Perimenopause, RSD and HRT?
 

I'm just wondering if there are others here who are in Perimenopause too?

When I first got RSD almost 7 years ago my PMS and periods got much worse, I attributed it to my RSD but was never sure if it was just the natural process of perimenopause. Now I realize that my body is in the final stages of perimenopause as I'm starting to miss periods and feel like I'm in a constant state of bad PMS. Given that RSD affects our adrenal function it makes sense that these symptoms are more intense, but perhaps its normal. I'm not really sure what normal is any more.

My GP doesn't seem to be too up on the latest treatments for this and said he could only offer me conventional hormone replacement therapy. Given the fact that the synthetic hormones used for HRT have been proven to increase the risk of breast cancer and heart disease I am not inclined to go down that road yet I'm at a serious risk of osteoporosis given that it is already firmly entrenched in my rsd foot. I can't take the bisphosphonates normally prescribed for women after menopause because of my tinnitus.

I've been reading about bioidentical hormones in Dr. Christine Northrups book. The problem here is that any doctors who practice this type of medicine are opted out of the medicare system so nothing is covered under insurance. They charge a lot of money for consultations and testing, then you have to pay for the hormones on top of that.

Given that Oprah has opened the dialog about this on TV, I'm wondering if there are others here who would be willing to discuss your experiences with perimenopause and how RSD may have affected the choices you have made regarding the treatment options currently available.

Looking forward to learning more about your journey through this.

MsL

It would make sense as your organs including your uterus, are under sympathetic influence.

Bioidenticals
 

I Have been on bioidenticals for five years. With the onset of menopause my symptoms were terrible. I spoke with my GYN and decided that bioidenticals would be my first try after much research and hormone level testing. With Hot flashes, no sleep, and the I'm gonna kill you if you look at me attitude, for the safety of my family I got in the car and drove to another town to pick up my bioidenticals from a compounding pharmacy. The medical Arts Pharmacy in Alamorgordo, New Mexico. Hal Simms and Bryan both are very informed pharmacists. The bioidenticals cost me about $80.00 per month. They send them to me in the mail. They take care of people from all over the world. I don't know your location but you could do some research for a compounding pharmacy near you or you could just call Hall or Bryan. MY life is so much better and at this point I have weighted the odds and quality of life comes first for me. I also have read Christine's book, and Suzanne Summer's book. Both are informative. I can't say enough about bioidenticals even though I realize this has to be a personal choice. I'll just tell you, that for me it has been life changing. I'd tried to see if I could stop a few months back and the hair started falling out, the hot flashes were there again, no sleep, also I get really agitated. So I went back on the bioidenticals and I feel so much better.
One really needs to have their hormone levels checked. Having that balance in hormones is like night and day. Concentration is improved, pain levels are improved, energy, sleep, the benefits of proper hormone levels is so critical.
Here is the phone number for The Medical Arts Compounding Pharmacy, I'm sure they will send you some information or a hormone testing kit, about $100.00 or both. If nothing else you could probably get some good advice. 575-437-8741. Hal or Bryan. I think this is a very important subject to be discussed among women and maybe some of the others will drop in with some more advice. I do realize that there is controversy about and around bioidenticals, so again this has to be purely a personal decision. I know you will find the right solution for you. All the best, Di

Thanks Diana!:hug:

Do you find you need to have your hormones checked annually? Do you need to adjust the dosages? There is so much to learn about all of this. I switched over to soya milk a couple of months back and I think that has helped alleviate the hot flashes. I just feel like I'm in a permanent state of terrible PMS with no end in sight.

I'm so happy to hear you were able to find some relief from all of this. I'm in Vancouver right now so it might be tough to have medications shipped across the border. I'll definitely be doing more research on what is available locally. If all else fails I can call your guys, Thanks for sharing that info. I have an appointment with my GYN in a couple of weeks, hopefully he is more open minded and up with the times on this.

Hope you're having a great day.

MsL

Don't know about any hormones, but I do know about perimenopause! LOL Been dealing with it since I was 31, I'll be 40 this year. I'm "lucky" it started before the rsd because at least I have a ruler to go by, so to speak.

Pre-RSD, my periods got shorter and about a week before it started I would deal with stupid night sweats. Not really horrible, soak the sheets, type sweats but enough to keep waking me up making me feel cold and hot at the same time. A few hot flashes but not too bad.

Then came 2003 and rsd! LOLOL That rhymed....hehehe. Anyway, the hot flashes hit out the blue at any time. The night sweats were intensified which really sucks, and I was already moody but now....downright bit**y at times! I had my tubes tied after my last child was born and because of it every month I feel really icky....I feel like I'm preg every stinking month! UGH! After rsd, that too got worse and instead of coming on about a week before I start and ending soon after it's done, I now deal with it sometimes non stop.

RSD hasn't helped the symptoms for sure and I can only hope on a daily basis that it'll stop altogether very, very soon. Seeing as I'm the first woman in my family to make it this far......I have to play it by ear since I don't know what to expect when!

Hugs,

Karen

Hello MsL!
 

They actually ship everywhere. I think they told me there was only two countrys they didn't have clients in. You could check. Yes, I do have my hormones checked at least once a year. They can also send you a syliva kit which I have done mid year to check for hormone levels. If I am under stress, I call and they instruct me how to adjust for it based on my symptoms. If I am not sleeping, if I'm feeling really agitated, they understand these indicators and suggest adding a little more for a few days or taking a little less.
I think that if you have some information and are yourself informed, like your doing by asking questions, he just may be more open to it. I didn't have all the money that Robin, Dr Phils wife had to go from doctor to doctor, but I was fortunate to have a up to date forward thinking female GYN! She has since retired but she was the best. Her replacement is also female and I feel very fortunate for their understanding. Good luck. Lets keep up on this conversation. I think this is important to all of us even the young ones, so they are not left in the dark, but up to date and informed so they can make the right decision for themselves.
I think you will be so surprised at how much better you feel when this issue is resolved. I may take a litttle trail and error, but the end result will be well worth it. Take care all the best.. Di

do you all have a good web site that you have bookmarked on the biodenticals?

I went off HRT hmmm a couple yrs ago & OMG, I have hot flashes all the time, day or night. I am doing nothing & YIKES I am wringing wet with sweat for no darn reason. Everyone else is cold to freezing & I am sweating like a horse after a race. I HATE IT!! Plus I have noticed right in front of my ears to the middle of my cheeks I have this white blond fuzz that if I were to shave it I know it would turn into a damn beard. Thank goodness it is white blond. If it were dark I would bleach it. Would they help with this too???? I had my ovaries out in 1993 due to a medical problem & was on HRT like I said until approximately 2 yrs ago. I was going to my hubby's doctors appt Tuesday to ask her if I could go back on HRT.

DebbyV

HI DebbieV,

Here are a couple of the links I've been exploring. I am also reading Dr. Christine Northrup "The Wisdom of Menopause". It's an resource to have on hand, in fact I think I'll take it with me to my next doctors appointment. Hopefully he won't dismiss me as quickly as he usually does :mad:.

http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/

http://www.drerika.com/g/Hormones-an...-40-59/70.html

I think I'm going to go the bio identical route. Everything I'm reading says that synthetic hormones are out of the question. My husband is reading Suzanne Summers book "Break Through" and he thinks that even he may need to have his hormones balanced. :wink:

Lots to learn isn't there? Hope you are able to find the right solution for your symptoms.

Here is another great site for information on bio identical hormone replacement therapy. Some very good articles and if you dig deep you can find some information and links to some of the the European research articles that are so often quoted but not cited.

http://www.virginiahopkinstestkits.com/index.html

MsL

Large French Studies Show No Increased Risk of Breast Cancer for Users of Bioidentica
 

http://www.virginiahopkinstestkits.c...astcancer.html

With all the confusion about synthetic HRT increasing breast cancer rates I thought I should share this article. I have been reading a lot on this lately and many doctors who are proponents of BHRT keep saying that European studies show that bioidentical hormones are safe, but they never cite the studies. I was happy to find this article today.

MsL