Ladies, can we talk Hormone Replacement Therapy???

So, on Tuesday I had my 9 month appointment... my Bariatric place also does 'wellness' things, and HRT is one of them. I had my blood levels run, and according to my doc, I could really benefit from HRT... his clinic touts Biote pellets, which would be what I would do.

I am 51 (almost 52) had a hysterectomy, leaving the ovaries, almost 4 years ago. 

My numbers look like this:

FSH - 75.4

Estradiol - 22

Testosterone - 23

So, this is almost Greek to me. I did a quick search on these numbers, and frankly my numbers don't look bad to my very uninformed mind... but my doc says that they are off, and that HRT could benefit me.

True confession... I am so scared of Cancer. I HATE that word, and after reading the paperwork that I have to sign, I feel like I'm opening myself up for getting cancer by taking the HRT... but at the same time I struggle because I know the benefits of bone density and lean muscle mass, not to mention other great benefits...

So, if you are taking an HRT, especially if it's this one, can you tell me how you reconciled with the possible increased chances of ovarian and breast cancer? I don't want to be scared if the real benefits outweigh the minor risks...

beside the doc wanting you to get it - why do you want that? 

I was very against HRT. I was planning to go through the change the natural way. 

then I had RNY  and things were fine. Then I needed GB removal and hernia repair.  And things went wild.   Not sure why - but I suspect a severe food restrictions 3 weeks before the GB surgery (anything I ate caused severe pain), very rapid weight loss, surgery itself - anesthesia (can cause brain damage) etc etc..But after the GB surgery I went into instant menopause. I could not think, sleep.. I had hot flashes every 10 min... I was a mess.  So I decided to get on HRT. Bio-identical HRT.  I was desperate.   

8 years later- I am still on it.....In a mean time - a few years ago - after a lot of tests I found out that my pituitary (part of the brain) are not working right... and that probably explains my "instant menopause" and all other symptoms... 

so..I am on HRT because my body doe snot make many hormones and the are that are made - often not enough...

so I am not only on bio-HRT but also on cortisone, and my doc is considering putting my on thyroids...ugh.. 

but - unless I had to - I would not do it.  

Unless you are miserable and really need it - I would not take the risks.   

as long as your body makes some - and you have "normal" life...I would not take the risks.  Once you start - you would need to take that.  

beside health issue - there is inconvenience plus $$.  add our malabsorbtion... and i never know how much progesterone I really get. I deal with "spotting" and need ultrasounds at least once a year.  More procedures. Testosterone - insurance do not consider that necessity for women - so mine refuse to pay for it...Yes- we try to have it covered. 

I do have reasons for having my levels checked.

Hot flashes, mild brain fog, and constantly tired.... are a few.

My thyroid went South a couple of years ago, so I've been on thyroid meds for some time now. I had my gallbladder out about 15 years ago. But ever since the thyroid, which was about a year after the hysterectomy, I've never been the same... 

And now it's starting to affect me in the bedroom. I know I already have bone density issues (or I imagine I do, I haven't had a scan for that yet) because of the bone loss issues I have in my mouth. I can't even have an implant because my bone loss is so bad... I will get to look forward to dentures probably sooner than later! SMH

So it's a hard choice... and throwing in the C word for me really threw me for a loop... 

Biote is also a Bio-Identical hormone, it's just placed under the muscle in your hip with a slow release capsule that lasts about 12 weeks...

insurance pay for it or is that one of those HRC centers? 

i asked because that what I had  my first year. It really made a huge difference.  But it was "pricey". And until they stabilize you - it may take 3-6 months. After taht first year - my gyno took me under and I am on estrogen bio-patch (that I can use as little as I need to, cutting the patch in 1/2 or 1/3 and applying iot every other day... ), progesterone pills, and testosterone compounding gel..   

as for libido - going on the pellets HRT made me desperate to find a good BF.. lol...they do work...

I can't imagine without HRT... I was so miserable that i did not care if may or may not get cancer.  The way I was - I seriously did not want to live. 

 There is really no studies for bio-identical HRT.  They really don't know if they cause Cancer or not...

if your thyroid are off- the HRT may really help you.... if HRT can cause Cancer r- it is often long term use... if yua re miserable - try that.. then decide...

Nope, no, never.  I've ridden this ***** for about 5 years and although I think some of the symptoms are permanent, none of them can't be lived with.

I'm not risking cancer just because of a little discomfort.

YMMV

I had told you I take Bio-identical hormones and this year with all my surgeries and coming off them temporarily I know why... I was when I started and still do if I am off them have severe symptoms, Hot flashes... sometimes 6-8 a day. Nausea, brain fog, scary forgetfullness and more... If I wasn't having symptoms I am not sure I would go on based on blood tests. I was desperate for relief and had been perimenopausal for years...

Bio-identical are considered safer... but not all Doctors will prescribe. I am not that familiar with the pellet, I would certainly do research into both. I also am on Thyroid meds for hypothyroid...

edit to add: I had hysterectomy with ovaries removed due to stage 4 uterine precancer. Basically if left alone will become cancer. I worked with a renowned cancer specialist at Sloan Kettering, I was already on the bio-identicals at that point, (not that long)... we discussed it, she was OK with me being on them, did not suggest I come off of them and she didn't even ask me to come off of it for surgery.

Well I asked to have my blood tested because of the symptoms. Honestly, I feel a lot better since RNY, but I never have a huge surplus of energy like so many others describe... I am moody, and the brain fog is scary... having a grandmother that died from Alzheimer's, and now her son, my dad's brother, is in full blown Alzheimer's, I worry that  I'm going to go down that path (and I don't want to be tested just yet, I don't need that added stress), hot flashes are really bad, and seem to be worse right now since weight loss (couple that with always being freezing and my thermometer is just plain broken! LOL)... lack of lust is also something I hate.

I'm doing more research, but in the meantime, I'm keeping my appointment for Monday.

I hear you...the forgetfullness was in the scary zone. Blank out on things...I was worried and the hormones did help tremendously, so it was hormones and not something else...

I had a full hysterectomy six years ago. The best thing I did for me was having bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. It has helped.

Hi,

I'm 49 and I have the BRCA2 mutation, known as the Breast Cancer mutation (there are two versions). This mutation makes me very vulnerable to all the "female" cancers including Ovarian and uterine. As part of the prevention treatment I opted to have my ovaries and tubes (same tissue type) removed prophetically. I was 42 at the time and the hot flashes were horrific - but worse was the terrible brain fog! My oncologist SUGGESTED HRT for me. She was the head of our hospitals women's oncology department (now she's the Chief Medical Officer for the hospital system) and she knows her stuff.

For me the biggest benefit has been the cleared up thinking!

Even with my breasts, ovaries, and tubes removed, I'm still considered very high risk for cancer - like three times higher than a "normal" person. So I hope this helps you feel better because if they are recommending it for me then it's obviously far safer than it used to be.

Good luck!