Estrogen Getting Cool Reception From Dermatologists For Mixed Results In Improving Appearance Of Skin

Article Date: 30 Jul 2009 - 1:00 PDT
Medical News Today

For many women, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can alleviate the physical symptoms associated with the change of life. But despite the initial hype generated by post-menopausal women who noticed a marked improvement in their skin's appearance while on HRT, dermatologists argue that scientific studies of estrogen do not show definitive improvements for skin rejuvenation of photodamaged skin and the potential risks when used long-term outweigh any potential skin benefits. Click here to read more...

Is menopause on the way?

From Third Age, a list of 28 signs that menopause is near-----click here to read the article.

ChiliPad

Absolute full disclosure, I know NOTHING about this product, other than a couple ads I have seen when researching articles for the blog. I got this Facebook message from a lady named Juliet yesterday, and it talks about a product called a ChiliPad, which is sort of like a large cooling/heating pad for your bed. I never had much problem with night sweats (a few but not like the daytime hot flashes, they were HORRIBLE), but I know from talking and corresponding with you that they are brutal and can interrupt your sleep big time. Below is the information she wrote, if any of my blog readers have first hand experience with this product, leave a comment or email me, I'm curious to know how it works! Have a great day, everyone!

It’s really great to find your Bioidentical hormones group. I've been on bio-identicals for a year now and it's been the key to reclaiming my life. It's good to see that people are waking up to them and to that we don't have to suffer after menopause. Also wonderful to be able to share resources with other women in the same position.I want to recommend a product to you and your group. It’s called ChiliPadTM, and it’s a mattress pad that cools (or heats) the bed. The single zone ChiliPadTM allows you to adjust the entire surface of the bed to your desired temperature. The dual zone ChiliPadTM adjusts each side of the bed to its own unique temperature. The ChiliPadTM is especially useful for women going through menopause, as it helps both with hot flashes and insomnia.ChiliPadTM is part of a legacy of sleep innovation - a step in a family history of caring about sleep solutions (the founder’s father created the waterbed). ChiliPadTM technology uses water instead of air to generate a range of temperature adjustment from 46oF to 118oF. Similar to the semi-conductor technology that cools your computer, water passes by the chip and depending on the direction of electron flow the water is cooled or heated. The water flows through soft coils in the mattress pad actively adjusting the temperature of the surface. There is nothing but water flowing through the mattress pad; all temperature change happens in the control unit placed conveniently under the bed. The motor is virtually silent (under 20 dBa) and has been designed to fit under a standard bed frame. It is controlled in one degree increments with a hand held remote. There is a ChiliPadTM for every size bed from twin to California king.Also, the ChiliPadTM is guaranteed by a 90 day money back guarantee when purchased from Chili Technology. Please visit this link to learn more: http://www.chilitechnology.com/I’m trying to get the word out about the ChiliPadTM because of the difference it’s made in my life and the help it’s been with my hot flashes, and with returning my husband to my own bed because before he was sleeping on the couch to avoid my sweaty, grouchy self and the fan noise from the three fans I was using to try and cool my room! I’d be very grateful if you could forward this message to your group members and anyone else you think could benefit from it.If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me, or for a more direct answer see this page: http://www.chilitechnology.com/contact.phpSweet Dreams,Juliet

Could it be-----

perimenopause? I get the question a lot from my blog readers. This article by Third Age is a good overview of what to look for to determine if you are perimenopausal, symptoms, some supplements to consider, and more. Good reading, check it out!

Dr. Brown is on Facebook!

Dr. Ron Brown of Charlotte, NC is the "go to" physician in this area for hormonal therapy. He wrote an excellent book on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy -- The Youth Effect (it's listed on my Amazon carousel on the right side of the blog). He lays out the case for BHRT in a sensible, easy to read and logical manner. It's one of the books on my list of recommended reading, and he includes chapters pertaining to male issue of andropause. As of last week, he is now on Facebook----for those of my readers who use social media, click here to access his Facebook homepage!

PCOS, exercise and acupuncture

Many of my blog readers either suffer or have suffered in the past with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)----this article from Red Orbit discusses how exercise and acupuncture affect it.

Menopausal weight gain----

Big problem for all of us! The Huffington Post tackles it in this article....some pretty good information. I get so irritated, however, with these articles that chirp on about how "magnificent" menopause is------I am enjoying it immensely now that I am hormonally balanced, but too many of these articles seem to imply that if you just decide menopause is wonderful, it will be without any assistance with hormones. For some women, it's not a problem, and good for them, but for many of us we are made to feel like we just aren't trying hard enough, or we're depressed, or whatever other quick diagnosis some doctors come up with to get us out of their offices. I will now climb down off my soapbox (and head to the gym for my workout). Have a great day everyone!

Vitamin D and Men's Cognitive Function

I find it a little ironic that the Vancouver newspaper is called "The Sun", as it has been widely touted over the last year or so that areas north of the American Mason-Dixon Line do not get enough sunshine through much of the year to supply an average person's daily dose of Vitamin D. Just an observation.

If you want your husband/partner to "smarten up", then perhaps you need to shove him out the door and into the sunshine----Vitamin D can increase his cognitive function. Click here to read the article...

Sunshine!

Just a quick little read today, this article in the India Times about Vitamin D and it's possible effects on the H1N1 flu ---- click here to read the article. One a personal note, I've been taking Vitamin D for over three years, and my immune system has been great---I've had one light cold in that time, and no sore throats, flu, sinus infections (and I used to get those ALL the time), etc. I'm a believer! Have a great weekend!

A few facts about progesterone----

Full disclosure, I do not agree that progesterone is only for women (talk to your doctor), but this article from the Freeport News does outline some of progesterone's benefits....click here to read!

Life expectancy and menopause----

This article from Bella Online makes you think-----because of advances in health care, technology, etc, we are living longer, which for women, means we are adding years to the post menpausal part of our lives. How are we going to spend those years----in so many ways: work life, family life, changes in family life, the "retirement" years, allocation of our financial resources. Those of us successfully taking biodientical hormones plan to feel great and healthy in the majority of these years, and that affects our planning too! Lots to think about. Have a wonderful weekend, everyon.

BIoidentical horomone basics---

Nothing earth shattering in this article, but for some of you who are relatively new readers to my blog, a basic overview of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. There is also some basic information about NAMS (North American Menopause Society), which has come out against BHRT----we have a way to go to educate even many professional societies. Click here to read the article...

Uterine fibroids and embolization...

Came across this article this morning in the Southtown Star News. Uterine fibroids are very common, up to 75% of women experience them at some point in their lives, and although many pose no concerns, they are one of the leading causes of hysterectomy when they become problematic (that's why I had a hysterectomy in 2002). There is an alternate procedure to a hysterectomy called uterine fibroid embolization. It's a less invasive procedure, with a quicker recovery time. Click here to learn more about it...

Ovary Removal Could Increase Lung Cancer Risk

From the website Red Orbit-----a study done in Canada shows that women who enter menopause early because of medical intervention (surgical removal of the ovaries) have an increased risk of developing lung cancer. Click here to read the article...

Bone health----

I was pleased to see this article in the Charlotte Observer this morning....since I just got such a great report on my most recent DEXA scan, I am acutely aware of bone health and I take every opportunity to talk to women about it!

Vitamin D3 and Cancer

This is from Foodconsumer.org.......numerous studies show that Vitamin D3 (which is, by the way, actually a prohormone) has anti-cancer effects. Click here to read the article...

Bioidentical Hormones

I like to present articles that put a positive spin on bioidentical hormones....this article is from the Visalia Times-Delta (CA). I posted a comment at the bottom of the article (of course, never miss an opportunity to talk about BHRT).

Daily does of vitamin D hones men's minds

First of all, my apologies for being so late with my post today----my Internet has been screwed up since early this morning. Drives me up the wall! Also, if any of you are waiting on an email response from me, I promise, I am on it and will be caught up by this evening!

Now, on to the article for today, which involves Vitamin D and men's cognitive function (ok, I know, insert your own joke here!) The article is from the Vancouver Sun (which I think is a little ironic that a newspaper named "Sun" is talking about Vitamin D), and you can access it by clicking here. Have a great day everyone!

Colour me impressed!

I ran across this website this afternoon while doing some research, it's for a practice in Dayton, Ohio. What I want you to see is the number of articles and resources on their website---wow---some great opportunities to learn more about BHRT, including pellets. They even have a link to the Ohio Department of Insurance--a form to appeal a denial of an insurance claim! That's outstanding, we should have more medical practices that try to help their patients like that!

You can't be too careful!

This article is a reminder that you cannot be too careful ------ you need to make absolutely sure with any medical procedure, big or small, that you and your physician are on the same page! Take a family member or a friend with you if you need back up or are feeling too ill to do it on your own. The case in the article is in Australia, I will guarantee you if it happened in the US it would be more like $1.7 million rather than $170,000.

Hormone pellet therapy

I am not advocating HRC Medical (I have heard of them but know nothing about them) but I happened on this video and thought I would share it with you, it's one of the few pieces I have seen that discuss pellet therapy (available for estrogen and testosterone, but not progesterone). Check it out. Have a great weekend, everyone, tomorrow I am off to the NC Mountains for a one day retreat on using knitting as a spiritual/meditative practice. Can't wait!

Menopausal weight gain and gray matter---

Uh, oh, one more reason to try and keep our weight down/off (something I need to rededicate myself to---I did so well for a while, but when the economy tanked last year, I definitely found myself turning more to food to comfort myself), check out this article on menopausal weight gain and brain function.

DHEA and Vitamin D

I take both Vitamin D and DHEA (under a doctor's supervision---be sure to check with your doctor before adding any supplements to your diet/routine) and so I was interested in this article in the Personal Liberty Digest. Reseach by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that a combination of Vitamin D and DHEA is beneficial to bone health. Now I am off to have my protein shake and then "shake it" in the condo pool, which will have a triple benefit: exercise, a dose of Vitamin D (it's already hot and sunny here in Charlotte) and I love the peace that comes with exercising outdoors. Have a great day, everyone!

10 Natural Antidepressants to Boost Your Spirits

My curiosity was piqued when this article from The Huffington Post came across my email; I clicked and read it and decided it would be of interest to my blog readers. Now, that is not to say that their 10 natural antidepressants would be MY 10 antidepressants.....my list would include:

• A new knitting project
• Lunch out with my friends
• A good movie
• Chocolate
• A long walk on a cool day
• A couple hours at my beading desk making jewelry
• Several episodes of Law and Order (I love that show)
• More chocolate
• Cuddling a baby
• A good workout at the YMCA

What would your list include...post a comment!

Women underestimate menopause symptoms

This morning's article from Red Orbit is about a study done by the Columbus Center for Women's Health Research in Ohio----the statistic that jumped out at me is that 87% of women report symptoms of depression, anxiety, etc. as the result of menopause. I guarantee you that if 87% of men suffered similar symptoms, we'd ALL be hormonally balanced, probably at government expense. Click here to read the article.

Another article on the Danish study----

that I wrote about earlier this morning. This article is from US News and World Report, and you can access it by clicking here. What I really want you to check out (after reading the article) is a comment by Virginia Hopkins, who is the co author of Dr. John Lee's What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause (a book I highly recommend) ----- she calls out the author of the piece on a couple of points----it's at the bottom of the article (and I think my comment follows it directly.)

Have a great day everyone, I am off to run a few errands, and then I will do my water workout this afternoon in my condo pool (and get in a bit of Vitamin D at the same time!)

Thyroid problems...

I'm posting this article this morning because so many of the ladies I correspond with have found that in addition to a hormonal imbalance, they also suffer from thyroid issues. I'm hypothyroid myself and I take a T4 and a T3 thyroid preparation --- works great, my levels were just checked late this spring and they're right on the money. The article is from the New Hampshire Mirror, and you can click here to read it in its entirety.

Danish study: Hormone therapy increases risk of ovarian cancer

If you haven't heard this on the news, you have likely read it in a newspaper---a Danish study recently concluded that using HRT (hormone replacement therapy) raises the risk of ovarian cancer in women. An important note, none of the articles I have read make any distinction between synthetic hormones and bioidentical hormones---my guess is that all of the study participants who were on HRT were not hormonally balanced (in other words, not a balanced ratio of progesterone and estrogen). If bioidentical hormones were included in the study, trust me, the anti-BHRT brigade would be all over this story. Funny how none of the big drug companies who are making a ton of money off synthetic hormones are releasing any statements yet.

It should also be noted that the risk of ovarian cancer remained "low" --- one extra case of cancer for every 8300 women in the study who were taking hormones. As always, please discuss any concerns with your physician---and click here to read the entire article from CNN.

Bispheol A and hormones---

This brief article on Times of the Internet ran across my email this morning, and it talks about how the chemical Bisphenol A (commonly used in plastics) can disrupt sex hormones (progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen) in mice. I know we've all been hearing on the news about the danger of plastic bottles, and I have noticed in a bunch of the weekly ads for the discount/drug stores (Target, Walmart, etc.) ads for back to school (already!) and they are featuring aluminun water bottles-----good for the environment, good for your health. Do remember to stay well hydrated in this hot weather---

Award-Winning Where Did My Wife Go? Helps Men Save Their Marriages and Relationships In Spite Of Menopause, Mid-Life Crises and Empty Nest Syndrome

Saving marriages threatened by the complications of menopause, mid-life crises and empty nest syndrome, this book gives specific and practical help for men trying to save their relationships and/or marriages.

(PRWEB) July 8, 2009 -- Author Jim Vigue's mailbox is regularly stuffed with thank-you messages from both men and women because his new book is helping marriages across the nation by offering practical ways to navigate the choppy waters of women's midlife transitions.
Vigue was recently named a medal winner of an IPPY Award from the Independent Publisher Book Awards for exhibiting the courage, innovation, and creativity to bring about change. A total of 4,090 entries were submitted throughout the United States, Canada and 12 English-speaking countries overseas. The Awards Committee cited Vigue's book as a superb example of someone's tackling an important subject that most authors would avoid.

"This award is very well deserved as this book is a remarkably sensitive explanation of this incredibly complex, but common and emotionally dangerous, life transition that menopause and midlife crises represent," said Lars Boman, MD, Diplomat of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine

Author Named Finalist Along With Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield For Book Award
Next Generation Indie Book Awards (Canada) named Jim Vigue a finalist along with 150-million-plus booksellers and mega-authors Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield. (Chicken Soup for the Soul Series) "It is gratifying that my book is being mentioned in the same breath as Chicken Soup for the Soul," said Vigue. "We are getting great testimonials from readers who have been helped by the book but this industry recognition is also very encouraging."Vigue has a Master's Degree in leadership from Duquesne University and an MBA from the University of Dallas. He is CEO of the Hamilton Foundation, a 20-year-old 501C3 nonprofit organization. The foundation's website is www.menonpause.org.

Note from Andrea----I've not read this book (I'm not married) but it sounds like an interesting read, so I thought I would share it with my blog readers. Have a great day, everyone!

Wow! Up over 8,000 hits on the blog!

You ladies are the best, thank you so much!

Obama chooses family physician from Alabama as next surgeon general

This is going to affect all of us----President Obama has chosen Dr. Regina Benjamin, a family physician from Alabama, as his choice for Surgeon General. Click here to read the article on Yahoo News. Hmmmmm, a 51 year old woman---think she is peri/menopausal?? I know it's somewhat wishful thinking at this piont, but I am desperately hoping for some upper level government officials to go to bat for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy----I still firmly believe some day, hopefully in our lifetimes, that doctors will prescribe bioidentical hormone therapy for women as routinely as they now order antidepressants or just tell their patients to suck it up.

Asian Spice Could Reduce Breast Cancer Risk In Women Exposed To Hormone Replacement Therapy

I know most of my readers are not taking synthetic hormone therapy, but we all know someone (loved one, friend, coworker) who either is or has taken synthetic hormone therapy ---- this article in Science Daily discusses a study done on the use of curcumin (Indian spice) to reduce the risk of breast cancer to women who have been exposed to synthetic hormones. Interesting reading, check it out. Have a great, hormonally balanced day, everyone!

Good article on BHRT...

Some of you who are fairly new to the blog may want an overview of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy----found this article on myNC.com---check it out! (and yes, that's me who commented at the end of the article!)

Stress and the economy---

Dr. Erika Schwartz is a name you might recognize, as she is an outspoken advocate for patient's rights and and for the use of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. She has written several books, and has maintained a practice specializing in BHRT for a number of years in NYC. She also has taken Suzanne Somers to task (quite publicly, they got into it one night on Larry King Live) over some of the material in Ms. Somers' books. In this article from Health News Digest, she discusses some ways to cope with emotional stress in this economic crisis. Good reading, check it out!

Celia Rivenbark's take on perimenopause!

I am a huge fan of the author Celia Rivenbark, she has written four hilarious books about being a woman and a southerner: Bless Your Heart, Tramp, We're Just Like You, Only Prettier, Belle Weather Forecast: Mostly Sunny With a Scattered Chance of Hissy Fits and Stop Dressing Your Six Year Old Like A Skank. Since I am a transplanted northerner, now living in the heart of "Y'All Land", she has provided some great insight into the whats and whys of southern life (bless her heart.). Oh, God, now she is in perimenopause, and shares it with us in this column (The Belle Tower) from the Myrtle Beach Sun News. Enjoy!

Never too young to start and exercise program!

Yes, I am being totally silly and off the walls this morning, but this video really struck my funny bone, and laughing is almost as good as bioidentical hormones for maintaining our health! Have a great weekend, everyone!

'Comparative Effectiveness' Research Addresses Options for Treating Prostate Cancer

Dr. Randolph Says Bioidentical Testosterone Can Promote Prostate Health

Jacksonville, Fla. (Vocus/PRWEB ) July 9, 2009 --

On June 30th, the Institute of Medicine released a list of 100 priorities it recommends for "comparative effectiveness" research. Among the 100 different questions posed, high on the list was this question regarding what should be regarded as the treatment-of-choice for prostate cancer: "What's best for early stage prostate cancer - various surgeries, different types of radiation, or so- called watchful waiting?"

C.W. Randolph, Jr. ,M.D., R.Ph, board certified physician and nationally-recognized expert in the field of hormone health is a proponent of a more preventative approach.

"There is a common misconception that lower testosterone levels mean a lower risk of prostate cancer. Men hardly ever develop prostate cancer when they are young and their testosterone levels are at a lifetime peak. On the contrary, as men age and their body's production of testosterone increasingly declines, they are at a much greater risk of developing this life-altering disease," says Randolph. "In my practice, I restore a man's optimum testosterone levels with bioidentical testosterone and almost always see an improvement in prostate health."

Randolph's medical opinion has been validated by such respected medical researchers as Abraham Morgentaler, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Urology at Harvard University Medical School. And recent articles published in the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the National Cancer Institute substantiate how restoring healthy testosterone levels can help to protect the prostate.

Dr. Randolph contends: "More and more physicians are coming around to recognize that bioidentical testosterone therapy can benefit the prostate but it will probably take years for the traditional medical community at-large to alter their established, misguided beliefs. That is why in our latest book In the Mood Again we not only speak to how bioidentical testosterone can re-charge an aging man's sex life, we also share the medical evidence of its positive prostate health effects. Rather than sort through the options for prostate cancer treatment, I challenge more medical scientists and physicians to read our book and, also, examine the clinical evidence linking high testosterone with better long-term prostate health. Almost always, restoring optimum hormone levels is a huge step in preventative medicine and I can assure you that your male patients will thank you for it."

Racial Disparities In Breast Cancer Mortality Are Not Driven By Estrogen Receptor Status Alone

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Article Date: 09 Jul 2009 - 6:00 PDT
Medical News Today

Black women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have a higher probability of dying from the disease than white women, regardless of their estrogen receptor status, according to research from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health. Click here for the rest of the article...

Video "news" report on BHRT----

I love how the reporter refers to bioidentical hormones as "that stuff". God, talk about unprofessional......

Something to read with your morning cup of coffee...

According to this article in Reuters, caffeine may affect your hormone levels and thus affect your cancer risk. I'm not a coffee drinker (love the smell, never accustomed to the taste), but I still drink too much diet soda (I'm working on it.) Most of the diet soda I drink is non caffeinated, although I do have a Coke Zero every morning. Have a great day, everyone!

Flat rate, no insurance care----

One of the biggest complaints I hear from women (and a few men) wanting to go see a doctor who specializes in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is that most of the practices do not accept insurance, so the cost of the visits are out of pocket. I get it, in this lousy economy one more expense is a terrible burden.

However --- and I have had more than one discussion with physicians about this ---- the real culprit is the insurance companies themselves, who flatly refuse to pay for office visits for hormonal balance (and in many cases it doesn't matter if the hormonal therapy is synthetic or bioidentical). In other cases, the insurance companies make it so difficult for the doctor's office to collect reimbursement (which is usually dismally low) the doctor has to hire one full time staff member just to deal with the insurance companies, and so he ends up losing money on every transaction. It is simply a fact of life in health care today.

Additionally, balancing hormones is not something that can be done in a 6-10 minute office visit. I know my own hormone doctor generally spends at least an hour with a patient at the first visit, and follow ups are usually at least 30 minutes. He needs that sort of time to get a detailed history, exam, and listen to what symptoms the patient is experiencing in order to bring the hormones back into balance.

I ran across this article today on Yahoo News and the idea is intriguing. I suspect that no matter what form our health care reform takes, a lot more doctors are going to get fed up with the beaurocracy of it all and set up their practices to be on a cash only basis. It's something we all need to think about and start paying attention to, because even if you are one of the lucky folks who is in good health and has health insurance through an employer, you are going to be affected by the changes that are coming in our health care system.

Interesting reading-----

On a study done to see if stopping hormone replacement therapy (the study was done with women taking synthetic hormones, not bioidentical) would reduce the incidence of having to be recalled for a second mammogram (synthetic hormones increase the density of the breast tissue). Click here to read the results. On a personal note, I had very lumpy, fibrocystic breasts since puberty, so much so that I started mammograms at 30 (and God, did they hurt!). Once I started the BHRT, within about 4 weeks I noticed that the lumpiness in my breasts disappeared, it was the strangest feeling when I did self exams----but it's one more benefit of bioidentical hormones.

You will notice something new on the blog----

On the right side of the page.......it's the links to two important websites that you need to avail yourself of if you are considering seeing a new doctor.


The first is the American Federation of State Medical Boards, and this site will give you a link to each of the 50 state medical boards in the United States. Here in Charlotte, we had several people who were quite disfigured by a doctor who, when researched by the local media, was on probation with the state medical board for multiple violations. He has now lost his medical license, but that doesn't help those who he harmed. Because biodientical hormone replacement therapy is a medical protocol that is quickly gaining popularity, many women are now in the process of seeking a new physician to take care of them, and it is absolutely imperative to check a doctor's status with his state medical board. I know of one well known bioidentical hormone physician who is on probation with his medical board for misconduct. If you think it can't happen to you, it can.

I had a lady contact me last week, and she had been to a doctor who was advertised in Suzanne Somer's book "Ageless". The doctor had charged her a considerable amount of money for two visits, and then was pushing her to have a full course of a therapy that is very controversial and has been discredited for general use (it does have some very limited uses in dire situations) by the National Institute of Health. She gave me the doctor's name, so I did a little checking. The doctor was not in any trouble with his state medical board. I decided to check and see if he was a board certified physician (and for an overview of why it's important to choose a board certified doctor, click here) with the American Board of Medical Specialties. He was certified ---- in Psychiatry!!!! Pardon the pun, but that's nuts! My own hormone physician is board certified in Internal Medicine, and a number of BHRT physicians are board certified in OB/GYN, Family Medicine, and Endocrinology.

I decided to look a little further, and so I spent some time over the course of several days checking the board certification status of the doctors listed in Ms. Somer's book. I was and wasn't surprised, of the 55 doctors I checked, 24 were not board certified at all (including one of the doctors who has appeared on both Oprah and the Dr. Phil show!). Of the ones who were, several were in specialties that I would not consider relevant to bioidentical hormone balancing, including: opthamology, dermatology, pediatrics, and more than one instance of psychiatry. Not being board certified, or being board certified in a specialty that is irrelevant, raises red flags for me and it should for you.

Most of the practitioners of BHRT are to be commended for thinking outside the box, learning about a protocol that can immeasurably increase the health and quality of life for their patients. Like anything else, however, there are doctors and a few compounding pharmacies who are trying to make a quick buck off sick, desperate women. I get at least one email a week from someone who is incurring some sort of a problem with a BHRT doctor or pharmacy. I don't want that happening to my blog readers, so please----if you are going to begin care with a new doctor, please take the time to do a little research on his/her credentials. If you need a list of resources to find a compounding pharmacy and/or doctor in your area, please feel free to email me.

More evidence of Vitamin D's importance---

Science Daily (July 6, 2009) presents an article that outlines a number of risks to the large percentage of the global population that is considered to be Vitamin D deficient. Women are at higher risk for the deficiency, as are those who live in Northern climates (less sun), dark skinned individuals, and more.......click here to read the article in its entirety.

No bones about it------

I had my DEXA (bone density scan) about three weeks ago, and got the results today from my pain management physician, Dr. Mark Hines (if you live in the Piedmont of NC and need a doctor for pain management----he is terrific-----and he is very supportive of my hormone therapy). Two years ago when I had the study done, I had osteopenia, which is the precursor to osteoporosis. Now, after two years on hormone therapy, supplements, good clean living, etc. --- drum roll please ---- my hip and femur bone measurements, and my spine are BACK IN NORMAL RANGE (and not just barely in normal range, there was a significant improvement)!!! Happy dance, happy dance, happy dance (on strong bones!) I'm so excited and proud!

Hope everyone has a terrific, safe, healthy 4th of July weekend! Don't forget to hydrate, it's pretty hot in most areas of the country now. I may or may not be back over the weekend with a "real" post, but definitely on Monday Holy Horomones will be back on schedule!

Vegetarians have "weaker bones"

I'm not a vegetarian, but I know many of you are, so I thought I would share this article from AFP.

Good grief----

I ran across this article from the NY Times News Feed, and it talks about what women go through to find a "natural" solution to menopausal problems of weight gain, hot flashes, et. The article is really interesting, but what struck me was the statistic that in 2007, we spent $337 MILLION on dietary supplements associated with menopause. That's a lot of money!

Widespead And On The Increase - Vitamin D Deficiency

Medical News Today---July 2, 2009

A new report issued by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and published in the scientific journal Osteoporosis International1, shows that populations across the globe are suffering from the impact of low levels of vitamin D. The problem is widespread and on the increase, with potentially severe repercussions for overall health and fracture rates. Click here for the rest of the article...

Emory University Studies Progesterone

Emory University is launching a three year study on the efficacy of using progesterone to treat patients with traumatic brain injuries. Click here to read the article...