Organic donna - I am absolutely 100% in the same place you are with respect to a relationship. In fact, I turn 53 next week, look and act pretty darned Ok compared to some my age (and not as good as others, of course!), and although I'd love companionship, just don't have it in me to start up another relationship nor any real interest in sex. I am recently through menopause, and I don't know if that has made it worse or not. It certainly is a quandry, because it would be great to have someone in my life that I loved and who loves me. But I don't really have the push to get out there and find it. Just wanted to let you know that you're not alone on that front! Suzieque

I'm not on hormone replacement (yet), but would readily use the Estrogel over the Premarin if it's chemically identical to human estrogen, and it sounds like it is according to what I have read. There are also small patches available that you can change weekly (I think a brand name is Vivelle Dot, or something similar to that). Do a google search on bio-identical hormones and you will find lots of info on homrone replacement available besides the well-known name brands. Mrs H

Hi Nancy, I am also new here. I have been using Oestrogel for 2 months now. It has helped some with night sweats however, I am just hot all of the time. Like you 60 degrees is about right for me. What dose of the gel are you on? Maybe you just need a slight increase. I would like to caution you about the Effexor. I read that it could help with hot flashes & asked my Dr for it. They told me that it is a nightmare to get off of it. I have since heard from others that are having a horrible time trying to stop that med. Gale

Always count your pills as well. A few months ago I picked up a prescription for 100 pills - they were put in the smallest bottle (thankfully) - sometimes they will put 10 pills in a giant bottle. When I opened the bag at home I knew something was wrong because you couldn't fit 100 pills in said bottle. I was short 30. I called immediately and spoke with the on-duty pharmacist who went and did an audit. Fortunately she agreed with me, otherwise I was going to have to call my doctor as well as the Ontario government health organization responsible for pharmacists. Next up I went to pick up my husband's eye drops. I always get them and 3 different pharmacists have told me very clearly that said drops must be kept in the fridge at the pharmacy and home until first use - and I always show up with my cooler bag. So over I go - they were ready on a Wed. but I picked them up on Sun. The 16 year old cashier got them out of the drawer so I pointed out the obvious and she told me she was certain that I was wrong that the drops would be fine for my husband. I asked her when she received her pharmaceutical degree and demanded to speak with the pharmacist - and that I wasn't leaving the store with said drops. Over came the pharmacist and he agreed with me. I wanted to speak with the pharmacist owner but he was away. On his return I spoke with him - apparently I wasn't the only one having problems and things have tightened up. Problem of course is that prescriptions aren't being checked properly. Next up came a rare prescription for me that I have had before - and I can't use generic anything - allergic to the non-medicinal ingregients. I picked them up and was packing 5 to take with me on a trip for emergency purposes and noticed they were a bit bigger (not good) and a pale pink. So I looked at the presciption sheet that shows the last 20 transactions and sure enough they had given me a generic drug of 250 mg - with one repeat. The prescription was for the name brand drug of 500 mg - no repeats. I happen to know I can't take the generic of this pill, not to mention the lower mg. So I called. I should have known by the total price but I was picking up my Estrogel, my husband's eye drops and had a couple of other things. The owner was there and he was very apologetic and told me to bring them right back and he fixed it - $70 more of course. What is scary is that it was one of the store pharmacists who filled the prescription and my file clearly reads "no generics". Heck I only have 3 prescriptions and only 2 that I take regularly since I am allergic to most things. I am afraid that language is also an issue. You hate to open bottles and examine contents and counting pills on site, but what can you do? I see a lot of people doing that these days. I picked up prescriptions yesterday and did just that - I am so popular with the non-professional staff! - as are other customers. A woman I know took her elderly uncle to the hospital because he could hardly breathe or stand up. He had his pills with him - and because she had filled the previous prescription knew that the colour was wrong. Sure enough they had given him pills that caused his heart rate to slow down. Good thing she took him in. Ontario is really starting to push generics and people have to pay the differential between generics and name brand. The med ingredient might be the same but it is the non-medicinal ingredients that will get you. My husband had major dental surgery yesterday and has to get 2 prescriptions he never takes - only one he has is for his eye drops. I will be looking very carefully at the prescriptions when I pick them up. One is for penicillin - a drug that despite my many allergies I am not allergic to. Go figure. Each month I return his leftover eye drops to the pharmacy (the preservative is only good for 30 days so a new bottle is needed) and I also take in my empty Estrogel bottles every 2 months - but always to the pharmacy where I buy them. Cdn. pharmacies are not the same as in the U.S. If you have your prescription at one Shoppers Drug Mart you have to go to that drug store - can't go to another one and request your prescription if your store is out of stock. Shoppers Drug Marts here are franchises.