Anyone here been on hormone replacement therapy?

[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.