Choices, choices...

Dear Fellow-Jungle Navigators:
I've been doing a *lot* of reading about Menopause & HRT, and all the different types of HRT (yes it is mind-boggling!)

By the way, I came across a book I can recommend called "Sudden Menopause"; seems to be the only book I've seen so far that addresses us women who are dealing with surgical menopause. Has anyone found other similar books that would be helpful or that they can recommend?

I'm starting to experience warm flushes..(blankets on, blankets off continuously thru the night). I guess those are tell-tale menopausal symptoms (?), but my reason for wanting to begin HRT also has to do with the long-term health protections I've read about - against osteoporosis, heart disease, maybe Alzheimers...

I've been reading many of the Posts on this great Site (and reading material) advocating bio-identical, or natural hormones over synthetic or animal-based ones. Any comments on how they compare to the old stand-by Premarin (don't want to go on that)...?

I've read a lot about saliva testing as an accurate test for what exactly you need - have many folks tried this? Will health insurance pay for any of it (HMO's, etc.)? How did your DR. react when you asked him/her for these tests?

I want to make informed decisions about my HRT, just as I did about surgery (I asked for & got an LSH). Any advice, suggestions, experiences are greatly appreciated!

Thank you all for being a paradise of good information about a very complicated topic!

Marisa
LSH with BSO on 4/23
ready to jump on the winding road thru the Jungle...

It's so great that you are educating yourself on this important part of your health care!
I started out on just estrace (17beta-estradiol) but after a while didn't feel so well. My doc was totally opposed to anything other than pharmaceuticals so I called a compounding pharmacist who referred me to a gyn practice with a great NP, who sent me back to the pharmacist for evaluation. Together we three worked out the best regimen for me. I'm on Bi-est, progesterone, and testosterone, all in creams.
My insurance at the time covered 80% of the cost, but I paid up front and submitted claims for reimbursement.
I use saliva testing and get the kits from the pharmacist. If adjustments to my hrt need to be done, he calls the NP with his recommendations to get the okay for changes. Of course it's all discussed with me first.
The insurance covered the testing, also.
Don't know what will be covered by my new insurance...claims still being processed. At least part will be covered, though. It's possible for your doc to give you orders for saliva testing and to give a diagnosis number, and you'd have a better chance of having it covered. Of course, your doc would have to be cool with saliva testing, and many are not.
I'm really happy to have changed to nhrt. I've been doing well for ten months now with only a few minor vines tripping me up now and then. It's great having health care professionals who listen and work with me to chop those nasty vines down.
Best of luck to you in your hormonal safari!
Susan

Hello Marisa and welcome

With one ovary and I presume a recent hysterectomy this may just be a 'hiccup' of that ovary. The blood supply to them is altered during a hyst and it's not uncommon to experience some syptoms of menopause for a few months until your remaining ovary gets it's act together There could also be other reasons for your hot flashes/night sweats and they need to be investigated by your doc if they persist. Just having surgery and the effects of anaesthesia can upset our balance for a few months.
Your doc could test FSH, LH, estrogen, testosterone, progesterone & DHEAS with more accurate results in a couple of months. At the moment it may be a bit inconclusive or give you a wrong indication if that ovary kicks back in. Time will tell.
There are many good books around and one that springs to mind is by Dr. John Lee, what your doctor may not tell you about menopause. Joseph Collins MD also has a good website with lots of information. Both believe there is more to hormone balance than just replacing estrogen. Also if your remaining ovary is still dribbling some hormones it may be a bit trickier to finetune your HRT. But for now I wouldn't worry if your surgery was only last month, it's too early to tell, symptoms may subside.
As far as Premarin goes many many women do very well on it. The majority don't need to visit the jungle, so you won't see them posting here. For others it's not that simple and they are the ones that take a bit longer to get balanced and to seek other alternatives. Good luck and let us know how you get along.

Ladies:
thanks so much for the information and your good advice!
FYI, Lily, I did have both ovaries removed at the time of my hyst.(LSH with BSO). I guess I'm using up whatever estrogen stayed behind!
I'm seeing the Dr. next Tuesday for post-surgical & plan to discuss saliva or other testing & hrt. Will let you know what happens!
Thanks again and s


Marisa

traipsing thru the Jungle...

See even hostesses get brainfog from time to time
Good luck Marisa, let us know how you go