Help finding HRT over 10 years post menopause

@cliffdweller
Here is the podcast on
HRT after 60:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-streichers-inside-information-menopause-midlife/id1615785832

@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).

@jozer

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.

@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).

@jozer So much truth in your questions.

I just listened to this today:

You might want to follow drsharonmalone.com - she is a solid traditional medicine mindset, but has the "prevention" desire that Dr. Mark Hyman focuses on.

Two things they both agreed upon is that prevention (HRT) needs to start early - well before menopause years and immediately for someone that has gone into menopause early.

The encouragement I left with is that I do not need to fret...at 78 - there is no benefit of starting HRT at my age to prevent anything: Osteo, heart disease, dementia

My second encouragement is that the risks were over blown. It is a very small percentage of women that develop heart issues without HRT (and she is pro HRT)...a deceitful marketing theme we were fed.

@jozer , I'm angry and in complete agreement with you as well. I'm 68 as well and have been stalling going to my gyn because I'm afraid she'll deny hrt (16 years post menopause). I had a CAC test two years ago and it was 0. The only issue I have is osteoporosis which I just completed Forteo with a 13% gain in density. I don't have heart issues, diabetes or any other medical issue.

Please keep us posted on your gyn appointment outcome.

@leeosteo I am sorry to hear about the difficulty u r having getting a script for HRT. I am 67 and also had difficulty. My gynecologist finally agreed so I am thinking that would be ur best bet. I read that u were on Forteo and I was recently prescribed Forteo but I am so afraid of the side effects. Can I ask if u experienced any bad side effects from it. I have heard that many people gain 10 to 40 lbs I their stomach and it is difficult to lose. My osteoporosis is very severe and I just dont know what to do. Thank u and hopefully u will be able to get an HRT prescription from ur gynecologist. Wishing u good luck and healthy bones!

@goseve

I used forteo for two years. No noticeable side effects. Moderate results.
Try a functional medicine provider if you are having difficulty with bhrt/hrt.

@leeosteo I am sorry to hear about the difficulty u r having getting a script for HRT. I am 67 and also had difficulty. My gynecologist finally agreed so I am thinking that would be ur best bet. I read that u were on Forteo and I was recently prescribed Forteo but I am so afraid of the side effects. Can I ask if u experienced any bad side effects from it. I have heard that many people gain 10 to 40 lbs I their stomach and it is difficult to lose. My osteoporosis is very severe and I just dont know what to do. Thank u and hopefully u will be able to get an HRT prescription from ur gynecologist. Wishing u good luck and healthy bones!