I am new to this board so if this topic has already been discusedthen maybe someone can guide me to the right direction.  I had a Doctors appt. last week and the blood work came back  as postmenopausal. My last period was 14 months ago. I have been having alot of the symptoms that are listed in the books that I have read. The GYN wants me to try ortho-prefest. It contains 1mg.of estradiol and .09 of norgestinate. Does or has anyone tried this? What  effects did you get from them? I am looking for something that is going to do the best for this body of mine.Thanks

Hi Lorrie

I was on Prefest a couple of years ago.  I loved it. I lost weight, felt great, my mind was sharp and my overall feeling was great.  I was on it for 9 months then  my hormones went crazy and I needed something stronger.  Prefest was not strong enough.  So my doctor supplimented me with a Climara Patch.  Then  I went on the estrogen short and Prefest.  

But last year I went on Natural HRT Bi Est from Pete at Bellvue Lab.   If Prefest was in a stronger dose I would go back on it in a flash.  I even wrote to the Company.

The norgestimate in Prefest was  the only synthetic progestrone that my body tolerated.  I have lots of Allergies, but as I said I felt great on it.  

If your doctor put you on it try it.....

I don't know much about patches, have no personal experience, but I'm wondering...could you wear 2 patches at once to get the dose that would help you?  Or is that a no-no?

Thanks Boni, I've been doing alot of reading and there is SO much to learn. I have decided to try it until I decide what way to go. I have had such foggy thinking that it was hard for me to comprehend all this. I have been taking it for 5 days now and the fog is actually clearing. I'm sorry it has taken me a few days to get back to this site. My husband and I are truck drivers so I don't get to spend the time that I would like to here.Boni do you like the natural HRT?Thanks again for responding.MaryO- I don't know anything about the patches.

Mary O

You can take 2 patches at the same time, infact I have had 3  at one time.  Prefest is a combo pill, 3 days of Estradiol 3days of Estradiol and Norgestimate then back to the 3 days and back again and so on.

Lorrie

I am now on Bi est  I needed a high dosage,  I still am not in Post even though my blood work said I am.  I had a period a few weeks ago, and one 4 months before, and 9 months before that.  I can still feel my ovaries ovulating..

DO you drive with your husband?  Where do you drive from and go to??

We both drive. We have a straight truck with an 8' sleeper on it.  We did drive tractor trailer for awhile.  We go coast to coast and up into Canada. Sometimes we are out for a couple months at a time.  My decision to take the HRT was because my thinking had become so foggy that I was concerned about my ability to keep driving. In just this first week taking them the fog is lifting. Thank goodness!I was encouraged by the fact you said you lost weight while taking this HRT. I have been so afraid that I was going to add to my already added 45lbs.I have to run (actually drive) they are paging us. I hope to get back to this board soon! It has been SO helpful.

Lorrie

When you get back from your trip let me know how you are doing.  I hope that you lose the weight like I did when I was on it.  :)

Hi Boni, we are home for the weekend. I have been taking this hrt and on the days that I take just the estradiol I feel alot better. My head doesn't feel so foggy. I am finding that on the days that the norgestinate is added I have pms feelings. I am hoping that as my body adjusts it will go away. I want to look into a natural hrt once I'm not driving truck anymore. Probably towards the end of Oct.How are you doing?

Hi Lorrie...

Sorry I haven't checked in to this site lately...been too busy in the board about notheing.  I have gained so much weight on these Natural Compound hormones..if I could, I'd be back on Prefest in a minute.

Your body should be adjusted to it by now.

Hey since you drive..In April at  Susans's in Ind.  her and I are co-hosting our first get together of Our Meno sisters, I will be driving up from California, if you have time check out the"Board about nothing" we keep posting on there.

So don't give up,it must be hard to be on the road and be meno.  I can't stand to drive the freeways anymore.

I have good days and bad, I'm like a bouncing ball, never at a constant level.  When I feel good, I feel really good, but on the bad days, it's bad...but I have learned to tolerate it.

So you are really giving up driving? What are you going to do?? Still hope you can make our get together...Hey e-mail me   bunibuk@earthlink.net