Comments on: The Change – Part 2

By: Liz

Liz — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:26:13 +0000

MWM – the most essential thing about alternative medicine or herbs is to see a practitioner who is board certified and educated in the practice. It’s virtually impossible to simply walk into a drugstore and buy an herb or root and know what you are getting and more importantly, if it’s going to work for you. Herbal medicine is medicine – it’s just available over the counter. See what Elaine Stern has to say on navigating the maze, parts 1 and 2 at flashfree. Good luck!

By: midwifemuse

midwifemuse — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:00:16 +0000

MoTB – If they are as efficient I will certainly go for patches. Friend has implants, being a wimp as far as needles etc. being poked through my skin I don’t think I will be going in that direction. Ultimately it’s all down to my G.P though, if he favours one thing then I expect that is what I’ll end up with, if anything.

By: midwifemuse

midwifemuse — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:57:29 +0000

geepeemum – Thank you for your input, it’s good to have an idea of how positive the pros are, and visa versa. I think it all sounds more positive now. Really sounds as if they balance out on the whole.

By: midwifemuse

midwifemuse — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:54:01 +0000

Vic – I thought 3 and 4 sounded quite good. Hubby thought 4 was extremely positive!

By: midwifemuse

midwifemuse — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:52:42 +0000

Miz Liz – I’m as wary of ‘alternative’ medicine as I am of medicating with hormones. Several friends have tried assorted roots, berries and herbs and it really doesn’t seem to have helped at all. I’ll see what the Doc says tomorrow, he knows me and how badly I did on oral contraceptives so he may have suggestions for me.

By: MoTB

MoTB — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:34:25 +0000

If you decide on HRT, go for patches not pills

By: geepeemum

geepeemum — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:29:45 +0000

Out of your pro’s I think 1 and 2 are definitely true. 3 is subjectively true for a lot of women and 4 is true for some but not all (unless you take livial/tibolone which is licensed for it). Other pros I think are reduced risk of colorectal cancer.
Oh and most HRT is no longer made from horses’ urine but if it begins with “prem-” then it is so avoid those ones….
Out of your con’s:
1 is still debatable with the American study being such an odd population. But we can’t really say one way or the other yet. 2 definitely true but actual increased risk v small… BP doesn’t tend to be too much of an issue. Studies show menopasual women on HRT gain an average of 1/2 stone and menopausal women off HRT gain an average of 1/2 stone! HRT women tend to gain it on hips and non-HRT women tend to gain it around the middle. Don’t know about hair loss and increased facial hair; I guess the progesterone might make that happen, not had anyone complain about it. So far! Aggressiveness – I think you are back to PMT and women respond much as they used to pre-menopause. You could always go for something like tridestra where the PMT only comes every 3 months!

By: Vic

Vic — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:28:49 +0000

I’m thinking pro 3 is an excellent one. Shame the rest of the cons don’t look so good. Good luck with finding the right thing to help.

By: Miz Liz

Miz Liz — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 21:13:07 +0000

Thanks for the plug! I think that HRT is a personal decision, one that I personally, couldn’t digest. I’ve been using topical progesterone with no problem but past estrogen woes just made me think, no way! Fortunately, I have a great chinese medicine practitioner who has prescribed just the right mix of herbs and I am happy to report that after a few months, well, the night sweats have all but disappeared! Yay! Love your post.