allergic reaction and hormones

I had a total hysterectomy back in my mid 30's. I am now 51.
At that time the doctor put me on premarin and I could not
take it. It made me feel just as bad as prior to my hysterectomy.
The dr. then put me on estraderm .05 patch and I did well
until my 40's. I started having hot flashes so they moved me
up to the 1.00 but that made me swell so bad I couldn't take
it. Then they put me back on premarin. They kept increasing
my dosage but I still had hot flashes. Then I got high blood
pressure. I am now taking clonidine for the blood pressure
and came off of the premarin and was taking estratab. I
could tolerate that until they took it off the market. Now I
have tried everything available(according to my dr.) and
I have problems with all of it. The patches estraderm and
climara do ok. Then after a few days my face gets real red
and starts burning and I feel itchy all over. So bad that I
have to take the patch off. I am on menest now. After
taking this pill, .625, for a couple of weeks I now feel kind
of bad. The back of my throat feels weird, hard to describe.
Kind of feels like there something there but there's not. I
would like to quit all of this, which I have done before but
I need the estrogen for my bladder. It makes it feel better.
I am at my wits end and don't know what to do about any
of it. All the doctor's think I am crazy. None of these
symptoms can be happening...but they are. Don't know
if my blood pressure medicine has anything to do with it
or not. I am just real sensitive to medicines and it took
forever to get me on a blood pressure medicine that I
could tolerate. I never had this problem when I was
younger and taking hormones. Have any of you ever
had this problem...any suggestions?

Wow,
You have really had some bad times. I am not clear if these allergy symptoms are an actual allergy or if the hormones cause the adrenals to go wacko and that causes the symptoms. I did run across this explanation...take a look and see if it seems like this is what is happening to you. http://www.onlineallergycenter.com/hormoneallergies/ If this is the case then I would say that proper balance of estrogen(bio-identical estradiol) AND progesterone might help you. I have not seen that you have ever tried any bio-identical progesterone...have you? Have you ever tried taking the birth control pill for HRT? There are a few out there that have great success with this. It is clear that we are all different in the jungle. Just something to consider.

Hope we can help you find some answers

Becky in OHIO

Sorry you've had such a hard time of it. Seems like you'd benefit from bio-identical estrogen and progesterone. If you can contact a compounding pharmacist and let him know your symptoms, he'll talk to your doctor or give you the name of one who is knowledgeable about natural hormone replacement therapy. (Someone should be along soon to give you some websites to check out concerning your symptoms.)

Have you had your thyroid checked (TSH, t3, and t4)? I'm wondering about that feeling in your throat.

But, in any case, check out the websites you'll be given soon and you and a compounding pharmacist and a doctor can help you get relief from your symptoms. Go to Amazon.com or BN.com and perhaps, get some books on natural hrt, like Natural Woman, Natural Menopause. (Kim, what's the name of that other book you and I read??? I can't find the darn book and goodness knows I can't remember the title.)

I hope you some relief soon.
Eileen

Here is info on Compounding pharmacists:

If you want to find a doctor who prescribes bio-identical hormones I would suggest finding a compounding pharmacist first http://www.iacprx.org/ A compounding pharmacist is skilled at making made to order bio-identical hormone preparations for women and will know the doctors in your area that are experts in prescribing them

Becky

Just wanted to second what Eileen said about the thyroid. Before my surgery I kept having this feeling like there was something in my throat. Sometimes felt like I couldnt breath right and one doctor actually gave me an inhaler, which did not work. After awhile it went away. I had numerous tests done, barium swallow, ex-rays and such, only to be told that they had no idea why I was having that feeling. Well it came back while I was being treated for thyroiditis and my endocrinologist said that my thyroid was enlarged and pushing on my windpipe giving me that funny feeling in my throat along with the feeling like I couldnt get enough air. I told him that I had had that feeling many times and docs never could give me an explanation. He asked if anyone had ever felt my neck and I told him yes but never mentioned that it was enlarged. Well he says that it has been many of the times that he has examined me, although not real bad.

Point I'm trying to make (while I'm rambling ) is do get that checked. It could be that your thyroid is enlarged. I would ask that a thyroid panel be done while they are checking your neck.