Posted by Cece on June 27, 2001, at 14:31:37
In reply to Re: To Women Over 45: Estrogen BPII, posted by AMenz on June 27, 2001, at 10:43:52
My BPII symptoms really ballooned in my 40's, which my pdoc said was often the case. I was not far into beginning treatment for the first time for BP- because of an early bad experience with meds I was afraid of them, and spent years and a fortune trying to 'work it out' in therapy, not even knowing that I was BP. My ballooning symptoms were increased mood instability, lability, and very increased depression.
So, with the help of my great gynecologist, I first went on birth control pills at about age 44, which helped, then I began hormone replacement therapy at about age 47 (pills- obviously a very personal decision) before the tests said that I was officially ready to do so. That helped.
Then, I lost libido, even after going off zoloft (I was also on mood stabilizers), so I asked my gyn to test my testosterone a couple of years ago, (I'm now 52) and it was way low. So, I began taking methytestosterone (a low, gentle med and dose, okay for women if not overprescribed). My health plan (Kaiser) has to send the RX to an outside pharmacy to have it formulated but it's cheap and they haven't complained. I got my libido back! And my energy level improved somewhat. I'm very happy to feel sexual again.
I believe that all these steps and treatments have been quite helpful for me.
Cece
poster:Cece
thread:67708
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010625/msgs/68108.html