Caution: Girl Stuff - Page 5

Mousey Girl · 02-12-2007, 06:17 AM

I am not a good candidate for HRT. My mom had a double masectomy at 46. I have already dealt with cervical cancer. It is just something that, with my family history, no sane Dr would ever want to prescribe.

Cadaverous Pallor · 02-12-2007, 08:29 AM

So much to respond to! Thanks to everyone who's posted here.

My own history with the pill is that I had absolutely debilitating periods before I started taking the pill. Being in the fetal position once a month was not fun. On the pill, My mom said she had the same experience and I was kinda pissed she didn't recommend it to me earlier (though I totally understand why she didn't).

Regarding surgery vs hormones...I have never had surgery of any kind, and I don't intend to break that streak for elective surgery. I've also never had a piercing of any kind, no tatoos, and I don't dye my hair. But the hormones have been a part of my daily life for many years now and have not affected me badly. I have changed my pill type probably 4 times over the years due to insurance coverage changes and have never had a problem with any of them.

Erica is right - My doc is a family physician who does a pap. I have had probably something like 12 different doctors over the years, because of moving, switches in coverage, and I've ditched a few as well. Some were men and I've never felt that it was a problem. Perhaps seeing a real obgyn for this is a good idea, though.

Don't have time for more this morning! Back later.

Snowflake · 02-12-2007, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Perhaps seeing a real obgyn for this is a good idea, though.

Don't have time for more this morning! Back later.

Put me in the go to an OB/Gyn camp as well.

I have the equal number of crappy GYN's, both male and female. My old GP was the best, PAPs were like rolling off a log, my last GYN in VA, it was torture. Looking for a new one now as my old GP has now retired.

So much good advice here, I can't really add to it CP

Nephythys · 02-12-2007, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

What's with the big fear about hormone treatments? Newsflash, everyone ... by the time you're forty, most of your hormones have long gone, and the rest are on the fast track to nowhere-to-be-found. Once your hormones go, old age is fast-tracked.

Hormone replacement therapy is a godsend. Bioidentical stuff is the best, and it's going to be the Ponce de Leon for those who are smart enough and rich enough to do it wisely ... but DO IT.

It was a blessing to me for sure-

I had cancer at 30- treatment caused menopause. I went through over a year of hotflash misery before getting on HRT and I am SO much happier.

The Dr told me that I had to- because of my age if I had gone all those years without replacing those hormones I would do horrible damage to my bones, my body--not good.

Oddly enough being on HRT REDUCES my chances of getting the very cancer that caused the problem in the first place.

~MS~ · 02-12-2007, 01:48 PM

Coming into the convo a bit late, but put me in the go see a OB/Gyn and discuss it with someone who 'specializes' in the field. I don't have to worry/deal with the issue but I have to make the decisions for Brandy and right now we have her on Depo, she's one of the really lucky ones that she has no period, none, I schedule her shot exactly 12 weeks apart to the day and she doesn't even have a mild discharge, she still PMS's a bit each month and it's more noticible the month she is due to get her shot. As for the no period issue, the three specialists we consulted over her all agreed. There really is no "need" for any of us to cycle and bleed unless we're actively attempting to get pregnant. The b/c of choice be it pill or shot or novo ring all create a balance that eliminates the 'need'. Having said that, I also know that the docs were very agressive in checking Brandys total chem pannels and blood levels the first couple of years we put her on the shot due to the potential interaction with her other medications.

Cadaverous Pallor · 02-12-2007, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stan4dSteph

Considering all of the potential side effects of hormone therapy, especially all of the various cancers, I wouldn't take birth control just to get bigger breasts.

Yeah. This is what one side of my inner conversation keeps saying. Avoiding having a period would be fantastic though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stan4dSteph

I get to have my annual exam this week. My current gyn is a man, the first I've had, and I'm actually fine with it. I always picked women before, but this time around I just went with geographical convenience -- he's in my current physician network. The only thing that was new to me was that there's always a nurse in the room during the exam.

I got over my ban on men rather quickly, mostly because I never really cared to visit the same doctor twice, and it was more like "give me whoever's available on this day at this time because that's when I have time for an appointment."

My last doctor, who I actually saw more than twice, was a really weird looking older man. When I first saw him I kinda freaked. His eyes are nearly shut all the time, and sometimes he does close his eyes while he's talking to you. Weird. But the pap itself was quick and no prob. Next time I needed an appointment, I discovered that this guy was much more readily available than any other doctor I'd seen. Having a homely man for a doctor has it's perks.

Another out of the blue squeamish question - sex during your period?

MouseWife · 02-12-2007, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~MS~

...right now we have her on Depo.

I don't know a lot about this as my daughter is older and I wasn't privy to chosing her BC.

She had been on it for a few years, gosh, maybe 4 or 5. {not sure} Well, she happened to switch ob/gyn and when they found out how long she'd been on it they immediately told her to stop taking it. According to this new doctor, Depro {gosh, you said Depo, is it the same thing? Or not?} can only be taken for a short time. Well, to them that is a couple of years. They made her have a bone density test because they said it could effect your bones.

Just thought I'd share it but then I might have the name wrong....are there two types with similar names????

She also loved it, by the way. Either no periods or very very light ones.

I also think it helped her with PMS but I'm not going to say THAT out loud.

CP~I've been married 24 years...I say, give me a break!!

{oh, but if for BC, that is another matter....}

Damn, I hope my kids don't read this thread....

bewitched · 02-12-2007, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

This is based on my own personal experience (and I've had my share of medical fun) but most surgery now is such a piece of cake and had so few side effects that I don't see it as being unsafe at all.

I agree that surgery itself is so much better now. My husband is a med-mal defense lawyer, mostly dealing with hospital infection cases. Unfortunately, these days, the infections you get in hospitals can be, and more often than you would expect are, extremely deadly. So that is more where I'm coming from.

I know there are a lot of people out there who have horrible experiences with hormones; that aside I totally applaude your acceptance of your body as it is. I like to think I would be that brave, but I honestly don't know if I could.

bewitched · 02-12-2007, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MouseWife

Damn, I hope my kids don't read this thread....

LOL! I suspect if they do, and get to your post, they will quickly exit.

Not Afraid · 02-12-2007, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bewitched

I agree that surgery itself is so much better now. My husband is a med-mal defense lawyer, mostly dealing with hospital infection cases. Unfortunately, these days, the infections you get in hospitals can be, and more often than you would expect are, extremely deadly. So that is more where I'm coming from.

Yes, hospitals can be nasty places, however, who does surgery in a hospital anymore? How old fashioned!

My partial mastectomy and my appendectomy were both "drive-thru" surgeries. I wasn't even in a hospital but in an outpatient surgery center and was home within 4 hours. If I chose to have reconstruction/augmentation/reduction that would be done in the same setting.

I first thought that was unreasonable, but I see the benefits of "drive thru" surgery now.

On another note, I sure as hell hope I stay within my family tradition of easy menopause because I cannot take estrogen because the cancer I had thrives on it. Sigh.

02-12-2007, 06:17 AM	#41
Mousey Girl Just Me Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In The Flagon With The Dragon Posts: 2,437	I am not a good candidate for HRT. My mom had a double masectomy at 46. I have already dealt with cervical cancer. It is just something that, with my family history, no sane Dr would ever want to prescribe.
	Submit to Quotes

02-12-2007, 08:29 AM	#42
Cadaverous Pallor ohhhh baby Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parental Bliss Posts: 12,364	So much to respond to! Thanks to everyone who's posted here. My own history with the pill is that I had absolutely debilitating periods before I started taking the pill. Being in the fetal position once a month was not fun. On the pill, My mom said she had the same experience and I was kinda pissed she didn't recommend it to me earlier (though I totally understand why she didn't). Regarding surgery vs hormones...I have never had surgery of any kind, and I don't intend to break that streak for elective surgery. I've also never had a piercing of any kind, no tatoos, and I don't dye my hair. But the hormones have been a part of my daily life for many years now and have not affected me badly. I have changed my pill type probably 4 times over the years due to insurance coverage changes and have never had a problem with any of them. Erica is right - My doc is a family physician who does a pap. I have had probably something like 12 different doctors over the years, because of moving, switches in coverage, and I've ditched a few as well. Some were men and I've never felt that it was a problem. Perhaps seeing a real obgyn for this is a good idea, though. Don't have time for more this morning! Back later. __________________ The second star to the right shines in the night for you
	Submit to Quotes

02-12-2007, 01:48 PM	#45
~MS~ One Happy little Missy! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 658	Coming into the convo a bit late, but put me in the go see a OB/Gyn and discuss it with someone who 'specializes' in the field. I don't have to worry/deal with the issue but I have to make the decisions for Brandy and right now we have her on Depo, she's one of the really lucky ones that she has no period, none, I schedule her shot exactly 12 weeks apart to the day and she doesn't even have a mild discharge, she still PMS's a bit each month and it's more noticible the month she is due to get her shot. As for the no period issue, the three specialists we consulted over her all agreed. There really is no "need" for any of us to cycle and bleed unless we're actively attempting to get pregnant. The b/c of choice be it pill or shot or novo ring all create a balance that eliminates the 'need'. Having said that, I also know that the docs were very agressive in checking Brandys total chem pannels and blood levels the first couple of years we put her on the shot due to the potential interaction with her other medications. __________________ "Sometimes Miracles Hide"
	Submit to Quotes