Menopause with no hormone treatment?

It's been eight awful years for me. I'm 57 now. Breast cancer and chemothearpy at 49 through me right into menop. No slow transition for me. My cancer is estrogen/progestrogen positive (est/pro feeds the cancer) so I can not use hormone replacement. I have very severe hot flashes, memory problems, cognitive problems, NO sex drive, insomnia, mood problems and whatever else menopause causes. I am at my wits end. I am so fatigued. I also have fibromyalgia so it just adds to the problems. I am about to ask my oncoligist if I can go on hormone replacement for just a while, for a break. I cannot stand it anymore, and I don't know how my husband can stand me anymore. I can't stand me anymore. Today I can not remember words. It makes me nuts.
Val

Menopause started creeping up on me 11 years ago. During my first year, my doctor tried to put me on HRT; however, I had adverse reactions, even to soy-based "natural" therapy. Well, needless to say, I've endured years of hot flashes (and they can be as funny as unsettling), gradual weight gain (went from 110 to 150 lbs), chronic insomnia, decreased libido (but, I couldn't care less about that, I'm just too busy), and what we thought was a thyroid issue (but nothing panned out, in spite of the swollen gland).

So, I became a distance runner at around age 50. I'd rather than than take meds, any day. The most annoying issue has been persistent weight and not being able to shed it.

I am taking estradiol (1.0 mg.)/norethindrone acetate (0.5mg) in tablet form. My physician gave me several options and I felt most comfortable with this one. I see on this website a strong bias toward bioidentical hormones. I prefer taking medications that have FDA oversight without that you are experimenting on yourself. Perhaps there are bioidentical hormones that do go through FDA testing; I do not know and I have not discussed that with my physician yet. As for bioidentical hormones that have not gone through FDA testing, I would not be comfortable with these. I am a Registered Dietitian and have seen upclose so many problems with nutrition supplements because they do not go through FDA testing. Good luck to you as you find what is right for you.

Wow, KDC, your comment comes at the perfect time for me. I finally got fed up with how I was feeling and have made an appointment with a doctor next week who specializes in menopause as well.

Your list of symptoms is not unfamiliar to me, and I love what your doctor told you about other endocrine insufficiencies -- it makes perfect sense to me. I will be eager to discuss these things with my new doctor and see what her advice is.

May I ask, are you using bioidentical hormone replacement or synthetic?

I'm going to go check out the book you recommend right now. Thank you so much for writing in detail about your own decision. I really appreciate it.

I am 5 years out from going through menopause without hormone replacement. I took Effexor to get me through the worst of the hotflashes. I started hormone replacement therapy this week. I couldn't take it any longer. I had bone loss, insomnia, vaginal atrophy, urinary incontinence, memory loss and generally questioned the quality of my life. My family doctor did not believe in giving me hormone replacement. I discussed with her getting a second opinion and she welcomed this. I went to a doctor that specializes in menopause and is involved in doing research on menopause. He was very informed and very compassionate. He explained that in any other endocrine insufficiency we replace the hormone be it insulin or thyroid. He explained that estrogen is required by a woman's body and has over 200 targets in our bodies. I am starting HRT and not looking back. He went through the research studies and discussed them with me in detail so that I would be comfortable with my choice. The explanation is outlined in a book Menopause:Guidelines for Contemporary Management by Leon Speroff, MD. He gave me a copy of the book and I have read it twice already. I would certainly recommend it. Good Luck to you in making your own decision. I wish I would not have waited five years.