Proud of it

[SrMaggie]

I had a home health nurse in the other day. He is 50 something, so we had a little chat about the advantages. There are many! Then we had a little discussion about where to get bacitracin cheap. He said to go to the Dollar Store and proceeded to tell me that the $stores started in New York as 88 cent stores - I reminded him that they started at Woolworth's as a Five and Dime! What memories! I'm glad to be 55 and proud that I've made it through so many twists and turns personally. I pray for the state of the world that we may live in peace and preserve the planet for our children.
Maggie

[icnmgrjill]

I think it's true.... the fifties are now the thirties and the forties are now the 20's....

Jill

[Wolfe]

Speaking of 50s, here's something I didn't know, but I'll bet most of you did:

Went to a uro the other day. The first thing she asked is why I had gone off my hormones. (I had a complete hysto 25 years ago.) I told her my doc scared me off them because my mom had had breast cancer.

But she said that menopause causes bad flares, and that with no ovaries, the easiest solution for me was to go back on estrace. I'm also doing 7 DMSO treatments to help with the current flares, one a week. But after a week on hormones again, I feel so much better! Even the "Fibro fog" has cleared, and I have so much more energy. I'm 51, and I dread the day I finally lose them for good, but right now, hormones are a godsend.

[marymove]

Funny you should mention Estrace. I have been in a bad flare for about a week. I discontinued taking Estrace about 2 weeks ago. I didn't even equate the two. Been back on Estrace for just 2 doses and already am feeling better. Quick question-Do your breasts hurt on Estrace. Mine have become tender.

[kathleentopor]

I never thought about posting at this area before, but it kind of makes sense that there would be chat about hormones at a 50 site. I am about to turn 50 and have been taking BCP's to help with the IC for years. Unfortunately, even though I live near a major metropolitan area, I can't find a Uro with gyn knowledge, nor a Gyn who will treat or truly understand my uro issues. On my last gyn visit, my doc told me that he will have to take away my hormones when I turn 50. My response to this is that I had to find a new more progressive thinking gyn. I know that when my estrogen levels drop, I flare horribly, and if I stop the pill, it will probably thow me into a vicious flare. When I flare, the severity is so bad that the pain is incapacitating, so much so, that after several months of this level of pain, I have, in the past considered bladder removal or suicide. I figure that the complications of the hormones can't be worse than this. I still have my uterus, and from what I have heard, hysterectomy can also cause a huge flare. So my question is what are the hormone sensitive gals taking for hormones, after menopause if they still have a uterus ? I think I can find a doctor to work with me, but my docs don't know where to start. The posts I have read here have been a wealth of knowledge, and I have found many helpful tips here. So please write back if you have a suggestion for hormone (estrogen) replacement that won't cause a flare. Thanks to anyone who can help.

[maryla]

I just turned 52 and had a hysterectomy when I was 27 and was on a basic hormone pill until I was 50. My friend talked me into having my levels checked again. So, there is a componding pharmacy just minutes from me who speicalizes in hormone treatments, called Bio-identical Hormone therapy. What I had to do is pick up a test kit, spit in it the first thing in the morning, then send it to Wash'g state for testing in a prestamped envelope, which took me about 2 weeks to get the results back, and then about another week for the pharmacy to mix up exactly what my body was lacking. It was a year in January.

I'm not saying that I'm ready to run a marathon, (I have severe IC)but I do feel slightly better. I've noticed that lately I have been having severe night sweats again, So I need to do the test again to see if anything has changed. I feel more confident using these hormones than I ever have, because I'm getting exactly what my body is lacking along with the exact amount.

Hope this helps,God Bless

[maryla]

I just turned 52 and had a hysterectomy when I was 27 and was on a basic hormone pill until I was 50. My friend talked me into having my levels checked again. So, there is a componding pharmacy just minutes from me who speicalizes in hormone treatments, called Bio-identical Hormone therapy. What I had to do is pick up a test kit, spit in it the first thing in the morning, then send it to Wash'g state for testing in a prestamped envelope, which took me about 2 weeks to get the results back, and then about another week for the pharmacy to mix up exactly what my body was lacking. It was a year in January.

I'm not saying that I'm ready to run a marathon, (I have severe IC)but I do feel slightly better. I've noticed that lately I have been having severe night sweats again, So I need to do the test again to see if anything has changed. I feel more confident using these hormones than I ever have, because I'm getting exactly what my body is lacking along with the exact amount just for my body.

Hope this helps,God Bless

[kathleentopor]

I also like the idea of bioidentical hormones. My new gyn did recommend that I check levels via a blood serum test( still the gold standard) and adjust accordingly. I have requested that we try something besides premarin, since it didn't agree with me when I was on it for a short while years ago. I don't know what they will recommend for progesterone, but she said that this will be necessary because I still have my uterus. I'll post here when they decide what to do. Thanks.