Aa
Hysterectomy
Ladies,
Something very strange -- since my surgery will obviously also involve a hysterectomy, I went to the hyst. site to see if there were any guidelines/advice/information about life and love afterwards.
One topic in which I was particularly interested was the possibility of HRT so as to conserve libido. All the posts relative to HRT after hysterectomy seem to have been removed?!
Is it my computer that isn't working right?
Thanks,
Annette
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
thought you folks taking bio's, BHRT, would be interested in this report today from the FDA saying that bio's are not better than taking the individual hormones separately. In fact, it can help to take them separately to individually adjust the dosing for each hormone:
FDA informed healthcare professionals and patients that the Agency sent letters warning seven pharmacy operations that the claims they make about the safety and effectiveness of their so-called "bio-identical hormone replacement therapy," or "BHRT" products are unsupported by medical evidence, and are considered false and misleading by the agency. The pharmacy operations improperly claim that their drugs, which contain hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and estriol (which is not a component of an FDA-approved drug and has not been proven safe and effective for any use) are superior to FDA-approved menopausal hormone therapy drugs and prevent or treat serious diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and various forms of cancer. FDA is concerned that the claims for safety, effectiveness, and superiority that these pharmacy operations are making mislead patients, as well as doctors and other healthcare professionals. Compounded drugs are not reviewed by the FDA for safety and effectiveness.
Patients who use compounded hormone therapy drugs should discuss menopausal hormone therapy options with their healthcare provider to determine if compounded drugs are the best option for their specific medical needs.
Read the complete 2008 MedWatch Safety Summary including a link to the FDA New Release regarding this issue at:
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#Menopause
FDA informed healthcare professionals and patients that the Agency sent letters warning seven pharmacy operations that the claims they make about the safety and effectiveness of their so-called "bio-identical hormone replacement therapy," or "BHRT" products are unsupported by medical evidence, and are considered false and misleading by the agency. The pharmacy operations improperly claim that their drugs, which contain hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and estriol (which is not a component of an FDA-approved drug and has not been proven safe and effective for any use) are superior to FDA-approved menopausal hormone therapy drugs and prevent or treat serious diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and various forms of cancer. FDA is concerned that the claims for safety, effectiveness, and superiority that these pharmacy operations are making mislead patients, as well as doctors and other healthcare professionals. Compounded drugs are not reviewed by the FDA for safety and effectiveness.
Patients who use compounded hormone therapy drugs should discuss menopausal hormone therapy options with their healthcare provider to determine if compounded drugs are the best option for their specific medical needs.
Read the complete 2008 MedWatch Safety Summary including a link to the FDA New Release regarding this issue at:
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#Menopause
So is serum hormone testing the same as a plain blood test? I also read that they should test for the "free" hormones. Ok I am going to look at her site.
Katie my boys are always spitting too - I get so grossed out by it - loved the hormone comment!
Katie my boys are always spitting too - I get so grossed out by it - loved the hormone comment!
I do not like censorship of any kind. there is a website that many of you may have seen that practices censorship. If it does go along with certain views or if you decide to post an opinion or give facts because you see it daily, then a moderator will send you a PM to tell you not to post. I have not paid much attention to the hysterectomy forum-I mayhave to check it out.
Anything for you Mary...
Next time my rotten sons SPIT (such a nasty and disgusting habit) I will tell them to STOP it as they are wasting hormones!!! lol
Next time my rotten sons SPIT (such a nasty and disgusting habit) I will tell them to STOP it as they are wasting hormones!!! lol
Hi All! Just running out the door, but thought I'd pass this along, copied from Christianne Northrup's web page...
The science of hormone testing continues to grow and evolve. Although I used to advocate the use of salivary hormone levels, I have discovered, along with many of my colleagues, that salivary hormone levels can change so quickly that it is difficult to accurately assess what is going on over a longer period of time. For that reason, I
The science of hormone testing continues to grow and evolve. Although I used to advocate the use of salivary hormone levels, I have discovered, along with many of my colleagues, that salivary hormone levels can change so quickly that it is difficult to accurately assess what is going on over a longer period of time. For that reason, I
Hey DebiR...I found this from an old post, but I have already edited it. And, I was reading about this last night. I will try to say in my words what Northrup says most beautifully. She said that when you do a blood test, it does not necessarily show what your body is actually using. So, you may have a ton (well, a lot at least) of a particular hormone floating in your system but your body may be using only some of it. Has to do with how the hormone is binding with protiens and how much is actually able to be used by the body. I know this sounds vague...but, if you ask the pharmacist about it, he/she will know what this means. I wish I could explain it better. I need to read more.
This Is From The Old Post:
Blood or saliva test. Hmmm. Interesting question.
I was not tested at all at first. I was on bio's for five years before I was tested. I was tested by my new "specialist" in the fall and the doc used blood tests. BUT...he was just starting to get interested in doing saliva tests. When I called my compounder in December as I was falling apart from hormonal symptoms since I was not being given the right stuff... my compounder said that it didn't help to give him blood test info since he deals only with Saliva tests....
Ok...just this past week, and where the heck did I see it???...there was info on the type of testing that is NOW preferred. I think it was blood serum testing. Ask about this.
I would ask the compounder what he likes to work with.
Going by symptoms is quite common, or seems to be from my experience. In fact, I know that they recommend that you not get tested for about 12 weeks after going off premarin, and other synthetic products. But, you can start the bioidentical hormones before that 12 weeks is up, of course.
----------------------------------------------
DEBIR.....I found this information and although the site where I found it wants to sell saliva tests, they do explain the saliva tests and advantages very well, I thought. Here goes.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Why test saliva?
Because steroid hormones play such a vital role in maintenance of health, knowledge of an imbalance in any one or more hormones can help illuminate the cause of health problems and provide a rational basis for correcting the imbalance through diet, exercise, or hormone supplementation.
Are the levels of steroid hormones in blood and saliva the same? When the various glands manufacture the steroids they are released into the bloodstream bound to carrier proteins. Only a small fraction (1-5%) of a given amount of steroid hormone breaks loose from the carrier protein in the bloodstream and is free to enter target tissues. This free or unbound hormone is what we want to measure, since it is active or bioavailable to the target tissues such as the breast, uterus, brain, and skin.
Many studies in the scientific literature have shown that there is a strong correlation between the levels of steroid hormones in saliva and the bioavailable (free) levels of steroids in the bloodstream. The amount of steroid hormone that enters the salivary ducts and then saliva, is representative of the fraction of steroids in the bloodstream that are bioavailable to other tissues in the body.
Advantages of saliva vs blood testing of steroid hormones Saliva collection is easy, can be done anywhere, any time and at a much lower cost. Serum hormone testing is stressful, and the stress of a blood draw can sometimes alter the result. Blood has to be drawn at a doctor's office or drawing station, and it is more difficult to obtain samples at the desired times (e.g. early am), multiple times through the day or late evening. There is also an extra cost involved in drawing blood, independent of the cost for the test itself.
Hormones in saliva are exceptionally stable, allowing wide latitude in collection and shipment. Samples can be stored at room temperature for at least a week without loss of activity, so samples can be shipped to the testing facility by regular mail. Blood, on the other hand, must be kept cool on ice packs, increasing costs for shipping as well as the likelihood of error due to improper handling
Finally, as outlined in the following section, saliva hormone testing allows you to take more control over your own health. Saliva testing may help you to gain insight into health problems before you see your doctor. It will also allow you to monitor an OTC hormone supplementation program (eg natural progesterone cream or DHEA are widely available at health food stores) if improvement in quality of life, disease prevention, or anti-aging is your goal.
This Is From The Old Post:
Blood or saliva test. Hmmm. Interesting question.
I was not tested at all at first. I was on bio's for five years before I was tested. I was tested by my new "specialist" in the fall and the doc used blood tests. BUT...he was just starting to get interested in doing saliva tests. When I called my compounder in December as I was falling apart from hormonal symptoms since I was not being given the right stuff... my compounder said that it didn't help to give him blood test info since he deals only with Saliva tests....
Ok...just this past week, and where the heck did I see it???...there was info on the type of testing that is NOW preferred. I think it was blood serum testing. Ask about this.
I would ask the compounder what he likes to work with.
Going by symptoms is quite common, or seems to be from my experience. In fact, I know that they recommend that you not get tested for about 12 weeks after going off premarin, and other synthetic products. But, you can start the bioidentical hormones before that 12 weeks is up, of course.
----------------------------------------------
DEBIR.....I found this information and although the site where I found it wants to sell saliva tests, they do explain the saliva tests and advantages very well, I thought. Here goes.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Why test saliva?
Because steroid hormones play such a vital role in maintenance of health, knowledge of an imbalance in any one or more hormones can help illuminate the cause of health problems and provide a rational basis for correcting the imbalance through diet, exercise, or hormone supplementation.
Are the levels of steroid hormones in blood and saliva the same? When the various glands manufacture the steroids they are released into the bloodstream bound to carrier proteins. Only a small fraction (1-5%) of a given amount of steroid hormone breaks loose from the carrier protein in the bloodstream and is free to enter target tissues. This free or unbound hormone is what we want to measure, since it is active or bioavailable to the target tissues such as the breast, uterus, brain, and skin.
Many studies in the scientific literature have shown that there is a strong correlation between the levels of steroid hormones in saliva and the bioavailable (free) levels of steroids in the bloodstream. The amount of steroid hormone that enters the salivary ducts and then saliva, is representative of the fraction of steroids in the bloodstream that are bioavailable to other tissues in the body.
Advantages of saliva vs blood testing of steroid hormones Saliva collection is easy, can be done anywhere, any time and at a much lower cost. Serum hormone testing is stressful, and the stress of a blood draw can sometimes alter the result. Blood has to be drawn at a doctor's office or drawing station, and it is more difficult to obtain samples at the desired times (e.g. early am), multiple times through the day or late evening. There is also an extra cost involved in drawing blood, independent of the cost for the test itself.
Hormones in saliva are exceptionally stable, allowing wide latitude in collection and shipment. Samples can be stored at room temperature for at least a week without loss of activity, so samples can be shipped to the testing facility by regular mail. Blood, on the other hand, must be kept cool on ice packs, increasing costs for shipping as well as the likelihood of error due to improper handling
Finally, as outlined in the following section, saliva hormone testing allows you to take more control over your own health. Saliva testing may help you to gain insight into health problems before you see your doctor. It will also allow you to monitor an OTC hormone supplementation program (eg natural progesterone cream or DHEA are widely available at health food stores) if improvement in quality of life, disease prevention, or anti-aging is your goal.
Hey DebiR...I will check for the post where I talked about the saliva/blood test thing. Don't want you to think I was ignoring you. I do recall that about three different threads had specific questions for me one night about a week ago and I recall fearing that I was getting confused jumping around the threads...Yes, I know...it (confusion) happens. Ask my family!
Now, I did read up on this again last night. So, I will look for my past words and then I will edit. Hang on....BRB.
Now, I did read up on this again last night. So, I will look for my past words and then I will edit. Hang on....BRB.
Wow - I am amazed that they removed those threads. Talk about filtering the facts. I am so glad I found this site. Mary/Katie, I am going into the new comp phar I found today and talk with him about things. Mary one question - do you do saliva or blood testing? I have read both and not sure which is best. I have the estradiol gel now but I want to know if the dose is right. Also, do you use it in the evening or morning?
I sent a letter to the owners of this site and asked that they move, from the area called Hysterectomy, the HERS Foundation, to a separate section called "Alternatives to Hysterectomy".
I noticed some of the nastier replies have vanished. My fruit fly one was still there last time I looked (a reference to Bio 101 classes ... med students start with fruit flies, and work their way up to real live folks). I think the one where the dude graphically tells us that our ribs are soon to rest on our hips and all feeling in our body will be leaving any minute is gone too. Anyway, if you have time in between bugging Oprah (I still do that whenever I remember, can do it in my sleep now) you might write and suggest the Hyster part could be run the same as this forum... truly patient to patient. If people see the words "Hers Foundation staff moderating this site" well they most likely don't think it through carefully (I didn't), they don't know what that is but it sounds good...and the word "staff" throws one off as well. The answer I got back was quite weak... I wrote again and said it is just not fair that they can sweep in there and say what they do. They suggested I ask THEM directly my queries! YEAH RIGHT and get a letter bomb over the Internet!!!!!!!!!! NO thanks, I have better things to do than try to reason with zealots...We will just stick to this side, but I do worry about some poor woman going off the deep end after being abused over there...seriously....
OK shutting up now...thanks for listening...If you made it this far ... ZZZzzZZZZZzzzZZZ
I noticed some of the nastier replies have vanished. My fruit fly one was still there last time I looked (a reference to Bio 101 classes ... med students start with fruit flies, and work their way up to real live folks). I think the one where the dude graphically tells us that our ribs are soon to rest on our hips and all feeling in our body will be leaving any minute is gone too. Anyway, if you have time in between bugging Oprah (I still do that whenever I remember, can do it in my sleep now) you might write and suggest the Hyster part could be run the same as this forum... truly patient to patient. If people see the words "Hers Foundation staff moderating this site" well they most likely don't think it through carefully (I didn't), they don't know what that is but it sounds good...and the word "staff" throws one off as well. The answer I got back was quite weak... I wrote again and said it is just not fair that they can sweep in there and say what they do. They suggested I ask THEM directly my queries! YEAH RIGHT and get a letter bomb over the Internet!!!!!!!!!! NO thanks, I have better things to do than try to reason with zealots...We will just stick to this side, but I do worry about some poor woman going off the deep end after being abused over there...seriously....
OK shutting up now...thanks for listening...If you made it this far ... ZZZzzZZZZZzzzZZZ
What started with an "ahhh, Mary" when I read your compliment to me, changed to a "hooting" of sorts when I read your views about the moderator on that other THING that dares to call itself a forum. And, to think that they would be misleading our cysters...YES, PLEASE STAY HERE! The comments on the other forum will just bring you down and will not share all options to you.
Well, after all that has transpired on this forum and the trust you all have put in me, I find myself pulling out all my research books and reading all my stuff over and over until sleep takes over every night.
I mentioned the other day on one of these posts that I was going to start checking out the concern over whether or not to take HRT, BHRT (Bioidentical Hormonal Replacement Therapy) if there has been a cancer...And, as you all know, I had my surgery for Ovarian Cancer, and it was caught at such an extremely early point, but, none the less, after struggling with the OVCA and also with near cervical cancer too and having had the LEEP procedure for this two years before my hyster, I was so pleased that the oncologist gave the go-ahead regarding BHRT...but, that is when I started all my research.
And, as you all know, too, once I started the Progesterone nine months after my surgery and and after being on on estrogen only (I was on Vivelle Patch and it is a bio), well, my life improved dramatically.
......Again, if you mention it to your doctors, don't let it be confused with ProgesTIN...the two seem to have fallen into that pit of interchangeable words, and they are not interchangeable. Progestin is made in a lab and is synthetic, and is not the same in molecular construction as our body is used to....Progesterone is made in a lab (this is where the person from the other forum had a big issue with all this I think....did she suggest I was growing this stuff in my back yard???) and is the same molecule for molecule that our body produces from ovaries).............
My dear friend Katie (and I agree with you, Mary, she always makes me feel better, too) and I have discussed the progesterone component at length. Just knowing you might want to add it eventually is something to be aware of. I didn't feel the effects of the lack of it until three months after my surgery (about the length of time it takes to deplete totally from the body).
MY POINT IS....There was wonderful info in the one book I recommend often...I tend to recommend two or three and I still will, but I picked up Dr. Christianne Northrup's book "The Wisdom of Menopause" again over the weekend, and I do have a fondness for her work since it was through her book in May 2001 that I realized that the progesterone was the very thing I was needing....Anyway, she addresses the HRT/BHRT/CANCER confusion. As she stated, and I paraphrase somewhat....after a surgical menopause which is so abrupt and hard on the body, if you are using supplemental estrogen (and she explains all of the differences between the bio and the synthetic) as long as you are BALANCING it with bioidentical progesteone, it takes the(...I am trying to remember how she put it)...takes the scariness out of the estrogen and lessens any bad effects it could possibly have on the tissue of estrogen-sensitive organs, such as breast, etc...And, can offer a protective effect on some organs actually protecting one from further cancers.
My bottom line is...invest in this book. I read it like it was my bible when I was going through my first year post-surgery. I also have mentioned Dr. Uzzi Reiss's book and I like it for all of the info on the bio hormones, same for Suzanne Somer's books, too....excellent. But for sheer help with all that comes with Menopause, I like Northrup. Just an opinion, of course:) I actually have a freind (I was a Nanny in 1977-79) and the woman I worked for flew to Northrup's practice in Maine a few years ago after struggling with a natural menopause. She loved her. Gets her newsletters all the time now. Northrup does not practice anymore, as far as I know, but lectures and writes.
I should let Northrup know that I am spreading her good word!
Take care my friends...
and, to Litdoc...don't let ANYONE tell you that you cannot enjoy a satisfying love life after the surgery. BE proactive and keep on top of any problems that may arise. You will be grateful that you did.....Mary
Well, after all that has transpired on this forum and the trust you all have put in me, I find myself pulling out all my research books and reading all my stuff over and over until sleep takes over every night.
I mentioned the other day on one of these posts that I was going to start checking out the concern over whether or not to take HRT, BHRT (Bioidentical Hormonal Replacement Therapy) if there has been a cancer...And, as you all know, I had my surgery for Ovarian Cancer, and it was caught at such an extremely early point, but, none the less, after struggling with the OVCA and also with near cervical cancer too and having had the LEEP procedure for this two years before my hyster, I was so pleased that the oncologist gave the go-ahead regarding BHRT...but, that is when I started all my research.
And, as you all know, too, once I started the Progesterone nine months after my surgery and and after being on on estrogen only (I was on Vivelle Patch and it is a bio), well, my life improved dramatically.
......Again, if you mention it to your doctors, don't let it be confused with ProgesTIN...the two seem to have fallen into that pit of interchangeable words, and they are not interchangeable. Progestin is made in a lab and is synthetic, and is not the same in molecular construction as our body is used to....Progesterone is made in a lab (this is where the person from the other forum had a big issue with all this I think....did she suggest I was growing this stuff in my back yard???) and is the same molecule for molecule that our body produces from ovaries).............
My dear friend Katie (and I agree with you, Mary, she always makes me feel better, too) and I have discussed the progesterone component at length. Just knowing you might want to add it eventually is something to be aware of. I didn't feel the effects of the lack of it until three months after my surgery (about the length of time it takes to deplete totally from the body).
MY POINT IS....There was wonderful info in the one book I recommend often...I tend to recommend two or three and I still will, but I picked up Dr. Christianne Northrup's book "The Wisdom of Menopause" again over the weekend, and I do have a fondness for her work since it was through her book in May 2001 that I realized that the progesterone was the very thing I was needing....Anyway, she addresses the HRT/BHRT/CANCER confusion. As she stated, and I paraphrase somewhat....after a surgical menopause which is so abrupt and hard on the body, if you are using supplemental estrogen (and she explains all of the differences between the bio and the synthetic) as long as you are BALANCING it with bioidentical progesteone, it takes the(...I am trying to remember how she put it)...takes the scariness out of the estrogen and lessens any bad effects it could possibly have on the tissue of estrogen-sensitive organs, such as breast, etc...And, can offer a protective effect on some organs actually protecting one from further cancers.
My bottom line is...invest in this book. I read it like it was my bible when I was going through my first year post-surgery. I also have mentioned Dr. Uzzi Reiss's book and I like it for all of the info on the bio hormones, same for Suzanne Somer's books, too....excellent. But for sheer help with all that comes with Menopause, I like Northrup. Just an opinion, of course:) I actually have a freind (I was a Nanny in 1977-79) and the woman I worked for flew to Northrup's practice in Maine a few years ago after struggling with a natural menopause. She loved her. Gets her newsletters all the time now. Northrup does not practice anymore, as far as I know, but lectures and writes.
I should let Northrup know that I am spreading her good word!
Take care my friends...
and, to Litdoc...don't let ANYONE tell you that you cannot enjoy a satisfying love life after the surgery. BE proactive and keep on top of any problems that may arise. You will be grateful that you did.....Mary
Hi! No kidding you're on the right side!! (there's a story there for later about the hyster site). Well two threads you can check out if you have strong eyes and lots of time...."hormones after hysterectomy" 04/13 and "Mary53 or DebiR...help with hormones" also the same date I believe. You will find other references to other posts as you read too.
For what it is worth.... I started worrying about this waaay before my hyster in Feb. I am 48 and haven't been married to this particular husband all that long...so...gulp....I was scared to death about this libido issue. I haven't been...erm... back in the saddle all that long, so to speak, but I can safely tell you...so far...HEY things are FINE! Better than fine actually. BETTER THAN BEFORE! Cuz before I had pain from an enlarged uterus and a cystic ovary that had attached itself to the uterus with adhesions. Heavy bleeding, etc. I started the Estraderm 50 patch right after surgery, and experimented a bit..with going off it for a few days and going down to the 25 strength. I thought it was giving me headaches but knock wood/head I seem to be OK now.
This is considered to be a form of bioidentical estro (my dr loves it and says it is as close to your natural estrogen as you can get). I am going to probably try a bit of progesterone cream down the road if I need it, which I might, but so far, honest honest honest...so good!
I realize now I must have been quite sick (I was anemic for years I think now) as I really can't quite believe how good I have started to feel.
Don't get overwhelmed by all the reading, and the info that is out there. But it is overwhelming! It's not something you have to decide right away, you can take your time. Some women opt not to do anything.
Cheers, Katie
For what it is worth.... I started worrying about this waaay before my hyster in Feb. I am 48 and haven't been married to this particular husband all that long...so...gulp....I was scared to death about this libido issue. I haven't been...erm... back in the saddle all that long, so to speak, but I can safely tell you...so far...HEY things are FINE! Better than fine actually. BETTER THAN BEFORE! Cuz before I had pain from an enlarged uterus and a cystic ovary that had attached itself to the uterus with adhesions. Heavy bleeding, etc. I started the Estraderm 50 patch right after surgery, and experimented a bit..with going off it for a few days and going down to the 25 strength. I thought it was giving me headaches but knock wood/head I seem to be OK now.
This is considered to be a form of bioidentical estro (my dr loves it and says it is as close to your natural estrogen as you can get). I am going to probably try a bit of progesterone cream down the road if I need it, which I might, but so far, honest honest honest...so good!
I realize now I must have been quite sick (I was anemic for years I think now) as I really can't quite believe how good I have started to feel.
Don't get overwhelmed by all the reading, and the info that is out there. But it is overwhelming! It's not something you have to decide right away, you can take your time. Some women opt not to do anything.
Cheers, Katie
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Ovarian Cancer Community
Learn how to spot the warning signs of this “silent killer.”
Diet and digestion have more to do with cancer prevention than you may realize
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
