MrsKramden
05-02-2003, 09:53 PM
I'm new here, so I have so many questions.
Is there anyone else here who is not taking HRT or anything for menopause ?
Although my mammograms are always normal, I have a significant family history of breast cancer and my dr & I agree that I shouldn't take hormones.I was really nervous about this, thinking that I would HAVE to, but was relieved that my dr. said it wasn't necessary. Anyone else experience this ?
Is there anyone else here who is not taking HRT or anything for menopause ?
Although my mammograms are always normal, I have a significant family history of breast cancer and my dr & I agree that I shouldn't take hormones.I was really nervous about this, thinking that I would HAVE to, but was relieved that my dr. said it wasn't necessary. Anyone else experience this ?
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cloverberry
05-03-2003, 08:10 AM
I don't take any hormones. I don't feel any need to. I tried for a couple of months but I didn't see any difference. All I could see is my money wasted on something the drug companies paid my doctor to try to get me to take.
Geneva1
05-03-2003, 02:39 PM
MrsKramden
If you can get through it without taking anything, then good for you, and consider yourself lucky!!! From what I have learned so far, there are dangers in taking any kind of replacement, and dangers if you take
nothing! You've got to weigh your own risks, either way. My Mother had Breast cancer, she had been taking Premarin for 30 years. Whether that caused it or not, who knows? I thought I couldn't take any more of the
flashes/night sweats/mood swings/etc., and attempted to take Prempro, but that only lasted a couple of months. I ended up with chest/leg pain, and had to stop taking them. I know that sooner or later, the hot flashes etc., will more than likely come back, and right now, I'm not sure what I will do about it. I do know that (in my case) the solution was worse than the
problem. I'm slowly finding out, that where our bodies are concerned, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, so I am spending time to learn about what is going on inside of me right now. This site has been extremely helpful. I thought I was all alone until I started reading!! The only advice I could give you, is to read up about Menopause, and KNOW what you're putting in your body or not, and WHY. I have been quite surprised (& fascinated) with all of it. I just today, learned that SOY is NOT good for us (despite what you hear all the time), ESPECIALLY during menopause! Read up on it, you'll be surprised.
Happy Hunting!
Jen
If you can get through it without taking anything, then good for you, and consider yourself lucky!!! From what I have learned so far, there are dangers in taking any kind of replacement, and dangers if you take
nothing! You've got to weigh your own risks, either way. My Mother had Breast cancer, she had been taking Premarin for 30 years. Whether that caused it or not, who knows? I thought I couldn't take any more of the
flashes/night sweats/mood swings/etc., and attempted to take Prempro, but that only lasted a couple of months. I ended up with chest/leg pain, and had to stop taking them. I know that sooner or later, the hot flashes etc., will more than likely come back, and right now, I'm not sure what I will do about it. I do know that (in my case) the solution was worse than the
problem. I'm slowly finding out, that where our bodies are concerned, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, so I am spending time to learn about what is going on inside of me right now. This site has been extremely helpful. I thought I was all alone until I started reading!! The only advice I could give you, is to read up about Menopause, and KNOW what you're putting in your body or not, and WHY. I have been quite surprised (& fascinated) with all of it. I just today, learned that SOY is NOT good for us (despite what you hear all the time), ESPECIALLY during menopause! Read up on it, you'll be surprised.
Happy Hunting!
Jen
MrsKramden
05-03-2003, 03:56 PM
Hi, Geneva ! :)
Interesting that you should mention soy. My doctor told me the same thing. He said that the soy products mimic estrogen and can have the same effects as estrogen.
We use the internet to read about every health concern that comes up !We also have books, but since the internet, there is a wealth of information about everything.
I don't feel I need anything. My main complaint -which was unbearable-was nausea, but that ended 6 months before I was tested as being menopausal. The only hot flashes I had were minor, infrequent blushing for a few seconds.They were nothing like the scenarios that a lot of women describe.So, I feel good not taking anything . Thanks for responding to my post (thank you all !)
[This message has been edited by MrsKramden (edited 05-20-2003).]
Interesting that you should mention soy. My doctor told me the same thing. He said that the soy products mimic estrogen and can have the same effects as estrogen.
We use the internet to read about every health concern that comes up !We also have books, but since the internet, there is a wealth of information about everything.
I don't feel I need anything. My main complaint -which was unbearable-was nausea, but that ended 6 months before I was tested as being menopausal. The only hot flashes I had were minor, infrequent blushing for a few seconds.They were nothing like the scenarios that a lot of women describe.So, I feel good not taking anything . Thanks for responding to my post (thank you all !)
[This message has been edited by MrsKramden (edited 05-20-2003).]
tagger
05-04-2003, 01:24 AM
Hi Mrskramden,
I tried HRT for 3 mths. We have no history of breast cancer in our family but lots of osteo. I experienced awful leg pains (still not entirely gone after 5 wks) and after my bone density test came back OK I went off them. As another poster has said every person experiences menopause differently so at this crucial time in our lives (so many backlashes based on the decisions made now) I recommend lots of research. There are "alternative" products ( I use Evening Primrose Oil with great success) and the soy based product which I haven't used. I was taking Black Cohosh for the hot flashes but there has been recent
negative literature about it so went off it too. So far so good if only my legs would stop hurting!..Tagger
I tried HRT for 3 mths. We have no history of breast cancer in our family but lots of osteo. I experienced awful leg pains (still not entirely gone after 5 wks) and after my bone density test came back OK I went off them. As another poster has said every person experiences menopause differently so at this crucial time in our lives (so many backlashes based on the decisions made now) I recommend lots of research. There are "alternative" products ( I use Evening Primrose Oil with great success) and the soy based product which I haven't used. I was taking Black Cohosh for the hot flashes but there has been recent
negative literature about it so went off it too. So far so good if only my legs would stop hurting!..Tagger
Geneva1
05-13-2003, 05:52 AM
Tagger,
After you stopped taking the HRT, how long was it before your flashes, etc., came back? I also tried the
HRT for 2 months, and had to stop taking it because
of leg pain/chest pain. Also, could you please tell me
if the evening Primrose Oil is prescribed by a Dr,
or something we can buy over the counter?
Thanks,
Geneva
After you stopped taking the HRT, how long was it before your flashes, etc., came back? I also tried the
HRT for 2 months, and had to stop taking it because
of leg pain/chest pain. Also, could you please tell me
if the evening Primrose Oil is prescribed by a Dr,
or something we can buy over the counter?
Thanks,
Geneva
lostinthewilderness
05-13-2003, 11:21 AM
I also do not take HRT (my mother had breast cancer) so I'm trying to handle it all myself. I bought Evening Primrose Oil over the counter (no prescription needed). I have heard the same conflicting reports about soy. Wish we could get some reliable answers!! Good luck to all!
mlgable
05-14-2003, 11:09 AM
I do not take HRT as my risk factors are way too high for me to even think of taking anything. Hormones give me horrendous migraines, cancer runs very high in my dad's family with him having both prostate cancer, soft tissue cancer and skin cancer and heart disease runs in the family. I am managing on my own but if there is anything at all that I want to try or do I have my health care providers full support. My symptoms have been mild but very pronounced. I have had night sweats and knew exactly what they were but they only lasted a year or so and now are just occaisional. Same thing for hot flashes. Had those but only for a while. Right now my worst problem is the spaced out periods that show up with no warning.
Karla
05-15-2003, 10:24 PM
After my hysterectomy I used HRT for a couple of months and then decided it was not needed and quit taking it. I had no symptoms of metapause. My dr. agreed it was ok. There are lots of things that can go wrong with HRT and if it is not needed why bother the risks.
dragonwolf
05-19-2003, 06:15 PM
My mother took hrts for years and ended up with a lot of female problems and a (begnin -thank goodness) breast lump 2 years ago.
I was recently diagnosed with a calcium deposit that I want to stay a calcium deposit on my left side.
I take primrose, red clover and chaste berry and have cut my caffeine by 2/3's. The end result is that I have gotten rid of 99% of the problems that I have had for years. Major pain, bloating, tenderness and the mood swings. They have also gotten my cycle back under control and the dryness has cleared up. (after 2 months)
Primrose and red clover can be obtained at drug stores etc. The chaste berry is usually only available at a health food store (at least in my area)
hope this helps
(also folic acid and b12 as recommended by my dr)
------------------
dragonwolf
[This message has been edited by dragonwolf (edited 05-19-2003).]
I was recently diagnosed with a calcium deposit that I want to stay a calcium deposit on my left side.
I take primrose, red clover and chaste berry and have cut my caffeine by 2/3's. The end result is that I have gotten rid of 99% of the problems that I have had for years. Major pain, bloating, tenderness and the mood swings. They have also gotten my cycle back under control and the dryness has cleared up. (after 2 months)
Primrose and red clover can be obtained at drug stores etc. The chaste berry is usually only available at a health food store (at least in my area)
hope this helps
(also folic acid and b12 as recommended by my dr)
------------------
dragonwolf
[This message has been edited by dragonwolf (edited 05-19-2003).]
MrsKramden
05-19-2003, 06:40 PM
DragonWolf, it's interesting that you mentioned also folic acid and b12 because my primary physician had seemed interested in testing those on me a couple of yrs ago. :)
MrsKramden
05-19-2003, 06:41 PM
DragonWolf, it's interesting that you mentioned also folic acid and b12 because my primary physician had seemed interested in testing those on me a couple of yrs ago. :)
Romi Wallis
05-20-2003, 06:40 AM
Hello all. :wave: I was interested to read your comments about soy. For years and years I was plagued by the most horrendous debilitating migraines. They peaked during my 'vegan' years when I stopped eating any animal products and put a lot of soy and soy based 'stuff' into my diet. The migraines came thick and fast. I cannot count the number of times somebody had to bundle me into the car and take me off to the local hospital for 150ml of intravenous pethidine. Many people suggested I had this problem because I was not eating meat or anything like that. How right they were! Not because I wasn't eating meat, but because I was ingesting SOYA! Through trial and error I eventually established the root cause of my migraine problem. And I found this out thanks to Chinese food. It dawned on me that everytime I had Chinese I got a migraine. THAT is when the penny dropped and I managed to isolate a dietary ingredient! Since then (about ten years) we have 'tested' the theory - run blind and even double blind tests - with hidden soya products (even innocuous sounding soya flour) in my food. A migraine showed itself 100% of the time without fail. Today I watch my diet very, very carefully. Eating out is always risky as soya sauce on roast spuds, in marinades, etc seems to be such a quick and easy fix in many kitchens. So, I stay away from anything brown! Also, I am aware of how much soya flour is used so I give that section a miss as well. My own home is soya free and when shopping, my husband, bless him :love: checks all the labels diligently. If I stay alert, I don't get migraines. On another, but related, issue. The specialist of runs my mammograms advised to cut down completely on caffeine and to take Omega 3 (not Omega 6, she said, JUST Omega 3 - Salmon oil (deep sea)). So ... I stay away from soya - rule number ONE. I take Salmon oil, Vascafem and Spirulina plus DHEA and apply progesterone cream daily. We can only try! So far the most definite definite I have is SOY/SOYA IS A REAL BADDIE! I promise. :mad: Take care everybody. Bye for now.
[This message has been edited by Romi Wallis (edited 05-20-2003).]
[This message has been edited by Romi Wallis (edited 05-20-2003).]