Menopause Unveiled: Dr. Susan Answers Your Most Common Menopause Questions

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ธ.ค. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 64

  • @musicwithkathyfranklin6513
    @musicwithkathyfranklin6513 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Hi Dr. Hardwick-Smith,
    I just found your channel and 1st happened upon a video you did one year ago in which you recommended reading Menopause Matters by Bluming and Tarvis. I wish that my doctors had read it. I discovered the book in 2019 . I had my last period in 2008 at age 53 1/2. I was plunged into menopause hell. My list of symptoms was quite long. I truly thought that my thyroid had stopped functioning. I had crashing fatigue, hot and cold flashes, sleepless nights, and more. I had many, many, bouts of PVCs daily which got my PCP very excited. I was sent to a cardiologist and got a clean bill of health and a shrug of shoulders when it came to explaining why I had so many PVCs. I figured it out on my own. The PVCs were one of my menopause symptoms. Instead of any doctor putting the symptoms together and diagnosing severe menopause, my doctor said I had fibromyalgia. I was put on Cymbalta, which did help with many of my symptoms. My PCP moved and I got sent to a nationally known Fibro specialist. I never felt comfortable with the diagnosis. I didn't have the tender points that are the only way to diagnose fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, Cymbalta raised my blood pressure. i kept expressing concern about that and was brushed off for 2 years. The fibro specialist finally heard me and suggested adding blood pressure medication to the Cymbalta. I refused to take a drug to deal with another drug's side effects. I suggested that I thought that what was really wrong with me was menopause and that HRT might be the solution. She told me that I'd have to find a gynecologist because she would not prescribe hormones. That was in 2012 when I was 57.
    I fired her and found a gynecologist. I was put on hormone patches and felt better within a couple of weeks, but not much better than when I was on Cymbalta. My dose was probably too low. I stayed on patches until my insurance company decided they would no longer cover them. My doctor and I still subscribed to the old idea that hormones should be used in the lowest dose and for the shortest time possible. I weaned off of the patches and was immediately plunged into rebound hot flash hell. I felt just as bad or worse than when I first went into menopause. My doctor, who retired shortly after I weaned off the patches, told me that my symptoms should be back to baseline at the 3 year mark. They weren't. At the 3 year mark, just to give you an idea of how bad things were, I would fall asleep for 5 minutes, be unable to smoothly move from stage 1 sleep, which lasts about 5 minutes, into stage 2, and be jolted awake again. I would repeat that on average 3 to 4 times every night. I would also wake on average 6 to 7 times every night with hot flashes. I was absolutely miserable. I felt like a zombie every day. It didn't help that I was the primary care giver for 3 very young grandchildren, including an infant. The kids arrived at my night owl home at 5:00 A.M. five days a week.
    At the 5 year mark, after doing a lot of reading, and still having a low quality of life, I read The Estrogen Window by Mache Seibel. He also did a one hour telephone conference with me. By the time we spoke, I had already decided that my big mistake was to allow my retired gynecologist to take me off hormones. Soon after I decided I needed to find a menopause specialist, I read Estrogen Matters. It was revelatory! However, reading it made me angry that doctors were still putting their faith into the WHI. I started doctor shopping and found a NAMS certified female gynecologist. Unfortunately, even she was reluctant to put me on traditional HRT because I was 64. She tried 3 different ultra-low dose birth control pills over a period of several months. They didn't work. She finally said to me, "I guess we need to put you on tradition HRT." She started me on .5mg of estradiol and .1 mg of norethindrone acetate. My symptoms improved, but were not gone. A year later, poked around on my health insurance company's drug formulary to see what dosages of HRT were prescribed. I decided to double my dose of hormones for 6 weeks without asking my doctor's permission to see if my symptoms would improve. They did and I called my doctor to get a green light from her. I was put on 1mg estradiol and ,2 mg progesterone. That dose got my hot flashes down to two per night. In August of this year, I saw my GYN and expressed concern that my dose of progestogen was too low. I have had two episodes of breakthrough bleeding in the past two years. I thought perhaps it was because the progestogen was too low. My doctor upped my dose of progesterone at the end of the summer. I was sleeping better, but still had a couple of hot flashes every night on average 4 to 5 nights per week. My energy level was still not what I would consider to be normal. I am currently (about 2 weeks) experimenting with taking one of my old .5 mg estradiol / .1 mg norethindrone acetate pills with my current 1 mg prescription. My hot flashes have decreased! My GYN told me at my last appointment in late August that she would add Prozac to my regimen if the new HRT prescription did not do the job. She is obviously afraid to up my dose of hormones, even though I have no heart disease risk factors. She is also moving to a concierge practice model in December, which I cannot afford. So, I am doctor shopping. Frankly, I am ANGRY that I suffered for years because the medical establishment, even a lot of NAMS certified doctors, is not well educated!!! I learned from Barbie Taylor on her TH-cam channel that doctors have known for decades that the minimum dose of oral estradiol needed to prevent the 3 big diseases of old age - Alzheimers, heart disease, and osteoporosis, - is 1 mg. I have only been on that dose for a single year and only because I decided to up my dose ON MY OWN. My NAMS certified GYN did not have me on a therapeutic dose!I Maddening! truly believe that the way I feel is the best gauge of whether or not my HRT dosage is high enough. I have no intention of taking Prozac. I pray that I can find a new GYN who is willing to let a very healthy, just turned 69 year old to take an appropriate dose of estrogen. Wish me luck!

    • @celeste-236
      @celeste-236 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Awesome job you’re doing in figuring out things on your own! All things that your doctors should have known. It is outrageous that we have to fight for estrogen, when we’ve had it for our entire lives. These doctors are all about protecting themselves, not taking the time they should to be current about HRT, or to even treat each woman as an individual and allow her to make the final decisions about her own body.

  • @kafigueroa1
    @kafigueroa1 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Thank you for being there for us perimenopausal women and those who are post menopause. ❤

  • @caracorson2709
    @caracorson2709 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Thank you Dr. Hardwick-Smith and Dominoque for providing this great video.

  • @KBArchery
    @KBArchery ปีที่แล้ว +9

    As a mother I am researching about menopause and share everything I learn w my daughters because I want to help them. I had no help when I started menopause- at 40.
    I was always angry and crying. Before this my personality was very calm, agreeable and quiet. My mother never taught me anything about this. In fact my husband called my mother to meet for coffee to talk. We had only been married a year.
    My mother actually said, “She’s never been the same after
    escaping Beirut and then did the coo coo sign like I am crazy.
    That did not help our marriage.
    I remember taking my mother to a doctor (obgyn)that told me, “Honey you are not going crazy. Welcome to menopause!”
    This doctor got up and hugged me I was so relieved! She put me on Bioidentical hormones.
    My mother however an RN nurse didn’t believe her. She’s a full blown competitive narcissist and tried many others times to break up my marriage. He is a good man though and thank God saw through her.
    The movie “Mommy Dearest” couldn’t hold a candle to my mom.
    It’s important to fix ourselves so we can pass down this information to other women.
    I also hate it when women aren’t honest and being forthright about getting older and their “secrets” What if we all shared everything we have learned. This is not a competition but some women like my mom I found out later was doing a lot of things for her health and never shared them w me.But she would share that she only weighed 118 pounds during the time I was trying to lose weight.
    Thank you for sharing and helping us.

    • @celeste-236
      @celeste-236 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Best to stay away from a woman like that, even if she is your mother.

    • @mycustompaintedlife502
      @mycustompaintedlife502 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      My mom was a Narcissist as well and I was her main source of supply. I didn’t know I was being abused when it was happening. I just believed that I was unlovable, unworthy, not enough, a loser, and something is wrong with me. As an adult, still knowing nothing about Narcissistic Personality Disorder or Narcissistic Abuse, I never felt comfortable with healthy people, so all of my relationships, friendships and romantic relationships have been with Narcissists. I had a single healthy relationship and though it was 30 years ago, I still beat myself up for sabotaging our relationship. Because I didn’t understand, I had 5 children with a Narcissistic but this felt normal to me. My mom had called child services on me when I was 20, when I had my first baby because her father was an abusive as well. 20 years later, my case was still open though they never had a presence in my life until my other kids were born 15 years later. They kept asking me if I was being abused and of course I was adamant that I wasn’t being abused. They couldn’t prove it because Narc abuse is invisible. They were judging by my behavior and they assumed that if I was in one abusive relationship I likely still am. The abuse I experienced when I was 20 was physical and obvious. This, as I said was invisible but they stole all of my kids when they were 3, 4, 6 &7 and my newborn baby. I have had them in my life every weekend, holiday and summer but I was never a mother and I have to carry that pain until the end of my life. It is the most horrible thing that happened because of my mother. Ironically, to her and my mother’s twin, my sister, judged me and stopped talking to me, thinking that I chose the father over my kids. So inaccurate

  • @fashionlab7
    @fashionlab7 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Amazing interview! Sleeping is so overlooked by doctors!

  • @mycustompaintedlife502
    @mycustompaintedlife502 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    My mom had bipolar disorder and more on the depression side. I’ve suffered from anxiety my whole adult life but NEVER depression so when, what I believe is menopause, hit, I was completely lost. I KNOW that eating well and moving my body would help but I am so stuck!

  • @megberg9312
    @megberg9312 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you so helpful! Love the way you explain everything about hormone replacement.

  • @Charlie-of4jb
    @Charlie-of4jb 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    This was a wonderful and informative podcast! Thank you!’ ❤❤

  • @SuzanneW-v3q
    @SuzanneW-v3q ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Hi Dr. Susan! I am 59 years old, and am using the estradiol patch along with a progesterone IUD for uterine cancer prevention. Do you think this is a good option, or would you recommend combining the estradiol patch with an oral progesterone instead? Thank you so much for giving us the information we need to advocate for ourselves!

    • @tatiavak3966
      @tatiavak3966 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thank you for the question?

  • @sesame7551
    @sesame7551 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I’m 55 and almost post menopausal and I’ve not had a HOT flash but INSOMNIA hit me all at once 4 years ago. The belly fat has arrived. As of 18 months ago, I take Prog and Estradiol and have not achieved relief so I am still in the process of seeking hormonal balance. I’m trying pellets next…..Thank you for the education!!!

  • @msmith1821
    @msmith1821 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Very good video I learned some new info.

  • @valentinaposto3808
    @valentinaposto3808 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for this informative podcast🙏

  • @ginab968
    @ginab968 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for this great video! Great info! 💗

  • @happymunchkin2812
    @happymunchkin2812 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I don’t have hot flashes but I do have many different symptoms like: weight gain (even I workout 6 times a week, eating very healthy and intermix fasting), severe mood swing, body odor, body ache and pain ….etc. I’m on HRT and I feel great but I’m allergic to extrodial patch ( itchy) so I’m using the gel instead. Thank you for your video.😊. Oh, btw, before HRT I know I slept sooo well and felt sleep quickly and soon I says night night. But after taking progesterone, I tend to wake up after couple 2 hrs of sleep almost every night ever since. ????

  • @graceperiod5352
    @graceperiod5352 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Dominique looks amazing 👍👍

    • @kathya1956
      @kathya1956 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      She does a lot to combat older age.

  • @SUELUE55
    @SUELUE55 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Dominique looks similar to Marie Osmond with blonde hair. Beautiful

  • @Jennifer-jf7nx
    @Jennifer-jf7nx ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Dr Susan, what Are your thoughts on finastride to block DHT?

  • @Sentimentalist0923
    @Sentimentalist0923 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for sharing alllll the info❤
    my gyn said I can’t continue hormones after 60 (I’m currently 56)…I use estradiol patch 0.075 and progesterone 100 mg.

  • @axisgirlvaughn7446
    @axisgirlvaughn7446 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Are there any studies about HRT after 80? I have used the patch since I was 50 (uterus removed when I was 30) and then (during the “scare”) I reduced strength of patch and use estring. However, I am wanting to discontinue the estring (very uncomfortable to excerpt and insert) and perhaps increase strength of patch. I know you cannot address individual cases but perhaps can point me to any articles etc about women and HRT in women my age. I am 85 and in excellent health.

    • @celeste-236
      @celeste-236 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      There aren’t any studies for women in 70 or 80’s. But I wouldn’t let that stop me.
      Being in excellent health puts you in a great position. I’m going to resume HRT at 70 & I want to stay on it. I intend to use the patch for the estriol (estrogen) and a pill at night for progestin, to help with my sleep issues. And additionally a vaginal suppository or a vaginal laser treatment to fix my vaginal dryness. It’s never too late to be happy & feel better.

  • @carolschwaber6552
    @carolschwaber6552 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I have watched so many of the new videos coming out on this topic and am so grateful for all this information that is now available. But I and many of my contemporary girlfriends in late 60s and 70s are still left with a question we are not hearing asked. All of us took premarin until taken off of it during the scare of breast cancer. Is it too late for it to help us now? I know I am going in to ask for DHEA (Intro Rosa?) . But can we have a patch and progesterone and testoserone now? Many of us suffer from so many of the complaints of women going through perimenopause:and in menopause ie poor sleep, joint pain, depression, osteopenia, dryness EVERYWHERE, high Cholesterol, incontinence, pre-diabetes, foggy brain etc. . Can it help with these issues now? or is it too late for us now. Dominique, please ask this on one of you furture Menopause Drs. We need help too. Thank you from all of the ladies trying to age gracefully while still dealing with all these issues.

    • @celeste-236
      @celeste-236 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I am 70 & am about to start HRT. I’ve had to search for providers, but I refuse to give up on myself.
      Estrogen (estradiol) is my right.
      And it’s my choice.
      Damage has already been done to me with bone loss, memory/cognitive and nightly sleep deprivation which increases mortality from all causes. Even if I ONLY get better sleep… HRT will be worth it…. because I’m worth it.

  • @carrielassiter8455
    @carrielassiter8455 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    My doctor resisted checking my T4, but ended up saying she would. When I got the printed report, T4 was not on it.

    • @celeste-236
      @celeste-236 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Wow… your doctor sounds not so good… hope you’re finding a better doctor soon.

    • @carrielassiter8455
      @carrielassiter8455 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@celeste-236 thanks, I am.

  • @mycustompaintedlife502
    @mycustompaintedlife502 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    My mom died right when I started to go through menopause. I wished that I could have asked her about her experience. I asked my Dad but he was less than empathetic.

  • @DmitryLitoshik
    @DmitryLitoshik 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Hi Dr. Susan just found your TH-cam videos and I am ever so grateful for the information you’re providing I have a question. I am 51 and I started with an irregularities in my period about 10 years ago. My period stop at H 46 I’ve suffered with all kinds of symptoms. Most bothersome is sleep disturbance from which every other symptom cascaded I’ve gained a lot of weight, moody, depressed, irritable, carb craving, hot flashes and so on. About a year ago was diagnosed with stage 0 insitu carcinoma, was removed in March 2023. No chemotherapy or radiation needed. About two weeks ago I went to my GYN practitioner asking for HRT and she refused to put me on it because of my breast cancer history. Is there anything else for me or can I get an HRT later on?

  • @valkimpton5566
    @valkimpton5566 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I am in Canada and wanted to know what the comparison are for measurements used in your videos. For example when you suggest estrodial at a level of 40-80 what is the rest of the measure units? here we use milligrams and I believe it is not the same. This would be quite important to know!

  • @Sentimentalist0923
    @Sentimentalist0923 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    You mentioned DHEA- is this a contributing factor to hair loss?

    • @celeste-236
      @celeste-236 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Hair loss can also be caused by an under active thyroid, hypothyroidism

  • @suzanneatwood8855
    @suzanneatwood8855 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi Dr Susan You are so wonderful! Thank you for being here
    My Q… what do you think of Estring? It really saved my love life a few years back but now am thinking maybe I should do Estradiol patch or pellet or cream. I am 65. Thanks so much…I have used T pellet but it’s expensive and just got the cream.

  • @janemasini2810
    @janemasini2810 ปีที่แล้ว

    My menopause therapy didn't work I wasnt absorbing the patches and my coil not in the right place, now I'm on estrogel utragestran,which I havent tried yet it supposed help for my sleep anxiety worse thing with all my debilitating symptoms ame back, now I'm awaiting for the gel to work??
    ❤ your channel sending love from southwales ❤

  • @TheProactivePatients
    @TheProactivePatients 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    NCCN guidelines for BRCA1/2 (and other moderate risk and hogh risk gene mutations): No, NOT mammogram 2x a year, it should be a breast MRI + mammogram, each once a year (two different screens per year). Breast MRI's can pick up some cancers that mammograms can miss and vis versa.

  • @mycustompaintedlife502
    @mycustompaintedlife502 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    What is estrogen replacement therapy and how do you get it?

  • @Diana-mu9vd
    @Diana-mu9vd 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Hi, could you clarify if progesterone cream like emerita is useful to help sleep? Safe while breastfeeding? Not sleeping has been so tough.

  • @godsend2529
    @godsend2529 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I’m trying to start the patch estradiol and on another video I thought you said 0.50 was the best dose but you seem to have no problem with a caller who Is using .375 - which is the right one to start with please?

  • @lindapoworski2597
    @lindapoworski2597 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I know you said a dose of estrogen to stop the symptoms as well as not too much progesterone but how do you know what dose to take?

  • @tommathys2
    @tommathys2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    For the last caller: girl, your liver is on fire 🔥 take care of it. Can always take herbal supplements, glutathione, acupuncture, gui gong… good luck! ❤

  • @lovelife3795
    @lovelife3795 ปีที่แล้ว

    Can some1 with fibroids be on hrt progesterone and estradiol?? Thank you

  • @cherylmunro1808
    @cherylmunro1808 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Are you talking about synthetic hormones or bio identical ?

  • @deborahc7113
    @deborahc7113 ปีที่แล้ว

    if i didnt do pellets, wld u recommend cream delivery for est n test? did patch didnt absorb?m

  • @axisgirlvaughn7446
    @axisgirlvaughn7446 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Which vaginal suppository do you plan to use? Many years ago I tried a vaginal cream and it was just too messy. I then switched to a ring but it is too difficult for me now.

  • @vanessayurrita3724
    @vanessayurrita3724 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I think well at least for me the worst is the ectopic heartbeats

  • @elizabethpreciado5874
    @elizabethpreciado5874 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hello! I’m 64 yo and finally after a yr of requesting HRT FROM KAISER finally an ob/gyn approved HRT estrogen .25mg patch and medroxyprac ac 5mg. I’ve never heard of medroxyprac ac what are thoughts of this progesterone? Is it safe does it work like progesterone?

  • @deborahc7113
    @deborahc7113 ปีที่แล้ว

    can Test injs of 60 biweekly w/o est n prog , cuz weight gain, my belly gets huge, even when i was qas takn est .prog n T had same issue

    • @beatscatmommy1735
      @beatscatmommy1735 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Depends how old u are and if ur menopausal. You need hormone balance. Injecting just T alone doesn't work. You be off balance

    • @deborahc7113
      @deborahc7113 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@beatscatmommy1735 im post menopausal, back on est and prog too, lower T injs to 40mg biweekly, but tested T level day after Inj, was 400+

  • @Liz-xc6nn
    @Liz-xc6nn ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Can birth control help a 45 year old perimenopausal woman?

    • @beatscatmommy1735
      @beatscatmommy1735 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      No an easy answer. You have to be seen and tested by obgyn and get cleared for it based on your symptoms

    • @KC-kh5dv
      @KC-kh5dv 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      It can mask your symptoms but actually isn t very good for peri ,better HRT .

  • @sterlgirlceline
    @sterlgirlceline 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🏆

  • @joanneclark8256
    @joanneclark8256 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Help pcos and menopause?? Dr said no such thing

  • @joanneclark8256
    @joanneclark8256 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Do you help canadians? Im sick with dr here

  • @jenniferv271
    @jenniferv271 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I think birth control pills are very dangerous long term for women. Extremely high in oestrogen. There are many options for women other than this .
    So disappointing that you would say they’re are good. I’ve talked to one particular endocrinologist who absolutely does not recommend the pill. Last resort if at all.
    To me this is unsafe practice.
    Just my opinion and some educated opinions of my people. ?