other symptoms I'm only beginning to experience. so, I'm ready to do the research.

I believe its worth checking it out with various docs specializing in women's health. which is why I am asking if anyone has had any personal experience or indepth knowledge on the subject. or any new information on synthetic HRT is also relevant to this matter. thanks.

The doctors in my practice are mixed on it. My doctor, male, my age, is against, the female doctors in the practice, younger, are willling to try it on a short term, monitored basis. Only though if the prescription is given to a compounding pharmacy and not something ordered online.

I have not taken them, due to my doctor not being in favor and my symptoms not being severe enough, according to him, to warrant them. He has and does recommend a herbal approach to controling the symptoms.

Two close friends did take them, for about a year, and felt it was the best thing they ever did and that it saved their sanity and probably their marriages. They did have to tweak the prescription a couple of times, which is why the Doctors recommend a local compounding pharmacy.

My practice does recommend the book by Christine Northrup MD, that was featured on Oprah.

I swear, the few people I know who have tried it say they are saved (one is a man in mid-50's). but who the hail knows.

one thing I have learned so far in reading is that the right pharmacy is a must. absolutely not something you want to do online or anything like that.

Do you need them? What do they do? I have been dreading going to the doctor - do I need to? I know it sounds silly to ask but since I just had my 49th birthday for the second time, I probably need to.

who has 'em?

I'm ready to do some serious work looking into this hormone replacement alternative. would love to hear your experience, thoughts, knowledge, etc on the subject.

sorry to post and run, but will check back later.

yes, she's written a few books on anti-aging and health. she swears by bioidentical (natural) hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), and so do a few other people (men and women) I know in real life. but, I have a lot of my own research to do on the matter. what works for some isn't necessarily the best for others, or for me.

John Rudy - as far as I know, most doctors do not know much about or prescribe BHRT - they are natural compounds, not a synthetic drug, and not fda approved. and not mainstream at all. from what I have heard, you must find doctors specializing in women's health who prescribe a comprehensive plan involving BHRT or HRT, along with nutrition, exercise, etc. also, the compounds are highly individualized. so, apparently if you go this route with the right doctor/specialist, then you must commit to lots of follow up until you find the right levels for you. and then its a lifelong regimen which probably requires adjustment from time to time. that's about all I know at this point. except that I have learned that depleted hormones can lead to disease, as well as a host of other symptoms I'm only beginning to experience. so, I'm ready to do the research.

I believe its worth checking it out with various docs specializing in women's health. which is why I am asking if anyone has had any personal experience or indepth knowledge on the subject. or any new information on synthetic HRT is also relevant to this matter. thanks.

So true...What I have learned is that estrogen dominance; which many of us have due to the things in our environment, foods, fat stores, etc., is a really unhealthy way to live. Many cancers and tumors are estrogen fed, and therefore, our estrogen dominance is not good.

Finding a dr. that trusts in bio-identical hormones was as easy as a little research for me. I think many people would be suprised what we put in our bodies for HRT-for instance, did you know premarin, a "natural estrogen" is part horse (mare) urine? Nice.....

For anyone needing a big place to sort through research and posts from others on this and many more women's health issues try looking at www.hystersisters.com.

Do you need them? What do they do? I have been dreading going to the doctor - do I need to? I know it sounds silly to ask but since I just had my 49th birthday for the second time, I probably need to.

Too funny....The average age for menopause is 51, you still have a little time to discuss HRT. But, make sure you are seeing your dr. yearly.

Do you need them? What do they do? I have been dreading going to the doctor - do I need to? I know it sounds silly to ask but since I just had my 49th birthday for the second time, I probably need to.

I hope I am reading this incorrectly, supermom...don't you see your gyno once a year? He/she will be the one to check your hormone levels.

Do you need them? What do they do? I have been dreading going to the doctor - do I need to? I know it sounds silly to ask but since I just had my 49th birthday for the second time, I probably need to.

hey supermom! if you are asking if you need them, then my answer would be no. but, listen to MK - and see your gyno for a check up anyway. my guess is that your active exercise is the key to keeping your feeling young and energetic. inspiring to me!


Oklahoma Girl - thanks so much for the info. will check out the site. I feel we all have different needs, absolutely no one answer for all. which is one of the advantages of BHRT, according to Somers, in that it must be tailored to suit your hormonal needs. not a one size fits all prescription that most women on regular/synthetic HRT receive. but I'm hearing from some of you via PM that synthetic HRT has been a life saver. thanks for letting me hear from you.


Skunky - don't let us scare you off just because we are hormone depleted and may feel the need to rip your cahones off - don't worry we can't reach through the message board.:funn: would love to learn from our local internist.

Pharmacy-wise... the compounding pharmacy in Destin rocks! Heather is knowledgeable & very caring. Love her!

What are your symptoms, tootsie? Just curious.


Also, I've never had my hormone levels checked either. I suppose if I'm complaining of severe symptoms my gyno would have them checked (blood test?). This is not an automatic test, correct?

Pharmacy-wise... the compounding pharmacy in Destin rocks! Heather is knowledgeable & very caring. Love her!

I was waiting to hear from you. care to give us any additional details about your own experience? and look - we have a Destin pharmacy!!!

I respect your privacy so please share only what you are comfortable with.

What are your symptoms, tootsie? Just curious.


Also, I've never had my hormone levels checked either. I suppose if I'm complaining of severe symptoms my gyno would have them checked (blood test?). This is not an automatic test, correct?

not an automatic test. my gyn did the test based on my symptoms and it was verified that I was in early menopause. don't know how that is possible when I am suppose to only be about 32 years of age (that is what my mind tells me). okay, maybe 34.

symptoms are still tolerable but what I'm finding out is that doctors used to wait until you are in full blown menopause before doing any HRT, and by then you are contemplating a lot of violence and crime. I'm hearing now that even pre-menopause isn't too early to start your research and even some therapies. of course, diet and exercise are key to any lifestyle change, and become more important than ever in a woman's life when she hits menopause. my own symptoms are some hot flashing, mood swings and anxiety. some days I don't want to see another person (this isn't like me). I have lower tolerance for things that bother me. I'm becoming my mother. :shock: I am gaining weight because I don't have the energy to 1) exercise regularly, or 2) eat healthy foods (this takes planning and work in the kitchen you know). my symptoms are silly compared to what I've already heard from some of you. and I'm embarrassed to even talk about them. but, they are mine and I want to find out what to do to improve my physical and mental self before I decide to rip off some cohones around here.

what I'm hearing from some of the women on this board alone is that both natural BHRT and synthetic HRT have both saved lives - literally.

I do know lots of women who decided to be "pioneer women" (as my buddy put it today), meaning they would endure like women used to do - no therapy, no self-preservation, just do it. some of them were able to do this pretty easily. some failed miserably and finally resorted to HRT, with much relief.

the pioneer women - bless their hearts. apparently, we aren't suppose to live much longer than our reproductive years. we're suppose to experience rapid aging, grow beards, and suffer disease and then kick it in a timely manner. but, that isn't the case today.

Menopause hit me hard last summer, at age 52. Those hot flashes were horrible.
I started taking this stuff: Hot Flash
It saved my sanity (and probably my marriage.) ;-)
It is soy, black cohosh, dong quai, all the usual natural stuff.
Supposedly it has phytoestrogens, which bind to estrogen receptors.
I seemed to be very sensitive to it, the directions said allow a month to feel the effects but the stuff literally worked overnight.
These days I just take it every now and then, maybe once/twice a month, tops.

well, toots, I'm right where you are it seems. I'm 51. However, I am NOT experiencing any hot flashes yet. Fatigue, yes. But I'm prone to that anyway (I have MS - symptom free usually other than the massive fatigue). However, I do experience emotional sensitivity, weight gain, irritability. And that IS menopause. (I can relate to no energy to plan/prepare the healthy meals.)

Have you had your thyroid checked? My dr had me tested over a year ago and mine was low. I take an Rx. However, I notice no difference in my energy level.

The thing that scares me the most is every gyno I've been to has told me that I can pretty much gauge my menopause by comparison to my mother's. That will be unbearable to my Mr. JR and JR jr. She was a monster and it lasted about 8 years. Is that possible for it to last so long?

So who knows. I may already be in the midst of it but since I'm expecting maniacal behavior, I just don't realize it.
.

btw
I seem to be a weirdo because I began *losing* weight (without trying to) about 5 years ago, when it was obvious I was in perimenopause.
I lost a good 10 pounds--without trying to. That sounds great, but really it was kinda creepy.
My jeans got baggy. People asked if I felt okay etc.
It got to the point where I got my thyroid checked out, along with estrogen levels.
Both came out normal.
I got both checked out again last fall. Thyroid normal, estrogen at Change Of Life levels.
I was a skinny kid, and I think I am just reverting back to the way I was before I hit puberty.
It's so strange, the stuff we women go through.
In terms of symptoms, the worst thing besides the hot flashes is I tend to be even more of a space cadet than I already was in the first place.

hey supermom! if you are asking if you need them, then my answer would be no. but, listen to MK - and see your gyno for a check up anyway. my guess is that your active exercise is the key to keeping your feeling young and energetic. inspiring to me!


Oklahoma Girl - thanks so much for the info. will check out the site. I feel we all have different needs, absolutely no one answer for all. which is one of the advantages of BHRT, according to Somers, in that it must be tailored to suit your hormonal needs. not a one size fits all prescription that most women on regular/synthetic HRT receive. but I'm hearing from some of you via PM that synthetic HRT has been a life saver. thanks for letting me hear from you.


Skunky - don't let us scare you off just because we are hormone depleted and may feel the need to rip your cahones off - don't worry we can't reach through the message board.:funn: would love to learn from our local internist.

To be honest, I farm out my ladies in need to Petrac or Graham. There is way too much conflicting data regarding HRT that I am aware of, and that is the mainstream stuff. I am very skeptical about whatever Suzanne Somers is advocating.

Pharmacy-wise... the compounding pharmacy in Destin rocks! Heather is knowledgeable & very caring. Love her!

I had heard there was a compounding pharmacy in Crestview. Didn't know about Destin!

Since I have no shame, I'll talk about anything - my doctor (Moraczewski in FWB - him) initially wanted me to try bioidentical hormones when I began HRT six months after the big H. But, BCBS isn't too keen on bioidenticals yet and, due to other financial obligations, I am having to go with what our insurance will help me out at the pharmacy with. So, I have an estrogen patch, progesterone, and a DHEA over-the-counter supplement.

The six months between my surgery and the beginning of HRT were pretty rough. Just ask Fuzz....:roll:

Does BCBS cover ANY medicines for womens' issues? :angry:

I will be 45 next week and I am already POST menapausal.....and not taking anything. Tootsie's symptoms mimic mine...I just thought I was nuts, much to my husbands amusement (most of the time). I have hypo-thyrodism and on meds, apparantly have metabolic syndrome on top of all that. I am wondering if the biomedical hormones would help me? Thanks, for the info Toot's, I will look into it and if you come across more info worth passing along, please do.

Does BCBS cover ANY medicines for womens' issues? :angry:

Mostly if FDA approved. They don't pay for Chantix (the quit smoking drug)....you would think it would be in their benfit to support Chantix. But, if they are in cahoots with the FDA...what can you expect?

To be honest, I farm out my ladies in need to Petrac or Graham. There is way too much conflicting data regarding HRT that I am aware of, and that is the mainstream stuff. I am very skeptical about whatever Suzanne Somers is advocating.

Refer, you refer the ladies out. This isn't the thread to use the term farm.

Refer, you refer the ladies out. This isn't the thread to use the term farm.

Oh no......YOU HAD to point that out...................I see stampeding hormone deprived young gulls heading for Skunkape.

They didn't pay for Zyban either, back when I quit, but they did cover Wellbutrin (same exact drug as Zyban, but sold as an antidepressant).

Unfortunately, I've heard of no "identical" covered form of Chantix, but I have heard Chantix works - very well.

They didn't pay for Zyban either, back when I quit, but they did cover Wellbutrin (same exact drug as Zyban, but sold as an antidepressant).

Unfortunately, I've heard of no "identical" covered form of Chantix, but I have heard Chantix works - very well.

It's been two weeks today and I have cut down my smoking...but haven't stopped. Guess it's a start. At the rate I am going, this might get expensive.

well, toots, I'm right where you are it seems. I'm 51. ...

Have you had your thyroid checked? My dr had me tested over a year ago and mine was low. I take an Rx. However, I notice no difference in my energy level.

The thing that scares me the most is every gyno I've been to has told me that I can pretty much gauge my menopause by comparison to my mother's. That will be unbearable to my Mr. JR and JR jr. She was a monster and it lasted about 8 years. Is that possible for it to last so long?

So who knows. I may already be in the midst of it but since I'm expecting maniacal behavior, I just don't realize it.
.

thyroid checked and fine.
we are becoming our mothers.
you know, menopause is part of life and we'll live. but, from what I've read recently, and it makes so much sense, is that the drop in hormone levels leads to not only aging, but decline in health and disease. this sounds a little more serious than I once thought about "the change".. we used to think it was just some hot flashes and senility. it seems to have a lot more impact on your body than that. but maybe not. don't know...

btw
I seem to be a weirdo because I began *losing* weight (without trying to) about 5 years ago, when it was obvious I was in perimenopause.
I lost a good 10 pounds--without trying to. That sounds great, but really it was kinda creepy.
My jeans got baggy. People asked if I felt okay etc.
It got to the point where I got my thyroid checked out, along with estrogen levels.
Both came out normal.
I got both checked out again last fall. Thyroid normal, estrogen at Change Of Life levels.
I was a skinny kid, and I think I am just reverting back to the way I was before I hit puberty.
It's so strange, the stuff we women go through.
In terms of symptoms, the worst thing besides the hot flashes is I tend to be even more of a space cadet than I already was in the first place.

omg, Cil - space cadet - that should have been the first symptom on my list!!!

To be honest, I farm out my ladies in need to Petrac or Graham. There is way too much conflicting data regarding HRT that I am aware of, and that is the mainstream stuff. I am very skeptical about whatever Suzanne Somers is advocating.

Skunky - you should look at Suzanne Somer's books - they are really informative. I was quite surprised. Several friends have mentioned her books and I finally picked one up. She has much experience to draw from in her own quest for health, fitness, nutrition, etc, and she supports her own research with expertise from leading doctors in women's health. Basically, the latest book, Ageless, emphasizes anti-aging or quality of life medicine and medicine focused on optimizing health as a first line of defense against disease and degeneration. she, and many MDs interviewed in the book, talk about a big gap between traditional medicine (disease based) and anti-aging medicine. (much of her book is just informational such as hormone types, what they do, how they work, what happens at certain age, etc).

there are many other books available today - and I would like to hear of what some of you have read and recommend!

I had heard there was a compounding pharmacy in Crestview. Didn't know about Destin!

Since I have no shame, I'll talk about anything - my doctor (Moraczewski in FWB - him) initially wanted me to try bioidentical hormones when I began HRT six months after the big H. But, BCBS isn't too keen on bioidenticals yet and, due to other financial obligations, I am having to go with what our insurance will help me out at the pharmacy with. So, I have an estrogen patch, progesterone, and a DHEA over-the-counter supplement.

The six months between my surgery and the beginning of HRT were pretty rough. Just ask Fuzz....:roll:

is this what your doc recommended? how did you know to try these and in this combination? so, this is working for you it seems. great info, thanks.

Refer, you refer the ladies out. This isn't the thread to use the term farm.

thank you for helping monitor this serious thread gayboi. you are a treasure!