I apologize for not editing that paragraph when I mentioned the 2002 study that was abruptly stopped... I will try to clarify tomorrow. It is late.
LibraryLady, may I ask... what part of the country are you from? I am assuming either Canada or the Northeast. My sister lived in the Boston area for years and used the bioidentical hormones for years. She found a great doctor in that area.
Goodnight, all.
Mary
Oh boy, do I ever hear you! Do you hear me screaming? Seriously... At times I get so down about the state of women's health particularly regarding this 'female' hormone issue that I have to bury the feelings or I would not get anything done that is proactive. I actually had a pretty negative thought as I was getting in my car after work today ... I thought, gee, if I didn't know better it is like doctors want us to just quit living in a sense. I don't really mean that of course, and in fact, I come from a family of nurses and my brother in law is a Dentist, so I have respect for what they do, but I also know that if I had not been trying to figure this stuff out as I have, well, I don't know where I would be at this point.
And, I totally relate to what you are saying about losing those good years. I have suffered at work, in my marriage, in my lifestyle choices (like when it hurt too much to exercise)... and, then there is the arrogance of people who look at you like you're nuts when you speak of hormones. Um, well, we are our hormones. Don't people get this????
I think of the thousands of dollars I have spent on medical costs either trying to figure out what I need hormonally or in co-pays for doctor's appointments for issues that went away once I got my hormones adjusted appropriately.
Do stay in touch... and, I will try not to go into too many rampages, but I'll tell you, I hope that when my daughter gets to this stage in her life, I just hope that things are better for her. It is just ridiculous how little correct information is out there. And, the knee-jerk reactions to ONE media report from the study in the year 2002 is totally unacceptable. The FDA came up with the recommendation of "lowest possible dose" of Premarin since so many women were struggling after they through out their premarin after that 2002 study was abruptly stopped. After realizing they needed something, this is what they came up with... as if to hold women over until new information came along. I have a few friends ( two actually) who have done well on a premarin-type product, but personally I have done too much research myself for me to feel comfortable on it. And, the studies of the researchers I chose to follow all suggest that Bioidenticals are the only way to go once you've reached menopause (and for us surgically induced menopausal women.... well, what a shock to our systems).
I was practically crippled this summer. No exaggeration there. When I brought up the notion of feet issues and Menopause going hand in hand for some women, my foot doctor said he did not know anything about that. He said that very kindly... but, geeeezzz... It is a symptom of menopause. And, I had that symptom big-time... along with leg cramps galore. I was 55 years old trying to walk my dog and I would get back home with a happy dog and me in tears from the pain. I can honestly say that this has cleared up... I have about 3% pain in my toes still... but, that is a 97% improvement since I switched up my protocol last October and increased my dose again (of Estradiol) this winter. Thankfully I found someone willing to work with me... and this person was aware that the protocol I am now following is a good one.
I need to go. I could spend my life here, but, well, I have to work in the morning. I will check in tomorrow if you have questions. Take a look at my journal regarding hormones and particularly the Progesterone. Dr. Vliet says no progesterone if you are missing ovaries... but, somewhere in one of her three books (that I have) she says some women need a tiny bit for sleep...
Take care,
Mary