JoAnn,
What brand is your fish oil? I can't find one without soy except for the liquid - YUCK!
Pat
A question for menopausal women
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artteacher
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Hi Pat,
It's going to get better. You've already come a long way and you have tons of help and support. I'll help you all I can.
Love, Marsha
It's going to get better. You've already come a long way and you have tons of help and support. I'll help you all I can.
Love, Marsha
Hi Pat, I'm extremely sensitive to soy and usually react if it's in anything. My pcp put me on a prescription fish oil called Lovaza. 4 grams of Lovaza are equal to 18 grams of regular fish oil. She wanted me to try it because fish oil can cause gut problems and you get great benefits from this without having to take so much. It is pricey, but my insurance covers it. I didn't react to it, so I assumed there was no soy. However, in checking the other ingredients it contains gelatin, glycerol, purified water, alpha tocopherol (in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils including soybean oil.) Like I said, I usually react if soy is in anything, but I don't react to this fish oil. I'm not sure why. Maybe the amount is miniscule enough. Lovaza has a web site if you want more information. Hope this helps. JoAnn
Hi. I am coming late to this conversation and dont know if anyone is still following this thread.
I turned 52 last week and have been having menopausal symptons for the last year. Last week I saw a compounding pharmacist who I spoke to about bio-identical hormones.
Some people on here mentioned that they were taking them and that they seemed to help.
I dont know if my primary care doctor will prescribe them or not, but I am assuming that a homeopathic doctor would? Maybe even a gynocologist.
For those taking them, who did you find to prescribe them, and does your insurance pay? If not, about how much does it cost a month?
Can anyone describe in detail the symptoms that the bio-identical hormones have helped with?
My symptoms vary, but the most common are hot flashes, insomnia, and irritability.
I have read a lot about bio-identicals but have not had the opportunity to speak to anyone who has used them so any info. you can provide will be invaluable.
Thanks!!
I turned 52 last week and have been having menopausal symptons for the last year. Last week I saw a compounding pharmacist who I spoke to about bio-identical hormones.
Some people on here mentioned that they were taking them and that they seemed to help.
I dont know if my primary care doctor will prescribe them or not, but I am assuming that a homeopathic doctor would? Maybe even a gynocologist.
For those taking them, who did you find to prescribe them, and does your insurance pay? If not, about how much does it cost a month?
Can anyone describe in detail the symptoms that the bio-identical hormones have helped with?
My symptoms vary, but the most common are hot flashes, insomnia, and irritability.
I have read a lot about bio-identicals but have not had the opportunity to speak to anyone who has used them so any info. you can provide will be invaluable.
Thanks!!
Hi Andi, I started taking bioidentical hormones last fall as part of a plan to get my life back together. I was not getting the help I needed from the pcp I had been with for the past 20 years. She was completely traditional, didn't understand mc,
(either did I at the time). I also had problems showing up in my mammograms which caused me to be examined every 6 months for a diagnostic mammo. I never felt good about taking synthetic hormones. I had every symptom of menopause you can come up with. I was fortunate to be referred to a clinic that uses a traditional and holistic approach. It is run by a medical doctor with nurse practitioners. They helped me get my life back along with this board. They outlined a program of diet and supplements along with the bioidentical hormones.
I think the hormones have helped me tremendously. I have no menopausal symptoms and at my mammogram last week, the doctor said most of the calcium deposits they were watching have disappeared and I don't need to continue going to the diagnostic clinic but could return to the regular screening clinic in a year. I don't know if there is a connection or not, but it was wonderful news after going through so much for 3 years. The doctor I see is on my insurance and my hormones are covered. I pay $13 a month for them. It's called a troche and dissolves under my tongue. It is not easy to find doctors who use this approach. I was just lucky to have contact with people who had experience with them. Good luck to you, JoAnn
(either did I at the time). I also had problems showing up in my mammograms which caused me to be examined every 6 months for a diagnostic mammo. I never felt good about taking synthetic hormones. I had every symptom of menopause you can come up with. I was fortunate to be referred to a clinic that uses a traditional and holistic approach. It is run by a medical doctor with nurse practitioners. They helped me get my life back along with this board. They outlined a program of diet and supplements along with the bioidentical hormones.
I think the hormones have helped me tremendously. I have no menopausal symptoms and at my mammogram last week, the doctor said most of the calcium deposits they were watching have disappeared and I don't need to continue going to the diagnostic clinic but could return to the regular screening clinic in a year. I don't know if there is a connection or not, but it was wonderful news after going through so much for 3 years. The doctor I see is on my insurance and my hormones are covered. I pay $13 a month for them. It's called a troche and dissolves under my tongue. It is not easy to find doctors who use this approach. I was just lucky to have contact with people who had experience with them. Good luck to you, JoAnn
JoAnn,
Thank you so much for your post. My story is similar to yours. I obviously (since I am on this board) have MC, and my mammogram last month showed some irregularities and I had to go back for another one. I now need another one is 6 months.
I dont think my primary care doctor will prescribe bio-identicals. I live in a rural area of Vermont so there is not a lot of close by clinics. However, the compounding pharmacist I went to see gave me the name of a doctor in Burlington (about an hour away) who prescribes these. If my primary care doctor wont do it, I will call this other doctor. I want to start sooner rather than later. I have read that they can start helping immediately (within days), did you find that to be true?
I am also wondering if you, or anyone else, thinks that menopause can make MC worse, I am finding that it is sometimes worse than it was a couple years ago.
Thank you so much for your post. My story is similar to yours. I obviously (since I am on this board) have MC, and my mammogram last month showed some irregularities and I had to go back for another one. I now need another one is 6 months.
I dont think my primary care doctor will prescribe bio-identicals. I live in a rural area of Vermont so there is not a lot of close by clinics. However, the compounding pharmacist I went to see gave me the name of a doctor in Burlington (about an hour away) who prescribes these. If my primary care doctor wont do it, I will call this other doctor. I want to start sooner rather than later. I have read that they can start helping immediately (within days), did you find that to be true?
I am also wondering if you, or anyone else, thinks that menopause can make MC worse, I am finding that it is sometimes worse than it was a couple years ago.
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barbaranoela
- Emperor Penguin
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- Location: New York
I have to add---I went thru MENO. beautifully----nothing bothered me----and I was 48 when this all happened--needless to say I was thrilled--
BUT---when I started meds for HYPERACTIVE THYROID----it brought about NIGHT SWEATS and I had piled a bunch of shirts so as I woken I whipped one off and put on a DRIED short--this lasted about a month I believe-
My thryroid dr. told me that since I had been overactive -my body didnt catch up to me until she slowed me down---pseudo menopause is what it was called--I was like !!WHAT!!!!!!
so 20 some odd years later I Xperienced menopausal systoms---thank goodness it was only *sweats* that was bad enuf!!!
Barbara
BUT---when I started meds for HYPERACTIVE THYROID----it brought about NIGHT SWEATS and I had piled a bunch of shirts so as I woken I whipped one off and put on a DRIED short--this lasted about a month I believe-
My thryroid dr. told me that since I had been overactive -my body didnt catch up to me until she slowed me down---pseudo menopause is what it was called--I was like !!WHAT!!!!!!
so 20 some odd years later I Xperienced menopausal systoms---thank goodness it was only *sweats* that was bad enuf!!!Barbara
the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control
Andi,
I had all the symptoms of menopause ( hot flashes, vaginal dryness, insomnia, and irritability could be attributed to this but with MC who knows) but now getting better with the bioidentical hormones. The synthetic ones helped as well but I had breast pain and that concerned me. When I went to an alternative MD for my MC they recommended the bioidentical (not for MC, but for general health). They started me off on a very low dose of progesterone ( progesterone is a precusor to other hormones and sometimes that is all one needs) and we have worked up to more progesterone and added estrogen (They call it bi-est) It definitely is helping. Also they have divided up the dose so that I take it am and pm. I don't take it but it is a cream I rub on my skin. No breast pain! They said I shouldn't have breast pain and I don't. I have read and heard that it can take awhile to adjust the dosage.
I think that since you have found a compounding pharmacy and they know someone who prescribes it may be a good way to find a dr. Talk to your friends, maybe they know someone. Recently I have heard radio advertisements in the city that is nearby. I think you will hear more and more about this.
Pat
I had all the symptoms of menopause ( hot flashes, vaginal dryness, insomnia, and irritability could be attributed to this but with MC who knows) but now getting better with the bioidentical hormones. The synthetic ones helped as well but I had breast pain and that concerned me. When I went to an alternative MD for my MC they recommended the bioidentical (not for MC, but for general health). They started me off on a very low dose of progesterone ( progesterone is a precusor to other hormones and sometimes that is all one needs) and we have worked up to more progesterone and added estrogen (They call it bi-est) It definitely is helping. Also they have divided up the dose so that I take it am and pm. I don't take it but it is a cream I rub on my skin. No breast pain! They said I shouldn't have breast pain and I don't. I have read and heard that it can take awhile to adjust the dosage.
I think that since you have found a compounding pharmacy and they know someone who prescribes it may be a good way to find a dr. Talk to your friends, maybe they know someone. Recently I have heard radio advertisements in the city that is nearby. I think you will hear more and more about this.
Pat