Finally got to me my gyn!

On Sep 14 had an emergency appedectomy which was due to endo on my appendix. I didn't know I actually had endo until then. I actually had an appt for Sept 16 to find out what's going on with me. Tired of BAD cramps and heavy bleeding, cramps lasting for 2 weeks even when period was over. Anyway the ob/gyn that I started going to in April, my previous one moved, is so busy that you I had only seen previously the nurse/practitioner. After my appendectomy and diagnosis of endo, I saw the doctor on 9/23. We decided a hyster with ovaries removed made the most sense at this point it time. I'm 47,have 2 children. Surgery was sched for Nov 10, I got a shot of Lupron on Oct 12, colonoscopy on Oct 20 (clear!). Anyway after meeting doctor once in Sept., I had questions, but I never would get a call back. After calling the 3rd time in 4 weeks, I was told by the surgery scheduler "Oh by the way we had to cancel your surgery, the doctor will be out of town. We'll call you with the new date" After waiting 2 days no call (she said she'd call by then). Lft message to PLEASE CALL ME BACK. No call. Finally was recommended by a friend of a friend to a wonderful gyn who I met today. My surgery is scheduled for 11/23. I will keep my cervix (one of my questions) and will start with "Bioidentical hormones" right after surgery and adjust them as needed. After weeks of frustration and mounting anxiety (the questions build) I feel like I'm ready. A question is has anybody had much experience with "Bioidentical hormones"?

Thank you,
Lokelani

Lokelani,

I'm glad to hear you found a doctor that you can communicate with! How frustrating to be left hanging for answers!

I am currently on Prometrium,a bio-identical progesterone, in hopes of controlling my long, heavy bleeding/clotting periods and to give me time to build my iron levels up and decide on a hysterectomy. So far, I am happy with the results. I had been on Provera for 3 months prior (14 days/mo) and found it to have some unpleasant side effects like bloating, weight gain and extreme breast tenderness. The Prometrium did not affect me in that way and my period this month was moderate, although I am still having cramps and never really know when the floodgates may open again.

If you look in the Resources section of HS, and do a search for bio-identicals, you will find some good info. I also did a search on the web with those words. Skip the sites that want to sell them and look for reputable sites, like medical school, women's health sites and some gyno's have good info on the sites they have set up for their practice. Overall I learned that they have less side effects and it just seems to me that if the progesterone is structurally the same as what we would naturally produce, then our bodies would welcome it more readily...just my thoughts.

Good luck!

Maggiemay