E & T RECEPTORS to nne

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HI nne,

Just to clarify in my own mind.

You had a hysterectomy 30 yrs ago (1 ovary left in) and all that time you never were on hormone replacement? and no problems. Two years ago at 63 or so, you woke up with the extreme hot flashes & more ... and started the Premarin? (assume a pill?) That's when things went downhill for you? (for every vulvar problem known). Right?

WOW sounds like you stepped into a nightmare and by now I would think likely to be cursing hormones. *sigh* What a shame.

Well first of all hon I can tell you I've read some pretty bad stories about Premarin , that's the first thing that made me nervous when I saw that.

Here's a link and I don't mean to scare you.....

http://my.athenet.net/~nrsprntg/Letters2004.html

it's about other peoples stories and what happened to them on it... (if you change the yr... like 2005, or 2003 etc, you'll get hundreds & hundreds more. ) I could get into the technical differences but suffice it to say you couldn't get me to take it 'ever'.

And esp. if you never were on hormones before your body had to say ''What the Hell is going on here!'' *sigh* (forgive me)... I've no idea of your dosage amt. either but what a shame when they do have the bioidentical estrogen (estradiol) available and you probably just needed a very low dose to control those symptoms.

I personally take my HRT more than just for controlling those symptoms that's the least of it in my opinion (for me hon) yet it sounded like it was really bad for you but I want it even more for the brain, bones, mood, arteries, heart and SO much more that's unseen...

It's what keeps us healthy as women and when we lose it we get all those problems or symptoms of meno they talk about, not only hot flashes but especially bone loss, hair thinning, we can have an atrophic vagina and dryness, painful sex, increased UTI's is another big one, loss of libido and esp. lubrication and even incontinence and bladder problems and those are just a 'few' benefits (or loss) of both the E & T..

Anyway hon that would be ''my'' first guess and I've just seen far too often where they'll throw antidepressants at a woman (by far the biggest users) when quite often it's simply the need of getting the hormones in balance.

You've been out of E for a long time (30 some yrs) even with one ovary they know today that leaving the ovaries in does very little as they soon start to diminish and die anyway with the blood supply being cut off so it's minimal at best and only for a short while.

No doubt you're out of testosterone too...Those effects are almost immediate with a hysterectomy, (the loss of both E & T) and those two need to be balanced and if a person takes ONLY estrogen for their HRT? It depletes the T. even more... and some studies are saying T may be more beneficial than the E. for bones (and much more) but that hormone is just as important for women as the estradiol is and yes we women produce it just as males produce estrogen but of course in different quanities.

Hon there is so much I could say (if I only had the time) *sigh* but believe me 'my' first suggestion would be to get a complete blood count for those hormones. The estradiol, the testosterone and the free & unbound testosterone. (besides thyroid too). See where 'you' stand.... Then you can work from there.

There are other tests for sure but those to 'me' would be the main ones right now. (you do have to ask your doctor for that hormone panel separately as it's not part of a standard typical blood workup.) Without that dip stick in the car there is no way to guesstimate what you might need.

But one thing you definitely DON"T need is Premarin believe me. (well believe me or not that is most definitely my opinion) *chuckle*as it's not at all like our own estrogen. Especially if you check out that link about you'll see why.

Your poor body had to be in shock when you started that and you asked if I thought your problems might be hormonally connected? My guess would be a yes and I'd definitely want that to be ruled out 'first'. (with those tests) but too with you on the Premarin they'll be skewed up right now. *Sigh*

Whether there are other problems I've no idea of your overall health.. but my goodness a woman of your age should still be feeling great, still having sex and enjoying it if she wants to... and that all depends on getting the 'right' hormone dosage (and a natural bio-identical hormone) that works for YOU. Especially since you said you felt great up till the last few years without previous problems. I would think things can be turned around for you.

And I definitely would ''suggest'' at the barest minimum that you at least use the E & T for the vulvar tissue and if I were 'you"? I'd be inserting the Estrace cream with the applicator too. Usually that's daily with an inch or so for 2 weeks.. (to saturate those E. receptors) then on once or twice a week for maintenance. OF course talk to your doctor but I'm telling you what "I" would do hon.

I say that (using it intravaginally) only IF you are not taking anything orally... and I would get off the Premarin. *sigh*

Here's the problem with that though, it can take 3-4 months for Premarin to be eliminated from your body. Estrace is so natural its out of your system within 24-48 hrs... maybe even less.

But I would use the E & T topically at least *sigh*for now and I'd surely ask about switching to the Estrace or some form of estradiol like the Vagifem, or E string, The patch would be ok for your whole body benefits but to 'me' you'd still need the E & T 'topically' for the vulvar area if you go that way.

Believe me nne those are my opinions and what 'I' know and have learned over the many years as well as experienced...and have tons of info (easily over 500 articles just on E and prob. that many or more on T and HRT and, and, and LOL) to back most of that up, so just my two cents but I hope it helps a little.

hugs hon

Dee~

Re: E & T RECEPTORS /dee Posted by: "solittletimeleft" solittletimeleft@... solittletimeleft Date: Sat Jan 20, 2007 9:14 pm ((PST))Hi Dee,just by coincidence (maybe?) I developed mild (they are no longer mild) vulvar problems and now LS within two years of starting HRT. I was a strange case - partial (left ovaries) hysterectomy over 30 years ago. No systems of menopause at all - on my 63rd birthday I woke up with raging hot flashes - one every 15 minutes. I couldn't stand it - my glasses were fogged up - I couldn't see. I went on the horrible premarin and I am still on it. Now I have every vulvar problem know to man, and a few that aren't (LOL). Do you see any connection here with anything?nne