Rebuilding my body -HRT prescribed

[LAW]

Hello All, I've been out of touch for a long time, busy with life but wanted to return and hopefully offer some helpful information for someone out there as I remember being helped very much from all the advice and information I have gained from this site.
With osteoperosis in my hip and spine,& post menoupausal, I have made the decision to go for perscribed hormone repla***ent instead of Boniva and other pharmasudicals that have their own issues . I also decided that I would document my experiences because I find it frustrating that I can't find any information about women who have tried this route, yet I am sure there are some.
Perscribed: Test cream 1/5 ml daily
Thyroid 1 gr capsule daily
Bi-est 1.5 gr daily
Pregnenolone cap 100 mg daily
Sermorelin .15 injectable daily
I had my blood work done and this is what was recomended. Surprisingly enough my HGH levels were high considering my age so Sermorelin was perscribed to bring it up a bit since increasing it using HGH was not necessary.

Week two I have already noticed that my hair, which had become very coarse and dry is now soft and shiny. That's about all I have to comment about. I am hoping to see noticable improvements in time and will post these. Blood work will be done every 2 months. The cost of the meds is quite high and don't seem to be covered with my insurance which surprises me. But in my attempt to increase my bone density and decrease my cholesterol levels I am willing to see if this is the answer for me.
Weight is 124 lbs
Height 5'1
Age: 55
Not really expecting to lean out (although it would be nice) Just really hoping to correct my bone density especially and the other issues that come with aging like dry skin and very dry and unmanagable hair
Please feel free to comment and advise if you have something to offer or questions to ask.

[steroid.com 1]

Hi Law - Welcome back.

Lot's of new members here these days and the forum is significantly more active now then just 12 months ago; you will see a big difference.

Check out the new Sticky with links for women that SlimmerMe started there's great information there.

I don't know much about women's TRT protocols but you might want to make sure that your Pregnenolone caps are micronized as they seem to get the greatest uptake.

Keep this thread updated as time and events go by as I for one are always interested in seeing progress of members.

gd

[Vettester]

Hi LAW, glad to meet you, and pleased that you decided to come back to the forum. I'm sure that your experiences will benefit our other lady members.

When you ran your labs, did any of the other hormone panels show a concern, such as estradiol, testosterone, DHEA, etc.? That's great that you're seeing some positive results from the current protocol so soon. Are they also having you supplement more vitamin D3, and possibly vitamin B12, possibly some Niacin too? If you're not taking any EFA's (Omeg3,6,9), jump on it immediately, as it will compliment a lot of the things you are doing.

Slimmerme put together a thread, that has a composition of other threads that were either started by some of the other ladies, and/or intended to help our female members and guests. It's in the sticky section of this forum, and I'm sure it can be helpful if you check it out. *Edit, GD mentioned this prior to me posting ... He's fast to respond around here!!!

Lastly, with your new HRT program, are you also doing anything differently with your diet and/or your exercise regiment? Best of luck to you with your new journey. Glad you are here to share it with us!

[zaggahamma]

welcome(back)
best of luck with your body and health

[ecdysone]

I been eying Sermorelin myself so it will be interesting to follow your progress. Are you measuring IGF levels?

[LAW]

Thanks everyone for the nice warm welcome.

I am jumping on the OMEGA's as told by DR and Im doing 50000 D. Will def check out other suggestions as well as slimmerme. IGF will be checked every two months. Other then him telling me my HGH levels were relatively high for my age I can't remember what the other's were but will check and put that here as well. It may be good information for others too.

Sermorelin has given me very bad headaches every time I take it. Lowered the dose and if that doesn't work perhaps it's not for me.

I have 5 weeks left of My internship as an Ultrasound tech, specializing in Cardiology. I've been in school for two years, and so bye bye to excerise and diet during that time. While I only gained 5 lbs in those two years I must admit there is a much softer looking me and Im not happy to see that, so certainly cleaning up the diet, getting back to Clean eating and putting in the shakes as well as hitting the gym, Definately need to do weight training and work on core strengthening.

[bass]

welcome back Law! glad you're taking charge of your health. and please keep us posted because we are interested to learn about female HRT.

[LAW]

Progesterone 100 ml troche (I seriously had no idea what the heck this was but it's choc flavored so how bad can it be??) Interestingly enough the DR never advised me to take calcium? Just advised me not to take the simvistatin (for hypocholesterema) High cholesterol- Interesting to see the results and I figured it wouldn't kill me not to take it for two months.
Since I believe not all doctors read results of any test the same way, I see what they do in echocardiography!! Im sure not all dr would agree with the HRT supplements but being a rebel... I rather take charge of my life then trust others blindly. I figure i'll either pay the price or reap the rewards. My mom was 4'4 by the time she passed. Ugg!
Semorelin tonight .10 instead of .15, wanna see if I don't get that bad headache. BTW he said to do it sub q in the arm. Really how do you pinch your own skin with pin in hand and inject at 90 degree angle. The stomach was much easier! lol

[JD250]

Welcome back, please keep us updated on this. Very interesting and your experience will be greatly appreciated.

[jamotech]

Progesterone 100 ml troche (I seriously had no idea what the heck this was but it's choc flavored so how bad can it be??) Interestingly enough the DR never advised me to take calcium? Just advised me not to take the simvistatin (for hypocholesterema) High cholesterol- Interesting to see the results and I figured it wouldn't kill me not to take it for two months.
Since I believe not all doctors read results of any test the same way, I see what they do in echocardiography!! Im sure not all dr would agree with the HRT supplements but being a rebel... I rather take charge of my life then trust others blindly. I figure i'll either pay the price or reap the rewards. My mom was 4'4 by the time she passed. Ugg!
Semorelin tonight .10 instead of .15, wanna see if I don't get that bad headache. BTW he said to do it sub q in the arm. Really how do you pinch your own skin with pin in hand and inject at 90 degree angle. The stomach was much easier! lol

My mother was on progesterone, however she had to stop when a mammogram showed a lump, she told me it was benign however the doc said she had to stop hrt. Have your doctors said anything about progesterone and cancer risk? Starting to think she got an anti-hormone doc...

[LAW]

He actually explained that the real problem with hormones and cancer is the synthetic form of the hormones was causing the problems. In fact they can protects against cancers. Mind you I am post menoupausal with no history of cancer, breast or otherwise not that I think he factored that in. My Dr specializes in hormone repla***ent, however who really knows how good any of these Dr's are I always do my studies and make my choices.

[LAW]

Blood work: DHEA 314.0 ref range 18.9-205.0
Estradiol is 7.2 (I don't know what the ref range is)
Progesterone 0.7 (")
Cholesterol Total 246 (HDL is 71 LDL is 133)
Testerone: serum 34 (ref range 2-41), Testerone free 0.61 (ref range 0.10-0.85), %free testerone 1.78 (ref range 0.50-2.80)
Growth Hormone , Serum 0.1 (ref range 0.0-7.9
IGF 4.52 (ref range 3.40-6.80)
IGF I 201
TSH 0.86 (ref range 0450-4.500)
T4 1.18 (ref range 0.86-0..19-4.47
T3 3.2 (ref range 2.0-4.4)
Vit D 25 Hydroxy 41.3 (ref range 320-100)

Trying to understand all this is quite a task! It will be interesting to see what these levels are in two months. Feedback always welcome Im sure there are others that understand far more then me.

[SlimmerMe]

WELCOME BACK LAW!

Just saw this thread. What a nice surprise! This is great of you to share your experience with everyone here. I am sure many will learn a lot from it. Both females and males who can impart info to their gals who might need to know what all you are experiencing.

GLAD YOU ARE HERE!

[LAW]

Thank you! Exactly what I thought. I want nothing more then to share with others my experiences in hope that it will help someone elses Mother, wife, grandmother etc!! I know there are alternatives to traditional "DR's" and I am determined to try a different route to aging, osterperosis, menoupause etc. I have grown a lot through the years and have gotten so much help here in the past and I want to give back! Stay tuned!

[SlimmerMe]

~Will certainly stay tuned~

[Times Roman]

Welcome back luv!
My mum is post menapuase and a cancer surviror. Any advice or links for her to consider if she is willing to HRT?
Cheers!
---Roman

[LAW]

Since your mom is a cancer survivor( so glad to hear that ) I would not be able to comfortably suggest anything other then finding her a good HRT Dr. That is the safest way to go and there are plenty of them out there. Depending on her age, when menopause happens and hormones are no longer produced, it takes a toll on our body and bone density as well as muscle and since the Heart is a muscle, Im sure it effects that too. I wish I had more advice but be safe and see someone knowledgeable.
I started menapause when I was 42 and was through it by 46 without going to dr or any hormones or treatment. I didn't think it was necessary then nor did my obgyn but now with my bone density T score -1.4 BMD for the left total hip 0.777 and for the femoral neck is T:-1.4 or 0.684 I turned to HRT. All the obgyn could say was take 2000 vit D and 1500 calcium and DO NOT EXERSISE . (hmmmmmm guess she was afraid I would break something.
Post menapausal women no longer produce estrogen which helps with the bone density, If your mom can take, it again please ask. Testerone also will help with bone density so I use the cream vaginally 1/5 ml daily. (I have not read anything about Testerone and cancer risk)
Right now I see my once very brittle dry hair, soft hair soft and shinny (Im so grateful for that) and My sex drive which is normally high is through the roof and causing me great pain since my bf lives in Arizona. (toys please)! ,again it has only been three weeks so Im guessing it will take time.
I will do my blood work every two months and report any interesting findings, good , bad or ugly!

[LAW]

When injecting sermorelin at the site it stings and feels strange only for a few moments. Never experienced this with HGH. Dr did tell me to expect it. No specific results but I'm on so many diff things it will be hard to specifically give credit to sermorelin but it is to soon. I expect it to be may or June before I see (if) some change. Diet now spot on!whew

[SlimmerMe]

thread you might be interested in re: Sermorelin

http://forums.steroid.com/showthread...e#.Tz_Crxw0i6Y

[LAW]

Thank you! At this time Im wondering if I wasted my hard earned money on Sermorelin?? I suppose it's to early to tell yet but I sure don't like the painful injection site and lack of results doesn't help.

[NEMESIS RR]

My love was osti-pini (pre osteoporosis). She went on progesterone cream (1 pump a day except when she is menstruating and test cyp at 4mg 2x a week. She also supplemented with vitamin d, a good multi, omega, and glucosamine/msm. After 1 year the osti-pini was gone. This was a big concern as her grandmother almost looks down at the floor when she walks.

[LAW]

First I want to report that all these hormones are killing me by increasing my already high libido. I'm not kidding either. Thoughts dance inky head I don't dare go out unless surround by friends to protect me from myself.
So I went to my obgyn told him of my hrt. Although he seemed to know nothing about sermorelin and felt Testerone would diminish my bone density ???(any thoughts about this). He is supportive and is doing my bloodwork and anything else I want. So nice
So I have not seen any more changes,nothing! I wonder if it is the combination of hormones making my hair and skin amazing or is it specific thyroid,test?? Does anyone know?

[doc w]

First I want to report that all these hormones are killing me by increasing my already high libido. I'm not kidding either. Thoughts dance inky head I don't dare go out unless surround by friends to protect me from myself.
So I went to my obgyn told him of my hrt. Although he seemed to know nothing about sermorelin and felt Testerone would diminish my bone density ???(any thoughts about this). He is supportive and is doing my bloodwork and anything else I want. So nice
So I have not seen any more changes,nothing! I wonder if it is the combination of hormones making my hair and skin amazing or is it specific thyroid,test?? Does anyone know?

Great that you have a supportive doctor. He is just plain wrong about bone density. First increased lbm is going to add bone mass and aromitization to estrogen is also has protective effect.

[LAW]

So I went to my OBGYN today to get the results of my blood work and see how the hormones are working. Well the bad news is, they are not working at all! My estrogen level is now at 0 hardly an increase to report about. Progesterone is 0.8 again not a real increase. HGH was almost nothing!!!!! This I am most unhappy about!!! Help! Could the compounding pharmacy that the Hormone repla***ent doctor recomended be bad, not really providing in pill what he says he is? Can I get them tested and how or where to turn. Onlly thing that increased to normal level is testerone. Could I just need so much more??
Well the obgyn gave me a script for HGH he wants me to try that along with regular pharma estrogen, progesterone to see in three months if that makes a difference in my blood work.

[doc w]

So I went to my OBGYN today to get the results of my blood work and see how the hormones are working. Well the bad news is, they are not working at all! My estrogen level is now at 0 hardly an increase to report about. Progesterone is 0.8 again not a real increase. HGH was almost nothing!!!!! This I am most unhappy about!!! Help! Could the compounding pharmacy that the Hormone repla***ent doctor recomended be bad, not really providing in pill what he says he is? Can I get them tested and how or where to turn. Onlly thing that increased to normal level is testerone. Could I just need so much more??
Well the obgyn gave me a script for HGH he wants me to try that along with regular pharma estrogen, progesterone to see in three months if that makes a difference in my blood work.

May be an absorption issue. Where Are you applying the cream.

[LAW]

Testerone had increased but is at normal range . Apply vaginally. Bi Est is by mouth as is the pregnenolone and the progesterone is a troche. I don't get the 0 increase in HGH using Sermorelin however with such a short life and injected at night would it just not show any increase. I didn't realize just how difficult it is to balance one's hormones. OB said to try Estradol gel 0.06 and Prometrium. My concern is the $ spent on the compounding pharmacy and concerns if I got what I paid for. I really don't think it is possible not to absorb anything ??

[doc w]

My wife is starting a mixture of test,estriol, and progesterone cream. I always wonder with the compounding pharmacy how u know what ur getting. I will be checking her labs in the next couple months. I will keep u abreast. If her cream is getting good absorption u might wanna switch instead of a troche.

[doc w]

I would not bother testing the troche or oral est. most likely that is more expensive than changing your formularies and having your labs redrawn

[LAW]

Thank you! I am trying that and will put compounding pharmacy med away for now. The new pharmacists that I spoke to said it could bean absorption problem and I she wants to see all my blood work to be sure everything is balanced correctly not just one or the other. She did get approvals from my insurance for Ugh which I pick up on Monday