Anyone here been on hormone replacement therapy?

[Medusa]

I've done only a little research on it so I was wondering if any of my sister PTers have been on it or if you are close to anyone who has been on it. Successes? Side effects? Any input you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Mary, I was taking Premarin for 5 years. I'm ashamed to say that. It was the only thing I could find to stop my night sweats, some of my hot flashes, and, give me a better attitude towards life.

It never affected me badly, as far as I know. I recently stopped taking it for the 3rd time. I just didn't want to take it anymore for the obvious reasons. So far, I'm having some of the symptoms again but I'm trying to tough it out. However, I'm getting very irritable and that's getting harder to tolerate.

It sure is embarrassing to be talking to someone and you break out in a heavy sweat. It makes you panic and you sweat more.

I have heard alot of negatives about it. I found alot of info through internet research. There are quite a few serious risks involved.

My sister has tried everything to avoid taking these types of pills. She does chiro adjustments, bio-identical products, over the counter products, and many other drastic avenues. None of them have worked.

I would love to hear from some of the other sisters here on the board. It's a really good question.

[Medusa]

My dr. suggested it today. I have an occasional hot flash and that's about it, no severe sweating or anything. It's the weight gain around my middle that has us stumped and I'm currently undergoing every flippin' test there is to find out what's causing it. I really don't see the need to go on HRT. I looked into bio-identical hormone therapy but it's really expensive and I know that my ins. co. wouldn't pay for it. Would you mind if I asked you why you're ashamed to admit being on HRT? What shame is there in it? I'm seriously asking; I don't know. In my opinion, we do what we have to in order to feel better and have some quality of life.

[Grace]

I took Premarin for about 10 years, I think it was. I stopped once the reports came out - figured it would do me more harm than good over the long haul. I'm a retired nurse, and not ashamed to say I took Premarin.

My menopause was not severe. I had had a hysterectomy when I was 30, but my ovaries were not removed. So I truly did not know when it all started. And I've been told that those of us who had an early hyst, do not have as many symptoms.

While I was taking it, it did what it was supposed to do. Once I stopped, I had some more hot spells - not really bad though. For my bones, I take calcium, Vitamin D, and walk at least a mile a day. My bone density is good, and I'm almost 70.

As for the weight gain around the middle - for some of us I swear it is inevitable. I have more there now than 10 years ago, and am fairly active. I'm also a Type 2 Diabetic. So I diet - and go to the gym every day. The middle is still there

[Medusa]

Yes, I'm wondering too if the weight around the middle is just inevitable. My gyn told me that I had every symptom of ovarian cancer so I had a pelvic ultrasound and a CA125 blood test but they both came back normal. My family dr. feels I'd benefit from HRT but I fear that the risks outweigh the benefits, according to what I've read, which admittedly isn't much. I would never judge someone for taking Premarin or for not taking it. It's a personal choice.

[moosmom]

I was put on HRT right after my hysterectomy. It made me sick. The risks out weigh benefits so I stopped. I've had hot flashes for 8 years and they've subsided (thank God!!!).

[jazzcat]

I'm on it. I had a hysterctomy almost two years ago and I'm still trying to get the HRT type/dosage figured out but I think I'm almost there. Since I was put into surgical menopause and it wasn't a gradual thing I don't know if I'm any help but I can tell you that I went about 6 months with no HRT last summer and I almost went insane from the hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings. I've never suffered depression but I'd say I has some seriously down days.

I've tried several different types of HRT and so far Vivelle Dot has been the best. I like that it's a patch I change every three days and it's easier on my body being absorbed through the skin and not going through my internal organs.

I'm 40 years old so I definetely need it but I can tell you that I will taper off when I reach what would have been a normal menopause age for me. I'm trying to take the lowest dose of estrogen possible because my mother had breast cancer and I don't want to make my risk any greater.

BTW, I have gained weight since my hyst and I have seen it get worse on some HRTs than others. I gained 10 pounds in one month on one certain type - it was awful. Also I've noticed it goes to my waist immediately. That's enough to make me depressed right there!

[Craftlady]

I've been on Femhrt for at least 7 years (low dose hormone). I LOVE IT. Never had problems.

[Catty1]

Mary, here's a link to a section on hystersisters.com that deals with HRT. They are neither pro-or-anti-HRT.

On the page, you will see purple columns just right of centre. Those are links to the discussion boards, where you will see a bunch of selections. You might want to bookmark this page and read through the forums one at a time. It's all first-hand experience, just like you are getting here. ON the hyster board, you will get many more of them, and maybe some interesting tips.

http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/view_hoj.htm

When I had my hysterectomy last year, I kept my ovaries. So - I will still get to have menopause one day (YAHOO! - not ). I'll likely do low-dose HRT at that time, for a while. Will cross that bridge when I get there.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Mary, I'm ashamed because of where Premarin comes from. After taking it for several years, I found out it comes from pregnant mare's urine. Hence, the name.
I read horror stories of how the horses were confined to small stalls so that urine could be collected. It really upset me.

I assume that all the stories were true and there could be worse scenarios than what I described.

[Medusa]

Mary, I'm ashamed because of where Premarin comes from. After taking it for several years, I found out it comes from pregnant mare's urine. Hence, the name.
I read horror stories of how the horses were confined to small stalls so that urine could be collected. It really upset me.

I assume that all the stories were true and there could be worse scenarios than what I described.

I see. Well, I knew it came from horse urine but I didn't know the details. Hey, we do what we have to in order to feel better. You didn't know in the beginning and even if you did, it's becoming increasingly difficult to be socially and politically correct nowadays. There's just too much to keep track of. Don't be ashamed; forgive yourself and forget it. I can't imagine anyone judging you; I know I don't.

[Catty1]

Here's a link to the information on Premarin, including its source.
http://www.project-aware.org/Managin..._Opinion.shtml

Here's news on a synthetic Premarin, posted by a Horse Advocate group!
http://www.equineadvocates.com/cenestin.html

It's called Cenestin, and was approved by the FDA in 1999.

Here's the list of results I got on Google when I did a search on "Cenestin":
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=...G=Search&meta=

[robinh]

I had a total hysterectomy in 2001. I went into immediate menopause and for the first six months tried several different types of hormones to control the hot flashes and severe mood swings. My hot flashes were so bad that sweat would run down my body. I'm not ashamed to say that Premarin is the only thing that has helped me. Once we got the dosage regulated, my life has evened out and is so much better.

[Logan]

I'm not much help because I am not taking any hormones at this time. But, I am in menopause, but with very few symptoms so far. Thank goodness!
My primary physician told me that he would like to see me on hormone replacement for at least one year becuase of potential osteoperosis (sp?). So far, my OB/GYN and I have agreed to leave things alone since they are going so smoothly.

God luck to you!

[Pam]

I have pretty much sailed through menopause with only the night sweats. Things would have had to be pretty bad for me to take HRT because of the risk of cancer involved. My OB-GYN suggested them to me years ago and I said no.