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599170 tn?1300973893

A Few Thoughts on HRT and Bio-Identical replacement Therapy

With the exception of abortion,, I would have to say HRT is the most contraversial subject I have to deal with on this forum. This is why i never advise yes or no. It is seemingly very needed for some women and seemingly quite harmful for others.

I could pull up reasurch to support or not support most any theroy.some say HRT is good for the bones and heart(bio identical) some say HRT increases cancer risks especiallly breast andits a very tough decision.

Once decision is made if women decide to go with HRT its even harder to get the right med or combo for each and every one of us have different needs and body chemistry.

My story in short I used Vivelle for about 2 years it helped me w hot flashes mild moodiness and sever night sweats...those where MY symptoms...then I stopped taking it.
9 weeks ago I had a surgery called an anterior cervical discectomy...4 of my vertebrae in my neck had fused. the nerves where trapped and comprimised inbetween. I was on my way to being  a parapalegic. Drs opened my neck , removed three intervertable discs and inserted donor bone..now Im fine I have the neck of a "15 " year old ,I am actually 1.5 inches taller. My point is I will never have any way of knowing if I did this to myself by stopping hrt or not,  One would need a crystal ball to know that.

Over all my years of having various surgeries and doing tons of reasurch here I have concluded.If I was to go to my gyn today he would tell me to get back on the bio identical hormones. I to the best of my knowledge have nothing wrong with my feet yet I bet if I went to a podiatrist today they would find something wrong..

All patients in the USA have the right to informed consent...that piece of paper you sign before surgery is so important. If you do not want your ovaries removed have it put on that paper. Most drs have in fine print the legal right to take anything once inside that they deem neccessary. YOU as a patient have the RIGHT  to take that RIGHT FROM HIM .

Many come on here and say read do your homework. Yes please do. but watch your sorces. Many are slanted to prove disprove what they wish.

My greatest wish for all of you ladies is health. To be pain free and live a long happy life.
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599170 tn?1300973893
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Avatar universal
Hi, I'm new here... I hope it's okay to make a comment here about HRT.  Back about 10 years ago before I had a hysterctomy, I started bleeding between periods. The doctor perscribed progestin which is supposedly the same thing as progesterone... but I had read about HRT and knew that progestin is not the same as progesterone.  I never filled the perscription. Instead I went to the Health Store and bought some "natural" progesterone cream and used as directed. It worked. The abnormal bleeding stopped, periods went back to normal.
Fast forward to about 3 years later. I started having periods that lasted 4-6 weeks. and frequent bleeding with severe cramps. This time the gynecologist did surgery (to remove the uterine lining) and I was diagnosed with hyperplasia (?) because it just came back. She said it was either have a hysterectomy or take pills. I tried the hormone pills. The first ones didn't work, so I was put on another type... I took the pills like I was supposed to but I became an emotional wreck (side effects from the hormone pills)  I finally called the doctor and said, I guess I have to have the surgery because if I keep taking these pills I'm gonna kill myself". Once i stopped the pills the depression and suicidal feeling went away, and I had the hysterctomy. I still have my ovaries though.  
Anyway, that is MY experience with synthetic hormone therapy.
I dread the day when/if I get severe menopausal symptoms because I know it's not far off and the doctor is going to want me to do HRT, and I don't want it. I will take "natural" supplements but never again synthetic homones.
Just wanted to share that. I'm not judging anyone or anything for doing HRT, I am just sharing MY experience and maybe some people are more sensitive to it than others, and if this helps anyone who is taking the drugs and feels like they may be going crazy, like I felt on the pills...
Well you might want to consider the info, and I hope this helps.
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599170 tn?1300973893
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599170 tn?1300973893
ty Laney, a difficult decision for all of us women, but a very important one
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408163 tn?1242949501
BRAVO!!!! You certainly stated that well. Thanks Cherie. Keep up the good work.
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Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
Thank you so much Cherie for taking the time to post this information.
All of us women who are facing a hysterectomy or have already had one need to do our home work about HRT.
We also need to ask our Drs alot of questions before our surgeries.
I bet most women did not know a Dr could remove anything he though needed to be removed without your consent.
Thank you again for keeping us informed. Remar
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