Started NHRT, at times feel weird, new Dr, new info for me, some info on Thyroid

Sisters,

Saw my new Dr., (well her PA), so far it seems like a office where the doctors work together for the patient.
Had to pay up front, $138.00, it was also my yearly exam and 1st consult, they will bill my insurance, hopefully my co-pay will be enough, but I doubt it. As we all know we would do just about anything to feel normal again.

We talked for awhile, and she was going to up my patch, but after some more talking and told her I have been on the patch for 13 years, she thought Tri-Est would be good for me to try. Told me of the pharmacy they use, with an 800 number and just one county away! Talked with him on Thursday, told him the meds I was on, and he said he wanted me to try the Tri-Est 80, 10, 10 ratio for 5 to 6 weeks and take it from there. I received them in the mail on Friday! So Friday night I took one, and ripped off my patch. (Vielle .0375, just changed 4 weeks ago from .05 Esterderm patch, getting tired of the enlarged and sore breasts). I think that was a big mistake, woke up Saturday morning with my scary shaky inside feeling. Told DH, and he suggested I keep wearing my patch for awhile, slapped it back on. Good idea, it has been helping, but how long should I continue with the patch? Or should I even have it on? I figure I will take it off in a week. I am also having a small headachs off and on, and of course I am worried its the Tri-Est, I sooooo much want it to work!!!!! Every now and then I get this scared and shaky feeling inside any time of the day. Is it my body ajusting to the new estrogens? I did look around in here for awhile I did see it mentioned that it will take your body 2 weeks to adjust to a new hormone mix.

I also started on the 2% Testosterone cream about 2 weeks ago, and am rubbing 1/8 tsp of it in my inner thigh every am. I have been doing some reading and this could be synthetic not natural, for the other Dr. wrote the script for 2% Testosterone. So I called my mail order RX today, she looked on the screen but could not tell, so she is going to do some more digging and call me back, (I give her 2 days)! I will certainly get a new script if it is synthetic, and call my new Dr. for the script.

Everyone has been so helpful. After talking to the new Dr., her PA, she said one of the Dr.'s in the office just got back from a conference on natural hormones and told me all the problems I have been having in the past and now sound like I might have some problem with my thryoid. (Someone that listens to what you say)! She gave me a book, "The Miracle of Natural Hormones", by David Brownstein, M.D., which is very good. I have an appointment to see him, (the Dr. that went to the conference), in 4 weeks, I am hoping that he can help me feel better also. There is a Thyroid called Armour, it does not exactly mimic the human body's production of thyroid hormone, but it is the closest derivative of the human thyroid hormone available. The book also explains how to know if your throid is acting up, not all is told in blood tests.

The pharmacist also sent me the book to borrow, "Natural Hormone Relacemement", (which you can purchase on Amazon.com), I have found very helpful also. I am reading as much as I can, but it has been a lot to take in. I feel like a old dog, learning new tricks.

Hyster Sisters has alot to do with my new awarness, and some crappy Dr's. Or would you call that the JUNGLE?:dragon: Keeping my fingers crossed...thanks all!

This all sounds pretty positive and as you know you will have to give it some time to adjust to your new regime. Keeping the patch on for a few days should be enough and if you go much longer then maybe it would cause headaches and that jumpy too much estrogen feeling or it could be the testosterone . I assume the doc who prescribed the Tri-est knows that you are taking the testosterone - it's important for them to know all the meds you are on. I'm glad you are finding out about the thyroid - it can play a big part in balancing your hormones too. See, there are docs out there who care and are interested! Sometimes it just takes us ages to find them
[Edited by Lily on 10-31-2000]

I'm on Tri-Est also and get that scared and shaky feeling inside any time of the day also. It's only happend about 4 times for me but then I've only been on HRT for a little over 2 weeks. Plus the off/on again headaches. (not biggies, just enough to be terribly annoying) I also take testosterone (compounded with my Tri-est) As for thyroid problems....I'm a 2 year veteran of thyroid problems. I've read about 5 books on the subject, done alot of online research, am familiar with most/all of the meds/labs out there etc etc. (that's where I learned my 'be an informed patient' from....that little butterfly in my neck...well it's not there anymore but it gave me a huge education on being the patient from ummm heck ) I hope it turns out you don't have the double wammy of thyroid disease along with the HRT issues. Not a fun combo to be dealing with If it does turn out you have problems, let me know. There are some very good info sites/books out there on the subject and I'll be happy to share them. Best of luck!

Thanks for all your positive replies. Yes the doctor knows I am on Testosterone. I got an answer from my RX, they said the Testosterone is Soy Based. Is that the same as Wild Yam Based? I was thinking it would be best for the compounding pharmaciest to add Testosterone to my pill, (in time). I am glad to know that scary feeling is normal for some people. I also have been doing some more reading, and one book said it sometimes takes 6 months to 1 year to feel better. I am also hoping, once I get this NHRT to work, I don't have any Thyroid problems......Thanks again!

P.S. Today I didn't have one of those scarey feelings, and my headachs aren't any worse. Trying to stay positive

Don't quote me but I think with the testosterone cream they have just used a soy base and no it's not the same as wild yam base but often used I believe. Calling our resident Pharmacist - Lauren - help! (She's the expert in these matters)
It can take a while to recover from the hyst and we go through a lot of changes in the meantime. The biggest change of course is the hormones, so once we get that sorted the worst is over.
Glad things are looking up for you,

Hi,

Wanted to let everyone know how I have been feeling. Not to bad, the fog lifts at times, (know I understand what everyone is talking about). The Test. cream is not doing anything but grow a few hairs on my chin that I have to pluck off. I re-read some of my old posts. It is interesting to see how you have changed.

Ann8881, the Dr.'s PA called and asked me how I was doing.
That was nice of them I thought. The have received my blood test, it shows my T3 and T4 are on the low side, (she didn't say how low). I will see the Dr. Wednesday, we will be addressing this issue, and some others. What do you feel about Thyroid replacement with low T3 and T4? I do believe that I should start at the lowest dose. More pills to take. Everything else the tested for in the blood was fine.

Thanks everyone you are all a

You would think I would know whether the soy-based testosterone being used is a natural testosterone or not. However, I'm not sure. I use a natural testosterone powder that doesn't indicate where it came from and honestly would make no difference. When it says it's soy-based, it should mean that it came from the soy plant and was converted in the lab into the testosterone chemical structure that matches ours. The conversion process involves 12 steps. So really when you think about it, the testosterone is made in a lab just like the other natural hormones. And they are identical to our hormones.

I think checking thyroid is VERY important. And I think checking the T3 and T4 is even better. This means the doctor is looking at all the hormones. I am very interested in how he treats your thyroid condition. Please find out your T3 and T4 numbers as well as the TSH. Most doctors will only treat thyroid with T4 when the T3 is just as important. Sounds like you are under some good care.

'Puter's been dead so I'm way behind...sorry

Just a comment. I went off the Tri-Est (and the
Testosterone for now) and went to the Climira (spelling is probably wrong but too lazy to go look ) patch for about a week and a half now. I'm feeling better. The scared/shaky thing is pretty much gone, I'm sleeping better etc. Headaches did go away after about 2 weeks on the Tri-est and so far haven't come back. Now I'm not sure if I'm feeling better because of the patch or the fact that they stepped up the dose (compared to the dose of Tri-est I was taking) Still not perfect, far from it but I can't go on a higher dose of estrogen for at least another 2 months because of endo.....so this is as good as I get for now. BTW also at the time of starting the patch I had a new TSH done and my thyroid is back to being good....so could be that too??? This is wayyyyyyy to confusing!!!!!

p.s. Judy re: low T3/T4. Personally I'd ask for a low dose of thyroid hormone and see how that works. Do you know if it was the Free T3/T4 test or the Total T3/T4 test? Anyway they 'should' be in the higher mid to upper range. Did you find out what your TSH was?

Thanks for all the good information.

I will be seeing the Dr. on Wednesday, I will get a copy of the blood test. I really do hope this time around I have found a good group of Dr.s. I went and saw one of the PA's there about 6 weeks ago for my yearly, she suggested I see this Dr. in the group. Sounds like we may also have Doctor's and PA's that talk with one another.

As far as I know my TSH is normal. What does it mean if it it is not normal?

Not getting my hopes up to high........ BUT I am feeling better......

TSH "Normal" has such a broad range. Usually around .5 to 5 is considered "Normal". Personally (and alot of others that I know) feel horrible at either end of the so called normal range. Most people (not all of course) feel best between 1 & 2. Then again I know of people who only feel good if they are at the very low end of the scale. It's very individual, just like HRT, but if I've learned nothing else over the last few years it is to never take "normal" for an answer Especially if your T3/T4 are both low. If your TSH is in the high range and your T3/T4 are low I would try a low dose of thyroid hormone and see if it helps. BUT getting a doctor to agree with that is a whole 'nother story What it means if it is not normal (for lack of a better word) is if it is too high then you are not producing enough thyroid hormone (hypothyroid) in your body which means you would need thyroid meds and too low means you are producing too much (hyperthyroid). (Confusing!) I've been as high as 14 and as low as .06. Both because of doctors without a clue as far as thyroid meds. I've heard of people being in the 100+ range and people with almost a 0. Neither one a place I'd want to be!!!! Anyway I'm starting to babble again GLAD to hear you are feeling better and hope it's not thyroid related at all and just a matter of playing with the HRT!!!

p.s. I didn't notice anything on the test. either. (mine was compounded in with my tri-est and progest) They took me off of it for now while we play with the estrogen and progest.