A Few Thoughts on HRT-Not Your Mother's Menopause

[thejools123]

Rewatching this Jan!  Stacie xo

[Catalina031]

@thejools123 I am soo silly-you not only watched you left a comment! Hope you find some relief somehow!

[flproctor]

After doing some research, I refused Premarin due to the extreme cruelty that goes on in order to make it. I took it and switched to a synthetic and never noticed any difference. I wish more people would research how some of our meds are made and their options before just going with whatever the doctor says all the time.

[Catalina031]

@flproctor  A could not agree with you more. But honestly don't think many people ever give it a thought. Even my gyn had not a clue where Premarin came from. He got an education from me that day :) Thanks so much!

[lmmbchampion]

Thank you so much for this information, Jan. I am almost 46 and haven't started menopause yet--my mother passed away when I was a child so I don't have anyone close enough to answer my questions. I so appreciate you doing this video because it seems like it's a taboo subject. I remember when I was having trouble conceiving, we were very open, and that's when we found out others were also having trouble but you wouldn't have known it because it seems, that too, is a taboo subject.

[Catalina031]

@lmmbchampion So sorry to hear that you have lost your mum. Mine has been gone a long time now also and was not around to answer questions for me either. I am an RN and fortunate to have access to a variety of phenomenal resources. Have never understood why women don't wish to share about so many things. We are all the same in so many respects. So glad you found this useful! xoxo Jan

[Angelmagik2]

Hi, very interesting. I had not heard of a patch before or it's benefits. I don't know if they are available in the UK. Must ask my doctor. I take elleste solo 2mg estradiol hemihydrate. I am 49 know eek that sound so old to me especially as I used to think 40 was old :). I have used them for a year but was told I would have to stop after about 10 years. So may be this patch might be an alternative if I can get it. Got to plan ahead as realising time is flying by. Thanks for good video. Chris

[Catalina031]

@Angelmagik2 I do think the patches are preferable to an oral medication. So far no one is telling me I have to ever stop using them unless I elect to do so. 49 is not old! I will be 61 soon and 49 seems really young :) Thanks so much Chris! xoxo Jan

[weeknightingale]

Thank you! Love your opinions, observations and information. Love what you are saying!! I never really knew what was meant by 'the change' never said that either!

[Catalina031]

@weeknightingale "The change" is more of a generational thing that I think some just continue from their mothers or grandmothers but something that has always annoyed me LOL Thanks so much for watching and your comment! xoxo Jan

[Purrrsuasive1]

Hi :) I use the VIvelle Dot too. I had to have a hysterectomy and I tried going without any HRT for three months and It was torture! Curious question...where did your doctor tell you to place the patch? I was told only on my stomach under my belly button. Not loving this new gyno (mine retired) so I wonder where you place yours.  Thanks!

[Catalina031]

@Purrrsuasive1 I am soo sorry but have no idea how I missed this comment. Mine goes in that exact spot! On my stomach under my belly button and I have about 4 spots across vertically to rotate the location. Don't want irritated skin :) Thanks so much for your comment and again my apologies. I don't usually take 3 weeks to respond to comments. I may be old and slow but not that slow LOL xoxo Jan

[delacotta360]

Good job and thank you Jan. I'm on HRT for the rest of my life. It makes my quality of life so much better. Hot flashes on the hour, no memory (couldn't finish a sentence!) and the Dark Cloud following me. I've been on it since 55 and monitored by my gyno.

All that natural stuff, Black cohosh, soy, etc. didn't even make a breeze that I could feel when I tried all of them.

[Catalina031]

@delacotta360 I am soo happy to hear you have found something that works well for you and have gotten support from your physician. I know many women who try all the natural products who have been greatly disappointed also. Thank you Susan! ♥ Jan

[magicadespell56]

ME ON AGE- it sucks like hell BUT- DONT forget to laugh- play-and dont think OLD- i cant hang around people my age- they age me LOL-but my 83 yrs old father is a blast- funny as heck- i think when we keep BUSY- think- do-plan-idont care what for- just dont get STUCK- be with people that encourage you to bounce when you walk (but dont break a hip) jk-- so MUCH is MIND SET- diet and friendships-and love --- luv you Jan x shelly

[Catalina031]

@magicadespell56 Laughter is the best medicine but HRT, at least for me, sure has been wonderful. Could not agree with you more Shelly-soo many pieces to the anti-aging puzzle :) Luv you back darlin! xo Jan

[luv2luv77]

What is your opininion on taking DHEA from yams extract, and soya (isoflavone, non GMO)?

[Catalina031]

@luv2luv77 Only small studies done on those-some benefit to women suffering very mild problems. Some concern that long term use of DHEA in high enough doses to be of any benefit may also increase risk of breast cancer. Soy is modestly effective at best at relieving hot flashes.

[LittleMissForty]

I love your videos Jan...they are so informative. I am definitely perimenopausal but knowledge is power for the future for me. I have never taken the pill as I became very ill on it....so I am worried HRT will not suite me as and when I need it. I agree with you wholly...women should not suffer unnecessarily and everything has some sort of risk...it is a question of making an informed judgment..xo

[Catalina031]

@LittleMissForty There is certainly NO one size fits all in medicine. There has just been so much fear mongering and hype with regard to women and HRT. And of course where would we all be sans Suzanne Somers LOL Thanks so much for watching and for your insightful comments! xoxo Jan

[LittleMissForty]

@Catalina031 I agree and medical doctors can never make up their minds...one minute the standard pill increases breast cancer risk...then it decreases it.  It's the same with food...I have read soy in large doses decreases cancer risk but in small doses increases it!!! We are all just left in a state of confusion half the time xo

[Catalina031]

@LittleMissForty And wine- a glass is good, two is bad. I'm sorry but if 2 glasses of wine on a Sat. evening is going to be the death of me-so be it :) And so far not much has been said about my Skinny Girl Margaritas- so I am presuming tequila is safe LOL A girl has to live! :)

[ziplockcan]

I have choosen not to take any hormones and have been doing ok with out. As my doctor said if I feel I don't need them not to. I do eat alot of yams not just for that reason, just because their yummie lol. Thanks jan.

[Catalina031]

@ziplockcan Glad to hear it Cathy-everyone does not suffer the same symptoms nor to the same degree. I don't think anyone should use meds just because they can :) Yams are yummy and good for you! Thank you Cathy! xo Jan

[starzhere]

The only caution I would have is that it has been proven that HRT increases a woman's risk of both Breast and Ovarian cancer. Not having a family history doesn't mean anything, since only 10% of the women with these cancers have the cancer gene or a familial history of these cancers. I've had BC and am currently being treated for OC. You can have Primary Peritoneal cancer (OC linked cancer) without having ovaries.

Birth control pills do lower a woman's risk of having ovarian cancer.

~elaine~

[Catalina031]

@starzhere Very good points. Although there has been a decrease in BC it is primarily in ER-positive cancers which fell by 14.7% , while only a 1.7% decrease in ER-negative cancers, Latest study does not suggest that decreasing HRT use would lower breast cancer incidence. HRT does lower the incidence of some cancers including colon cancer by 30%. PPC is a posibility but is rare. There are interesting studies ongoing-Smart lady! Thank you & best wishes for your recovery. ♥ Jan

[starzhere]

@Catalina031 Thank-you for the kind response. I just want to make sure that women stay vigilant and have those mammograms and gyno exams. Just because you don't have a family history doesn't mean you're not at risk. My oncologist said that the greatest factor that puts us at risk is being women.

~elaine~

[JaninaM]

I tried HRT for 6 months and felt worse on it than off it, so I stopped.

Apart from having no libido whatsoever, I've been OK. I don't have a partner, so it doesn't really bother me.

If I did happen to start a relationship sometime in the future, I could look into getting some hormonal therapy for that problem.

[Catalina031]

@JaninaM I don't know that estrogen HRT is really being advocated for libido. In fact many women seem to experience an estrogen dominance while on OC's and suffer a decrease in libido. I have been in a clinical trial for almost 2 years now for a new med for women that addresses libido, which would be a testosterone gel. Thank you for your input! ♥ Jan

[kellkerner]

Thank you for being willing to share this information. Even though it's personal in nature, it is so helpful to hear about someone's experience and factor it into your own. I am experiencing hormonal migraines with perimenopause and so my physician doesn't feel that I'm a candidate for estrogen due to the visual involvement during migraines. I'm trying to learn as much as I can and this is a very complex issue. Thanks for educating - really appreciated!

[Catalina031]

@kellkerner Have also had migraines since age 35 & while we "tinkered" with hormones, off, on, a variety of different ones, nothing changed the frequency/intensity of the migraines. So I kept using them since personally I felt better while taking them the neurologist had no issues with me continuing. I too have visual disturbances as I generally have migraines with aura. 45% actually improve on HRT. Very complex indeed & docs are also very different. Thank you & best wishes! Jan

[junbug1029]

Agreed!!! I'm on a low dose of daily oral estradiol and progesterone. My nurse practitioner believes that I'm a good candidate for this HRT and it shouldn't be a problem for me until I'm at least 60. No family history of breast cancer or cardiac disease. I went off of OCPs because of my hypertension, which I've since concluded is a result of my congenital UPJ obstruction and subsequent kidney damage. Thank you, my sweet Jan! xoxo Joan

[Catalina031]

@junbug1029 I am 60 Joanzy and have yet to decide to give them up. Have taken some sort of hormone for so many years my body might crumble into a pile of dust without them? LOL Sounds like you have a great health care practitioner :) Thank you Joan! xoxo Jan

[thejools123]

Thanks for doing this Jan!  I have been researching this topic off and on for almost a year. I am still undecided on which direction I will go. I will continue to read... Stacie xo

[Catalina031]

@thejools123 You are so welcome Stacie- Best of luck with your decision :) xoxo Jan

[MsMakeupchic]

Hi, thanks for covering this topic - thanks for all your information.  Regards JA :o)

[Catalina031]

@MsMakeupchic Thank you for watching :) ♥ Jan

[Moonchimes]

Hi Jan. I also had a TAH/BSO--only my cervix was also taken. I didn't find this out until after the surgery. I tried the Climara patch at first but that didn't work for me. I now am on the same HRT as you--the Vivelle Dot. I love it and hope to stay on it forever. Thank you for such a great and informative video. It was great to hear that the whole "bioidentical" issue-- with compounding pharmacies-- is NOT better than what we are now using. You look so very elegant and beautiful!! As always.

[Catalina031]

@Moonchimes I know biodentical has its fans but the biggest fans are the ones selling it to women along with books, dvds & testing. Feel much safer with FDA approved meds that insurance also covers & have no plans to get off mine either :) The Vivelle Dot is a great choice sweetie imho Believe me 99.99% of surgeons do not leave a cervix behind-Had to argue with my surgeon over it who was fortuantely a life long friend so I won! It was mine & I wanted to keep it LOL Thank you sweetie! xox Jan

[CatherineMcT]

Hi Jan,

What a great presentation! I really appreciate the clear information and sources that you included. I have heard that an estrogen face cream is widely used for anti-aging in Europe. Have you heard anything about it? Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

[Catalina031]

@CatherineMcT Actually I have read about several estrogen creams but have never seen them for sale. If I was not a candidate for systemic HRT I would likely be using one. I am more familiar with women using a compounded estriol cream (3mg per gram, 120 grams, which lasts about 120 days) or even adding Premarin to their usual face cream. Happy Thanksgiving to you! I need calendars from several countries-I always forget!

♥ Jan

[catmama54]

This is a great topic Jan.I took premarin for 10 years until my Dr stopped them.I was furious and wanted to stay on them.I even went to different Drs but they refused to give me a script.I looked and felt better on my hormones.Everything and I do mean everything just dried up and turned old.If I could go back on them i would.I had my hysterectomy at 40 and am now going to be 57..BTW your hair looks fab.Are the curls lasting,they sure seem like it.I am in velcro rollers right now. xoCathy

[Catalina031]

@catmama54 Wow Cathy you guys have some cold blooded docs down your way. I can't think of a doctor I know who would not prescribe HRT. In fact many are of the opinion why would anyone suffer if they did not have to. I am afraid I would dry up without them also & don't know when I will give mine up if ever. Thought about a trip? :) The curls are lasting as long as I use the Bed Head. Hope you are not sleeping in those things girl! Thanks so much darlin! xoxo Jan

[go24jeffgordon]

Great subject, Jan! I have gone the Bioidentical route and the synthetic route. Currently I am not taking anything. I am still getting some hot flashes and thinking of going back on Vivelle Dot and Prometrium but not sure. My hot flashes are not as frequent as they used to be. We will see. Thanks for sharing this! Hugs. . .

[Catalina031]

@go24jeffgordon Thank you for your comment Vickie! Hugs back at ya girl :) Jan

[1954Barbie]

Amen! Very well said Jan! I myself have been on hormones for years. A few years ago I tried to go without them, and may I say not at the advise of my doctor. He would say to me that of course it was my decision but he'd say "why the hell do you want to feel like crap when you can feel so much better when you take them"?? Soo true! I would be criticized by my peers (women) as they wiped the sweat from their brows! In the end it is my body and I choose quality of life, hormone replacement.

[Catalina031]

@1954Barbie I have been criticized by more women than I can even remember and really dreaded doing this video :) Found my nerve and here it is! I have always told them I am more concerned about adding life to my years than I am adding years to my life. I have done soo well on hormones at this point just can't think of a reason to change a thing. Your doc sounds very much like mine! Thank you soo much Bev! xoxo Jan

[DarJadon]

After several blood test, I discovered my hormone levels were very low and stared on HRT cream.. I experienced no improvement and was increased. Still no improvement. I received conflicting info about creams and topical placement and how often to apply. Perhaps I got ripped off...but I am reluctant to try again. I have also developed hypothyroid since menopause. It has really changed me..I miss the other me...Curious why u got hyster when u has no symptoms?

[Catalina031]

@DarJadon Masses on uterus with no real way to tell what they were without surgery/biopsy. Ovarian cancer is so hard to diagnose early & ovaries even if left in place fail with age so decided to have most of everything removed. Not using it anyway & just a potential source of cancer. Masses ended up being benign fibroids but one never knows. I am also hypo-symptoms can be very similar to menopause. Hope you are able to find a great endocrinologist and GYN. Please don't give up ♥ Jan

[wdbreezy]

Very well presented and concise information - thank you, Janners! I know you and I chatted a bit about HRT and all the options, opinions, misinformation that's out there. I've been on Premarin, gone the bio-identical route and am currently nit in HRT, but am not experiencing the amount or severity of hot flashes that plagued me a couple years ago. I wish, prior to my hysterectomy, that my doctor had discussed the HRT options and what instant menopause symptoms I might experience. I did find a

[Catalina031]

@wdbreezy That was brutal for a surgeon to even do that. How awful Suze. I was loaded up with long acting Depo before even going into surgery and started the patches as soon as I got home from hospital and never suffered a thing.. Let me guess-the surgeon was male? Although in his defense my surgeon was male. Just a very enlightened one :) I could so stand on my soap box and yell about soo many issues with regard to womens health care. Just dreadful what goes on.

[Voyeur53]

I used oral HRT for 1 year. It worked well. My doctor recommended not using it for more than 1 year because of the risks. I have gotten through menopause and have no more symptoms now. Yay!

[Catalina031]

@Voyeur53 I am so glad to hear that :) Since I never had symptoms not sure when I will stop using it. Have taken hormones for 4 decades and wondering if my body would be lost without them :)

[imsassi]

Thanks Jan......

[Catalina031]

@imsassi Thank you sweetie :) Hope you have a beautiful day!

[myqroom]

Great video about HRT, I know nothing about it & think this would be very informative for lots of people. <3

[Catalina031]

@myqroom I hope so Patti-thank you :) ♥ Jan

[Blablablabla2008]

I'm too young to understand these problems, although I realize that some day I'm gonna face them as well.... but I wanted to say how beautiful and elegant you are in this video!!!!!

[Catalina031]

@Blablablabla2008 Aww thank you Anush :) The great thing about information is that it can be passed along. Maybe you will come across someone who will can benefit from this. ♥ Jan