seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,414
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Nov 21, 2023 13:25:30 GMT
My hotflashes are bad, my sleep is a mess. I’ve been taking Clonidine for the past 2 years but it’s not working for me much anymore.
Yesterday my OB suggested it’s time for HRT. She isn’t a fan of bio-identical. Said I need both estrogen and progesterone since I still have my uterus and ovaries. I’m concerned about HRT because as my hormones have tanked my anxiety has gone away and I do NOT want that crap back in my life.
I asked about acupuncture and she said it sometimes helps but is not covered under my insurance. I did it once before for chronic headaches and shoulder/neck pain and it was magical and covered with a co-pay.
She didn’t mention Vegosa (or whatever that new med is) and I didn’t ask.
So, peas…. Any advice? What worked and didn’t work? I’m not interested in herbals.
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Post by librarylady on Nov 21, 2023 13:35:56 GMT
I am not a fan of HRT. I did menopause at age 40 and had no symptoms, I just stopped having periods.
I was put on HRT and it made my life Hell...as well as for my poor DH and DS. Mood swings made me a B.
I had about 8 years of that. Physician put me on something, I can't remember the name. I do remember it was made from yams. As soon as the medical world said HRT did not prevent heart trouble, I got off HRT.
That was my reason for taking HRT--to prevent heart trouble.
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smartypants71
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,706 
Location: Houston, TX
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Post by smartypants71 on Nov 21, 2023 14:07:28 GMT
Have you tried paroxetine (Paxil)? My dr put me on a low dose of that for my hot flashes. It did not eliminate them completely, but it cut them down significantly. And bonus - it put me in a slightly better mood!
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,414
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Nov 21, 2023 14:07:50 GMT
I am not a fan of HRT. I did menopause at age 40 and had no symptoms, I just stopped having periods. I was put on HRT and it made my life Hell...as well as for my poor DH and DS. Mood swings made me a B. I had about 8 years of that. Physician put me on something, I can't remember the name. I do remember it was made from yams. As soon as the medical world said HRT did not prevent heart trouble, I got off HRT. That was my reason for taking HRT--to prevent heart trouble. The moods (and anxiety) are a major concern for me. I’ve never even taken birth control! My moods are good and I don’t wanna mess that up. |
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,414
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Nov 21, 2023 14:10:10 GMT
Have you tried paroxetine (Paxil)? My dr put me on a low dose of that for my hot flashes. It did not eliminate them completely, but it cut them down significantly. And bonus - it put me in a slightly better mood! I haven’t. I think she kinda hinted at it when she asked me about mood stability, which is not a concern at the moment. Clonidine is supposed to do the same or close to it and it worked for a year but now hot flashes every 2-3 hours all night long even while taking it. Daytime it’s not bad but I need sleep! |
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Post by Delta Dawn on Nov 21, 2023 14:49:18 GMT
I take it. I am not worried about cancer because I need to live for me in the present. I am not sure just what estrogen does but it works.😁
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keithurbanlovinpea
Pearl Clutcher
Flowing with the go...
Posts: 4,267
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Nov 21, 2023 14:53:31 GMT
I take BHRT... Progesterone, estrogen and testosterone. Best decision I made 13 years ago
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milocat
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,431
Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
Member is Online
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Post by milocat on Nov 21, 2023 15:23:50 GMT
I've been on progesterone only for the last 6 months. Well for the last 2 weeks before my period, not the whole month. I've done a ton of research on hormones, perimenopause, bioidenticals because I have menstrual migraines so I've been trying to get my hormones back in balance.
I'd ask my doctor why she isn't a fan of bioidenticals? Hormones do more than just cause hot flashes they protect against bone loss, help with cognitive issues and other things. So more reasons to take them.
She's (I saw she as in most doctors here) probably a big fan of birth control pills. You're 11 and habe ance go on the pill, you're 13 and bad periods, go on the pill, you're 50 and in perimenopause, go on the pill. We won't tell you any of the side effects like depression and vitamin deficiencies that cause other problems. Take a progesterone only pill which has no progesterone in it, just synthetic progestin. Pop them like tic tacs.
Yet, you're 35 and had a hysterectomy and slammed into medical menopause, just deal with it, you're 47 and have crime scene periods, that's just menopause, deal with it, you're 54 and have been having hot flashes for years, that's just menopause should be done soon. Can't do hormone therapy they're bad, I don't prescribe them, just stay on your synthetic birth control.
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Post by mom on Nov 21, 2023 16:42:54 GMT
I take pellets and honestly, they probably saved my life.
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Nov 21, 2023 23:45:44 GMT
I take pellets and honestly, they probably saved my life. Love my pellets! I go every 15-16 weeks and don't worry abut my hormones the rest of the time. |
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Post by scrapmaven on Nov 21, 2023 23:54:17 GMT
HRT can be a big risk factor for breast cancer and I know of 2 people who have had that happen, one is a family member and she sees a doctor who has authored a breast cancer bible and treats the A List. I wouldn't touch it w/a 10 foot pole. Acupuncture does wonders for hot flashes. I also take a natural supplement. Please do your homework on this.
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,414
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Nov 22, 2023 2:36:50 GMT
HRT can be a big risk factor for breast cancer and I know of 2 people who have had that happen, one is a family member and she sees a doctor who has authored a breast cancer bible and treats the A List. I wouldn't touch it w/a 10 foot pole. Acupuncture does wonders for hot flashes. I also take a natural supplement. Please do your homework on this. I have been researching. This board is only part of my research because I want real life input from people dealing with it. I'm 18 months out from my last period so for sure menopausal. My mom had breast cancer at 65. I talked to my doctor about that. She said it would be a worry if she was under 50 but since it was after menopause not really something that should affect me. Don't know how true that is. I am leaning toward acupuncture (to start) because I know it worked for my headache/neck/shoulder pain and a few other things that I wasn't referred for. |
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,414
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Nov 22, 2023 2:37:27 GMT
Thank you all for the input. I truly appreciate it. I'm doing more research but wanted real life input too.  |
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taliakat
Shy Member
Posts: 38
Oct 31, 2023 4:22:28 GMT
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Post by taliakat on Nov 22, 2023 9:18:31 GMT
I wonder why she is against bio-identicals. More menopause doctors are prescribing bios over HRT's. When I read your post I was floored your doctor suggested HRT's. Doctors are not prescribing. Reddit Menopause forum thousands of posts about pulling teeth to get a doctor to prescribe HRT's. Your doctor is a rare. My own doctor won't prescribe HRT. Reddit/Menopause forum is a lifesaver. It is HRT heavy but there are a lot of us not taking HRT's. I can not take them. Women on Reddit do have good results with acupuncture. If you don't like Reddit the owners have started a Discord too. I know you wrote no herbals. My treatment is I take Estroven with Rhubarb- estroven.com/products/multi-symptom-menopause-relief?selling_plan=748290120. I also take Evening Primrose Oil. I do take Black Cohosh when my hot flashes are bad. One a week each pill helps a lot. Find a good doctor versed in menopause. I am not saying your doctor is bad. I am wondering if she is not updated on research. Doctor's are not prescribing HRT's. They have stopped FSH testing and now go by symptoms. I think you meant Veozah- www.veozah.com/ I think it mimics a synthetic Black Cohosh. It has Black Cohosh side effects. |
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milocat
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,431
Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
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Post by milocat on Nov 22, 2023 17:21:05 GMT
This is from the book Hormone Repair Manual by Lara Briden
Estrogen is associated with a small increase in breast cancer risk of 0.1 percent per year, which means an increased incidence of one case per 1000 women per year of use. To put that in persepective, it's a similar or even slightly lower risk than the risk from alcohol or low physical activity. Of note, those statistics are based monstly on data about non-biodentical hormones such as Premarin and progestin Provera, which are the most dangerous types of hormone therapy.
Poor diet, low movement, lack of sleep, stress, environmental factors, alcohol, medications all increase your risk of getting something. When researching look at how botched the Women's Health Inititive study was. That's where all the fear of HRT has come from and has been proven to be discredited. And now they use bioidenticals which are even safer.
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Post by scrapmaven on Nov 22, 2023 18:19:25 GMT
HRT can be a big risk factor for breast cancer and I know of 2 people who have had that happen, one is a family member and she sees a doctor who has authored a breast cancer bible and treats the A List. I wouldn't touch it w/a 10 foot pole. Acupuncture does wonders for hot flashes. I also take a natural supplement. Please do your homework on this. I have been researching. This board is only part of my research because I want real life input from people dealing with it. I'm 18 months out from my last period so for sure menopausal. My mom had breast cancer at 65. I talked to my doctor about that. She said it would be a worry if she was under 50 but since it was after menopause not really something that should affect me. Don't know how true that is. I am leaning toward acupuncture (to start) because I know it worked for my headache/neck/shoulder pain and a few other things that I wasn't referred for. You can develop bc w/o family history of early age bc. If you're on HRT you've raised your risk. It happened in my family. My home health nurse's mom was also on HRT for years and died after her 2nd bout of bc. Please err on the side of caution. You might not develop BC, but why take a risk?
I like you and that's why I'm presenting so strongly. You deserve to live a long, happy, hot flash free life. One acupuncture treatment and my hot flashes subside for a few months.
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