Hi everyone..I just got back on line, and will be posting my new e-mail addy.  I have since had a breast lump removed and although it was benign, they did find atypical hyperplasia.  I cannot have any estrogen, and I have since gone back on my natural progesterone....Im NOT doing well.  I did not know that I should not have gone cold turkey..my doc was on vacation..but it has been 6 wks. without estrogen, and Im hot flashing around the clock...SOAKING WET at night, and more miserable than I can describe.  My doc is not even open to natural things like soy or cohosh......Should I try another progesterone cream..WHAT can I do?? I am more than exhausted.....I do have a chillow.....and I am not doing well as I said.  Everything aches.....I have Lupus as well.  I am open to any e-mails, my new addy is Hopefloats@metrocast.net.   I will take ANY suggestions if anyone here has the same diagnoses/OR knows something I don't.  I DO thank everyone here in advance.......I need to go dry off the sweat AGAIN  :>(  Thanks!!  Hopefloats

I have the same thing & can't take HRT...don't want to anyhow. I'm in the STAR study..see my post on hot flashes & the moon. For flashes I can use a glass of soy milk a day, STAR advises vitamin C with bioflavonoids, 200 mg vitamin b complex daily,& vitamin E 800 mg/day . I also use evening primrose oil 500-800mg/day. They all seem to help.Regarding soy,I'm only to use soy foods in moderation & no soy powder concentrates or tablets.

Hi Hopefloats,So sorry about your unbearable symptoms! You poor dear !I know the black cohosh works beautifully for hot flashes. It does take a few months to really kick in. As far as I know it doesn't contain any estrogen so should be safe. Same with the evening primrose oil like Guenwyvar suggested. There's also don quai, but I believe that one does contain plant estrogens.I use 50 mg. of standardized black cohosh twice a day with meals. I saw improvement after a month and complete relief from hot flashes after 2 months. Let us know how you make out. Maybe you could ask the pharmascist if black cohosh would be safe for you.

Hugs,Suzie

Remember that Dearest has compiled a wonderful list of things to help us through this difficult time - soy, herbs, vitamins, all kinds of different things that work.  Check it out by clicking here for the Power Surge Recommendations Page.