Posted by katekite on August 18, 2002, at 21:59:21
In reply to Re: need to add to 1st post, posted by sciutti on August 15, 2002, at 12:30:37
There has been a lot of hysteria over that HRT news. I'm not saying it's not important and that some high dose hormone replacements shouldn't be dropped from the market. It's true that they stopped the study with the high dose one that had both progesterone and estrogen. They did not stop several other studies just as far along of replacement hormones in other combinations, as those showed no unexpected problems.
Obviously the truth is now out that hormone replacement is drug therapy like any other drug and can no longer be seen as "natural". However, some people benefit so much in so many ways from a little estrogen that I think the benefits may still outweigh the risks.
Talk to a doctor about hormone replacement and find out the new facts. Weigh the risks and benefits and make an informed decision. Factor in to your decision the possible benefit it could have to your mental health. Don't let having run out take the place of an actual decision.
Talk to your pdoc about hormones too: they may have written down 6 months ago you were on replacement and then never asked since.
I have heard MAO inhibitors are very effective. I have taken moclobemide which is hard to get in the US, it is reversible so one doesn't have to follow a particular diet: I liked it a lot. Actually increased my sex drive: not something most psych meds do.
I just read that over and I'm sounding like I'm lecturing on and on about hormone therapy. I guess I have found it so personally beneficial I can't believe it could be bad. I'm sure there are some people for whom HRT makes moods worse.
On another note, I know how it is to have a hubby really want to 'fix' things. They get frustrated and resent their own inability to fix it (and by extension, resent the depressed person that is still depressed and living evidence of their failure to fix everything) and they work themselves into a tense half-depressed tizzy and then have almost no idea what they are angry about. Hard to be around. Mine ends up just staring at me a lot when I'm depressed. Don't make any big decisions if you're depressed: it's all a product of both of you dealing with the depression and has nothing to do with how you actually relate during better times.
Take care and hang in there,
Kate
poster:katekite
thread:115688
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020814/msgs/116880.html