Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Testimonial

Since Suzanne Somers published her book, The Sexy Years, women have been clamoring for information on bioidentical hormones. If this treatment could relieve Suzanne Somers’ menopausal symptoms and breathe fire back into her lagging sex life, what could it do for us mere mortals? 

There’s no question that bioidentical hormones have advantages over synthetic hormones. However, in order to have a hormone regimen that is truly effective, most doctors recommend an individualized approach that starts with lab tests, and includes prescriptions for precise dosages of hormones from a compounding pharmacist.

Women to Women, a medical clinic founded by Christiane Northrup, MD, Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP, Mary Ellen Fenn, MD, and Annie Rafter, NP, has a very informative Website addressing bioidentical hormone replacement.  According to Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP, 85% of women can rebalance their hormones with medical-grade supplements, over-the-counter-bioidentical progesterone, and dietary and lifestyle changes.

However, some women just don’t seem to get relief from anything short of prescription-strength hormone supplements.  My friend Sue is one of those.  While her treatment has been very costly, there are less expensive options that have proven effective for others. 

Here is Sue’s story:
“It was time to try just about anything. My husband and I had been married for 18 years. At 53 he would sit drinking his coffee in the same easy chair every day, unable to get excited about anything—whether work, play or sex. He was lacking in energy, willpower and passion for life.

I had PMS mood swings and anxiety. Every day I got cold at 10am. I’d ratchet up the heat. Layers of sweaters--even a hat and scarf in the house--wouldn’t warm me up. If ever I ate anything cold (even yogurt), my body temperature would drop drastically. I was usually depressed—and I had terrible pain with my periods.

Sleep was a chore. I had itching all over my body as soon as my head hit the pillow—and it kept me up all night. The one thing I did still have was sex drive—a problem, since my husband didn’t seem to have much interest at all.

I had read Dr. John R. Lee’s book, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause, (go to www.johnleemd.com) and had been using bioidentical progesterone cream from the health food store, for about a year. That had helped somewhat but I still had many things going wrong.

One morning I saw an interview on TV with Suzanne Sommers, who was promoting her new book, “The Sexy Years”—which is all about bioidentical hormone therapy. This was exactly what I was looking for. Suzanne had made her husband do it with her and it made all the difference in their sex lives.

That was all I needed. I went online to look for a physician who worked with bioidentical hormone replacement. I went on Dr. Lee’s Website and found Dr. Bruce Jones M.D. in Hinsdale, Illinois and set up an appointment.

Dr. Jones uses blood test levels to monitor not only the sex hormones, but others like DHEA, thyroid, growth hormone, and whatever else is suspect. The initial lab results showed my testosterone level was low. Yes, even women need testosterone. It’s gives us our sex drive, our energy, and keeps our skin from wrinkling. My husband’s testosterone level was even lower than mine!

My husband gave himself shots of testosterone each week, and the change was dramatic. The first week, I woke to hear the thump-thump of him pounding fence posts into solid clay at 6am. His energy level increased and in just one summer, he poured a cement pad for our hot tub, built a flagstone patio and a new deck for the front of our house.

I started taking bioidentical progesterone orally, along with an application of low-level testosterone cream. My labs showed that I was still making ample estrogen at the time. My thyroid had been low, so I also started taking thyroid supplements. In addition, Dr. Jones prescribed DHEA, melatonin, all sorts of nutritional supplements, and a special diet for both of us.

Once I began my hormone therapy the cold spells ended. The night itches were gone. I felt calmer and had fewer and less drastic mood swings. And the sex?  It was true. That good ole’ testosterone proved the missing component to our lackluster sex lives. The diet was not only effective in making us feel better, we were astounded at how quickly our bodies shed fat and added muscle mass. Dr. Jones had put us on a high protein, low carb, low fat diet.

Results were outstanding. In three months, I lost 30 pounds of fat and gained 12 pounds of muscle, for a net loss on the scale of 18 pounds. My husband went from 30% body fat to 16%. We looked and felt terrific. Since my husband loves good food and enjoys cooking, he had fun creating recipes that fit the diet guidelines.

Just about a year into the program, my estrodiol levels were low so we added estrogen to my regimen. That brought back my juices, and a glow that I had not experienced in years. In fact, the target hormone levels Dr. Jones uses are those considered ideal for a 35 year old. I actually feel younger than 35—and my friends, who are generally ten years younger, can’t keep up with my energy.

We’re still doing the entire program, which requires blood tests every three months, lots of supplements, and attention to our diet. It’s expensive, costing us each about $9000 a year. But life is great! I’d rather spend my money on my health and well being than anything else in the world.

Comments

[Judy Hosler]

Go to sottopelletherapy.com, our doctor's web site for bioidentical hormone therapy in implantable pellet form. No guesswork with pellets. I go every 4 mos. & pay $295. My husband's testosterone is much more expensive, costing about $700 every 4 mos. What a difference in every facet of our lives it makes & we're like 2 teenagers.

[Stella]

I have been recieving BHRT in the form of pellets for 3 months now.
When I began I had not had a period for 5 years. I had controlled my menopausal symptoms with supplements, a large dose of adrenal, thyroid and pituitary besides all the anti-oxidants. I used valium for sleep and anxiety. Exercising was a way of life. It all stopped working when I stopped taking the supplements and valium. I quickly gained 35 pounds on synthetic hormones from my long-time OG/GYN.
I have added my supplements back in and am trying to be patient with the 35 pounds that won't budge. I love the hormone therapy and feel much better. I know that there is not any one solution, but the balancing of hormones has made a wonderful differance in my life. I am still getting my body saturated, so I absorb the estridiol and testosterone very quickly. It will even out before too long.

[Jodie Chaplin]

Great BLOG Nancy! I am 56 and have tried almost every option available, supplements, injections, synthetic, natural,etc., etc.. I spent thousands and thousands of dollars trying to find a program that actually worked and provided the relief I, and every woman like me for that matter, deserves. I have been using a program called BioHRT (which I found surfing the web, website is biohrt.com)for the last six months and I have to say this program is the best of the best! I had my hormone levels tested through my saliva, discussed my results with a Dr. Raza (who I might ad specializes in anti-aging and women's hormones, unlike some of the doctors I have dealt with). Dr. Raza was able to prescribe me an all natural cream that was just for me and I only have to apply it on my inner arm or thigh once a day before I go to work! The results and relief have been rapid and outstanding:) My personal life has undergone dramatic changes. My marriage has gone from talkess nights with my husband to a brand new romance reminiscent of our college days. My students and co-workers even enjoy the new me! I mean it was almost startling how drastic the change was. I always dreamed that i could return to my normal self. I love what my new program has done for me. I would recommend it to anyone who suffers the way I use to. I know how hard it is to find relief and I am telling you first hand bio-identical hormones will change your life!

[Cathryn Sætre]

I too, found Suzanne Somers book, Ageless, and since I have stopped having periods since last March, I found a compounding pharmacy and had the saliva test done. I was low in Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone, and DHEA. He wants to put me on Biest sublingual tablets. What is the difference between the tablets and the cream?