For Ladies Only!!!

[slapmeawake]

I had been having problems staying asleep for over a year. I discussed it with my GYN doc and she suggested trying HRT. I was reluctant since I have a family history of breast cancer but she said it was safe as long as only taken for short periods like a year or two. I started on the low dose but this didn't seem to help much so she switched me to the regular. I'm happy to report I am sleeping so much better. I can usually sleep through the night now. If I wake up to go potty its usually only once. I am also sleeping longer, 7 to over 8 hrs a night. What a relief. I was waking up every two hrs or so and after about 6 hrs. couldn't sleep anymore. I was constantly tweaking my therapy, changing masks, blaming it on my husband waking me etc. etc. What a relief to find out what it was and to be getting so much better and restful sleep. So for all you ladies out there who are struggling with apnea and menopause maybe its worth trying HRT. It has been so much help for me and I went through menopause 7 yrs ago. I thought the dr. wouldn't give me the HRT but she said its never too late to start. Now I hate to think of when I have to stop taking it lol!!!!!!!

[Muse-Inc]

You might investigate using bio-identical hormones. Progesterone comes in a topical (skin cream) form that is 100% identical to what the human body -- both body male and female -- produces. During perimenopause, it's progesterone that drops to ziltch while daily estrogen levels swing wildly from 15 to 500% of usual levels until we enter menopause when estrogen drops to 40-60% of usual (evey fat cell in our bodies is capable of and does produce the 3 major estrogens). Progesterone sensitizes the estrogen receptors so that the symptoms of reduced estrogen production are often completely eliminated.

If you are using synthetic progestins, you are consuming at least 50% horse estrogen.

[slapmeawake]

She prescribed Activella which is the combo pill. I called her Friday to ask if I could use the patch or gel. Is this what you mean by bio-identical? I'm really not all that well informed when it comes to HRT.

[BeanMeScot]

My mother died of breast cancer 6 years ago. She didn't have regular breast cancer. She had Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Worst kind you can get. No cancer runs in her family. The only high risk thing she had was HRT. There is nothing on God's green earth that would get me to take it.

[OutaSync]

Did it help with the hot flashes? I'm about to die from the flashes in this heat. So glad it is working for you.

[slapmeawake]

I don't have too many hot flashes anymore. My worst menopause symptom is the sleep disturbance issues and the HRT has helped that so much. I'm sure that it would also help hot flashes as that is what most women take it for. Leave it to me to have apnea and to have my worst menopause symptom be related to sleep lol!!

[twokatmew]

She prescribed Activella which is the combo pill. I called her Friday to ask if I could use the patch or gel. Is this what you mean by bio-identical? I'm really not all that well informed when it comes to HRT.

I was on a low-dose Climara patch for a couple years after my hysterectomy. My mom's breast cancer was estrogen- and progesterone-positive, and I had a pre-cancerous lump removed in my late 20s, so I was really nervous about using HRT. (I also hated the goop the patch left as well as trying to get in on without any wrinkles.) I'm now on Evista for osteoporosis, as I can't tolerate Fosamax-Actonel-Boniva and just finished my two-year Forteo regimen. I think most of my hot flashes were due to OSA and taking Prednisone, as I rarely have night sweats now. Although Evista does have some risk of blood clots, it's supposedly low and apparently reduces the risk of breast cancer. Here's hopin'! (BTW, my doc said the Evista might give me hot flashes, but I haven't noticed anything in the month I've been on it.)

Glad the HRT's helping, but I'm with BeanMeScot. I wouldn't do the HRT thing again.

[Muse-Inc]

...Activella which is the combo pill...Is this what you mean by bio-identical?...

Here's a quote I found from an MD:

Activella, was not in the study, it is estradiol and Norethidrone all in one pill; a different Drug Company's version of Prempro. But the Norethidrone is still synthetic. The estradiol is one of the natural estrones however.

The estrogen component is bio-identical, the other is progestin a synthetic progesterone. Here's another quote:

Bio-identical means the following: The chemical structure matches that found in the body, a 3-dimensional structure that has been designed by nature to fit the receptors, on every cell in the body. As a result the biologic effect will be different.

Worth investigating a topical progesterone cream, read John Lee MD's books for info. Big pharma is trying to ban natural progesterone creams claiming they are dangerous...if its' so dangerous why does our body produce it every single day of our life?

BTW, progesterone stimulates the body to increase bone density..this is what got Doc Lee into investigating its use...his ex-breast cancer patients were getting older and developing osteoporosis. Progesterone also activates the gene that protects against the cell-proliferative effects of 2 of the 3 major estrogens, in other words it helps protect both men and women from estrogen-caused cancers.

[Kiralynx]

Did it help with the hot flashes? I'm about to die from the flashes in this heat. So glad it is working for you.

Take a good look at Evening Primrose Oil. I've used it for years for inflammation issues.

This was actually recommended to me by my oncologist when I started having hot flashes after my surgery. I upped the dosage at the oncologist's suggestion, and the hot flashes diminished. I later discovered that Motrin interferes with the action of the EPO. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/gamm ... 000305.htm will give some additional information on it.

[junie]

I'm on the patch, the highest dose it comes in, after my hysterectomy 7 yrs. ago the hot flashes are so bad,
Breast cancer runs in my family also, my sister is cancer free for 2yrs. now, Hot flashes attack people different ways
and I'll still keep using my patches.

[OutaSync]

Did it help with the hot flashes? I'm about to die from the flashes in this heat. So glad it is working for you.

Take a good look at Evening Primrose Oil. I've used it for years for inflammation issues.

This was actually recommended to me by my oncologist when I started having hot flashes after my surgery. I upped the dosage at the oncologist's suggestion, and the hot flashes diminished. I later discovered that Motrin interferes with the action of the EPO. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/gamm ... 000305.htm will give some additional information on it.

Kiralynx, I bought two bottles of Evening Primrose Oil whan I saw you mention it in a post awhile back. I took it for 60 days with no noticeable improvement. I still have one bottle of 60 left. I'm glad you posted that article as it says,
"Several reports describe seizures in individuals taking evening primrose oil (EPO). Some of these seizures developed in people with a previous seizure disorder, or in individuals taking EPO in combination with anesthetics. Based on these reports, people with seizure disorders should not take EPO. Patients who plan to undergo surgery requiring anesthesia should stop taking EPO 2 weeks ahead of time because of the possibility of seizure."

Not that I have seizure disorder, but with surgery in a couple of weeks, I'm not going to take that chance. I can try it again after surgery.

Bev

[mipookiebear]

Slapmeawake,
I am glad you are sleeping better HRT. I have been going thru menopause for 10 years. I have tried HRT but can not tolerate(meds make me itch or have very,very bad hot flashes). I have tried bioidenticals with no luck. I definitely can relate to this sleep problem--waking up all night long. I know that it is hormonal, but need to find the right combination. Thanks also for info on evening prirose oil from karalynx .

[Muse-Inc]

..I know that it is hormonal, but need to find the right combination...

Try online saliva testing. 2 good labs I've read of are Great Smokies and mmmm Z Labs or something like that (Director's name is David Z?). Saliva testing accurately reflects levels of available in hormones in the blood stream (they are attached to red blood cells not floating free); 'blood' tests are tests of what's in the serum portion of the blood and that form is not available for use by the body's cells.

Good luck in finding resolution. It is a challenge. If you' ve tried bio-identicals and your ratios are right between progesterone and the 3 estrogens, then something else might be at at issue...testosterone, thyroid, thyroid antibodies, T4-->T3 conversion problems, high reverse T4, some combination of meds/supplements/over the counter that might be interacting and not in a good way, low or high cortisol, poor glucose control, low DHEA...the list seems endless sometimes that's for sure.