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1. Interview a woman who has or is going through menopause and has decided to take hormones. Allow her to share with you the reasons she has chosen to take them and how she feels it is beneficial for her health.
A few years ago my 47 year old friend, “Mari”, had a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. This hysterectomy literally jettisoned her right into menopause. She shared with me her emotions, medications and experiences. As soon as left the hospital, she was given a prescription of Premarin, a medication which only contains the estrogen hormone. She took this continuously for about 3 years and then due to lack of health insurance had to stop taking it for a few months. Only then, without the medication, did she realized how this medication had been helping her. For all the months she was with out health insurance she suffered tremendously from hot flushes, depression, anxiety, memory loss, and decrease libido. When she finally got to see a doctor again, he put her on Estradiol, hormone medication in a patch form. She is now feeling “normal and happy” again. Mari is aware of the potential risk associated with this medication however feels that it’s a risk worth taking because without it, she is a “wreck.”
I can only relate to some of Mari’s experiences. I had a total hysterectomy where both uterus and cervix were removed. I was told that even though my ovaries were left, when the time comes I may need some form of hormone therapy. Until then I am managing by following the guidelines of exercising, keeping a low body fat percentage, take a calcium supplement, manage stress and watch my diet. My goal is to delay as long as possible the onset of menopause, and once the inevitable arrives, manage it with as little hormone therapy as possible, while keeping all my options in view.
A few years ago my 47 year old friend, “Mari”, had a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. This hysterectomy literally jettisoned her right into menopause. She shared with me her emotions, medications and experiences. As soon as left the hospital, she was given a prescription of Premarin, a medication which only contains the estrogen hormone. She took this continuously for about 3 years and then due to lack of health insurance had to stop taking it for a few months. Only then, without the medication, did she realized how this medication had been helping her. For all the months she was with out health insurance she suffered tremendously from hot flushes, depression, anxiety, memory loss, and decrease libido. When she finally got to see a doctor again, he put her on Estradiol, hormone medication in a patch form. She is now feeling “normal and happy” again. Mari is aware of the potential risk associated with this medication however feels that it’s a risk worth taking because without it, she is a “wreck.”
I can only relate to some of Mari’s experiences. I had a total hysterectomy where both uterus and cervix were removed. I was told that even though my ovaries were left, when the time comes I may need some form of hormone therapy. Until then I am managing by following the guidelines of exercising, keeping a low body fat percentage, take a calcium supplement, manage stress and watch my diet. My goal is to delay as long as possible the onset of menopause, and once the inevitable arrives, manage it with as little hormone therapy as possible, while keeping all my options in view.
