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going crazy

I had a total hysterectomy 2 years ago I was 41, I have been on hormones since then and alot better, but my new doctor told me to stop taking them because of cancer etc... I really didnt want to but I cut the dose in half, and I fell apart, mood hot flashes,ect.... so I started taking them in full again  for a couple days and my chest swelled and I was crazy, so I want back to half of what I was taking, and I am losing my mind, I am extremly angry, so tired sometimes I feel like I cant stay awake to save my life,then other times I cant sleep, I dont know what to do, when I started taking them my gyno said there good for the heart bad for the breast, now my new doctor said they will give me cancer... we just lost out 20 year old son to cancer, and I am so afraid of that now... can anyone give me the right advice, taking half the dose isnt working....  m
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599170 tn?1300973893
Good luck Martie...any dr should know what bio idential hormones are...wrong dr,,God Bless and I hope you find a wonderful one that you deserve.

Cherie
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Avatar universal
I said above I'm on 2 mg of estradol, I am 43 and my dr. said stop taking them, then she said take if you need them... dr's. are enough to make a preacher cuss sometimes..lol
you all gave me some really great advice... oh and remar I asked my doctor about bio indentical hormones and she didnt know what they were, so we are moving to az. in a couple months, I will find a gyno out there who can help with those they sound great...
and cherie I had my thyroid checked and they said it was fine, but I do have hairloss dry itchy skin,like you said it was suprising to see you side that its related to deppression, I am going to have everything rechecked when I move... thanks again all for the advice it really has givin me alot of peace just knowing I am not alone....m
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599170 tn?1300973893
also,,,its never a good idea to discontinue meds with out drs advise..what is your meds where slow or continuous release..could explain shortness of breathe and chest pain, funny lung feeling,

hugs, C
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599170 tn?1300973893
Hi,,Your going to get different answers on this depending on what type dr you speak to, There is more and more current evidence to a link between not only breast but also lung cancer with hrt. Above poster is correct that Premarine and the likes which is actually made from the urine of a pregnant mare show a higher rate of cancer...

Bio-Identical hormones are most commonly used today, estrogen. progestrone and or combos..I use vivelle dot for a year then stopped as my symptoms went away.

to sum it up....a cardiologist/ and most oncologists will tell you BIHRT is bad..too many risks.

A osteopath (bone dr) will tell you bio-hormnes are really good for bone density strength ....I  wonder often if my stopping hormones. lead to my one year later discectomy...3 vertebras became fused in the cervical area of neck...I had to have them replaced w donor bone and now have  a titanium plate and screwsin neck...weight lift restrictions and cannot work or lift hands well above head, my nerves where trapped and comprimised.

So not trying to scare you to death ! but you really need to speak with 2 different gyn.s get a tablet of paper and write all your questions...they should ask you risk factors...like smoking history, family history, etc...do you know you have a greater chance of getting breast cancer if a sister had it than if your mother did?

also due to the trauma of your sons loss, rest his soul, I am certain the hormones are going havoic with the other hormones your body is depleating of (most likely) such as serotonin and dopamine, I think it would be a really good idea to see a psychiatrist have some blood work done, get some talk therapy and see if you may need a antidepressant for a while...these can help with the hysterectomy symptom also..just a thought.

also have you had your thyroid checked? seems a abnormally high number of post hysterectomy women develop Hashimotos or hypothyroidism bothe easy to treat..but symptoms are things such as depression, hair loss, dry skin.

So to sum it up Id advise you 1. get thyroid checked...2. see two gyns get pros and cons from both with your personal history and 3. consider seeking some help for posssible depression. loss of close family member pluse such a serious surgery would likely put anyone into a depression..the good news is it is very treatable.

Please let me know how you are.

Cherie
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Avatar universal
me and my husband just got back from my dr. and  I left pretty confused, the last time I saw her in january she told me to stop takikng hormones due to cancer and there bad for the heart, she said cut them down the stop all the way... well I am so glad I brought my husband because this time she said take them if I need them, I said you told me to stop taking them, she said well if you need them ,take them... I said to my husband didnt she say stop taking them, he said yes she did... I left there crying my eyes out, I decided at this point just to take them and get a mammogram every year.....

lisa I was so glad you shared your story, I too am dealing with the same thing, I tell my husband I want a divorce at least once a week, and I am always feeling like no body can stand me, I am sorry that you had to experience it all too,but to hear you were doing what Im doing now makes me realize I need to do whats right for me... the dr told me my hormone level was fine when I was on 2mg estradol then tells me to stop...I need to do whats right for me....  thanks again for your support.... martie
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1270004 tn?1270507806
Hi, Remar.  As MARTIE1967 asked, what hormones are you on?  How long did you cut back to the half-dose for?  Also, when are you taking them (time of day)?  I would not recommend cutting them out altogether, as you have been on them for the past 2 years and your body is used to having the supplementation.  Have you asked your doctor or pharmacist about these recent problems?  I would first try talking to them.  If your doctor is unsympathetic or tells you to simply stop taking the hormones, I suggest you quickly find yourself another doctor, and preferably a specialist in endocrinology and, ideally, one who is familiar with bioidentical hormones.  I actually interviewed 3 before I chose one I felt comfortable with.

I am very sorry for the loss of your son, but the type of cancer that might be increased by HRT has only been linked so far to (primarily) breast cancer.  Although men can and do get breast cancer, if your son did not have it, and your other family members (mother, grandmothers, aunts, etc.)  have not been diagnosed with breast cancer, then your risk is normal (so, not a high risk for you) and I would not worry more so than usual about breast cancer, with the caveat that you are not on synthetic HRT.  As far as my research has shown, it is synthetic HRT that is mostly problematic and highly risky in terms of breast cancer (Premarin is one of the main culprits I recall from a study).  My family has a history of breast cancer, but I do not believe they have found any increase in risk if one is using bioidentical hormones and keeping track of their relative ratios and any symptoms, then adjusting adequately their dosages so that they are obtaining relief with the lowest possible dosage.  I am currently on bioidentical compounds in a cream form and they have helped me substantially.

I have also found in my experience that you need to monitor your symptoms yourself very closely.  I realize you are extremely busy, but if you can jot down in a journal by your bed your hormone use and how you have felt each day, you may see a pattern.  I adjust my hormones on my own and notice certain changes, make note of them and then review every once in a while to try and get the ratios correct so that I feel "normal".  You must be patient, however.  Changes do take a while to take effect.  So, I think that when you returned to your normal dosage, you need to give your body some time to readjust again.  It may take a few weeks to a month before you feel the same as you did before.

This is just based on my experience and research, but I highly suggest you find a sympathetic and educated specialist to help you.  When you have a few minutes, do some research on bioidentical hormones either on the Internet (although you have to be careful which sources you read) and/or at the library.  If your current Gyno wants you off hormones and you have no other doctor to talk to about them, you definitely need to find some other doctor to discuss this with, because I don't think you should take yourself completely off them without some testing and a symptom evaluation.

Just know that you are not alone.  Probably most people here have been in your position at one time or another.  I know I went crazy for about a year.  I almost lost my husband and my job.  My mother almost lost her life on HRT gone wrong.  Hormones are serious.  Anyone that makes light of them knows nothing about them.  You are not going crazy and we are here to support you any way we can.  If you need some places to start your research, I can provide some links this evening when I get home from work.  Sometimes just knowing why you feel the way you do can help you get through it.

Hang in there and I wish you the best!

Lisa
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Avatar universal
I will search into this, wheres a good place find info on Bio identical hormones.....thanks m
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Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
Can you tell us what hormones your taking, what the name is? It's always a personal choice to take hormones after a hysterectomy. It does sound like you need them though. You might want to think about Bio Identical hormones. Talk to your Dr about this and do research on them. It could be the right option for you.
I'm so very sorry about your son.  Remar
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