Alternatives to HRT thearapy

I have already gone through menopause and was having some symptoms from that, and 3 weeks ago had a bilateral Salpingo-Oopherectomy for an ovarian cyst ( endometrioma ) on the right and a Brenner tumor on the left. I feel even worse now, night sweats, insomnia, depressed. I asked my surgeon if I could get some HRT therapy and she said no due to the fact that I developed blood clots in my leg years ago when on BC pills. She told me to take 1500 mgs, of calcium now for my bones and to take some black cohosh for the night sweats, and to use soy products also. I've read that too much soy can boost estrogen levels and was wondering if that could cause blood clots too. It's hard to get infomation from the doctors, they shrug and say it's not a big deal. I have other heath issues and know I need some protection now for my bones and heart too, but I really don't know much about all this replacement therapy and everything I read seems to be contradictory. Are the newer bio-identical treatments any safer than conventional hrt, and are there any other supplements I could use?
Thanks,
Valerie

[Mary 53]

Hi,

I just posted a lengthy (2 part) post on this subject (more or less). What prompted me to write the post was a comment specifically about blood clots/HRT. I addressed this issue and then went to town! I know the frustration of reading contradictory information and how hard it is to sift through all of the information to get to some truths.

I mentioned Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet on that post and she addresses the soy issue in the book I am currently reading, "Screaming to be Heard."

Take a look and I'll see you over there perhaps.

Take care,

Mary

[Cherie762]

I wasnt a beliver, many on here speak highly of an herbal supplement called Black Cosch it has really helped me with the hot flashes, dont know what it does for other menopausal symptoms cause my main one is the hot flashes, I get occasional sleeplessness , but that happened before menopaue too, the black Cosch is about 10 dollars a bottle, my pharmicist said start out with one per day and you can build up to three per day if needed, the one per days working for me.

[vallieanne]

Thank you both for your input. I have a follow-up appt. for my surgery and am going to make sure I pin that doctor down and get some answers from her. She just kept saying " you don't need your ovaries anymore, they don't make enough estrogen to make a difference". I feel like asking her if she's gone through menopause yet and what she plans to do when she does.
I just know I'm tired, sweating at night, achy, and feel like crying all the time even though I don't. I'm getting very short tempered with people and I feel like being alone just not to deal with anyon

[Laney8463]

Hey Val,
I hear ya. I feel the same way. Im up, Im down, Im CRYING, Im a damn mess. I was such a mess on friday that I called me docs office and just had a meltdown on the phone with the nurse. The poor thing. She was the one who told me about a week ago, "no hormones until your follow up" well that isn't until the 14th of Nov. Too long, I'll be divorced and excommunicated from my friends and family. So I am going there tomorrow morning and I pray to God, he gives me something...Estrogen to be specific.
I even went out and bought a new car I was so down....It's beautiful, but I tell ya. When I told the nurse what I did, she told me to just lay low this weekend, don't tell anyone off and don't invite people over...lol
I was like....ugh. What a mess. I will let you know how I make out tomorrow. I hope you get some hormones. You have the exact symptoms as I do.
Love ya
Laney

[AnotherKatie]

Awwwww... you poor gals!   At least know that we have all been there.  Laney I do wonder though if you are also suffering from a bit of post traumatic stress related to the surgery.... because your hormones supposedly do not deplete that quickly.  Everyone is different though.  So hang in there Kiddo.

An idea..... Have a GOOD cry and a HUGE melt down.  Kick everyone out of the house and GO NUTS.  It'll do you a world of good.  Rent movies, read junky magazines and just take it easy.  Try not to think too much!

I wish I could help you!  I would mail you all patches if I could!   LOL

To Valerie, definitely do not panic about the blood clot connection.... that is so last year.  My doctor went into great detail about that issue.... he is a big poobah in the field, and he loves the Estraderm bio patch.   He thinks it is crucial for lots of things, including brain and bone health.  He feels the old junk (Premarin) was terrible... and those synthetics are the ones that caused the clotting issues.

You'll be OK, Mary and I promise!!!

Hey Laney, what kind of wheels???  VarrrrOOOOoommmmm!!!!!! (oh it's ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM like the ad, right?)    Mary got a new car too!  I can just see you two.....(watch out, two ole debutantes lacking hormones loose on the roads)

Ahhhh.... at least Desperate Housewives is on tonight.....

Post when you know more  :)
Katie

[Laney8463]

Katie,
You are too funny. Yes, I bought a new car, it's beautiful. It's a Saab convertible and I really do love it. I have wanted one for awhile now. Guess what? I got the vivelle dot patch. I saw the NP at my gyn/onc's office and she said I was absolutely normal...lol
I slapped that bad boy on today, hopefully it won't take too long to kick in. She said, some people notice symptoms within a week to 10 days. I was right about a week.
I also have an infection at the vaginal cuff. So more anitbiotics for me. That is ok though, I guess it's better to find it now rather than in 2 weeks at my follow up with the surgeon.
I am looking forward to feeling like my old self. Thanks for all your help.
Val, Hang in there honey. Yell and scream that you want some hormones. They will listen. I hope you feel better.
Love you guys
Laney

[AnotherKatie]

Oooooh Laney that's GREAT news!!!    Are you all ZEN like now???  HAHAHA!!   I can see you happily yoga meditating with your patch smacked right in the middle of your forehead.  
I wonder if running an infection also made you feel lousy.   You should be good to go now!   In that nice car!  Wow I am jealous I thought I was pretty cool in my VW but I think you could beat me on the Autobann or however you spell it.
So now we just need to get Val patched up  ;)
Cheers