HRT and cardiovascular disease

[LaurenS.]

Hello all,

I thought I'd offer some info I've recently learned and may be important for some of you. I recently met with an endocrinologist and also just returned from a talk with my cardiologist. The endo said that concerns with estrogen being a cause for blood clotting issues is only a concern when taken orally. He said that when using a patch or pellets it's not a concern at all. My cardiologist agreed and they both stated that estrogen is also good for the heart and improves blood lipid levels. This is a big sigh of relief for me.

Lauren:)

[Karen564]

Good Info, thank you, just confirms what I knew, I was killing myself for Not being on HRT.
Ever since being on HRT for 3+ years now, I feel MUCH better in more ways than one.

Karen

[LaurenS.]

I'm glad the info helped. I know I'm so happy knowing I can go on hormones without all the worry. My cardiologist said that in 25 years this is the first time he's encountered this. That really surprised me. I was nervous about talking to him and everyone said not to worry because Doctor's have seen it all. WRONG! He was very interested and is anxious to see how the estrogen affects my lipid levels. He said that he will keep me on Plavix and Aspirin just to be safe.

Lauren

[Melissa A.]

I'm on the estradiol patch(actually, 2 at a time) and it makes me feel safer. I have high cholesterol and I'm on Vytorin for it. The patch can be a pain to keep on for a whole week, but it's well worth it, to me.

Hugs,

Melissa:)

[Mariah]

Thank you for the information. but, what is this pellets thing?

Mariah

[Chibi~Cthulhu]

just a suggestion Melissa, have you tried placing the patch underneath the back strap on your bra? should help hold the thing on. though what you'd do while sleeping iono. unless you wear your bra to bed.

[LaurenS.]

Pellets are just what the word implies. It's a small pellet of estrogen that's placed under the skin. I understand it's the best way to go as you don't have to worry about the patch falling off and they are more effective. I haven't experienced them but this is what I'm told.
Lauren

[Melissa A.]

It was worse when I was getting the generic patch, in the beginning, chibi. darn things came off all the time. In the shower, from sweating, accidentally scratching myself, almost anything. And I tried EVERYWHERE!! My insurance company encourages you to mail order. Once I got that going they let me have the brand-name patch (Climara) It's alot smaller and lighter than the generic, which is like a big, heavy bandage. ugh. It got so bad in the first month, my dr. offered to put me on the pill, but I said, no, lets give it a little more time. The Climara patch is clear and thin as a peice of saran wrap, and very light. Stays on alot better. So now it's alot less of a problem. I just switch between my right and left abdomen every week. I still have problems sometimes, but alot less often, now. I've only been on HRT about 4 months now, so we'll see what happens when the really warm weather comes!

Hugs,

Melissa:)

[Mariah]

thanks Lauren!!!


Mariah

[KARI AN]

My doctor put me on spironolactone in November but said I may have sore nipples and breast growth. He gave me 150mg per day and quess what is happening to my body, how great is this breast development. HRT from my doc .