Did anyone catch the latest interview she had on Larry King? It seems she has a new book out and she was on CNN giving an interview. While I'm not one to rush out and buy her books (or gadgets) I have to say hearing her on this interview has given me pause to wonder.

Now that I'm on BHRT creams, I'm much much better. I am capable and able, something I wasn't before, however, I'm not optimal. I believe from things Suzanne Somers has said she takes enough hormones to still get her menses even though she is 62 and from what she says, she is at optimal health, hormone wise.

My question is... does anyone here take enough hormones that they feel they are at their optimal level of health? Energy wise, libido wise, mind wise, weight wise, (yes, she says (and I believe) that diet without hormone balance will be nothing but a struggle. To lose and maintain weight one has to have hormone balance.

Is it a pipe dream?

Suzan Sommers had breast back in 2001 and recently she underwent hysterectomy because of uncontrolled bleeding, after being on BHRT for more than a decade. I am not sure if she still can have her menses after the procedure, but I doubt this means to be in optimal health.


[quote]

Fugh-Berman said, Somers' own breast cancer in 2001 could have been caused by the bioidenticals. Somers blames other medications, including the birth control pills she took for many years. However, she acknowledges that a second serious condition -- uterine bleeding that led to a more recent hysterectomy -- may have been related. Somers feels that condition was likely due to an incorrect dosage of bioidenticals, and said the problem has since been resolved.

The entire article can be read at http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=2874767

Oh wow, I don't remember that coming out in the interview. She did talk about her breast cancer, but only to say that she didn't undergo normal treatments but chose a different approach and later hinted that she had surgery that led me to think maybe she had a masectomy. I tend to multi-task when I watch tv so it's possible that she did mention the hysterectomy but I didn't hear it. I have to agree ... it doesn't sound like optimal health to me either. I'll put up with the extra weight.

Thanks for sharing that.

Carol: All the talk of bio identicals and cancer scares me. I'm taking them, and they are making a big difference to me...I feel human again. I'm not having constant hot flashes and palps...but then again, I dont' want to end up with cancer!

Round and round and round we seem to go with this issue. I need to fall on one side or the other. Hmmm...not sure what to do now...

If you ladies ever want a good laugh go over to HSN's (home shopping network) message boards and read their comments about SS books she has written. Many have bought them, only to sell them quickly at the next garage sale! I think she would write about any subject that would make her a dollar. I used to think her jewerly and clothes were nice, now they are just trashy. She tries to sell a machine to tighten wrinkles for 99.00, when you can tell she had had alot of work done on her face and lips. I wouldn't take anything too serious that she says. Just my thoughts, Hope

I agree here, she's experimenting on her own body and I do think she goes overboard with the bios, taking them into one's 70's and 80's and bleeding every month. That just seems wrong to me. And she's desperately clinging on to youth and it's quite pathetic, with all the plastic surgeries she's obviously had done, trying to always look like a sexpot regardless of her age. There comes an age with all women where no matter how many plastic surgeries they've had, they look bizarre and clownish and it seems only other people notice, the poor woman has no clue.

I take bios, but I take the very lowest dose possible and then only to get through the worst of peri, with the goal of weaning off altogether once I'm done. While I like to stave off the aging process as much as the next woman, there's only so far I will go. I am doing my best to come to terms with aging and realizing that it's possible to redefine who I am, separate from how my face and body looks.

I worry that she is miss informing people about bio's just to sell her book. Bio's like synthetic HRT is great for some and not for others. I think you still need to discuss it with your doctor and not take the word of an old sitcom star who is trying to keep herself in the public eye at any cost. When her diet books started to decline in sales, low and behold she became an expert on hormones. The next time she is on HSN, please take a look at her. Her face is pulled so tight I don't know how she even talks, and her lips are huge! Then take a look at her neck, the bio's didn't help that any! The plastic surgeon must have stopped at her chin. All of the experts she ever talks about are the ones who agree completely with her thoughts about bio's, never do you get an opinion from the rest of the medical community. My friend is a breast cancer survivor for 2 years. No family history, but she did take bio's for 3 years, never took synthetic hormones. Her oncologist told her that bio's DID increase the risk of breast cancer, and studies will soon show the connection just like the studies are showing the connection with synthetic HRT. Everyday there is new study out, I guess you have do what is right for you.

Hi,

I also started down the path of the bio's after reading books by Suzanne. I give her a bit of credit, that she brought the situation into the mainstream and started some awareness regarding menopause. Does it all work to perfection??? I think not. I take the bio's and they have helped me to keep quality of life going. I thank her for that part of it, at the time, I was a real hormonal mess.

She did get breast cancer, she did "think" it was because of prolonged use of birth control pills. But she doesn't know this for sure, and she did have her uterus removed. She no longer has periods.

We are a massive science project. I think most of us just want to "feel" better as life seems to keep demanding so much from us.

I think that the bio's have helped me with hot flashes, mood swings and given me a bit more energy. I feel less depressed. Otherwise, I still feel the achy bones and joints, I still have trouble sleeping soundly and my libido is still not so good. I take all the right stuff, but still it's not anything near what it was.

But, if I wasn't taking it, I wouldn't have any energy and my hot flashes would be constant and my moods would be dark. So again I think it's managing my quality of life.

I think Suzanne did a positive thing by bringing all this attention to women's issues, but I also think that the optimal quality is hype, or perhaps I just don't have the money to afford the right doctor????

Juliann

Carol,
Not at all, but when it comes to celebrities and especially Suzan Somers, I am sure she has other resources to maintain her figure aside from BHRT.
I have read few of her books on diets, she shamelessly has stolen from other diet authors and tailored low carb diet so she could present it as her own idea.
She was all about sommersizing, and been selling a variety of dietary supplements and products until she failed it. Then she decided to play "a doctor" and jumped onto BHRT wagon, and the rest you probably know, if you read her books.

If you use BHRT to get back your figure, then I got quite the opposite effect from BHRT: weight gain, not loss.
The idea of "optimization and balance" of hormones is nothing as flashy advertisement for those who make living off it, it is a catchy word for women who being told that their mid life weight gain is all due to "hormonal imbalance".

Using BHRT just to maintain slim figure and "achieve great health", is another fairy tale by Hollywood sales person as Suzan Somers. She has no credentials and her affiliation with Wiley makes it even scarier to follow her advise.

I would rather look like 52 yo women with some extra padding ( makes your skin look younger than take risky route and pray for the best and be a nervous wreck thinking of possible side effects.

No one can reverse the clock, but ANY hormones can surely speed up the process, IMHO.
As for Suzan, she does look her age, and not as much as a women to me


Happy Holidays,
I.

I totally agree, last person to trust with anything is Suzan Somers, every women has to weigh pros and cons when starting any HRT, but certainly not for slim figure and wrinkle free face, this is too risky. I agree that in few years the studies will show that BHRT is not safer than synthetic HRT, so every women should decide and be very careful in her decision.
JMO

I've just been reading about Suzanne Somers in an article on the Young Again website (some other interesting information there, by the way). Basically, the article says she is a complete fool, having had multiple plastic surgeries, promoting a diet high in saturated fat, having surgery and radiation for breast cancer, had a hysterectomy, tells people not to eat whole grains and then promotes natural health!

If anyone wants the link to the articles, please PM me.

Fugh-Berman said, Somers' own breast cancer in 2001 could have been caused by the bioidenticals. Somers blames other medications, including the birth control pills she took for many years. However, she acknowledges that a second serious condition -- uterine bleeding that led to a more recent hysterectomy -- may have been related. Somers feels that condition was likely due to an incorrect dosage of bioidenticals, and said the problem has since been resolved.

(for the link to the entire article, see Iradan's post above)

So this doctor, Adriane Fugh-Berman ("an alternative medicine expert at Georgetown University") says that Somers' breast cancer could have been caused by bioidenticals ? Really ? What studies or experiments have shown that supplementing bioidenticals can cause breast cancer ?

Also, there are many women who have heavy bleeding who are not supplementing hormones. And there are many women who have heavy bleeding who do not choose to have, or require, hysterectomies. So it wouldn't be proper to form a causal relationship here either, that bioidenticals lead to hysterectomies.

Somers is notorious for pumping out vague scientifically-dubious info. I do credit her, however, with being a vanguard, and for being one of the few female public figures who is unafraid to say she's menopausal ... and doing something to make herself feel better.

I agree. She has done a lot to a least get the iword MENOPAUSE out there!! Just not sure it's the right info. I get frustrated with her, Robin McGraw and others. If I were rich, and had unlimited doctor support I'd probably feel terrific too.

SS promotes BHRT, yet she herself has had cancer. Humm.... I think she worries more about being sexy than she does about being healthy. I think she often walks a dangerous line. We are all not the same.

I tend to agree that she does seem to be more interested in staying young and with a sexy image than she is in her health.

While I too, want to feel young and sexy, I'm not willing to increase my BHRT intake to that of a 20 year old. I take enough to help ease my symptoms during this time and have an enjoyable life. Yet... I still long to lose these 30 lbs.. and can't figure out why they aren't coming off like they use to. But I know it's not hormones I need but a kick in the butt... too many menopausal women have gone on to lose weight so why would I be different?

I know why she sells as much as she does... she's good at it. To watch her is painful because she has had way too much work done but to hear her speak makes the things she talks about sound plausible. I did go on HSN and try to find the reviews on her but I couldn't find them. Maybe it's only available when she is selling something. The reviews on her books (that I read) from Amazon were mostly favorable.

Favorable or not.. .I'll stick to my low dose and be grateful for my wrinkles which I have earned...

Dear Sandra
Thank you for some very sensible information.I still take HRT at age 57 and feel comfortable in that decision but I certainly would not push it down anyones throat.Any medication carries risks but for me the quality of life has been made better with these hormones.

I have had some bleeding and spotting but all Tests come back negative and I can live with that.As you correctly mentioned some poor ladies are flooding and are not using hormones at all.I have never been advised to have a hysterectomy but once had a D and C .

Seasons Greetings
Elizabeth

You know what?

I think Suzanne Somers is terrific for getting the word out. It is not about her, it is about the cutting edge doctors she interviews (as in Breakthrough, her latest book) and what they say. I am on optimal BHRT and I feel really good, and am now at ideal weight. I am seeing a doctor she recommended in the back of her book and he is totally simpatico with me. From him I am learning all about the importance of not only hormones, but of food sensitivities. Now that I am eating mostly protein and vegetables, and not drinking alcohol or eating dairy, I feel energetic, really alive.

And Somers paved the way for me. I am no dope, I have a Ph.D. And I have been running from doctor to doctor. She helped me out and I am grateful. And I believe my chance of cancer is less than for those who are not on BHRT. Time will tell.

wordsmith

[quote]
Letter to Suzanne Somers

October 11, 2006

Suzanne Somers
c/o Amy Boorstein, Managing Editor
Crown Publishers
Corporate Headquarters
1745 Broadway
New York, New York 10019

Dear Ms Somers:

We are a group of practicing physicians and researchers who have dedicated a large portion of our careers to the safe and scientifically based practice of utilizing bioidentical hormone therapies to address health issues in women.

Some of us are quoted in your new book: Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones (Crown, October 2006).

We recognize the role you have played in raising awareness about the use of biodentical hormone therapy. However, we want to ensure that women are not confused, nor harmed by some of the non-medical, misleading and unsubstantiated information contained in your book.

While some of us were interviewed for the book, a significant portion of the material in the book relies on information and opinion from T.S. Wiley, an actress with a B.A. in anthropology. Wiley has no medical or clinical qualifications. To our dismay, Wiley dispenses gratuitous advice on significant medical issues including the use of bioidentical hormone therapies, areas that are legally and ethically the domain of licensed medical practitioners.

Many of the claims throughout the book are scientifically unproven and dangerous. By mixing quotes from qualified physicians who are experts in their fields and bioidentical hormone treatments, with those of a person with no medical or scientific background, this book will further confuse women and we believe, may potentially put their health at risk.
We believe Ageless is detrimental and dangerous to the thousands of women who read it because the book freely and repeatedly blurs the line of medical ethics and science with hearsay. The so-called "protocols" endorsed and promulgated throughout the book may expose women to serious health dangers. They offer a "one size fits all" approach, endorsing dangerously high levels of estrogen.

We know that many women will read this book and so we will strongly encourage them to keep the following points in mind:

1. Biodentical hormones are prescription medications that can only be prescribed by a licensed physician or nurse practitioner (in certain states).

2. Not all women need to supplement their hormones: There are a range of nutritional and lifestyle approaches that can help women improve their health and hormone balance.

3. If considering biodentical hormone therapy, women (and men) should work with qualified health professionals experienced and trained in the treatments with bioidentical hormones, a trained medical practitioner who understands disease states, their diagnosis and treatment. In addition, if bioidentical hormone therapy is prescribed it should be based on an assessment of the woman's hormone levels and then physiologic doses should be prescribed.

4. The practice of utilizing bioidentical hormone therapies is part of developing areas in conventional medicine, women's health and integrative medicine. It is not the purview of alternative practices by nonphysicians or lay experimenters.

Our collective goal is to advance our knowledge base of information on beneficial, efficacious and safe options for women to alleviate menopausal symptoms and help them achieve their best health status. Bioidentical hormone therapy is proving to be a beneficial treatment approach for many women.

It is vital that we conduct further research on this crucial area of women's health. The research and clinical data necessary to evaluate and treat women must come from the medical community. We, the physicians,
are committed to helping women by providing safe, scientifically and clinically sound treatments.

We encourage every woman to take responsibility for creating a positive health outcome in her own life. To insure this outcome, women must educate themselves and carefully choose to work with a licensed medical provider in the area of prescription bioidentical hormone treatments.

We support the many celebrities who endorse health causes, raise funds for research, education and increased awareness. But,we cannot standby and allow non-experts to dispense medical advice that could
potentially harm women.

Sincerely,

Erika Schwartz, M.D.
Board of Managers
SUNY Downstate College of Medicine
NAMC
Author of The Hormone Solution

Diana Schwarzbein, M.D.
Endocrinologist
Author of The Schwarzbein Principle

Daved Rosensweet M.D.
Private Holistic Medical Practice
Author of Menopause and Natural Hormones

C.W. Randy Randolph, Jr., M.D.,R.Ph
Founder of The Natural Hormone Institute of America
Authour of Hormone Hell Hormone Well

Christiane Northrup, M.D.
FACOG
Author of The Wisdom of Menopause

Jane Murray, M.D.
Board Chair, Women in Balance
Medical Director Sastun Center of Integrative Health

Helene Leonetti, M.D.
Bethlehem GYN Associates

New York Times October 15, 2006 :

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/15/fashion/...amp;oref=slogin

New York Post Page Six October 13,2006 :

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10132006/gossi...six/pagesix.htm

I didn't go to see Erika Schwartz for precisely that reason.

This may have been a turf war.

Stupid stuff, in my opinion.

Do these physicians think that we women are stupid ?

And can someone explain to me why bioidentical hormone supplementation is "part of developing areas in conventional medicine, women's health and integrative medicine" ??? Developing ? Why the delay ? Perhaps it's because women like Somers are pushing the envelope, and telling the mainstream docs "If you won't help me, I'll help myself".

I don't think she's always on the mark, but I love her (and all of you other squeaky wheels !) for making things happen.

I agree Sandra!!! Suzanne Somers brought to the forefront the role of bio-identical hormones as a viable option for american women. We are intelligent and quite capable without a medical degree to do our own research, talk to one another and seek out the right doctors to help us make decisions on how we want to improve the quality of our lives. Bio-identical hormones give us the opportunity to not just have a "one-size-fits-all" solution that most doctors only seem to be capable of giving us. Rather we can uniquely find what fits us and supplement with the least amount of hormones, if we so choose, that give us the relief we sometimes so desperately need! I'm thankful that people like Suzanne Somers give us many different approaches to think about and try. It gives me hope that if I continue to work at it and try a variety of things, I am going to get through this episode of life and come out stronger on the other side!!!

I think regardless of what you think of Suzanne, she did push for this issue to become more mainstream and now more and more doctors are being asked about it. For instance, when all this started in my life, it was 6 years ago. I had an ovary removed and within months, I was going through some horrible changes in my quality of life. This does not happen to EVERY women, but it did happen to me, unlucky me.

When I went to my regular "female" doctor, she didn't even have the slightest idea of what I was talking about. How could a doctor NOT KNOW about this??? I then spent time and read books and armed with info went back to see my doctor. I literally told her what I wanted to try.

I think some women do "sail" through the change easier than others. I tried for a year, with lifestyle changes and supplements, nothing worked for me like the hormones did. It is not a one size fits all thing.

I conclude, that in the end, we just don't know for sure what these hormones are capable of doing to us. Many women spend years on the "pill" and EVERY doctor gives those out without even a thought.

We can only try and make the best decision that we can. But I am glad that the word is more out there now for us.

Juliann

Wow! Iradan, where did you find this letter? Is it real? If these doctors feel they were misquoted in SS's book, then why didn't they sue her?

You have to do a search for Suzanne Somers on HSN forums. I found this one on bio-identical hormones.
http://forums.hsn.com/hsn_postst4466_BioId...l-Hormones.aspx

I thought more about the letter in Iradan's post, and I am even more bugged about it than before.

The haughty doctors don't seem to comprehend the reality for most women ...

- We go to doctors who have no clue what the common symptoms of peri are, and so peri goes undiagnosed.
- We go to doctors who have no idea that bioidentical hormones are available, from compounding pharmacies or from mainstream pharmaceutical companies.
- We go to doctors who think that because the horrible symptoms of menopause are *natural* they should be tolerated.
- We go to doctors who refuse to administer hormone tests.
- We go to doctors who prescribe powerful anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds for hormone imbalances.
- We are limited to the doctors who participate in our health care plans.

What these doctors ought to do is forget about Somers and enlighten other doctors. They can start by pressuring med schools to bring their education about peri and meno into the 20th century (yah, I said that right, 20th !, because this is all last century stuff) and teach the med students some basic facts and instill in them compassion for aging female patients who are SUFFERING.

Until then, sisters are doin' it for themselves.

I just looked at Schwarzbein's web site and she's hawking tons of dietary supplements and making all sorts of grandiose claims about them. But I guess because she's an official MD, it's OK.

Look at the laughable disclaimer she attaches to her dubious claims:

Disclaimer: The information contained on this web site has not been evaluated by the FDA. This information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material provided in the Schwarzbein Principle web site is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health program.

No, I made it up . Google dr. Erika and read it, it was all over the web at the time the letter was sent to SS publisher.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/45424/output/print
there was also on Foxnews

You can read the entire article on http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_st...,223457,00.html

Iradan: Gotcha. I didn't think you made it up, but I'm glad you posted the sources...I'm going to check them out. If these doctors feel they were misquoted and there info misconstrued, then I still say, why didn't they pursue legal action? Just writing the letter was tantamount to a slap on the wrist. Was is to protect them in case of a lawsuit against Somers?

I am not sure what should have been legal action or what they intended to do, my guess is that SS in her book was pushing the idea that post-menopausal women should aim for level of hormones of 20 yo (google Wiley's protocol, I don't want to post link to commercial websites), which these drs. did not endorsed and considered dangerous. The same protocol that SS used herself, and that eventually led to her hysterectomy. Misquoting those drs. in her book Ageless, could have given women impression that it was the right thing to do as it has been "endorsed" by well known experts on BHRT. I have read about the infamous Wiley's protocol and you can "google" it, and read horror stories of unfortunate women that trusted T.Wiley and followed her regimen to the T ( no pun intended) and ended up having horrible symptoms.
Anyways, you can read about it yourself, I don't want to flame this post.

I have also heard from many women that the T.S. Wiley protocol was very unsound advice. I read her book years ago and wondered about it. I'm glad that I didn't follow her idea's, it seems over the top.

Juliann

Well, Wiley pushes the 20 year old thing. I don't know that Somers necessarily does. I think the docs who signed the letter have a bigger beef with Wiley than with Somers. Why don't they just write a complaint letter about Wiley ? The docs who signed the letter have a somewhat valid complaint about Wiley's lack of medical education, but if you look at Wiley's web site, there are certainly plenty of MDs willing to prescribe her protocol.



You can't say that Somers' hormone supplementation led to her hysterectomy. Nobody knows. There are many women who are not supplementing who have excessive and otherwise abnormal bleeding and choose to have hysterectomies, and many women who are supplementing who do not have abnormal bleeding or any other condition for which hysterectomy is recommended.



I have Ageless at home and am at work right now so I can't check ... isn't Ageless is a series of interviews with various physicians ? Or am I confusing it with another Somers book ? If Ageless is just a collection of interviews, then I'm not sure how the docs can claim that they were misquoted, unless Somers and her editors took statements out of context. I will check when I get home.



I can't find anything on the 'net about horrible symptoms or problems due to the Wiley Protocol. All I find are a few complaints about weight gain, and I find just as many compliments from women who feel better doing the Protocol.

I'm not a fan of the Protocol btw, I rejected it because I don't like pre-packaged solutions. It's like the people pushing them are telling me that I'm too stupid to understand what to do, therefore I need someone else to think for me. And even if I agreed with Wiley that putting my hormones back to my 20 year old levels is appropriate (not sure if I agree or disagree), if I don't know what my 20 year old levels were, Wiley sure as heck isn't going to know. I totally agree with the docs who signed the letter regarding their one-size-fits-all complaint.

I guess it all depends on the type of hysterectomy she had. If she is still popping hormones and the ovaries are still intact then one can only assume her body is still cycling just minus the monthly shedding of the uterus (bleeding).

I have an internet friend on another site, who shared with me her mother of 70 + years only recently was taken off of hormones. They were prescribed in her younger years and she continued on them until going to a new doctor recently, who was in complete shock and immediately stopped the script. Of course she wasn't on a 20 year old's dose but when they took her off she has had a horrible time adjusting and is hitting menopause in her late 70's. My friend shared with me that her mother looked awesome and she never knew that she had been taking hormones for all of those years. So maybe there is some benefits for some folks, others of us however have the risks of developing cancers. It is as with anything, what works for some doesn't for others.

Suzanne Somers is a guru in my opinion and I would not contribute a dime to her bank account. If she is so willing to help women, then help women without charging an entrance fee.

I see your point, but I also think she has a right to be paid for her work. She does all of those interviews and then writes books, it does take up a lot of time and she probably had travel expenses as well. I think she's kind of flakey but I love that she has helped to push this issue to the forefront.

I checked my Ageless book and there is regular informational text as well as interviews. I focused on Schwarzbein while I was reading ... Somers mentions Schwarzbein a couple of times. It was Schwarzbein who introduced Somers to bioidentical hormones. Somers plugs Schwarzbein and Schwarzbein's web site in Ageless. I'll bet Schwarzbein's business shot through the roof. So I find it interesting that Schwarzbein would suddenly turn critical of Somers and sign a letter of complaint. What do you call it ... biting the hand that feeds you ?

That letter is really bugging me. They are complaining about Wiley. Why don't they just complain directly to Wiley rather than complain to Wiley through Somers ?

Here is a snippet from Dr Erika's site, (Do a search on Suzanne Somers to find the full report).


Meanwhile the case for bioidenticals is being undermined by lightweights and dangerous hucksters like actress Suzanne Somers and her sidekick T.S. Wiley. They are the best thing that could happen to Wyeth.(Pharmecutical company) Their lack of credibility and dangerous practice of medicine without a license have kept bioidenticals on the fringe and raised more doubts about compounding than maybe necessary. Conventional and scientifically-minded doctors are not sold on having Suzanne Somers or T.S. Wiley as leaders in the educational processes associated with treatment of women with hormone issues.

Unfortunately their showboating has given fuel to many in the mainstream and Wyeth-sponsored camps to believe that only fringe doctors work with bioidenticals, This could not be further from the truth. Bioidentical hormones, as noted in the WSJ article are commercially available, meaning FDA approved, and the same active hormones found in the commercial formulations are those used by compounding pharmacies in the personalized products prescribed by many leaders in the field of women's health.

The time has come to take care of women and stop putting profit and lies ahead of good medical care. Don't let anyone dissuade you from using bioidenticals!

Just make sure you work with a conventional physician who has extensive experience with bioidenticals and has himself/herself been trained by a conventional integrative medicine physician.

The proof is in the pudding. Just ask the women who work with physicians who know how to use bioidenticals. Ask the patients of Drs. Randolph, Holtorf, Brownstein, Wright, Hotze, Murray, Drisko, Stangel, Weiss, and many, many more. Then, make sure you find one of these physicians or one trained by them or one who follows their philosophy of treating the whole patient, listening to the patient and serving the patient. I bet you will feel better, no longer feel victimized, intimidated and even get treated like a human being in the process. Do not abandon hope and do not betray your own voice.

I found something that may shed light on the situation, but it may raise more eyebrows and fuel further discussion.
http://www.georgiahormones.com/Review_Ageless.pdf

I thank her for bringing hormone supplementation to the forefront... I did just recently read Ageless, but I also just reread Screaming to Be Heard by Dr. Vliet and I just thank her as well. Regarding the Wiley protocol, Dr. Vliet has treated several patients who were following that protocol and found that their hormone levels were extremely high...definitely unsafe for some... Hormones may not be the solution for everyone, but I believe that for those individuals there may be further tweaking that is required or other deficiencies that are exacerbating their symtoms... They all state that it is a process that may take time for some, whereas others respond immediately.

It upsets me, as Sandra and others have stated, that even after all of the publicity and such we as women are still finding it difficult to to get PROPER CARE regarding a difficult period...in our lives! If this were a man's illness, we would have had a CURE long ago! Hormonal imbalances CAUSE cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, obesity, bone degeneration, and mental illness to name a few.... What if these could be alleviated by simply balancing one's hormones...a heck of a lot cheaper for us and the health care system than all of those PHARMACEUTICALS and SURGERIES we all have to use and undergo...that only treat the SYMPTOMS NOT THE UNDERLYING DISEASE!

TJ

I've been off the boards because I've been sailing the high bahamian seas.

You go Sandra, I love your "call to arms" of what we women need from our health care system!

And thank you Suzanne Somers for helping get the word out. And for helping me, at the ripe age of 48, still look
hot in a bikini. And, more important feel full of energy and health.

Bioidentical hormones, yes, yes, yes.

wordsmith

Problem is that Western society treats menopause as DISEASE that requires PROPER MEDICAL CARE. Menopause is a natural process as natural as puberty, pregnancy, child birth, etc. Women do stop producing eggs for good reasons, Mother Nature did not intend us to suffer from hormonal imbalance.

Our hormones never been in balance to being with, how is it possible to talk about balance, when natural menstrual cycle of women in her reproductive years is nothing but peaks and valley, what "balance" we talking here to begin with?
Did not we suffer from PMS and hormonal swings before? I bet you, every women on earth had PMS to certain degree.

The problem is not when hormones swing, problem in peri- and menopause is HOW OFTEN THEY SHIFT!!!!

Since we started our periods, we knew, there are days of the months, that we have tons of energy and there are days when we are sleepy; there were days when we were not hungry, and days when we could eat for the country; days when we slept like a rock, and days when we were tossing and turning, days when we were happy and days when we wanted to cry.

But those days were less frequent, and I always could chart my cycle when I will have symptoms, few days before my menstrual period. Now it feels like "those days" are every day, isn't it?

Some women had it really bad, cramps that required OTC medications, heated pad, Maxi pads as they bled heavily, and some of my GFs even had to call in sick, this is how bad they had it.

Same with pregnancy, I never knew what a morning sickness is in my life and I have children, but my friend had to take leave of absence this is how bad she was in her 1st trimester.

However, I was plagued with migraines for almost 20 years, and some very debilitating. Frankly, I don't remember time in my reproductive years when I felt absolutely great, there was always something: insomnia on and off, migraines, bloating, indigestion, even night sweats, and I am not a sickly type, BTW.

Interesting to note, that in my mid-late 30s my migraines stopped completely, it was so unbelievable to be pain free for the first time in years!!!! So, I figured, something is changing, and yes, it did.

In my early 40s I started gaining weight, even I was very healthy eater and kept carb controlled diet for years before.
However, I felt overall much better, calmer, but my periods became irregular, to the point, of one week here and week there, either week earlier or week later.

At 45 the **** broke loose with anxiety and digestive issues, and since then I went through periods of different symptoms, majority of which now are history.

This were our old good hormones, shifting on regular basis, so what balance we talking here?

I know what happens after childbirth when our hormones drop, it causes the same pretty much state as initial menopausal drop and even much worse.

How we can call this being balanced, and how all the doctors in the world and all the Big Pharma can help?

How one can balance something that is changing hourly? Our hormones are not a "controller" that can be tuned around the "setpoint". There is a feedback loop, FSH and LH, that react on estradiol and progesterone levels, but this is it.

It is not possible to tune this loop, sorry, I am speaking as engineer here. We are biochemical mechanism not mechanical. Same issues with all exogenous hormones that are on the market now. There are about dozen types of insulin on the market now, and yet, diabetics still deal with glucose spikes and dips, to the point that one's life becomes too high of a price.

Same with thyroid hormones, works great for some and not so much for others, because we all are unique.

Our body makes our endogenous hormones in it's own unique pattern, not around the clock, it is really too complex to try to mimic and balance human hormones release and utilization.
We never had hormonal balance in our life, ever, just our bodies were younger and resilient, we could endure all the issues and still continue with our lives, we could sleep less and still function, we kept pushing through the pain, we worked, raised children, exercised, and this all was possible even we never had hormonal homeostasis.


Oh, please, not again. We had BCP and HRT for more than 50 years now, waaay before men had their Viagra, and may be at this point we should stop blaming Big Pharma for not "curing" our reproductive system issues!

How is it that if it would be man's illness, it would be cured?

Mother nature designed man differently, however, they go through Andro-pause as well, ask your spouse or partner how they feel past late 30s, and they will tell you stories.

Men also have problem, and the biggest one... you know, what is all actually they care about, so yes, they have medications to help with ED disorder, but they are not treating underlying cause, only the symptoms

Underlying cause for ED is not only low testosterone with advanced age, but also atherosclerosis (aka clogged and narrowed artheries), stress, depression, and life style abuse.

Men don't have their testosterone plunge like out estrogen, but it also diminishes as they age, and in their 40s they also get what is called "irritable male syndrome", as they can't figure out what is going on with them.
The price men pay, they die earlier and while not suffering like women do, they simply drop dead at once from massive heart attack or stroke, or die from cancer at their prime.

Can we stop being sexists and blame entire world in our "female" problems! When did menopause became an illness, there are countries that women have no clue what menopause is. They never think of stopping their menstruation as ILLNESS, they just know it is a natural circle of life.



How "hormonal imbalance" causes death? Do you really think that being "balanced" will assure eternal youth? Our DNA mutates as we age, it is programmed in our "blue print" what illness we will have and how long we will live, BUT may be we should blame ourselves for out reckless and toxic lifestyles as we add to insult?

If balancing hormones would be "piece of cake", it would be number Numero Uno magic pill on the market!!!!

The health care system is not looking for a cheap and easy solution to begin with, and when they give you HRT that is strong enough to alleviate symptoms, you call it "pee"hormones and cringe. Even they worked quite well for many women and they did not get cancer and/or hear disease, they def. helped with bone degeneration and reduced risk of colon cancer, isn't it great?

Then they give you "biodentical" and "natural" hormones to use, and you still not happy. Now, why can't they be balanced?

Have you tried to balance your own hormones? Was it easy, did you get relief, reading a book does not help, I too read all of them, including Dr.Vliet, and I remember one a post on the forum someone went to see Dr.Vliet and few grands later the were no solution, so she suggested to try some famous medical facility as it was very "difficult case".
Search the forum, you can read about it.

We have all the tools on the market now: estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormones, insulin, cortisol... variety of delivery methods, naturals and synthetics, human GH, just do it, and may be you get some success.


The underlying cause is not hormonal imbalance, not everyone gets diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and bone degeneration. Some ppl die at a very old age from "natural causes" aka death.

Our body makes hundreds different hormones, do you really think you can balance them all!

May be we should stop being angry with medical community and pharmaceutical companies, and simply try to understand and change our point of view, change our lifestyles and habits, as they are reflection of our health, and just accept that we can be forever 21, and adjust accordingly.
May be we can learn a thing or two from our Eastern sisters, how they deal with menopause, and why there is no word describing hot flash in Japanese language.

Our problem as Western Society that we want a magic pill to cure everything including our toxic life style!

Sorry to bring sad news, hormonal imbalance in the way you see it will never be "properly cured". There are success stories out there and failure stories, but it take a person to tweak exogenous hormones daily, and see how it goes. As they say, the proof is in the pudding.

Suzanne Somers is just a sales person, she ripped off other people ideas for her "diet" books, and when she failed that route, she switched to BHRT as it is a buzz and catchy word for menopausal baby boomers.

Since celebrities are always on the spot, she is is getting some press, a little bit of good and some bad, who cares, as long as she can still stay on the spot, show her youthful looks and make a buck ... or two. It is nothing but PR with a some good side income on the side.

If not all these hormonal blabbing, she would be long time forgotten and left to sell tacky jewelry on HSN, so she does what she can to stay afloat, and "raise awareness", like all women do is waiting for medical advice from Mrs. Somers.

In reality, no one except her plastic surgeons know what is behind this look, "hormonal balance" or extensive cosmetic procedures, with a routine maintenance.

It is quite transparent, too bad we get too brainwashed with idea of eternal youth, we are so afraid of getting older and so vain, that we would rather take advice from a Hollywood celebrity than use common sense and knowledge and wisdom of older generations.

Best of luck to you and everyone who is striving for perfection.

Hi Iradan,

Your post really describes the human condition. I understand what you mean about the cycle of life and how it is impossible to "cure" the hormone inbalance's within the body. Yes, generations ago people depended upon the wisdom of the elderly and they just simply lived life and knew that death was eventual. I agree.

I think the "babyboomers" are a first time generation of experiencing medical breakthroughs. We have come a long way in tecnology, and research seem's a path to make advancement and large sums of money. We have so many things available that have added years to our lives. I can think of many times that a medication truely saved my life. Nothing is going to cure us eternally, but things can help the suffering.

I have family members that are very sick with things like RA, and medications make their life have better quality, not to add years but rather lessen the suffering of each day.

At some points I think that medications are abused by big pharma and the people take these medications not fully aware that although it helps one thing, it can hurt another. There is no perfection with biological life, only little bits of help, as far as I can see.

But, we must be thankful, they have saved our lives at one time or another. Medicine can add years to life as we have seen.

I think many women just want some "awareness" by the medical society, most typical doctors are not trained in this area properly for a generation like the babyboomers. We ask questions and seek answers, that is how our society has trained us to think.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts,

Juliann

BHRT has given me my life back. Europe has been using it SAFELY for 50 years now. It's not new . The US pharmaceutical companies want to make big $$$$$ so they want to keep pushing the Synthetic HRT which has a huge risk to women. If you do the research women in other countries who have used BHRT for a long time have lower cancer rates than we do ! Big Pharma does not want the truth to be told. It is a choice but we should all have the choice.


Wendy

Hi Wendy,
Can you help us find the link to research of women in Europe using BHRT safely for 50 years, we been searching for the data and did not find any references.
Thanks,
I.

Suzanne Somers is a sort of guru, yes---really she is a brand, and what is wrong with that. She sells stuff, has for years, it's how she earns her living. I don't buy her stuff, except the couple of books she read, which in my opinion were informative and interesting. Suzanne is part of the Wiley Protocol "cult" and from what it looks like, is doing very well on it, which I think is great. Yes, Suzanne is taking tons of hormones. Her cover from Sexy Years to Ageless and Breakthrough are nothing short of a before and after... taking that much hormones is like the equivalent of a face lift. It's a free country. If that is what she wants to do, fine. Sure it is because she wants to continue to look young and sexy. I am only 39 and losing even the tiniest bit of my looks is ruining both my professional and private life. Suzanne in my opinion is leading the way and is forward thinking on the whole menopause issue. Nothing against my mother and her generation, the baby boomers, but so many of them aren't visible. They're not that relevant anymore. The ones who are-- mostly younger Boomers born in 50s and early 60s-- are on tons of hormones. They've used hormones in France for decades. That is the the French women's secret, not diet or wine. Back to the Wiley thing. If you go to the official website everyone on there sounds like Suzanne. They're all saying the same thing-- great energy, got my sex drive back, etc. There are those for whom Wiley does not work so sure it is questionable. But really it's not like people are dropping dead. That is what I am waiting for. The day they tell us Suzanne is seriously ill and has weeks to live is the day I will stop listening to her.

I may be bumping 40 and still having periods........but 62 year old women still menstruates when taken enough hormones?? How is that possible at that age? I can see it for a woman in her early 50s, but not in her 60s....I thought the eggs were gone at that age.

You're right, eggs are gone at that age. What Suzanne does is take her bioidenticals in a similar pattern to nature - using increasing/decreasing amounts of estrogen through her "cycle" and two weeks worth of progesterone. She has had a hysterectomy, by the way, so she can't have a period, but what she says in her latest book "Breakthrough" is that if a woman with a uterus takes the hormones the way she does, it stimulates the building of the lining of the uterus and then the lining comes out - so you will have a period. She swears this is the most natural way to take hormones and having a period is a small price to pay for that "naturalness". If women take the exact amount of estrogen/progesterone every day, they will not get a period, the lining will never build up enough to need one.

Sorry Suzanne, but not having a period is one of the best (maybe the only) perks of menopause, and I am not going to start having one again! There's no proof that doing the hormones "cyclically" are safer or offer more benefits than doing the "same dose" method.

Not only this, but I have been reading lately that it is hormonal withdrawal with cyclical method is what causes blood clots, same way as it happens after giving birth, drop in estrogen may aggregate platelets.
Image of a 75 yo women buying tampons or Maxipads makes me sick.

^^^^Sure I agree, the thought of a 75 year old picking up tampons does seem a little unnatural. Culturally we are all totally comfortable though with dead 75 year old females, or sick and aged 75 year olds.... 75 year olds who live in nursing homes, have age related diseases & mental and physical breakdown. All more tolerable in the current culture than a 60 or 70 year old who has a monthly period. Why? Because we think that menstruation is only for young, healthy females. It is really a total mystery to me how Suzanne manages to do well on tons of hormones but she does. She got cancer but is still alive, period.
I regret what I said earlier in the post about my mom. Her personality changed so much after her 40s and now at nearly 70 is meaner than I could have ever imagined. I know, it sounds horrible, so politically incorrect, but I am convinced she would have been a better mother if she had been on something.... like Suzanne Somers, who is apparently very close to her whole family, half of whom are not even her own children, and is the epitome of a super mom!!!! Suzanne Somers is a great example of someone who has found something that works though I doubt the Wiley Protocol is for everyone.

I agree with WAW, Wendy, who mentioned that BHRT has been used safely in Europe for 50 years. Dr. Elizabeth Vliet in Tucson is writing a book about this that I think everyone should read, What America Got Wrong About Estrogen. Dr. Vliet says same thing, that Europe has used BHRT for decades and America is way behind. This explains so much especially in the way we treat women in this country, how certain sexist barriers have never been truly overcome. Why is it such a big deal to want to look, feel and act young, healthy and feminine past the age of 50? Why is it wrong to want to be vibrant and all you can really be?

The editor of the French Vogue, Carine Roitfeld, is 55 but looks like she is 35-40. I was just watching a CNN documentary clip about her on You Tube. You can google it. She is regarded as one of the most important people in fashion. It is such a different tone in which she is regarded. Not just as some kind sexy cougar bimbo but as a real person who is an authority in her field. In Europe that is probably normal, I would imagine. BHRT has to be part of it. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/stellam...ld-kill.html#at
Why can't there more Carine Roitfelds in America?? Why instead do we have to hear all kinds of whiny drivel about sexism in the workplace and the poor, oppressed female writers at the Letterman show? Why is that the norm?

It's too bad the way Suzanne is treated because what she does is so much more important than being a fashion editor. In America it's so hard to understand how she has kept herself young and even harder to admit that that is part of her success so instead we just slam her and say her values are all wrong or something.

More on the "problem" of being an older female celebrity/lack of roles for older females in the states versus the European approach which this article says has "more dignity":

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...15/DD204717.DTL

".....Dazzling exceptions exist on the big screen; they always will. Last year, at 53, Meryl Streep had two of her best roles ever, in "The Hours" and "Adaptation." Frances McDormand, 45, is sexy, funny and strong in "Laurel Canyon." Julianne Moore, 42, is in her prime, and Jessica Lange, 54, Susan Sarandon, 56, and Goldie Hawn, 57, are still very much in the game.

Whether those women can win roles into their 60s and 70s, as men often do, remains to be seen. "There's more dignity in aging in France and England and Europe," says Tracey Ullman, 43, in "Searching for Debra Winger." "You see many more women having better careers in their 50s and 60s. Here it's Gene Hackman, Al Pacino, Sean Connery. Name three women of that age that are still working."


This is getting a little off topic, I know. Suzanne Somers used to be an actress, is now a lifestyle/wellness guru. Either way, she is super influential for her age and BHRT is (probably) the reason she remains viable.

You might be interested in this: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-sto...s-cause-cancer/

I don't have anything against Suzanne, and I think anyone who brings attention to BHRT as a viable treatment is doing good. Anyone who does any research can figure out that supplemental hormones might increase some risks, but there have been some pretty long term European studies that our country and the FDA ignores. There's a Swedish study that has gone on for 15 years and has over 20,000 women in it that shows decreased risk of death from the top 12 causes of death in women taking BHRT over women NOT taking it.

I don't know what she recommends for cancer treatment, but if I had cancer, Suzanne is NOT someone I would turn to for any advice!

I think she might "overdo" her hormones, and she also takes SO MUCH STUFF!! She mentioned in "Breakthrough", over and over again, that she takes 20 mg. of melatonin a night! Even my BHRT doctor says he takes 3 mg., and when I'm feeling antsy, I take 1 1/2 mg. and it works just fine. Never even heard of anyone taking 20 mg. I think she's like that with all the stuff she takes.

Even if she has never had cosmetic surgery, the regimen she follows would cost thousands of dollars a year - probably even per month. She takes human growth hormone for one thing - injections - they are VERY expensive! Even if the way she looks and feels is solely because of her regimen - who can afford that?? Reading her book is like seeing carrots dangling in front of you - do you want to try all those magic potions and pills or eat and have a roof over your head?

I felt I wasted my money on "Breakthrough". I can't afford HGH injections. I can't afford to have my stem cells banked. (That might be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars!) I can't afford to - what - replace all my metal fillings and get rid of my root canals? (How does one get rid of them anyway - take out the teeth involved?? Then what??) Her advice is totally useless to most of us.

I have started BHRT and I think that will be a positive thing. But I don't need my hormones to be at a 20 yr. old level. I just want to feel more energetic, and a little sexual again. I will have to find a book that gives me advice I can actually follow, with ideas that I can afford!

If you define your 'worth' as only in your looks you may well have some very difficult times ahead. The sad fact is that no matter what we do our looks deteriorate and we must learn to cope with that fact, as unpalatable as that may be. I think that it is very dangerous to believe what celebrities feed you about their 'wonderful life.' We have no idea what is going on in the background. If Michael Jackson had managed some of his planned tour I am sure that he would have risen to the challenge, being the amazing professional he was. We were saddened by the way he looked but onstage the lights and the glittering costumes would have hidden the fact that his legs were ulcerated and in parts gangrenous from all the drugs he was taking to support himself. We have no idea what the truth about Suzanne Somers is. Her propaganda machine will only release selected 'truths' about her. To do anything else would seriously threaten the profits of her company. I am a photographer and artist and I can transform almost anyone into a young beauty with the skill of my mouse. Recently it was comforting to see pictures of Twiggy the famous 60's model. She is looking good because indeed she is a beautiful woman but goodness knows what work has been done on the pictures that appear in the magazines. A few weeks later she was snapped in 'normal' mode out shopping. Oh dear! She was virtually unrecognisable. I have no problem with that because she still remains a valuable, capable lady. However the lies put out by the glossy magazines can put terrible pressure and false expectations on 'ordinary' women.
And as for, ' But really it's not like people are dropping dead.' One of the most scary problems with BHRT is that because it is not FDA regulated no-one is required to collect hard data on the misfortunes of patients who take it, so we are kept in the dark as to its true effects, good or bad. If a patient develops a breast malignancy everyone rightly concentrates on the treatment in hand and the doctor who prescribed the BHRT is able to scurry into the background and make the excuse that 1 in 3 women get breast cancer anyway.
Have a look at this recent article.

http://www.missoulian.com/lifestyles/healt...1cc4c03286.html

The woman in the article was unaware that the drugs she was being given were not FDA approved but since she is feeling better on them she has decided to continue with the therapy. It is good that she can make that decision for herself but shouldn't she have medical back up, rather than the recommendations of a dubious, profit hungry celebrity, to assess the safety of her actions?

XIII