[froleena]

Morning Deb!
I use Estrogel (once a day) and a compounded progesterone cream (twice a day.) Every once in awhile I experience a very mild "power surge" in the late morning or afternoon but otherwise I'm doing great and feeling great too. If the flash is bad enough I use a little progesterone cream that I bought at the health food store (I think the brand is Emerita) and I keep it here at the office, that usually tames it. But my younger sister was also using testosterone and she saw relief from migraines so I thought I might try that. I did the saliva test and my testosterone while low was not significantlly low. So maybe it's changed in the past year? Dunno, but if I can get some headache relief-it'll be worth it. BTW there is a new product-Head On..it's a stick and you rub it on your forehead when you feel a headache coming on. It works pretty good. I have to take so many Excedrin Xstrengths that I'm always looking for any alternatives. Don't get me wrong, sometimes it won't go away until I use the aspirin but it does work in most cases. I really wish the doctor here would have some kind of seminar-he's worked with Dr Lee "What Your Doctor Didn't Tell You About Menopause" (or something to that effect. So he's a HUGE supporter of doing menopause the natural way. He even has male patients getting hormone treatments. It freaked me out the second time I went to his office and saw a couple of really old guys sitting in the waiting room and they weren't there with their wives

Please post after the seminar! "knowledge is power" I'm very interested in this! I hope they talk about BHRT and weight control. Sometimes I think the BHRT is making it harder for me to lose...it was SO EASY before Good Luck ! I envy you!

[Kay2]

Hey Deb,
Sleep is still my biggest issue. I found that when I was on prometrium I did sleep better and when I was taking it everyday--well I slept really good but gained a lot of weight. Like getting ready to hibernate!

Now I am on low dose estrogen amd an antidepressant. The theory being that the antidepressant will calm the heat and give sleep. Menopause....A continuing story...I will keep you posted!
Kay
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[DebB]

Mercy Girls! I think by the time we get this ALL figured out - we'll be through it...??

Froleena ~ without looking at my previous posts here - so sorry if I"m repeating myself -- I was getting headaches on an almost daily basis! Not migraine strength headaches, but I too was popping the Ex. Strength Excedrin almost every single day.

I can say that since being on the BHRT - they are a thing of the past. It might be the testosterone, as I do take that every day (very low dose). To me that was just the PITS - those headaches, coupled with a poor night's sleep, really wore me down. After starting BHRT - they stopped almost immediately.

Ahhh Kay - so now ofcourse I wonder if it's my progesterone that's responsible for my weight gain... I guess I'll know more after this upcoming workshop.

I had my blood drawn yesterday for testing and they drew 7 vials. I'll have levels tested for the workshop that I haven't had tested yet. I had my current levels checked with my local doctor last month -- just rec'd the bill for that, $526!! Luckily my portion is less than $40
Man this stuff is costly... *Ü*
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Started Somersizing Feb. 2001

[Sammy]

I think we lost a little past posts. Deb, how was the second workshop?

[DebB]

Hi Sammy ~ It was a LOT to take in... She prescribed 2 more hormones for me to take, T3 (the Levoxyl I'm already on is T4) and DHEA. I can't help but have high hopes for these hormones impact on my metabolism...

She said that she's coming out with a book, due January 2007 - which will cover what she teaches in her workshops. That would be great. I'd love to have a book to refer back to as she throws out SO much information, I was taking notes as fast as I could and I know I still missed things -- or thought of things after the fact.

I also found out I'm mildly insulin resistant, so I'll be following her eating plan in her book, "The Insulin-Resistance Diet" by Cheryle R. Hart, MD. I've gained back so much of the weight I lost, while "not cheating" - that it's admittedly disappointing.

Whaa!! I'll keep on keepin' on though. I'm hoping to start her plan next week. *Ü*
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Started Somersizing Feb. 2001

[Sammy]

Thanks so much for the response. I feel I'm in control with the current formula. My teas are working except for the sleep tea, Honestly, he was 80% on that one (He didn't charge me). I have an appt on saturday.

[DebB]

Ahhh yes, sleeping! I find I sleep much better the 14 days I'm on progesterone. I can see a difference the very first day...
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Started Somersizing Feb. 2001

[Waldo]

I have a question that may be way off since I am just starting to read about all of this but, my friend/coworker who happens to be a nurse told me if I take hormones of any kind, I will not go through menopause, that it is just prolonging the ineveitable. She is in the peri stage at this time. So, now I am confused. Why would I want to prolong what is going to happen anyway?

I might add, she read Suzanne Somers book but has chosen to get through it with no type of hormonal therapy.

I am currently on the pill for a low dose of hormones due to losing an ovary 8 years ago, but I am thinking of stopping that as well. My doc wants me to wait for a little while as I recently lost my mom & have had a lot of emotional issues surrounding that.

I am so confused.....

[DebB]

Hi Waldo ~ I would suggest reading some books on the subject and then see how you feel. I'm not sure what your friend means by taking hormones = never going through menopause? Perhaps she means if we choose to take the progesterone in a cycling fashion (as Suzanne talks about/recommends in her books) that we'll continue to menstruate...

There's a forum for discussing hormones over on Suzanne's site that may prove interesting:

http://www.suzannesomers.com/Community/
then click on "discussion" on the left. Scroll down a bit and under the "Health" title, you'll see "THE SEXY YEARS - The Hormone Connection".

You can also go to Dr. Hart's website (the 2 workshops I attended) as she has a list of suggested reading:
http://www.hormonesbyhart.com/
Question #13 on the FAQ page (after you sign in) has her list...

Also, here's another one that I go to once in a while. Good guest transcripts, so interesting! It's the largest site about menopause that I've ever come across:
http://www.power-surge.com/intro.htm


Best wishes! *Ü*
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Started Somersizing Feb. 2001

[Kay2]

Deb, how is the new diet different from what you were previously doing?? I am really curious.

Waldo, I dont think that is true about prolonging the inevitable. I have been on hormones for a number of years and I still had periods in the beginning but now (for about a year and a half) I dont have then, so I think that I have "crossed over" so to speak. I just havent tried to cut out the hormones yet, I have reduced the amounts though. My doctor told me that my body has stopped making its own hormones now.
Kay
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[DebB]

Hi Kay ~ Well, compared to SSing, there are a lot of similarities (to how Suzanne recommends the long-time SSers now eat, by adding a small portion of carbos to all the pro/fat items and keeping it lower in fat).

Basically (and I'm still learning) she'll have you eat 1 portion of "high spiking" food with 2-3 portions of "low spiking" foods. Three meals and 2 snacks -- all to keep your insulin levels on an even keel.

Suzanne has you eat all fruit alone - this one specifically does not. This is very low in fat, more controlled portion sizes vs. "unlimited, eat until you're full" sizes, which is an easy to abuse guideline.

I know I"m missing elements - I sure wish she had a forum like this. Maybe in the future. I hope to start tomorrow, full time. I have been semi-following it to get the hang of it for a week or two. I think it will be totally "doable". *Ü*
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Started Somersizing Feb. 2001

[Sammy]

How's your new eating plan working? How many healthy carbs do you think you eat daily?

[DebB]

Hi Sammy ~ I started my new plan just yesterday. To be honest - I'm not sure what you mean by healthy carbs? Do you mean carb grams? I know that appears to be a silly question, but on Somersizing we never counted carb grams (or thought of them the same way as other low carb plans), so I'm not sure...

For each meal, I'll eat a balance of what she calls 'high spiking' and 'low spiking' foods. Now - to me that is 'high carb' and 'protein'.

For breakfast yesterday as an example, I had 1 slice of whole grain bread (no added sugar, etc. etc.), I made an egg sandwich with it. 2 slices of lean ham, 1 egg and then 1 slice of lite Swiss cheese. I put just a touch of Smart Balance on the toast. Then I had a big glass of V8 to drink with it.

For me - what this plan boils down to is portion control (yes, watching calories), keeping it low fat and then keeping it balanced (the high and low spiking food). Where in Somersizing, we could have the bread (carbo) -- we just couldn't have it at the same time as the protein & fat.

Then this Friday, my pharmacy will finally have my new compounds ready and I'll add them to the mix - T3 and DHEA...

Thanks for asking Sammy ~ *Ü*
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Started Somersizing Feb. 2001

[Sammy]

Deb, I suppose I'm asking about the fruit you eat? Can you eat 1/2 apple without spiking. Not sure what you mean about high spiking foods. I assume potatoes and rice are out!

[DebB]

Hi Sammy ~ Okay - I can answer that - lol

High spiking foods are high carb foods. We can eat them, (in fact we're *supposed* to) - it's just that they are usually balanced by a low spiking food. (except at snacks)

Here are the high spiking foods that we're to eat 1 serving of at each meal: all grains, most fruit, corn and potatoes.

Low spiking foods: all meat, eggs, dairy (as long as there is no added sugar) nuts & seeds, legumes and dried beans.

Neutral foods (have 5 servings per day) all plants that fit in no other group.

Non-Linking Fresh Fruits (no more than 2-3 serv. per day) (( non-linking means we don't have to eat or "Link" them with another food item )) apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, pears, nectarines, grapefruit, lemon, lime.

The plan I'm following, this is what I eat:

breakfast: hi-lo-lo
snack: hi
lunch: hi-lo x 4
snack: hi
dinner hi - lo x 4
snack hi

This plan is *not* for those with significant or severe insulin resistance. The high insulin spiking snacks affect insulin and blood sugar too strongly.

So - that's a very abbreviated version *Ü*
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Started Somersizing Feb. 2001