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Questions about HRT

22 years ago

I went to my gyn yesterday and he said that according to some blood work and the fact that I have not had a period in about 6 months that I am in menopause. I also had a bone density scan this past may and the level for the hip was in the 2nd zone so it appears that I have lost some bone density. My gyn suggested that I take Activella, but I am concerned about taking this because of all the horror stories that I hear about HRT. Could any one give me some help. Thanks

Comments (3)

BarbatHoneyGrove
22 years ago
I started on a plant based HRT. It is called Estratest. The transition has been very smooth. I also take daily calcium. Exercise especially weight training keeps bones strong.

Barb D.
anifani4
22 years ago
pebo, If you are not having any troublesome symptoms of menopause, I believe it is better to stay away from hormone replacement. Some bone loss is normal as we age. There are other things you can do to minimize further bone loss beside take hormones. 1. daily weight bearing exercise (walking is the best). 2. avoid carbonated beverages. 3. if you do not get adequate calcium from your diet, take a supplement of Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, and vit D.

Most doctors do not give enough information about the type of bone loss or what kind of risk for fracture a person actually has. It may be helpful for you to read up on menopause/HRT/bone loss, so you will have the facts and can ask the questions you need answered before making a decision.

Only you can decide if the risks of HRT are worth the benefits for you. (Is the 1 or 2 percent bone gain worth the potential side effects and cancer risk of supplemental hormones?)
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I've been on the combi patch for almost a year now... I don't remember getting weepy at all... but I was already at my wits end with my life/family/insomnia/hot flashes prior to starting the patches that as long as all those things improved I probably wouldn't have noticed anything else going on! I do remember that the dr was very insistent that I come back I think in 6 weeks and then at another 6 week point when I started them, to make sure all was ok and that dose levels didn't need to be higher... supposedly this patch is the lowest HRT available?? anyway, I think the schedule was 6 weeks, 3 months, then 6 months later, and then 1 year from the sttart... thus I see the dr again next month... Give it some time... do you have a followup appointment scheduled? If not, maybe that's in order for the dr to re-assess your and the dosage. Isn't it wonderful to start to feel semi-normal once again??? My 15 yo DD calls them my 'happy hormones' and if I'm at all crabby will ask if my patch is due to be changed!!!!
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I have had no post-menopausal problems including hot flashes. This was a pleasant surprise to me because I had such horrible periods and PMS and I had read that the two are linked. My emotional state is the best it has been in my entire life. That surprised me too. I think getting off the estrogen roller coaster was good for me. I also reconnected to my faith so it is hard to say what comes from what. I have finally been released from a lifetime of painful shyness. It is such a joy not to have to plan every outing, every vacation, and weigh job offers on the basis of "when is my period due and what facilities will be available" Spending entire days in the bathroom because the flow was so relentless are over. Lying in bed trying not to scream from the cramps is over. Becoming suicidal once a month is over too. I have taken nothing and am glad for it, but all of my friends are either on HRT or tranquilizers to handle their post-menopausal problems. I guess I am just lucky or maybe I used up all my bad karma on the 44 years I spent trying to deal with all that mess and pain.
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JoJoZ
22 years ago
I agree, avoid HRT as long as possible.

You can get some natural sublingual dhea that'll help out with bone density, with no bad side effects...one great brand is "BioHealth Diagnostics" in San Diego, CA. I use it (along with some other stuff) for my funky adrenal glands, but it also does great things for bone density. I'm 44 and I have the bone density of a 30-year-old!

Cheers,
JoJo (new to this forum)

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