Hi ladies,

Not sure if anyone caught the Dr. Phil show today, his wife Robin McGraw was on there discussing hormones and what she suffered with. She goes to some really great doctor, her name is Dr. Prudence _______- not sure of her last name, will look up on their website. Anyway, this dr. was phenomenal. She was discussing how perimenopause can occur in the early thirties (she has even seen hormonal imbalances with women in their 20's) and how these hormonal balances can wreak havoc on our bodies, we can obviously suffer with hot flashes, mood swings and menstrual irregularities, but there is more. The aches and pains are common, we often think that we are suffering from fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, but it is actually hormonal imbalance. Low sex drives, insomnia, skin problems, etc. can occur....of course, the ladies of PS knew that! And she addressed how our doctors are ignoring possible hormonal imbalances and are too quick to dismiss us, put us on AD's or say "you're too young". One woman in particular was only 33 and suffering with significant mood swings, low sex drive, insomnia, infertility, sweats, etc. They tested her and she was imbalanced...The dr put her on biodenticals and within 2 weeks she was much improved - her husband couldn't believe it. The dr went on to say that there is no reason why we women are suffering for 15 years of this...now, I'm not advocating women taking hormones, it's a personal decision. I was more interested in the fact that there is a reputable dr acknowedging that our symptoms are very real, we are NOT losing our minds, it can occur as early as the late 20's or early 30's and that most women are already perimenopausal in their 40's....we don't have to be treated indignantly and given a script for an AD...my GYN is a real jerk, after hearing this dr, I know that I must find a new dr. In my market, Dr. Phil reruns at 2 am, I am going to try to watch it again (as I was in and out of the room frequently).

Hope this helps!

Tracey

I watched part of the show...will watch the rest of it later when i have time.These shows tend to make bio's sound like a miracle cure or something....

meant to add that i am thinking about trying them....

What gets me is that all of these women are soooo happy after being on the hormone replacement for only a few days. Come on now, we know better than that. I wish they would show someone who was really struggling with symptoms which took longer to feel better. It was almost like a commercial for the Dr.'s. I know they are good Dr.s but I would like to see other cases too. Oh yeah, by the way, those are the Dr.s I am seeing.

It is so nice that there is someone out there who knows this stuff. Now if she can pass this on to other doctors, wow what a difference that would make.

Thanks so much for posting this. It definitely helps to have a doc validate what we go through every day.

Hugs to you,
Jeaninne

Well, my experience was the same as hers. It took only a few days to feel better. 24 hours for the sex drive and energy to kick in, and about a week for the hot flashes to completely subside. I think there are a few reasons that many of the women here starting bhrt don't feel so well so fast. Their dosage of estradiol isn't high enough. They are not getting any testosterone. They have thyroid issues, which may be harder to figure out.

Didn't see the show but I have thehallcenter.com bookmarked. It's Dr. Prudence Hall, that is Suzanne Somer's gyno, as I recall.

Hi Jeaninne,

Hope you are having a good day and feeling well.

That is exactly the message I took from this. I have an incredibly ignorant 50+ year old female dr who doesn't even acknowledge the term perimenopause let alone subscribe to any of the symptoms. For me, this was complete validation as I sit day in and day out scared out of my mind by all of these symptoms. Yes, our symptoms are very real, and the aches and pains I feel, they are very real too. Plus, I am sick and tired of being told that I am too young for any of this....I just wish that these drs would wake up...MORONS!

Hope tomorrow finds you well.

Take care,
Tracey

Wonderful show...Hollywood knows something, eh?


Bi0-hormones are a miracle in a bottle! I started off with injections; I started feeling better on the way home. I was having almost All of the meno symptoms. By the third day, I was crying because I felt so wonderful.

I then realized just how bad I had been feeling for a long time. I never want to feel that way again. I was 1/2 of a person.


I had a hard time deciding if I wanted to be dependent on any meds. I hate taking anything, but I am so glad that I decided to try BHRT. Restoring hormone levels to when you were in your 20's-30's makes you feel like you are younger.
....I am so pleased with the results.


Shebee

Wordsmith and Shebee
I am so jealous that you felt so much better so fast. I guess it is just me that isn't responding so quickly or maybe my symptoms are much worse than yours were. It has been a month now and I am doing better but I have a long way to go. Anyway, glad to know it works so quickly for some.
Bev

Dear Bev,

I am just curious, but what are you taking?

Post it...we have so many knowledgeable people on this board.

Perhaps you doses are too small to have a therapeutic effect. ???? Many doctors are very conservative and just by adjusting your dose, you could/should get relief. My doc says that you should not have to put up with any symptoms...just identify the problem and he can adjust the dose.



My doc says that if you are in your 50's, you respond more quickly than someone in their 60's. ...and sometimes it takes a few months. Hang in there,

We don't want you to be jealous! LOL! We want you in the "feeling great" club, too!

Shebee

Bev,

Sorry.....

PS....I don't want to HiJack this thread about Dr. Phil....why don't you post a new thread in the BHRT board?


Ok, ladies....back to Dr. Phill....

(I bet he is on testosterone!!!!! LOL! LOL! What do you think? Robin looks very happy! LOL!)

Dear Tracey
Thanks for sharing.I did see this episode and it was very interesting.Just proves all along that our physical,emotional and physiological symptoms are real!I wish I had know all this at 39 and then maybe could have avoided the AD and the idea that I was having a nervousbreakdown.

I am on HRT and thankful to the help they have given me.We still do not have access to the BHRT here in The Middle East.
I just hope there were lots of Gynos.watching this show so they would sit up and take notice.It is shameful for any lady to suffer un-necessarily whether she opts for Hormone replacement or not!

All the Best
Elizabeth

I feel the same as bev....only i don't have a knowledgable dr. watching my BHRT use.....i am so glad for you Bev to have access to these Dr's.

the show was about bhrt? i didn't watch...don't know if i would have as i am somewhat disappointed myself with BHRT thus far. I am still getting irregular periods though and have wondered if they help more when all hormones are just a steady low and not fluctuating wildly, because the way I se it is all I am doing right now is adding and when I flutuate wildly it is just taking what I put in with it and I am still going to have the same spike and lows just now with some extra hormones.....does that make sense? I did go off recently to see what would happen and within 2 days my egs ached so bad it hurt to walk.....was one of my annoying symptoms and I have more energy to exercise more now so maybe it does a little something.

I wish I had the money to see one of these dr's....and have all the testing done the "celebs" do but realistically most don't and have to rely on our Dr's to guide and alot of times they really don't know anymore than us when it comes to regulating this stuff. I am so happy for those is helps...really because I know how elated I would be if I could have some of my life back...even just a little. HUGS Mikki

Her name is Dr. Prudence Hall. She's in Santa Monica, not too far from where I live. After I saw her on the last show they did, I called her office. They wanted $750 just to see the doctor, that didn't include any tests, or scripts. There was a 3 mos waiting list at the time.

I think she's great, but I also think if we had the money Robin McGraw has, and the resources we'd probably be feeling better FAST also.

I'm just glad they're TALKING about it

I am glad they are talking about it, but annoyed that is cost so much to get relief. I heard the bios are expensive also. Does anyone know the monthly cost? I dont' have a prescription plan, so it is difficult. We shouldn't have to suffer.

I'm glad that this dr. acknowledged peri, but I agree, if we were Mrs. Phil McGraw we would be feeling great too...afterall, they have the $$$$ and the name to get this treatment and resources/help and thus, the overall success. Unfortunately, I am stuck with a MORON for a dr - so I will have to resort to searching for a new one and hopefully finding a compassionate and knowledgeable one.

Tracey

I hate to sound like a wet blanket, but any sales pitch coming from a celebrity says "easy money" for them and "what the hell-o" for the rest of us.....hope I don't sound like E-Ore but cynical is my middle name when it comes to medicine show miracles....

Something Robin said on the show yesterday kind of made me laugh. She mentioned that she called Phil and their boys for a "family meeting" about her going through Menopause. It just made me wonder......how many households would that conversation be happening in last night??

I happened upon part of the show while flipping during a baseball game!, and while I'm happy perimenopause is getting press, I didn't hear any mention about people who have excess hormones as opposed to a deficiency.

This is the second time this episode has been on. If you've missed it, they will probably repeat it again since it's promoting Robin's new book.

Robin was also on the show The Doctors yesterday promoting the book too with the same Hall Center lady. (Their son is an executive producer of the show).

I believe there are links to watch both shows on You Tube.

I was interested to see what is all about, as I never watch Dr.Phill show, so I found this video on the Oprah, Dr.Oz interview with Dr.Prudence Hall. I am not talking now about celebrities, forget about it, we don't know what they do and what they use, and how they feel in reality.
I am talking about Dr.Prudence interview with Dr.Oz.
If you watch the video and pause when she shows the menstrual cycle chart, you may be able to see what are the numbers for women in child baring years, she charts levels of at very high level. If you zoom in, you perhaps can see what is the rock bottom level of estrogen, I believe it was 50, at the beginning, but if you can see better, perhaps even higher.
I have no problem with it, as we are baby making machines at younger age, unless there is something wrong, otherwise, main problem for me was HOT NOT TO GET PREGNANT back then.

I only have one question: how daily constant dose of BHRT supplement can mimick young female reproductive cycle, if you use the same amount of E. P, and T daily, perhaps, only E and T daily, and P second part of the "cycle"?

Mother nature did gave us high level of hormones that made us feel good and have lots of energy, positive outlook...But not every day also, we also had peaks and valleys in the way we felt physically, emptionally, higher or lower sex drive, migraines, bloating, water retension, etc. All of this were part of my life month after month for 40 years to date.

We did not have it at the same level every day, it was never constant or even linear, the curve is different for every women, so when the doctor was talking about "being balanced" back in our youth, it did not ring a bell for me, how can we speak balance, when during first 2 weeks of our cycle estrogen is raising every day, until it reaches its peak and triggeres ovulation, and then it falls dramatically, and progesterone starts to rise, until P reaches its highest point, while estrogen has another peak, alghough smaller than the 1st.

How adding same and quie high level of BHR on daily basis can even remotedly mimic natural menstrual cycle, not to mention, if you want better representation, it has to be also followed by withdrawal bleeding, it is not really good idea to have high level of hormones all the time.


She also mentioned the infamous Swedish study, I believe I posted many of those, and the results were quite different, as it shoed increase in breast cancer, blood clots, strokes in group that used HRT, we don't even know if it was CEE or BHRT.
I am not even looking at what celebrities has to say, we have more than one doctor like this in my are, it is not only about the cost, although those fees and blood tests will all come out of pocket, none of these doctors take any kind of insurance.
I only have couple questions:

1) If nature intended us to have high level of hormones in our youth, it was never high level on daily basis?

2) If we not suppose to reproduce after certain age to assure surviving of the spieces, do we need high level of BH daily and how this is going to impact our overall health in last 3rd of our lives?

Just wondering, not flaming, being sencere here. What dio you good ladies think about it? Am I the only one who thinks that BHRT is not the same as natural menstrual cycle, unless I am missing something here.

Here is the video, if anyone cares. There are also few related videos on the same site.
http://www.oprah.com/media/20090114_tows_prudence
Best,
I.

yes- if had that kind of money i could buy me the best also !!! un- fair, i didnt even have insurance up until a month ago,

[quote name='Iradan' date='Apr 28 2009, 02:11 PM' post='281877']
I was interested to see what is all about, as I never watch Dr.Phill show, so I found this video on the Oprah, Dr.Oz interview with Dr.Prudence Hall. I am not talking now about celebrities, forget about it, we don't know what they do and what they use, and how they feel in reality.
I am talking about Dr.Prudence interview with Dr.Oz.
If you watch the video and pause when she shows the menstrual cycle chart, you may be able to see what are the numbers for women in child baring years, she charts levels of at very high level. If you zoom in, you perhaps can see what is the rock bottom level of estrogen, I believe it was 50, at the beginning, but if you can see better, perhaps even higher.
I have no problem with it, as we are baby making machines at younger age, unless there is something wrong, otherwise, main problem for me was HOT NOT TO GET PREGNANT back then.

I only have one question: how daily constant dose of BHRT supplement can mimick young female reproductive cycle, if you use the same amount of E. P, and T daily, perhaps, only E and T daily, and P second part of the "cycle"? (**the book Sex, Lies and Menopause explains in a complicated sort of way, how to replace on a more "natural" montly curve.)

Mother nature did gave us high level of hormones that made us feel good and have lots of energy, positive outlook...But not every day also, we also had peaks and valleys in the way we felt physically, emptionally, higher or lower sex drive, migraines, bloating, water retension, etc. All of this were part of my life month after month for 40 years to date.

We did not have it at the same level every day, it was never constant or even linear, the curve is different for every women, so when the doctor was talking about "being balanced" back in our youth, it did not ring a bell for me, how can we speak balance, when during first 2 weeks of our cycle estrogen is raising every day, until it reaches its peak and triggeres ovulation, and then it falls dramatically, and progesterone starts to rise, until P reaches its highest point, while estrogen has another peak, alghough smaller than the 1st.

How adding same and quie high level of BHR on daily basis can even remotedly mimic natural menstrual cycle, not to mention, if you want better representation, it has to be also followed by withdrawal bleeding, it is not really good idea to have high level of hormones all the time.


She also mentioned the infamous Swedish study, I believe I posted many of those, and the results were quite different, as it shoed increase in breast cancer, blood clots, strokes in group that used HRT, we don't even know if it was CEE or BHRT.
I am not even looking at what celebrities has to say, we have more than one doctor like this in my are, it is not only about the cost, although those fees and blood tests will all come out of pocket, none of these doctors take any kind of insurance.
I only have couple questions:

1) If nature intended us to have high level of hormones in our youth, it was never high level on daily basis?

I totally agree that we are not to replace our hormones on a steady level. Hrt should be done on a cyclical monthly curve. And, most especially the P should be added and a withdrawal bleed should occur (if we are being replaced at optimal levels). I know this won't be popular with most women.... Very important for optimal functioning to mimic what nature intended. **This is taken from a book called Sex, Lies and Menopause.


2) If we not suppose to reproduce after certain age to assure surviving of the spieces, do we need high level of BH daily and how this is going to impact our overall health in last 3rd of our lives?

Hormones are responsible and protective for more than just reproduction. Research has already shown it protects our cholesterol levels, bone health etc. **Again, see referenced book. I'm just throwing out ideas and NOT being inflammatory.

Recently, a vascular doc just told me that when he does surgery on menopausal women he can tell who is on hrt. How? It takes twice as long to perform surgery on those not on hrt cause the hormone loss has significant detrimental effect on circulation/arteries/veins. Have also heard the same theme from my uro gyn. And, my eye docs.

As for surviving past the age of menopause: Modern technology and medicine has helped us achieve longevity (besides genetics). It was only approx 100 years ago women died around the age of meno. **Again, cited from the above book.

As for how this will impact the last third of our lives (by taking hrt): If replacement is done correctly then I feel we will be healthier with it than without. Some women need more or less than the next. So, if you're not suffering and don't feel you need it, then don't. (And, yes diet and exercise is important too. But is not always enough to continue optimal health when meno ocurrs) Physiological changes happen even when feeling relatively "well". ie - vascular changes, cholesterol etc. However, hrt is still in its infancy and each doc will have their own opinion. Each woman must decide what is in her own best interest and proceed from that viewpoint. No one elses opinion is the ultimate verdict for one's health choices. It can be a difficult decision.

Just wondering, not flaming, being sencere here. What dio you good ladies think about it? Am I the only one who thinks that BHRT is not the same as natural menstrual cycle, unless I am missing something here.

I think I answered this above. I also feel Hall is onto something in regard to using higher levels of hormones than most standard docs. (Don't agree with the steady state of dosing though.) However, I think those levels of hrt should be done sooner (during peri) than later (meno) when a womens body is totally depleted and her body has been trying to adjust. (This is part of why the flawed WHI study was so bad. Those women were way past menopause. (some were in their 70's, obese and already had preexisting health conditions.) No wonder the WHI women had strokes and other probs.

Now I know some women will say but it's not natural to replace any hormones. Mother nature intended for our childbearing to end. Well yes but we also used to die at the average age of menopause. Living beyond that timeline is relatively new and evolution hasn't fully adjusted for it yet. Also dying is a "natural" ocurring event but who doesn't want that to happen later rather than sooner? And, don't we make that transition easier with modern medicines? Why should peri/menopause be any different? (Again, **taken from the above cited book.) Don't hate me. Just answering the questions, JZZ