It was back in April that I mentioned that I was going to try bioidentical hormones. Many of you responded that they were working so well for you and some responded that they didn’t work so well. I’m in that camp where they didn’t work so well. I tried using them almost 3 months and I have progressively felt worse while using them.
I never thought I felt bad or needed more energy. I was hoping to have less hot flashes and hoping my joints would feel better. The pharmacist suggested several improvements I should notice and honestly, I didn’t notice any improvements in anything.
My joints hurt worse and I ended up seeing a podiatrist who took x-rays and said I have “deep arthritis” in my feet, bone is against bone and surgery is really the only thing that’s going to make any great improvement. I’ve been limping on my foot so much that now my hip hurts.
Using the hormone cream, the hot flashes seemed to get worse. The pharmacist would tell me to use one less “click” of this one or that one and in the end, I was back on the same formula he had started me on and I just wan’t seeing any improvement. I’m wondering if, because it’s been so long since I’ve taken hormone supplements or produced my own hormones, if maybe that’s why I didn’t see better results.
Anyway . . I feel better not using them so . . I’m not using them! And, of course, if you’re using them and having great results, that’s wonderful. I am, by no means, saying they don’t do wonders for some people.
Mary Jo says
Isn’t “maturing” (or maybe I should be realistic and say getting older) fun!
Bev Gunn says
I understand the foot pain! Had surgery end of December to fix a bone on bone-now I can walk great and only have a little pain when it gets ready to rain! (This is after that foot being painful before rain since I injured it when I was 19!)
Hormone replacement therapy didn’t help me much and I spent a year experimenting with various therapies! Finally stuck with black cohash and survived the hot flashes and night sweats with that-a plant hormone similiar to estrogen! Sometimes the only thing that helped was an ice pack under my shoulders and a wet towel on my chest!
Linda says
I have found the cooling towels work great for hot flashes, or just getting overheated from the hot weather. I would highly recommend one wrapped around the neck. They are amazing!
JudyL says
Had never heard of cooling towels. Have some ordered. I think they’ll be great for Vince when he’s outside working. Thanks!
Sherrill says
Stuff kinda happens that way for me, too. What works for so many doesn’t work for me. 🙁 I’ve had eyes that HURT 24/7 for many years now and no dr. has been able to figure out why or what to do. Tried many things to no avail. The most recent eye dr. put me on steroid drops as well as serum drops (made from my blood). I asked the lady that drew the blood and the compounding pharmacy how well they worked for people they’d interacted with. Both said that all but 2 or 3 people were very pleased. Now it’s 3 or 4 and I’m SO disappointed!!
JudyL says
It’s always so disappointing when you have such high expectations/hopes and then don’t get the results you had hoped to get. I’m sorry!
katie z. says
Thank you for the follow up. It’s so nice to hear about the end result of various trials!
Diana G says
Hot flashes ! Harrrumph ..Men should have them once and then they would know !LOL
Guess I will ask the doc for a horromonal cream again and see if it helps AGAIN !LOL
katie says
My Dad had prostate cancer and for that they gave him female hormones. It shrinks the prostate, Because of that he got Hot Flashes.. not fun.. big guy sweating all over the place..
Rose says
My doctor would have prescribed blood pressure pills for my hot flashes but couldn’t because my BP was too low. Instead she gave a prescription for a low dosage (37.5 mg) of Effexor-XR which normally is used for depression. It worked great and I felt no effects except the hot flashes stopped. Stayed with Effexor for several years until I ran out of the prescription and realized hot flashes had stopped.
JudyL says
I’m not one to take meds unless I have no other alternative and right now, the hot flashes don’t occur often . . probably less than twice a week, and they aren’t nearly as severe as they were 20 years ago so I’ll live with them. Glad the meds worked for you and the hot flashes have completely stopped. That’s great!
Julie in Tucson, AZ says
I used Evening Primrose Oil capsules as recommended by the nurse practitioner at the clinic. They were readily available at Costco, drug stores, etc. They tamed the hot flashes for me! I will be eternally grateful. And at this point, the night sweats have ceased. Men just don’t understand how miserable this part of life is for us.
Stephani in N. TX says
I had an early complete hysterectomy for various and serious reasons in my early forties. Replacement estrogen in pill form raised my BP a bunch. Another alternative estrogen supply is estrogen injections. The discomfort of the shot is minimal, but the biggie is that the injection form bypasses the stomach and liver and therefore avoids all those complications. It goes straight to the heart of the matter with low, low side effects. Goodbye hot flashes and night sweats and personality issues that come with menopause. I breezed through. I was a medical worker beginning with OB/GYN patients is how I had any clue. Low cost, low trouble, I looked forward to monthly shots for their benefit, continued into my 60’s.
Deb Miller says
I am using Emu Oil for joint pain. Kind of costly @ $30 a month, but it really works for me. I can tell when I haven’t taken it ( I forget, A lot) and get right back on it. Arth. in the wrist, and god knows what is with my ankle!
A friend turned me on to it, she loves it, and has no spare money to spend on meds that don’t work. And it has all the good stuff like fish oil, without the bad taste.
Gave up on hot flash remedies. Just deal with them. Half are psychological for me, and there ain’t no changing THAT! And yes, proven, like having a flash when the furnace kicks on! Or just because the sun is shining in a window I sit by, but the air is on! Some are legit.
katie says
I have tried it all Effexor .. killed the happy ending, Prescription deodorant, don’t shave using it! Black cohosh worked for about 6 months. The one thing that did work was Cool Flash it shortened and lightened them. But you can only get it on line, so I got some and put them every where, work, side of bed, purse, and car. I’m on my 9th year of this stuff. Yes, they are not so often but there are times when I still feel like a just walked thru a sprinkler. I have a feeling it is going to last awhile since my Mom, who is about to turn 88 and she still sweats at night and has the occasional hot flash… yay…