Re: Downside of Bio-identical hormones

Ya know, I really tried to do everything right. I did Chinese herbs, liver flush, intestinal cleanse... ayurvedic herbs, PanchaKarma, everything, before and since hot flashes. I thought I was covered. And I was, as far as hot flashes went. Suddenly, the symptoms got much worse: paranoia, loss of confidence (these are premeno symptoms. I had no idea till finding info on line), a Depression that came from inside, not caused by outside things. When this crap hit, I went for acupuncture and Chinese herbal teas from the acupuncturist. Didn't help. I felt possessed. I went to a psychiatrist who wanted to give me ADs. I finally went to a menopausal specialist and got ERT. After 7 weeks I am a lot better. I am feeling more stable.

Sure, I hate/deplore/feel terrible over the thought of drugs. But these are helping. I'm not retaining water, nor have sore breasts. So, maybe the level is right.

Coupled with hating the idea of taking drugs is my feeling of how unfair it is that I tried to do everything right (see above) and still got terribly messed up when my hormones got stirred up/depleted.

What will happen if I have to come off of this? I have no idea. Maybe there'll be a Betty Ford clinic for estrogen withdrawal.

BTW, I am naturally really thin. So, I probably had no store of estrogen at all. I saw a friend who is the same age as I and she's heavy and feeling great.