Premarin-doctor says....

I went to the doctor for a follow up today from hysterectomy.  He asked how I was doing on the premarin, and I told him that I did take it for 3 days, but it made me have bad heart palpitations, and that when I got it from the pharm. that they said that it was a higher dosage than normally given.  Internet says that the standard dosage is .625mg, but was given 1.25mg.  The doctor said that it is not a high dose, that the amount of estrogen that you get from the birth control pill is 5x higher than you get in premarin.  I told him that I am not having any menopausal symptoms (since I had a total hysterectomy) and he said well you need to be concerned with osteoporosis, so I should at least cut the pill in half and take that much.  My feeling is, why should I take it if I am not having any problems.  You can do other things to prevent osteoporosis.

[Gatsby]

That is so very true.  I really feel that you should listen to your body and do research on hrt and bio identical hrt.  You must do what is right for you and your health.  Your body will use the progesterone that your uterus made and it will run out in about 3-4 months.  Do you still have your ovaries?  You can replace the progesterone with bioidentical progesterone (you can get this without a prescription) or go for prescription strenght.  Please do not confuse progestin(synthetic) with progesterone.  They are two totally different things.  Good luck and Godspeed
~Tascha

[Mary 53]

Tascha, thanks for posting that information. My words exactly. And, interestingly enough, it was practically three months to the DAY that I could tell the progesterone had run out (in retrospect as I did not know what the heck was going on. Thought I was losing my mind. I turned into a complete crab, too, and the fatigue was horrible. I did not start the progesterone for nine months (because I did not have a site like this steering me in the right (or ANY) direction...had to stumble on it myself, I started to feel better after about two months on the progesterone since it has to build back up in your system and that can take about two to three months).

I found out less than a year later that I was losing bone fast  on the spine area and the bones of similar composition. When you have a bone density test they check the spine and the hips. That is it. If there is bone loss in one of those two areas, then they assume that there is bone loss in the bones of the same chemical makeup of one of these two body structures.

I fell and broke my wrist about a year after my hysterectomy. I was surprised I broke anything. I have worked out regularly since 1980...aerobics and then weight training. Then shortly after that I found out about the bone loss.

I was able to reverse the bone loss in less than a year...added more calcium and MAGNESIUM (sorry to use caps... it always looks like people are yelling...but, we are a magnesium deficient country and I take a higher than normal dose every night) but I bet if I had started the progesterone sooner I might have not had a problem. Ewstrogen supplementation is supposed to prevent bone loss but progesterone builds bone. I was on estrogen (bioidentical only...Vivelle patch)the day after my surgery by my oncologist and again, nine months later I got on the progesterone. I also take testosterone.

I also do LOTS....of research. I know I have recommended Dr. Erika Schwartz and Dr. Christianne Northrup on this forum before. If you want to get information about your body and the effects of hormones as well as the lack of hormones once the ovaries have been removed and how that affects even other hormones such as insulin and thyroid, you honestly need to do the research. Only you can make the best choice for YOU! But, you need to be informed. It will take time but it is worth it and whatever you decide to do, you will be in control of your body.

You will get all sorts of reactions to this topic. My ultimate frustration came recently when the head of the North American Menopausal Society (supported and run by the drug company that makes the synthetic hormones such as Premarin) commented on national TV that there is no difference between bioidentical hormones and sythetic hormones. Then a week later he retracted that statement. I suspect that not many people saw this retraction (and apology to the bioidentical women's hormones community) since it came after all the hubub over the hormone debate about two months ago. Geez Louise.

Some doctors know a lot about this hormone game. Some know very little. Some doctors do not know much but are willing to go on the journey of learning with you (as mine was six years ago...he now regularly prescribes the bio's but I was his second patient ever to go on the bio progesterone).

My bone strength is excellent now, cholesterol low again (another progesterone issue...the lower the progesterone, the higher the cholesterol) fatigue is gone. I did have to go on thyroid meds (Armour) but when my progesterone was increased, my thyroid med needed to be decreased...also a connection between thyroid and hormones and menopause/hysterectomy. It doesn't seem to end. I take a small amount of estrogen (helps keep the cell receptors open for the progesterone) for my skin, libido, sweats, bladder/urinary issues, hot flashes, mood, etc... but also since my body makes a little estrogen, too, as all women do after menopause, I at least have the progesterone to balance it out as well as a balancer for the supplemental estrogen. The progesterone will also help protect from some concerns about some cancers since they do something to receptor sites in some tissues that is helpful...(I think breast tissue is one of them, but this is where you need to do the research short of me getting my books out and quoting page per page). "The Wisdom of Menopause" by Northrup can give you more info. Uzzi Reiss, MD, also has good info as does Schwartz. I would get all three...I have all three plus others.

I am now dealing with varicose veins in the genital region on JUST ONE SIDE (what is THAT all about?) and I am not sure what the doctor is going to do about that or if anything can be done. Found one vein by accident a few years ago. Tons showed up on the ultrasound I had today. Another fall-out apparently, from the hysterectomy.

I had better quit. Dictation is waiting. I fear that I would be writing forever if I continue. Which is another reason I encourage the research. THIS IS HUGE TOPIC.

Decide for yourself, but do the research. You will learn so much about your body. The whole issue about the hormonal debate is actually fascinating....it is less confusing the more you learn.

Mary

[Tybear]

I am in a similar situation. After my hysterectomy a year ago for ov/ca, I was put on 1.25mg of Premarin - I was told I was given such a high dose because I was only 26. I found out about a month ago that the specific type of ov/ca I have feeds of estrogen - great! I'm now having my first recurrence and threw my premarin away as far as I could! I am concerned about bone loss but it's hard to be worried about something I can't see - I haven't made it my first priority, to be honest, and I know I should. I guess between the chemo and scans, worrying about what my bones are doing seems a little insignificant! I hope you find something to help you and I agree with Mary - research!!! Read everything you can about HRT - good luck.
Becky

[Gatsby]

Becky, make sure that you take extra calcium, magnesium and vitamin D (check with your dr. first).  These will help with bone loss too.

[babu71]

March '07 : uterus w/fibroids removed; postop = infection, hematoma,
ovarian cysts, leg & breast pain.
March '08: ovaries, tubes, adhesions=removed = SEVERE surging
headaches, leg pain.  Estrogen Patches increased as of 3/21/08 to
0.75.  Headache not as painful, some leg pain.
Hx  of  Estrogen dominance.   Do I need  Progesterone?
Why can't I take  the old  PREMARIN  since I am void of all female
plumbing?  Is  it the Drug Companies who are pushing the V.Patches?
My mother, 3 aunts, about 5 female  lst cousins  all  took/take Premarin with success,   Most have stopped HRT after 15-20 years
with no problems re  Bone Density, etc.   It appears that the  Female
organs were bad in three generations and I would deem this a certain
familia tendency  therefore,  the ?  re  successful  Premarin's use.
Thanks ,  barbara