HRT...  Good suggestion from Dearest to read up on Dr. Rako and Estratest.  :)   Too much testosterone can cause acne flareups, and this could be the cause of yours.  

Too much can also cause unwanted hair - you don't want to sport a better moustache and beard than the man in your life!

I had a complete Hyterectomy at age 22.  I first tried the pill, didn't work, then the patch, broke me out and then I started taking Estradial by injection.  I have been doing this for 20 yrs.  The worst part of it is when it wears off I got  a migraine, weakness, and hotflashes.  At first I would get a surge of energy of the beginning of the injection which is suppose to last 4 weeks.  But I felt it was time for a change because I was having severe hot flashes and waking up at night sweating.  So the doctor just prescribed Estratest.  Now I have only been taking it for 2 days, but I can already tell a difference.  Everybodies system is different.  I am usually a very hot natured person who can sit and sweat severely.  Now for the past 2 days, I am actually cold.  I feel more energetic, and also I feel more perky.  And for once feeling like have sex.  (Husband Happy).  But most of all for me.  But this is what I can tell you so far.  Since I have been on 20cc of the Estradial, my doctor put me on the full strength of Estratest.  But I am the tomboy type so maybe this is what I needed.  Time will only tell on this.  I know from the injections I have so much scar tissue built up for 20 years that I needed to have something different and that would be the same everyday not just half of the month.  Furnituregal

I have been on Estratest for about 6 years.  I was concerned about the HRT thing as we all are, but the doctor assured me the study for HRT was not using Provera 10 days a month as I do.  He seemed to feel the benefits still outway the dangers.

As for how I feel, well, honestly Great.  at 57 I still have an active sex drive, everything seems to be well oiled and wanting to play, no hot flashes and general sleep and temperment is good.  I do still have periods, but I can live with them if I can still keep up with my husband who is 13 years younger than me!!

Furnituregal, I am wondering what your member name represents. Do you make furniture? I'm decorating-obsessed, and my husband has started making furniture as a hobby. He recently copied (looks identical) some Ethan Allen bookshelves, and I just love them.

i guess my name gave it away, didn't it?  Yes my husband and I sell new furniture.  Now my husbands side of the family have been making furniture for 32 years.  And I have been into furniture for 24 years.  But we have a furniture store.  I really love antiques, but we don't sell any.  But I love the older furniture.  Tell your husband, good luck on making furniture.  What type does he make.  I also love interior decorating.  I love to help people chose their patterns.  

Hi,

I have a friend who is in her 80's who has been using Estratest for many many years.   When a doctor tried tried to put her on natural hormones including progesterone she did much worse...go figure.   I think he changed too much too fast.    She never feels good and she has suffered with fatigue for many years but she is back on the Estratest.

Wordgirl and Furnituregal,

If you have ever been to Williamsburg and see them making furniture like they did in colonial times, it would be awe inspiring.   That furniture is so beautiful and they are on site making it.....it just has a glow about it.  You can't buy that type furniture anymore as they do so much by hand and the cost would be too much.    Have you been there?

Georgia Dove~~      

No I have never been there.  Wish I had time to go though.  Furniture business keeps me from having a life.  But I would love to go sometime.  I will keep this in mind to ride off to some day just for fun.  We need that in our lives.  FUN!

Furnituregal, so does your husband's family make the furniture you sell? My husband just copies furniture I like that I've found in magazines or stores. Only wood pieces, though.

I also love antiques. There is a store in the area that sells very modern and contemporary furniture mixed in with antiques (a lot of art deco--bars and the like). I have found that mixing in a "major" antique piece (like an ornate mirror or something) with contemporary furnishing looks stunning. Truly the unexpected.

But I've retired from decorating at present because I'm not allowed to spend any money!

Nancy, I've been to Williamsburg several times, and it is fascinating to watch how they made furniture and everything else. And, of course, we had to go to the restaurant owned by that chef who used to have the death by chocolate cooking show (a number of years ago). I can't recall his name, but he's a little older now and thin with a moustache, Marcelle something. Did you go there? I'm sure you've been to the Biltmore in Asheville--really fun if you are into houses/furnishings also.

Wordgirl,

I have been to Biltmore and it was neat...I especially liked the gardens.   In Williamsburg, we went to a restaurant that was an old house but don't recall if it was the death by chocolate guy.

My decorating budget is pretty low too...our hobbies are top priority now.    Latest decorating was a wreath for the front door and decorating with balloons yesterday.  My son is coming home for a few days after getting his Master's Degree (toward a phD in Industrial Psychology)...Not bragging but am a proud mama.

***Regarding estrogen, I am awaiting the results of a new saliva test to see if the returning flashes are from that or the thyroid....hope I don't need to up the estrogen but will see.    

I have been on Estratest HS for about a year.  It has really helped me with the hot flashes and the low sex drive.  It works great for me.  I read the report.  but since I am not having any problems, I say if it's not broke don't fix it.  I am 50 and feel better than I have in years.  I exercise and am following the Weight Watchers program.  I have lost a great deal of weight and contribute my well being to feeling good.

I think it's important to remember that the HRT study that showed the problems showed them at approximately five years into it (and most likely they would increase even more as time went on). So not having any problems "now" doesn't mean no problems ever. I do believe in temporary relief for meno symptoms if they are really bothersome (oh, how I believe in relief!), as long as we remember that the risks increase with length of usage.

Hi there,  I just started Estratest on the 6th.  Have noticed that hotflashes seem to be less, I just seem to be cold all the time.  I am still an emotional basket case. (I think I should take take stock in the Kleenex)  My face is so oily that my glasses won't stay on my nose, but the rest of me is as dry as a bone.  Trying to adjust to this new life.Any  suggestions?  Thanks in advance.MzMoody

I've heard that the testosterone in Estratest is too strong for many women.  And the estrace portion probably hasn't had time to build up yet.  (I noticed a much faster effect from testosterone than from estrace--estrace took longer to show effects.)  I take estrace and a separate testosterone cream now.  My face and hair are more prone to be oily, but not to the degree yours seems to be.  Perhaps the testosterone portion is too strong for you.

I took Estratest HS for about 2 months. I started having allot of night sweats, insomnia, fatigue, mood swings, depression, no libido and my hot flashes were back.  I have never had any problems with depression before my total Hysterectomy 8/13/02. I went off Estratest HS. Now I take Cenestin 0.0625, testosterone cream and progesterone cream. I have been taking this for about 3 weeks. I feel so much better.  Even my dry skin went away. After doing this for about 2 months my doctor is going to give me a hormone test to see if I need any tweaking. Who knew this hormone this was going to be so hard to figure out? I sure didn't. Places like this make it a whole lot easier to get some help. Sheri