HRT and Lupus - Lupus Message Board

Kathryn · 03-08-2001, 09:38 AM

Fellow Lupies: I am seeing my liver doctor today to make sure it's ok for me to take an HRT. Hopefully the doc will ok it. Unfortunately, I have gotten very sick with Premarin and thought I was on death bed. If I had to make a suggestion to my primary doctor for an HRT... I was thinking about a natural estrogen. I'm not sure but, just from listening to Oprah this week on Menopause, I thought this sounded best for me. Any opinions or experiences... I am searching and will consider your comments. I had complete hysterectomy 3 years ago next June and no cancer in my family. Just some heart disease and BP and arthritis.

Hit me with your best shot... Thanks,

Kathryn

Ann S · 03-08-2001, 03:19 PM

Kathryn,

Oh shoooooot!!! I saw that promo on Oprah & wrote myself a note to watch it. (have to write notes for everything, then I lose the notes!) Had a bad day & went straight to bed after work and never saw my note. I guess it's time to fess up (you guys are a forgiving group, right?), I'm a smoker and no dr. will give me HRT so I'm just going without anything. My rheumy was a little concerned when he was taking my history cause I had blamed a lot of the tiredness on meno. He asked if I had went thru it...I told him I thought I had cause the night sweats quit and I hadn't had my period in 8 months, then right before Christmas it came again. He said it wasn't his specialty, but he thought thought that I was done and that I should be concerned about cancer. I told him I had just had a pap 2 wks. ago. He thought the very least they would do would be a D&C. I haven't followed up with it.

Anyway, I can't help you with any HRT advice. Please let me know if you come up with anything in your research that would help me. Are you having problems with it or just want to do something as a preventative measure? Ann

Kathryn · 03-08-2001, 08:21 PM

Hi Ann, well I guess I won't have to worry about it. The Liver Doc said no for now to taking the HRT. So, it's not real bad and I guess I can live through this for a while. I just hope it doesn't get as bad as those women on Oprah were complaining about. I was mostly worried about bone loss and taking steroids off and on for so many years.

Maybe they have a breakdown about Oprah's show on her internet site. Have you checked?

Thanks for the thoughts, Kathryn

Ann S · 03-09-2001, 04:38 PM

Kathryn,

I think you do need to be scared of the osteo. especilly with all the falling down and bumping into things. Didn't they recommend some extra calcium replacement or something? If you have trouble with the IBS, some say the calcium helps that too. I haven't tried it myself yet, but was warned by many that if you have trouble with your stomach, you should start on the calcium slowly otherwise you experience a lot of gasiness. It gives your system time to adjust if you go slow. Did you ask the dr. about the natural hormone supplements you can buy at places like Wal Mart? Ann

p.s. How bad is your liver condition? Not that it would be a picnic, but not too long ago, I heard of new progress with transplants. I think they only took a piece of the liver and transplanted it, and then your own body grew it to the right size from there.

Kathryn · 03-10-2001, 07:53 AM

Hi Ann,

Yes I am taking calcium in tablet form, food and in my Mylanta. I have been making it a point to get that calcium.

I had a tumor on my liver and it turned out to be benign. It was quite large and required to have about 60% of my liver and gall bladder removed. My liver has grown back.. feels like an mass of play dough sticking out my side. It never grows back to it's original state. But, it has grown back. I will be having an MRI of my liver soon to make sure things look good, but a transplant is not necessary. Thank Goodness. You are right about liver transplatation, I have been reading a lot about it since my sister has HepC and may someday require it. I'm worried for her. My liver enzyme tests are showing closer and closer to normal since the surgery one year ago.

Thank You.