FDA Advisory, Avoid Unintentional Exposure Of Children And Pets To Evamist

From Medical News Today----I know I posted an article similar to this several months back, but the information is important. The FDA is warning patients who take the spray form of hormones known as Evamist about the potential of accidental transfer to children or pets, but the caution applies to any topical hormone (or medication for that matter).

Thyroid information

Good morning, and my apologies for my lack of posts since Tuesday. Life occasionally gets in the way, and there have not been an awful lot of good articles out there to share with you. I did find a few, however, and I will be sharing them with my blog readers over the next few days.

I know I have already mentioned that my own physician in Southern CA, Dr. Carr, now has a Facebook page. He's had some great posts on it, and I am so pleased to see that yesterday he addressed the issue of thyroid disease. The post is very informative, click here to read it. Way too many, in fact most doctors do not fully address both the T4 and T3 thyroid levels, instead only looking at the TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) lab results. Oftentimes, the symptoms of thyroid dysfunction are obvious, but the only thing considered is lab results. Thanks so much, Dr. Carr!

What Do You Lack? Probably Vitamin D

Jane Brody of the NY Times is one of the country's leading media health writers----today her topic is Vitamin D. A very good, informative article. If you haven't already done so, be sure and get your level checked next time you are at the doctor---the chances are pretty high that your Vitamin D levels are deficient.

Study: Body shape affects memory in older women

From CNN.com ----- I know, not the news we want to hear----the more extra weight we carry, the more likely we are to have some cognitive impairment as we get older. Click here to read the article----and then I guess hit the gym! (Full disclosure, I have already worked out today!)

San Francisco Pharmacy Earns Industry’s Top Quality & Safety Endorsement

Good morning, happy Monday (yeah, right!)

For those of you in Northern CA---I highly recommend Koshland Pharmacy in San Francisco. Peter Koshland is a big advocate of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, and I have learned a great deal from his blog The Compounder's Forum. Koshland Pharmacy just received their Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board’s Seal of Accreditation--which is in the world of compounding pharmacies, a big deal. Congratulations, Peter! Click here to see the entire article from PRWeb......

Scientists taking vitamin D in droves

Although this article is from the Canadian press (the Globe and Mail) ---- the controversy of how much Vitamin D to take is alive in well in the US also. Full disclosure, I take 5000 IUs daily, have been for at least 4 years under doctor supervision, and damn it, my levels were still too low at my last blood work in May! I upped it to 10,000 for 60 days, and now I am out in the sun for about 40 minutes a day because I work out in the outdoor swimming pool. I'm due for blood work soon and hopefully it will show nice healthy levels this time. I attribute part of the fact that my levels were low when I had blood work done in April to a harsh "winter" here in Charlotte---it was much colder, snowier and miserable than any winter in recent memory. I was out and about, but sure not getting any sun.

Can Supplements Ease Menopause Symptoms?

I take supplements, but not for menopausal symtoms (that's what BHRT is for!). For some women, however, particularly those with mild symptoms, some herbal preparations seem to ease their symptoms. Check out this article from The HuffingtonPost.com---

Hot as hell again here in the Southeast. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

Diabetes and Avandia

Avandia has been a big issue in the news recently---and probably all of us know at least one person (likely more) that is a Type II diabetic. Dr. Carr wrote several very informative posts about diabetes and Avandia on his Facebook page----check it out.

What Can The Arterioles Tell Us About Hypertension?

It's well known that much of the medical research is done on men, as it is theorized that women have too many hormonal fluctuations over the course of their lives to give accurate information as to how well a particular drug/treatment works. This article from MedicalNewsToday.com is a little complicated to understand----but the message that science is finally starting to look at the differences in hypertension (high blood pressure) in men and women.

If you are peri/menopausal, please consider getting a home monitoring system for your blood pressure. They can be purchased for around $50-60, and it can potentially save your life. I've had hypertension since about the mid 90's, my weight was to blame for some of it, and I have a history of hypertension in my family. It's well controlled now, and the only med I take for it is a mild diuretic, and I can probably discontinue that in another 10-15 pounds (one more reason to keep working hard to get that weight off!).

Medical Ghostwriting and Bioidentical Hormones

I've posted articles from Dr. Dach before---be sure to check this one out on ghostwriting and bioidentical hormones. It will help to explain why so many doctors summarily dismiss women who come to them looking for alternatives to synthetic hormones and/or antidepressants.

Exercise, drink tea to prevent dementia

Good morning! Figured I better get today's article posted early, since we are expected to have thunderstorms later this afternoon (pretty common in the Southeast in the summertime). Check out this article from LSJ.com---three good health habits to help prevent dementia---exercise, drink tea, and make sure to maintain sufficient levels of Vitamin D (which is actually a prohormone, not a vitamin). Well, I'm two for three, I take 5000 IUs Vitamin D daily, I exercise 5-6 days per week......the tea? Not so much. I have never been a big tea drinker, although with it as cold as it was last winter here, I was drinking a cup or so a day (generally in the afternoon curled up with a book or my knitting).

I know I am sort of harping on this, but it's been abnormally hot in much of the country for at least portions of the summer. Please make sure you are staying well hydrated, if you wait until you are thirsy, you are already dehydrated. Yes, I know it may mean an extra trip to the ladies room when you are out shopping, etc. but it's worth it. Make it a habit to grab a bottle of water to take with you whenever you leave the house (I use refillable bottles most of the time to cut down on the water bottles in the landfill). Make it a great day, stay safe---I'm off to the condo pool to get in my workout!

If you are looking for a practitioner in Northern CA:

I got a lovely email this morning----hope this helps some of you who may be looking for a BHRT practitioner in Northern CA:

Don't know if anyone is still contacting you at all from the Oprah.com thread re: BHRT for help in finding those rare medical professionals who actually know what they're doing helping women balance their hormones. If you are, I hope you will pass my info along to anyone in need in Northern California. Won't be wordy in this email because you can just review my website to get an idea of my integrity and training. It is disheartening that so many women still do not know how to find the resources they so desperately need.

Always best wishes,


Lisa Miller, ND

Dr. Miller's Family Tree Medical Center
1368 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 106
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 785-3347

www.famtreemed.com

Frustrated Pharmacist Turns To Mobile Technology To Clear The Confusion On Natural Hormones For His Clients And Colleagues

I have an IPhone, but I have not tried out this app (yet)---but I thought it might be of interest to some of you. Check out this press release from INewswire.com.

You Don't Have to Live with PMS!

I know many of us are past the PMS stage (thank goodness) but some of you who are just approaching peri/menopause, or have friends/relatives who suffer, will find this article from The Huffington Post of interest. I'm not entirely clear if the article is written by Dr. Cass or by Uzi Reiss, MD (he's a well known hormone physician in CA, written several books), but either way, some good tips on reducing PMS.

More than 50 percent people globally get insufficient Vitamin D

I love posting Vitamin D articles on bright, sunny days here in NC (I'm on my way to the pool to work out as soon as I finish posting my article today!) Check out this from NewKerela.com ---way too many of us are Vitamin D deficient (including me as of my last bloodwork in April---Dr. Carr upped my Vitamin D to 10,000 IUs daily for two months, now I am back to my regular 5000 IUs daily, plus now that it's summer, I am out in the sunshine more.) Vitamin D, for those of you new to the blog, is actually a prohormone, not a Vitamin.

Have a great weekend!

7 Ways to Stay Sexy After Menopause

From YourTango.com----check out this article. Some of the information is pretty good, but their ambivalence on hormones is kind of annoying. By the way, I know I have said this before, but instead of concentrating on vaginal lubricants, try getting to the source of the vaginal dryness. Talk to your doctor about various treatments.....I use a little intravaginal estriol cream, it's by prescription and made at a compounding pharmacy. My insurance covers it, it's inexpensive and works well for me.

Symptoms of Menopause Can Be Relieved by Weight Loss

I love articles like this----just lose weight and your hot flashes won't be as severe. Never mind that women who are hormone deficient often don't have enough energy to get through the day, and that it is well established that peri/menopausal hormone issues can cause weight gain. Add to that the still way too many doctors who, when a woman reports menopause symptoms, just writes out a prescription for anti depressants. What are the two most common side effects of anti-depressants? That's right, weight gain and feeling tired. I had to get my hormones balanced (and I am here to tell you the progesterone cream cured my hot flashes in 3 days), then with the added energy from hormone balance, I was able to start an exercise program and focus on healthy eating. Then the weight started to come off. Most doctors do not get this, which is why I encourage women to seek out a physician who is an expert in bioidentical hormones, not someone who is just willing to play around with hormone doses until the patient either feels better or goes away.

How to get rid of belly fat!

Hi ladies, I am sorry for such a quick post, but we are going to get thunderstorms here in the next half hour (I've been out much of the day)----I'll be back with a full post tomorrow. In the meantime, I want you to check out this article from my friend Rosie Brown's blog ----- I think a lot of us can relate to this!

Growing Scientific Evidence Supports New Solution For Menopausal Symptoms

I'm not really sure about this one, as I tried soy for hot flashes and it did nothing for me, but a new study discussed in Medical News Today indicates that a component of soy can help women with menopausal symtoms. For me, it was hormonal balance, three days after starting progesterone cream, my hot flashes disappeared completely and have not bothered me since!

I like this quote!

"Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance."

- Bruce Barton

Thyroid information

If you are not already subscribed to Mary Shomon's Thyroid newsletter, think about doing so. I do not agree with everything she says, but her newsletters provide some valuable information for those of us who are dealing with thyroid issues (remember, thyroid is a hormone). This week's newsletter (comes out on Friday) has two particularly useful articles. The first is on how to save money on prescription medications (this could be useful for other meds you take besides thyroid medication(s)).

The second article is helpful tips on dealing with/fighting with your insurance company (something I am all too familiar with). I actually fought my insurance company over payment for my bioidentical hormones, after 13 months they finally gave in and they cover the creams at about 65% (regular prescriptions are at 80%). It's worth the hassle---although sometimes in the middle of it, I had thoughts of giving up.

I know much of the East Coast is still really struggling with the heat wave. We hit 100 degrees in Charlotte yesterday, by the weekend we will "cool off" to about 90. I wonder if Mother Nature is having a hot flash? Yeah, that's it! Have a great weekend, stay cool, and most importantly, stay hydrated!

Womb environment may affect timing of menopause

This is one of those "doesn't really affect me since I am in menopause, but interesting to read" articles---apparently the womb environment of baby girl's can have some affect on the age at which she goes through menopause. Click here to read the article...

Menopause doesn't change sex as thought

Hmmmm, I'm not so sure I buy this one----check out this article from UPI.com. More than half of the women that I have counseled/spoken with have complained that low libido (often to the point of non existent libido) has dramatically affected their relationship with their partner, but then again, I am generally dealing with a population of women who are definitely hormonally imbalanced.

Dr. Carr's website

Wow, two miracles in one week ---- Dr. Carr's (my hormone physician in Rancho Mirage, CA) website is up and running. He practices at Fleur Women's Health Center (he also treats men's hormonal imbalances), and you can click here for more information and to see the website.

I had a phone consult with Dr. Carr last evening, and got the scare of my life---in the middle of our conversation, a 5.4 earthquake hit----I can tell you, it's the most exciting doctor's appointment I have ever had!

Sleep woes linked to middle-aged pudge

I struggle with both sleep issues (I have a really bad back which accounts for some, but not all of it) and weight issues (I have lost a considerable amount of weight on BHRT, but it's difficult for me --- my thyroid is whacky again). So comforting (rolling eyes here in sarcasm) to know that the two are related! Check out this article from MSNBC.com on the link between sleep disruption and weight gain in middle age women.

Finally!!!!!!

I've been after Dr. Carr (my hormone physician in Southern CA) to activate a Facebook Fan page, and much to my delight and surprise, yesterday it popped up on my newsfeed! He has a lot to say about the aging process, menopause, and bioidentical hormones, and you can click this link to become his fan on Facebook.

Researchers Identify Male Menopause Symptoms

Is there or isn't there a male menopause? The Internet, newspapers, and TV have been filled with stories over the last few months arguing about if the male menopause truly exists. I am convinced it does, as I have personally spoken with several men who started bioidentical hormone therapy and they will attest to how much better they feel after achieving hormonal balance. Check out this article from WebMD.com for an overview of andropause symptoms.

Our heat spell in Charlotte snapped after 18 days of above 90 degree temperatures (with high humidity) --- it's been gorgeous here the last couple days, in the mid 80's with low humidity (and believe me, that's a rarity in NC in July!) Temperatures are creeping up and so is the humidity, I managed to sneak in a short fitness walk this morning (about a mile) and I will do a pool workout later this afternoon (I love working out in water). Whatever you are doing, hope you are having a great 4th of July----celebrate!

When is a drug too risky to stay on the market?

I read this earlier in the week and meant to share it with you---from the AP.com via TheMercury.com. It's an overview of how the FDA decides if a drug is too dangerous to remain on the market. I found it fascinating because I had just started taking Bextra (it wasn't helping too much, so it wasn't a big deal to go off it) when the whole Vioxx scare erupted in 2004. I've never taken synthetic hormones, but I know some of you have. I'm convinced in the next 5 years that the cholesterol/statin drugs, and/or the bone density drugs are going to come under closer FDA scrutiny and possibly be pulled from the market.

It's finally cooler here in NC---after 18 straight days of 90 degree plus temperatures! It's wonderful to walk outside and not feel like you will melt on the way to your car. Hope everyone has a great, safe Independence Day weekend!