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Andrea Barnett Budin · 06-12-2009, 09:39 AM

Dear Suzanne,

I totally relate to you on so many levels. I spent decades hot flashing into a simpering whimpering heap, feeling trapped in my skin and different from everyone else. They would be in turtlenecks AND jackets, clutching their arms around themselves to warm up. I'd be in a sleeveless thing melting, feeling clammy everywhere, dripping down my upper body, head and neck soaked and red-faced.

I tried black cohosh. It helped but not enough. For me EVENING PRIMROSE OIL is wondrous. I take 1300 every morning. I take 500 as a booster if need be, which rarely occurs.

I AM ER/PR NEGATIVE. I don't know if this is okay for you and your status.

I also read 2 entire books (John Lee, MD and a top guy in Australia) who believe it is all about unopposed estrogen that we are generating. So for a yr I used an ALL NATURAL Progestone Cream. If the product has YAM -- it is NOT natural. To be avoided at all cost.

I would never take synthetic progesterone, which my onc offered me on a limited 3 mnth basis. One of the top 100 docs in the country, but they do not know about this issue. Not a single onc, and I have been to half a doz over the yrs, not a GYN, also have asked many. They don't grasp the intensity and severity of the problem, minimizing it as an uncomfortable feeling that will pass. For some women, this is the case. Then for a small percentage of women IT IS A LIVING HELL!!!

There are holistic GYNs that can concoct progesterone cream specifically for you. Also drug store chemists can do this. NO YAM. All natural. Nothing synthetic! You put a tiny amnt on the inside of arm once a day. It was magical.

When I took large dosages of black cohosh I had my hormones checked w/bld tests and my estradiol went way up. So I stay clear of that.

Thems my thoughts. I wish you PEACE... Smiles... And love...

06-12-2009, 09:39 AM	#2
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	Hot topic Dear Suzanne, I totally relate to you on so many levels. I spent decades hot flashing into a simpering whimpering heap, feeling trapped in my skin and different from everyone else. They would be in turtlenecks AND jackets, clutching their arms around themselves to warm up. I'd be in a sleeveless thing melting, feeling clammy everywhere, dripping down my upper body, head and neck soaked and red-faced. I tried black cohosh. It helped but not enough. For me EVENING PRIMROSE OIL is wondrous. I take 1300 every morning. I take 500 as a booster if need be, which rarely occurs. I AM ER/PR NEGATIVE. I don't know if this is okay for you and your status. I also read 2 entire books (John Lee, MD and a top guy in Australia) who believe it is all about unopposed estrogen that we are generating. So for a yr I used an ALL NATURAL Progestone Cream. If the product has YAM -- it is NOT natural. To be avoided at all cost. I would never take synthetic progesterone, which my onc offered me on a limited 3 mnth basis. One of the top 100 docs in the country, but they do not know about this issue. Not a single onc, and I have been to half a doz over the yrs, not a GYN, also have asked many. They don't grasp the intensity and severity of the problem, minimizing it as an uncomfortable feeling that will pass. For some women, this is the case. Then for a small percentage of women IT IS A LIVING HELL!!! There are holistic GYNs that can concoct progesterone cream specifically for you. Also drug store chemists can do this. NO YAM. All natural. Nothing synthetic! You put a tiny amnt on the inside of arm once a day. It was magical. When I took large dosages of black cohosh I had my hormones checked w/bld tests and my estradiol went way up. So I stay clear of that. Thems my thoughts. I wish you PEACE... Smiles... And love... __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...