Hello my BIHS (bioidentical hormone sisters),

With the New Year fast approaching it brings with it a mix of regrets and hope. 

I regret the years I lost to menopause because of doctors who didn’t take the time to treat me like an individual patient instead of just one in a stereotypical herd.  I regret not knowing about bioidentical hormones sooner.  I have hope that I will be able to continue to live life in a way that I thought was dead when I got menopause.  I have hope that my blog and natural hormone therapy will help others avoid the hell too many of us have had to go through.

Three months ago I began treatment with bioidentical hormones.  The big M is always on my mind.  I find myself obsessed with this diagnosis, change or transition, whatever the hell you want to call it.  I HATE it!  What does menopause really mean anyway?  Does it mean I’m old?  Am I more mature (I don’t think so)?  I don’t want to feel defined by my diagnosis.  Maybe I’m just a victim of bad medicine.  Maybe if I had been treated properly from the get go I wouldn’t be so preoccupied- maybe, maybe, maybe, who knows.  What I do know is I’m not quite ready to let go.  I know Oprah is always talking about forgiveness.  You know, we must forgive in order to move on yada, yada, yada.  I know what I should do, but give me a break Oprah, it has only been 3 months.  I don’t submit to forcible forgiveness!  I think I have post traumatic OBGYN syndrome. 

Well, I will work on letting go for the New Year, but for now I think I will hold on.  I actually get more done when I’m all wired up over something.  I think getting screwed by 8 physicians deserves a pout don’t you?  Besides, my lips look sexy when I pout.

Until next time

JudyB

I have a new relationship!  No it’s not some hot young guy, its FOOD. 

Like most great relationships this one took me by surprise.  When I began my journey to treat menopause my doc spent a lot of time on nutrition.  Honestly, I did not want to hear about it.  I know what I SHOULD eat, for goodness sake; I have been on every diet out there – probably twice!  I won’t list them all - we all know what I’m talking about.  I wish I had put every dollar in the bank that I have spent on diets; I would be rich for sure. 

I didn’t give my weight even a single thought when I sought treatment for my hormone imbalance (that’s what I will call it from now on, no more menopause, it was a full blown IMBALANCE).  I prayed to GOD to just stop my hot flashes.  I just wanted to go to bed and sleep through the night.  The focus wasn’t to lose weight.  But when the doctor mapped out how to eat, I was pleasantly surprised and listened.  And boy am I glad I did! 

I must say the first few weeks were hard, not because I was on a DIET, but because it was all Greek to me.  I mean the eating so much was hard – it felt backwards.  I was so used to starving myself that my body was in shock when I started eating more often.  Now my body needs food every few hours or my blood sugar drops.  I was angry at first.  I was like “great, now I have a new problem,” but it’s not a problem at all, its NORMAL.  Our body NEEDS fuel. And what I have found is that when I give my body what it needs I don’t think about food all the time.  I do not deprive myself EVER. 

When I eat simple sugar it makes me sick; headache, grouchy, tired.  My sweet tooth is still there, so I eat dark organic chocolate when I want something, it satisfies me.  No carb induced coma either.  No headache.  No yucky feeling.  I think for the first time in my life I have a healthy relationship with food.  Oprah, are you out there? You said you fell off the wagon; you never should have been on the wagon in the first place.  I bet all my winnings from Vegas what she has is a hormone imbalance.  It is no coincidence that her thyroid is out of whack.  (Well that’s my opinion!)  Why is it that so many of us have a new onset thyroid problem just around the “CHANGE” hmmm!  It’s something to investigate.  And trust me I will!

Ok, I must eat my before lunch snack now, so hungry. 

Until later 

Judyb

I know I should say Happy “Holidays” but I’m Catholic, I say Merry Christmas.  I’ve never been very PC and I’m not going to start now!

All I want under my Christmas tree this year is a bottle of progesterone, my estrogen cream, (which thanks to the progesterone I only need a dab every other day, thank you very much) and my fish oil and vitamins.  Maybe a couple pair of shoes.  I love shoes.  I think we women love new shoes because no matter how big our BUTT is, our feet still look good!

I also wish for all you gals and guys out there seeking treatment for your hormone issues that you find a qualified physician in your area and get started.  I know it is an investment and it stinks that insurance doesn’t cover it, but just do it.  You have to decide how much you’re worth- I’m worth every penny!  Ask your husband or wife, kids, boyfriend or girlfriend to make it your holiday of choice gift.  It is the gift that keeps on giving. 

I never expected to feel this amazing.  My hope was just to stop those brutal hot flashes.  I get it now why Suzanne Somers is so passionate about bioidentical hormones.  I feel so blessed to be a patient.  I want to shout it from the roof top!  For the first time in my life I look forward to each day.  In just 3 short months I am a new woman. We do not realize how bad we feel until we feel better.  I look back and wonder how did I function?  I work two jobs!  When I look at myself on that video of my first visit with Doc Lee - YUCK!  What a change!

So you see I really do wish for all women who want relief from menopause symptoms to find a way to take part in this miracle.  That’s right; to me this has been a miracle and an answer to a prayer.  I need to give back; if it’s just to spread the word of hope offered by bioidentical hormone therapy, that’s what I will do.

So Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Festivus (I love Seinfeld!) to all.

May you have a blessed holiday season.

Judyb

Happy Friday All!

Since I hear Las Vegas calling my name to come out and play I’m going to make this post sort of short! The A4M Conference is going great; we listened to Patrick Savage, President of BodyLogicMD, make an amazing speech (learn more from the BodyLogicMD blog) yesterday and we’re headed out to some more seminars today.

Anyways, a couple weeks ago I introduced you to Pam H., a menopause maniac with a lot of spunk! She’s been so impressed with the result of bioidentical hormone therapy that she has referred many of her friends and even her sister to her BodyLogicMD physician in Phoenix, Dr. Eric Hottie, or sorry I mean Dr. Eric Honing (*wink wink*). Check him out here, don’t you agree?!?

Now, let me introduce you to Pam H.’s sister, Perri W. She started hormone replacement this past May because she was feeling just awful (now why does that sound familiar?!). Five months later, and Perri W. is enjoying relief from her symptoms of imbalanced hormones. She’s got her energy back, is losing weight, is less irritable, and she’s finally getting a good night’s sleep again! As always, it’s easier to let her tell you (plus I’ve got some gambling to do). I love that my family of bioidentical hormone sisters keeps growing!

I can’t wait to fill you all in on my exploits here, but what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas! Have a great weekend, I know I will!

JudyB

Dear friends,

I have been invited to attend the A4M (American Academy on Anti-Aging Medicine) conference in Las Vegas this weekend! Yeah!

A4M is hosting this international event, the 16th Annual World Congress on Anti-Aging Medicine & Regenerative Biomedical Technologies, that connects over 3,000 influential physicians, scientists, educators, and other professionals to one another to share the latest anti-aging information and technologies; bioidentical hormone therapy being a big one.  Together, these companies and individuals work to spread the knowledge AGING IS NOT INEVITABLE (this works well for my age denial).  My mission will be to learn all I can about preventative medicine and natural hormone replacement therapy (my new passion) and pass along to all of you my new insights.

It is not my place to tell any women to take bioidentical hormones, this is a personal choice.  I do however feel compelled to tell any women suffering from menopause symptoms that we do have choices available.  I encourage all women to take charge of their health, find a trained BodyLogicMD physician, get the appropriate testing and make an informed decision.  I know that menopause is not classified as a DISEASE, but it sure feels like one.  Any medical condition that can cause so many symptoms warrants some kind of treatment, don’t you think?

That’s all for now, wish me luck in the casino! 

Happy hormones,

Judyb

Hello to all my friends!

A few weeks ago I introduced you to my friend Ellen who was through the roof with perimenopause symptoms.  In the interest of our friendship I took her to see Dr. Lee to mellow her ass out!  She’s been on the bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for about five weeks now and she can’t thank me enough for referring her (I’m enjoying this Goddess-like pedestal she’s put me on!).

Anyways, I’ll let Ellen tell you in her own words how she’s feeling.  Enjoy!

JudyB

Hello to my fellow Menopause Maniacs,

I have to share with you a true maniac moment that happened just a couple days before Thanksgiving- this one is going on my records list.

After a long day of running errands I went to Publix to shop for Thanksgiving dinner.  I make this broccoli dish every year.  So, I run in, get what I need, go to the checkout and I can’t believe it- no one in line, what luck! (Or so I thought) The cashier starts to ring me up and there is no price on the foil pan, I say to her “well, I knew that was too good to be true,” she laughs and asks me “what are you making?”  I give her my recipe for my famous broccoli and Ritz cracker dish, I swipe my card, they bag my food and off I go. 

As I put the food in my trunk I see the bag boy running toward me and he says “excuse me but you have to come back in the store, you are not in trouble or anything we just need you back.”  I say “what the hell are you talking about?”  Then the cashier is at my car saying “hey, you didn’t pay for your groceries.”  I said “I most certainly did! I swiped my card.”  “Yeah but I didn’t finish the transaction” she says, so now they remove my bags, put them back in the cart and we walk back into the store, all 3 of us.  I feel like a crook.  Talk about the walk of shame!  The manager is waiting for us, I wanted to die!  So now they admit it’s not my fault. “Ok, whatever” I say “just ring me up I want to go home.”  He rings me up, I swipe again, and off I go. 

After I load my car for the second time, close the trunk, and get in, I look at the receipt and it says $87.00 for broccoli!!  So, I unload my car, go back in with my cart full of food, and go to the counter.  Now I’m pissed big time!  I say to the manager “look at this! $87.00! This is wrong!”  He goes in the office comes out and says its right. 

So I shove the receipt in his hand and start yelling, “Look at this! Do you see a turkey or soda? How about ice cream? Do you see any of those items in my cart? I have broccoli! Broccoli” I scream!  “You know what?” I yell, “Give me a refund and I will find a Publix that knows what they are doing!”  He is trying to calm me down but it is not working.  I now have the attention of the whole store as I scream “I just want to go home!  Its 4pm, I’ve been in the car all day! Do you know I haven’t even peed since 8am?!  Just give me my money back please I need to leave!”  He begs me to listen, “I just want to give you a gift card for your trouble that’s all,” he says, I tell him I don’t want it!  “Please let me go home” I repeated over and over. 

Finally a women manager comes over, takes control and re-rings the food again.  She gives me $87.00 in cash, my refund and now the male manager, the one that knows I need to use the bathroom really bad, hands me a $25.00 gift card and says “I am so sorry for your trouble.”  I say “I know you are. Me too!” 

The moral of the story is I didn’t flip out the first time thanks to my natural progesterone, but I had missed lunch and 2 snacks.  My blood sugar, no doubt, was low.  This is full blown proof that the BodyLogicMD nutrition program that I talked about last blog really makes sense.  I think any reasonable person would have been pissed.  But when you mix menopause with low blood sugar what a cocktail!  Dr. Lee told me not to leave the house without a snack in my purse and I never will again. 

Oh by the way, I will give the gift card to a needy family.  I feel guilty using it.

I hope you had a great turkey day!

JudyB

Hi BIHS’s! (bioidentical hormone sisters)

When I first went to see Dr. Lee to start bioidentical hormone therapy, and he uttered the words “you’ll need to change your eating habits,” I felt the word ‘diet’ coming like the Jaws theme song.  Seriously, I felt like he was going to try to rip away from me (not with any ease I might add) one of the only things Menopause couldn’t take away from me- sweet, delicious food.  If feeling better meant celery juice, wheat grass, and another failed diet, I was going to hang a ‘Welcome Home!’ sign for my menopause symptoms and my ass would be on its merry way.

But thankfully (for his safety) that ‘diet’ word never came.  Instead Dr. Lee said that it would be a lifestyle change.  He said that I would still be able to eat a lot of the same foods I eat now, with the exception of “anything in a bag or a can.”  And since chocolate wasn’t one of those, it was a parting that I could live with.

Still, my menopausal stubbornness wasn’t sure it was willing to part with comfort food just to lose a few pounds.  That’s when Dr. Lee said it wasn’t about losing weight (though it is one hell of an added benefit, 15 pounds and counting!), but instead it was about maintaining a hormonal balance and finally having relief from the menopausal hell I’d been living in.

The deal is this, it’s really important to keep sugars out of your system because it can make your old symptoms come back… as Dr. Lee likes to say, “there is a connection between mood and food.”   So, I needed a lifestyle change for this natural hormone therapy to work; a much better motivator than weight loss.

And, unlike some doctors I could name *ahem*, Dr. Lee didn’t just hand me a paper of demands for me to figure out by myself.  He worked with me, describing a BodyLogicMD nutrition plan, customized just for me (exactly how I like things), with the main purpose of avoiding foods that cause inflammation and other interactions in my system. 

I will say that it was a definite change from how I was eating before, but I always feel satisfied and full. I get to eat frequently because it’s important to avoid blood sugar spikes (ha! now I have an excuse!), and I am never STARVING like I used to be whenever I would go on some random diet. I’m losing weight and feeling better, I can definitely stick with this.

On that note, I think it’s time for some chocolate, doctor’s orders!

Hello friends!

For almost 2 months now I have been going on and on about getting “tested” and it occurred to me that I have never shared my results with you.  Well, here they are.

Let me explain as best I can.

These are the results of my saliva tests.  Yes I know it sounds gross, but I HAD to do it (and it wasn’t really that bad at all)!  There were 4 separate samples taken throughout the day.  This is because our hormone levels naturally fluctuate from morning to night so multiple tests are necessary to get the most accurate results.  The hormone testing measured my cortisol, progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen levels. 

Remember way back, when I confessed that I was doubling my dose of estrogen in an attempt to stop my hot flashes, look at my level 29. YIKES!  WAY too high!  No wonder I was the queen of puke.  And look at my progesterone, it’s virtually nonexistent.  I remember stopping Dr. Lee and asking him why my progesterone was so low, he gazed at me almost puzzled and said “Judy, you are in menopause.”   My only response was “oh.”  I knew it, but no one, not any of my past ‘doctors,’ had ever said the word. 

Anyways, this is what I have been talking about when I said that it is so important to know your actual hormone levels, so your bioidentical hormone doctor can treat you properly.  It’s that simple, you’ll get immediate relief from those horrible menopause symptoms.  That’s right, no more hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, and low sex drive (*wink wink*)!  Those ‘one size fits all’ medications just don’t work; you need to know where your hormones are before you can start balancing them- it seems pretty logical to me!  So, I cut back my estrogen and started taking natural progesterone; you know the hormone every Doc said I DID NOT need.  It seems it is the one I needed most. 

So pucker up ladies and get spitting.

JudyB

Hello to all my BIHS’s (bioidentical hormone sisters)!

I know I haven’t written in a while but my schedule has been jam-packed! I’ve been feeling great lately thanks to my bioidentical hormone therapy with Dr. Lee and have been able to pick up some extra shifts.

So until I can give you a more complete update on myself, I want you to check out this video of my bioidentical hormone therapy sister Pam H. Just wait until you hear Pam’s stories about her menopause madness, they’re crazy enough to compete with mine, well almost! She was on the same sinking boat as the rest of us, struggling to deal with menopause symptoms until she found Arizona’s BodyLogicMD Dr. Eric Honing. Since then, she has gone from menopause maniac to, as she puts it, “feeling like I am 19 again instead of 46!”

I know you’re going to love her as much as I do!

Judy B