Connect
← Return to Help finding HRT over 10 years post menopause
Discussion
Help finding HRT over 10 years post menopause
Osteoporosis & Bone Health | Last Active: Jun 26 11:56am | Replies (103)Comment receiving replies
May I ask how old you are? I ask because at 78 I consider myself to be in quality of life over quantity of life mode. I went into spontaneous early menopause at 38....just like a faucet turned off and never turned on again. I didn't have a clue about osteoporosis risks due to loss of hormones nor how menopause would effect other important parts of my life especially loss of libido. Decades later came osteopenia the docs advice for dealing with it..... don't fall. I just went on with my life and about 12 years ago began drug treatment for Osteoporosis. When the information began to break about the flawed women's health initiative study I began to wake up. I was pissed that I had lost so much because doctor's were using that study to deny women hrt/bhrt rather than look at the whole picture. So at 77 I found a functional medicine provider who was delighted to start me on bhrt with testosterone. It is important that I mention that my mother died of ovarian cancer at 48. I was never tested but I felt confident in my choice to start bhrt . I desperately wanted my libido back and wanted any other positives that came along with it.
My path is not for everyone. I had to explore how I might feel if I did develop breast cancer that Might repeat Might be related to use of bhrt. The actuarial tables speculate that the average age of death for someone like me is 84. I am a devout pragmatic when it comes to my own death. I have no desire to live until 85 or 90 let alone 100 (ghastly thought). So I dove in and am very happy. I'm having better sex than I did in my 20s or 30s. I don't have urine incontinence or senile purpura any more. For me this is quality of life. It is obviously not for everyone. Just offering my story if it is helpful in any way. Good luck in your decision making.
Replies to "@jozer May I ask how old you are? I ask because at 78 I consider myself..."
@gravity3, When I was in college, I had a sore spot on my shin and the doctor thought it might be a blood clot, so I was told not to take birth control pills. I had two pregnancies without any problems and didn't pursue HRT after the Women's Health Initiative (what a misnomer) recommendations came out.
I was diagnosed with osteoporosis at 62 and have avoided medication. Instead, I've focused on protein, exercise, and ONERO. Recently, I found a new endocrinologist and asked about HRT. I'm now 70. She felt the best window for benefit had passed but wasn't opposed to it. Because of my possible clot history, she referred me to a hematologist. After a thorough evaluation, he felt my risk was low with a patch, so I was prescribed an estradiol patch and progesterone.
I just started this month, and so far, so good. Like many here, I value quality of life and wish everyone well, whatever path they choose.
@gravity3 I get so mad about that damned study. There are days I wish we could all file a class action suit against them...but that's just wasted energy. Thanks for sharing your pragmatic perspective. I had written off HRT (I'm 65 and about 15 yrs postmenopausal) but I think it's time to rethink my thinking. I don't know much about functional medicine so it's time to learn something new!
Connect
@gravity3 I am 68...love your posts; always helpful. I also am pissed; why can't women get the health care they need??? Since the prime period of bone loss is 5-7 years after menopause (could be 10% plus) why are we clinically ignoring this? How about a DEXA (cheap test with insurance) like we get mammograms? Why in the world do we wait until the magical age of 65 for our first DEXA? 50% of women over 50 have low bone density with perhaps 30% full blown osteoporosis. That's an awful lot of women (sorry gentlemen! I know you get osteo also) experiencing poor bone health and we are not testing? That's like malpractice in my opinion; where is the simple lecture from a PCP or gyne about how to watch our bone health at menopause, make sure you get nutrition for bone health, exercise for bone health. Would have been nice to have that information (which the medical profession knew) 15 years ago. "Don't fall" is not medical advice. Love your attitude; (and the positives for you of HRT!) I will be asking about HRT in a lot more detail next time I see the gyne (coming up).