Bioidentical hormones and menopause

[Maggie]

I was at my gyn's office today for some routine maintenance and we were having a little chat, during the course of which, she suggested that I might want to have a discussion with a compounding pharmacist she likes to discuss bioidentical hormones.

She's very open to all sorts of things. Based on my own journey from just short of 170 to 110-115, and the wonderful lab results that have followed, she recommends Atkins to all her overweight patients.

I've been on unopposed estrogen, via patch, for several years now. We tried intermittent progesterone, but it made me feel like cr*p (physically and mentally) during the few days a month I took it. Consequently, I made a deal with her that I'd let her do a uterine biopsy whenever the notion struck her, since the only possible downside to unopposed estrogen is proliferation of the endometrium.

Anyone else have experience with bioidenticals or compounding pharmacists?

[BertaDott]

I have not personally had experience with biodenticals or compounding pharmacits. However, my daughter-in-law in AZ has and is really impressed...because it's all natural.. etc... etc. Wish I could give you more information, other than she is pleased and has been doing this for a couple of years.

[BC]

Maggie, I've used bioidentical formulations for about 9 years. My experience has been positive with the formulations and with the pharmacies I've used. It's been much tougher to find a gyne both comfortable and knowledgeable in how to use these resources. I'm a great believer that "one size fits all" hrt, as practiced by big pharma and the profession indoctrinated by them is a total crock, anyway. Having a gyne comfortable with the idea of bioidenticals makes you 10 steps ahead of most of us.

The benefits to me include being able to test levels on as frequent a basis as I need or want (through saliva testing) so that there's adequate monitoring. Along with any symptom feedback and other monitoring (exams, ultrasound, etc) I feel confident I'm as safe or more so than most.

While some "local" pharmacies do compound, there can be an advantage going with a national compounding pharmacy that specializes or has extensive experience with hrt, at least initially. They have experience with the testing kits they use, and can give the user and/or physician not only results, but even specific recommendations. One pharmacy I used, has or had a specific program in which recommendations based on testing were coordinated by a nurse practitioner to the physician (copy to patient), helpful if the physician is not well versed in bioidenticals and willing to have someone give some guidance. The reference range data is now extensive, and the reports some of the testing companies/phamacies can give you are really interesting.

The other benefit of using an established compounding pharmacy is that they are proficient in the the many, many methods of delivery which can be used to individualize and optimize treatment.

Of course, you can also buy a testing kit from some of the companies w/o a script. You'll get the data without the recommendations, if you and your gyne prefer to jump right in.

I'm not sure what other info would be of interest, Maggie, but I'd be happy to answer any questions.

[Maggie]

Thanks, so much, Brenda.

My gyn is a total gem. I hooked up with her years ago, when I thought that (perhaps) I ought to be institutionalized due to my daily getting close to melt-down. I told my beloved judge to kiss my royal Irish arse and said I needed some time off. My buddy, Dr. P, said he thought I ought to see a gyn before he sent me to a shrink. (I was in my late 40's w/perfectly regular periods, but like non-stop PMS) At my first appointment I was so screwed up that I gave her a nice demonstration of my chronic rage/despair state. She slapped an estrogen patch on my butt and told me that if I didn't feel fine in 3 days, to go get a psych referral.

I was better in three days than I'd been in a YEAR.

We tried adding various kinds of progesterone, to oppose the estrogen. But I found that during the days when I took the progesterone (regardless of the source) I went right back to feeling mentally uncomfortable with myself. As far as I could tell, the only disadvantage of unopposed estrogen was endometrial proliferation. As I was still menstruating at the time (and since I know that uterine cancer is extremely slow to develop) I agreed to an endometrial biopsy whenever the notion struck her.

When I went back for my one year checkup, she was freaked to find that I weighed less than at my initial visit, since she was expecting a weight gain. I had started low carbing the previous October. It was down again for the next two visits and has stayed in my range since then.

Dr. M is an incredibly open physician. Not many like her.

As for the pharmacist, we have a local guy who claims to be one, but she really doesn't like him. She's very happy with some guy in Sayre, PA and says he's wonderful. I haven't called him yet to set anything in motion, since I've been a bit distracted with my mouth problems.

I really appreciate the info and will report back when I get back to that "end" of things.

[BC]

Yes, indeed, one end at a time! I'm looking forward to hearing about your adventures in bio-idendicals if you decide to try that route. Good luck!

[KerryRobertson]

I'm really curious to find out what happened?

I take bio-identicals and love them. I dont get estrogen right now because the doc feels like I have plenty in my fat that will be used as I lose weight. So I get progesterone, test, dhea/ preg. I feel much better with them and lose weight easier too I think.

BC, i'm wondering what national pharmacy you are referring to? I have saliva testing with ZRT a couple years ago and I think I want to have done again to see where I am but I thought losing weight may change everything up so maybe I should WEIGHT (lol). My NP doesnt really know as much about bhrt as I would like but she is willing to rx them. I loaned her a couple of my books on the subject that I got from a compounding pharmacy in Alabama but I'm in Utah now so lost my resource.

klr

PS: I know this thread is a couple years old but I thought it was worth responding to.

[BC]

Kerry, at the time I used Madison Pharmacy Associates which is now called Women's Health America, located in Madison Wisconsin. There's also another rather famous pharmacy in Madison, Women's International Pharmacy. The latter also has a facility in Arizona.

Women's Health
Compounding pharmacy - Bioidentical hormones – BHRT – Women’s International Pharmacy

You may actually have a compounding pharmacist relatively near you. If so, they generally carry saliva test kits, often will interpret results and are able to refer you to physicians in your are knowledgeable and are quite willing to work with physicians who are learning how to prescribe bhrt.International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists: Home

There's also a very interesting Yahoo Group called Hormones and Health, Naturally. They are a knowledgeable group and can provide resources which are probably more up to date than mine. That is, if you don't mind the whole Yahoo Group thing

[KerryRobertson]

Thank you BC for the info. I looked at the website for womens international and will call this week. I get my BHRT from compound pharmacy I guess I'm looking for a pharmacy that understands the recommendations from the Saliva test results that can help my doctor know what I need to fine tune. She is willing to write RX for it but she doesnt really understand the fine tuning or importance. (my friend went and she gave them premarin so I know she doesnt totally "get it")

Thanks again for the resource. I can get the ZRT saliva test kit/blood spot and my ins will pay for it--just want the help w/applying the info..

Kerry