Happy New Year!  Lots going on, I’ll elaborate more when I can…  I was reading the newspaper today and noticed an article in USA Today I wanted to share with you.  It was about Apple’s Steve Jobs discovering that he has a hormone imbalance.  Well go figure!

The guy is in his 50’s, has survived pancreatic cancer and lives with the stress of running a huge corporation.  I can’t say that I am surprised.  What does surprise me is how long it takes doctors to look into hormone imbalance as a factor in major health issues.  Jobs said in a public letter that “a sophisticated blood test confirmed [a hormone imbalance] diagnosis.”  I had to laugh, it’s probably the same comprehensive test panel that Dr. Lee prescribed for me!

First Suzanne Somers, then Oprah and now Steve Jobs - which ‘celebrity’ will be the next to discover their health issues are related to a hormone imbalance? 

Already famous,

JudyB

Hormone Test	In Range (1st Test)	Out of Range (1st Test)	In Range (2nd Test)	Out of Range (2nd Test)	Range
Estradiol (saliva)		29.0 High		11.9 High	0.8-12 Estrogen Replacement (optimal 1.5-3.5)
Progesterone (saliva)		11.0 Low		766 High	75-270 Premenopausal (Luteal)
Ratio: Pg/E2 (saliva)		0 Low		64 Low	Optimal: 100-500 when E2 1.3-3.3 pg/ml
Testosterone (saliva)	29		47		16-55 (Age Dependent)
DHEAS (saliva)	18.3		8.5		2-23 (Age Dependent)
Cortisol Morn (saliva)		2.2 Low		10.6 High	3.7-9.5
Cortisol Night (saliva)		0.3 Low	0.08		0.4-1.0

Yeah!  I have progesterone, I know it’s a bit high, but Dr. Lee assures me not to worry, “Just cut back your dose, we will achieve that hormone harmony yet!” he says.  And my estrogen is still high as well.  We have reduced my dose, so no worries there either.  The reason I feel so good (as per Dr. Lee) is because I finally have some balance between my estrogen and progesterone even though it is not perfect.  I can’t wait to see how good I’ll feel when they’re balanced!

I must tell you I am worried about all the news lately regarding breast cancer and synthetic hormones.  My goodness, I was on ‘synthetic estrogen’ for eight years- if only I had known about all natural bioidenticals back then!  Yikes, I’m overdue for my mammogram as it is, so I see an x-ray in my near future.

It’s nice to be treated as an individual with specific needs, oh wait, aren’t we all individuals?  I guess someone forgot to tell the traditional doctors that we need individualized care and they cannot PRESCRIBE the exact same does of any drug to every single patient!  That felt good to say!

Happy Hormones,

Judyb

I am vacationing in the back woods of South Carolina this week where there is a lack of cell phone service and internet connections (apparently if I have an emergency, I’m going to have to just yell really loud-with my voice, I think they’ll hear me!).

But I will be back to civilization after January 1st, so expect responses around then.

Happy New Year!

JudyB

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

Santa was good to me!  I found lots of progesterone, estrogen, and even better, shoes under the tree this year!

I hope all of you find what you want under the tree too!  Have a great day!

Judyb

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

Holidays are almost here! 

Have a Fabulous

Weekend!

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

I had a fab time-you know what they say, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!  But I’ll save that story for another time. 

While I was in Vegas for the Anti Aging Conference (A4M 16th Annual Conference), I met a lot of interesting and amazing people – all concerned with one thing – finding a way to manage getting older with increased quality of life.  I only wish Suzanne Somers had been there!   As you can see from these videos I was a busy girl.  You know me, I’ll talk to anyone and everyone!  It was so thrilling to be in the company of so many smart, dedicated and compassionate physicians who all realize the importance of treating hormone imbalance and finding solutions for these crazy symptoms.  Think about it, what’s the point in living to a ripe old age if we feel like crap?!?

It’s no secret that I am BodyLogicMD’s #1 fan, why wouldn’t I be?  I feel and look so much better.  (I brag about my hairdresser too…If you are ever in South Florida look up Kat at Coppola’s, she does wonders!) Thanks to the experience, I have a better understanding about this network of physicians.  This group works as a team.  They talk to each other and learn from each other, they discuss better ways to help us and guess who benefits from that -the patient, a.k.a. ME.

Well I need to take a nap-headed to work in a bit.  I have lots to share with you but I need my beauty sleep.

Judyb

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