Hi,
From what I have been reading lately being sixty or 10 yrs post meno it may be too late. Has anyone started taking bio identical hormones after age 60?
I tried progesterone in 2005 after a few weeks I took a week break and resumed and felt like I was going crazy. Recently I used biest vaginally Well that was weird! the pharmacyst said the cream was vanishing cream. lol It never vanished. I had dull aches. thought I was getting vaginal infection. took a look and saw white cream inside. washed. and aches stopped. went to see doc. he saud there was more of the cream inside. Is that normal? besides that I felt sad while using the biest.
I have had my blood tested. Dhea was high 184. estadiol 7 progest .9 test 54

any suggestions

Hi there,
I think that beyond 60 is getting into more risky territory.
Can you tell us why you feel that you need hormones at this stage? What are your worst symptoms?
What are you hoping that hormone replacement will do for you?


Cheers,

XIII

Hi and welcome

I wonder why you wish to start HRT if you are 10 years post meno?
Are you still getting bad hot flushes or is it for your bones?
I am 57 and three years ago had cancer of the uterus. I had my ovaries removed with the hysterectomy and following that, of course my menopausal symptoms were horrendous. I was not allowed any HRT because the cancer was hormonally driven.
I had the all clear from the cancer a couple of weeks ago and the doctor wanted me to start on low dose estradiol. I have a few hot flushes now and then, and vaginal dryness but apart from that I am feeling pretty ok. He said it would be good for my bones in the future. (I couldn't be bothered to argue but i had a bone scan not so long ago and my bones are fantastically strong).
Anyway-I thought I would give it a go because I would like to be rid of the flushes-but honestly I was soooo ill I had to stop within a week. I felt agitated and depressed.I think from what I have read that when your body has low estrogen the receptors eventually die and then of course if you try to put it in your body it will give a strong adverse reaction.
I am unable to use any hormone cream vaginally either as that too affects me systemically.

Maybe you have been without hormones for so long your body, like mine, has adjusted? It is not essential at our age to use HRT unless we feel better for it. I certainly feel much better without it-in fact I am feeling fine these days and I manage my vaginal dryness with Replens and Vitamin E oil. I keep fit by walking and swimming lots and am not overweight.

I don't understand about the levels of your blood test which you mention. Maybe someone else will come along who knows more about that.
I would say, though in your case they may be pretty meaningless. Obviously if you are post meno you will have low levels of estrogen and progesterone but that is going to be normal for you-given your age isn't it?

Its about how you are feeling and it just may be your body isn't going to like a sudden rush of hormones after so long without them.
Good luck anyway and I hope you get some more answers

janet c

I just want to let you know that my sister who is 72 just started taking BHRT because she was still getting hot flashes and her heart was racing. She is now on all of the hormones and thyroid medication and says she is feeling wonderful. Her blood test came back with zero on all of the hormones in the beginning. They are now up to good numbers and she feels GREAT(and this was in a matter of weeks). Decisions, decisions!!!

Thanks!

Why I am thinking at this stage....let me count the ways lol I toughed it thinking it safer not to play with hormones. think I made a big mistake. also other problems I was ill in 1998 with who knows what!
dxing myself I'd say chronic fatigue syndrome. then IBS 2003.
So now I have osteoporosis....Have not slept normal since 1998. no sex life by choice since a bladder infection within 48 hrs if I do. all the antibiotics for uti's have screwed up my gut. I take probiotics for at least 9 yrs. think it helps but is not a cure. vaginal thinning is uncomfortable, it does not feel dry so lubricants are not the answer.
I have been using soy milk instead of dairy for 5 yrs. read it may help with osteo. it helps high cholesterol issues.
a few yrs ago my testosterone was 95 I thought that was good for osteo. well, I think I covered it.
If anyone has tried bhrt after post 10 yrs or 60 yr I would love to hear.

Schev Wow! did she see one of the famous docs?

She saw one of the Docs on the best thyroid Dr. list in California. He put her on sublinqual 1mg estradiol, 100 mg progesterone pill, DHEA, and testosterone(don't know amounts of these) along with Armour thyroid. All of these are taken daily. I think this Dr. is listed in the back of Suzanne Somers book Breakthrough too. My sister just married a man 10 years her junior so I think she wanted to be able to keep up with him. She is truly amazing!!

Bev, did your sisters doc start her with statins before getting her on the hrt? My doc does that for any woman whose been off or without hormones for up to 5 years post. Sounds like she's doing well. Great news. Regards, JZZ

He just started her directly on the BHRT. She had previously had a hysterectomy many years ago and had been on Premarin for a number of years but went off of it when the HRT scare happened(Was that in 2002?) She just started the BHRT in 2009 and had never been on any statin drugs.
Bev

Ohhhh, ok. Now it makes sense. She had already been on hrt and only had a short 6 year break. Her arteries were still "flexed up" and in good shape. My doc likes to use a statin (short term) before adding hrt to women who've been without hormones for awhile. Sounds like she is definitely in good hands with her doc. Great news for her. Kind regards, JZZ

Sounds like she went to the right doc. even after 7 yrs so some do it. I don't know about statins being any help with arteries flexing up. more for high cholesterol and anti inflamatory benefits.
thanks for the info. Dr Reiss in his book says if not using hrt for years then using progesterone with estrogen is protective.

I know a woman who is 68 and just started, again, on Premarin. She had been on it years ago, went off, then after many years, her hot flashes returned, so her doctor put her back on Premarin. (He called it Secondary Menopause?)

Dear 'bklyngal'
I think I know where you are coming from.I was fully Menopausal at 39 and still on the HRT at 57.I did try to wean off for a year,bad decision.Went back on the HRT-Anjeliqu-and after about six months started feeling the benefits..
I have a friend of 68 still on HRT,very healthy and happy.Am not forcing them down anyone's throat.Have done my research,refuse to flash and flush for anyone!and have regular check-ups.
Am careful with my diet and aslo do Yoga twice a week which is both calming and centering.

So think about it carefully,discuss all the options with your Gyno.and then try.You hopefully find something that works for you.

Keep us Posted
And Good Luck
Elizabeth

Well, I guess the over 60 users are probably out there. a friend she just turned 60 she recently went to several docs. one said no way on estrogen it caused cancer, 2nd doc says no because she smokes and causes blood clots and gave her testosterone which caused her to scream at her husband.
she is going to a 3rd next week.
my gyno gave me biest for vaginal use, he thinks bio estrogen and premarin are the same, and could cause cancer, he used to be ok with progest. but not anymore.
I know it is my decision. even alternative docs have different views.
My husband started bio hormones last month. easier for men! I told him to go to one of the Famous docs. who happens to be the gyn/ob delivered my daughter 27 yrs ago. when he wasn't famous lol
there is a ongoing study with bio hormones but the age group is 50 to 59. which to me means they are looking at premarin and bio estrogen as the same given WHI study.
anyone used vaginal biest? did the vanishing cream vanish? or do you have to wash it out after
a time?

I am 57 and just started on bioH. Can't help it. I haven't had a period in 16 months, and never had any 'symptoms' so I thought I had escaped the dreaded M. 4 months ago I was slammed by a zillion symptoms, including adrenal flushes from hell. I was basically an invalid, and was occasionally hospitalized my symptoms were so severe. My will to live is slowly coming back. Don't care about cancer, stroke or heart attacks, I just want some sort of life back!

Bklyngal,
After surgical menopause (retained one ovary) I used nothing for about seven years. Eventually I developed almost all the meno symptoms one could possibly have. I started with a very low dose estrogen patch and slowly increased the dose a few times until I found what suited me. My only regret is not using estrogen right after my surgery. If you do decide to start hrt, you will also need to replace progesterone to protect the endometrial lining. Just want to add that if your biest is 80/20 it contains mostly estriol, the weak estrogen. Most benefits (bone, arterial health, brain,) come from using estradiol.

Just wanted to say you rock sista' ! This is what we should all want and not care about the rest.

It is so frustrating sometimes.
Plantlife and Gavalia lucky, I think you had no symptoms since your hormones were up til 55 yo. sorry you crashed. think most important in hrt is Balancing all hormones. its the one shot hormone replacement I think is the problem. My husband is seeing a doc (easier for men) spending a fortune but doing it all. he is on small amount of dhea, melatonin, test., and now he has added hgh! Also vitamins. he was going to the gym for at least 5 yrs and nadda lol I would say Why do you go ? his belly wasn't shrinking. Now he goes to the gym and I can see the difference. his belly is smaller and his muscles are looking like he worked out.
I have been using biest and putting it on top of pubic area since I cannot put it inside ...it just accumulates. yuk. not yet adjusted it. my gyn was willing to give me biest because I complained of uti's all the time. but is afraid of progesterone. I have used progest cream but not with success. it makes me irritable. The biest has made a difference in that my vagina looks younger lol wish it would make my face look younger.