Health Update - Hormone Replacement Therapy

It's been awhile since I've given a health update.  I've spent the last several years trying to navigate through a lot of changes.  I had a hysterectomy in 2012.  They took everything but my ovaries. I had surgery in December of 2021 to have one of the ovaries' removed.  It had a double cyst on it, so out of caution they decided to remove it and have it tested.  Results came back normal, so no further procedures or testing was needed. So, now I only have one ovary remaining. Over the next couple of years I slowly started to decline in my quality of life.  In fact, it was so slow that I didn't recognize the symptoms for what they were.  I was tired(exhausted), sore, not sleeping well, gaining weight(without changing my diet or activities), feeling defeated most of the time and overall depressed.  My body composition was changing, and I had no idea why.  I wasn't doing ANYTHING different. My mind was not as quick and I wondered how much longer I could work, because everything was becoming more of a struggle.  I chalked some if it up to normal aging, but I was also doing some testing with functional medicine doctors  to hopefully get a road map of what was going on inside my body. There was definitely some issues I needed to work on.  Gut health and detox, but overall everything looked pretty good.  I made some changes, added some supplements and hoped for the best. I was also doing sauna, red light therapy and anything else that I felt might make a difference.  It was to the point I couldn't run any more.  It hurt my body to run and didn't feel good, so I was walking and trying to implement gentle exercises -  Pilates bar exercises, rebounding and my vibration plate to try and keep my body in shape.  I was eating a pretty strict anti-inflammatory diet, but I still wasn't feeling well or seeing much of an improvement.  It wasn't until I finally decided to go into my family doctor and have some bloodwork done to rule out rheumatoid arthritis or any other autoimmune conditions.  Thankfully the tests came back negative for rheumatoid arthritis or anything else, but that also meant they didn't have any answers for what I was feeling.  They said it was most likely fibromyalgia and they could give me some meds to help with my symptoms, but I declined and left feeling more determined to figure out what the right answers were that could help me feel better.  Thankfully I had my yearly appointment with my gynecologist soon after this and was able to talk to her about my recent diagnosis.  She immediately wanted to test my hormones, and so we did.

She said she wanted to start me on a low dose of estrogen and progesterone to see if it helped my symptoms.  She assumed my symptoms were a result of menopause.  I've been going to her for over 10 years, so she knows I read, listen to podcasts of all things health and wellness.  She asked if I'd heard of a couple of books, of which I had just finished reading one and listening to the author on a podcast.  She gave me another book recommendation and wanted me to come back in a couple of weeks.  I came back and we decided to up my levels of estrogen and progesterone and add testosterone as well.  My levels were basically null and void - ZERO. My body was shutting down, and I was feeling it.  Over the course of the next 6 months I have changed my estrogen levels a few more times,  and I'm feeling so much better!!  I am sleeping better, my mind is more clear, I have my energy back.  I can FINALLY run again.  It has been life changing!!!  HRT had been given such a bad wrap with misinformation, so doctors still don't openly talk about it much unless you exhibit the symptoms.  I was not educated enough, so I continued to read and listen to anything I could on all things hormones and hormone therapy.  It's sad to think I could've avoided most of this if I had been more informed.

I also added a continuous glucose monitor to the mix to fine tune my metabolic health  - Another game changer.  A peek into what is happening as I eat in real time.  It's amazing to learn and know your body in such an intimate way and learn how much we actually can do to help in our own health and wellness. I learned that I could control my glucose with the food I ate and the order in which I ate it. Mind-blowing.  I don't eat a lot of pasta or breads, but if I do I pair it with a good fat/protein.  I've learned that blueberries and raspberries are the best fruit option for me. And if I want a taste of something I know will give me more of a spike I can eat less of it and still be ok.  I lost 25lbs. without dieting...just changing how I ate, not what I ate.

I am also working with a functional nutritionist, to help supplement the best I can to help my body work with all the things it needs to during this time in my life. It's a continuous learning process.  I will never be done. I continue to test and do the all things I can to help me feel the very best. I'm so thankful for all I've learned in this process.  When you know better, you do better.

Fun Facts I've learned: 

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is often prescribed to ease symptoms of menopause (and sometimes andropause or other hormone imbalances). The benefits can vary depending on whether estrogen alone or a combination of estrogen and progesterone/testosterone is used, but here are the main ones:

1. Relief of Menopausal Symptoms

• Reduces hot flashes and night sweats.

• Improves sleep quality disrupted by hormonal changes.

• Decreases vaginal dryness and discomfort during intimacy.

• Helps with mood swings, irritability, and sometimes mild anxiety/depression related to hormone shifts.

2. Bone & Joint Health

• Estrogen therapy slows bone loss and reduces the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

• May improve joint stiffness in some people.

3. Heart & Metabolic Benefits (for some women)

• When started early in menopause (before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause), HRT may reduce risk of heart disease in certain women.

• Helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels in some cases.

4. Cognitive & Emotional Well-Being

• Some women report better focus and memory.

• Can improve overall quality of life and sense of well-being.

5. Skin, Hair & Body Composition

• Estrogen supports collagen, which can improve skin elasticity.

• May help maintain muscle mass and reduce central fat gain linked to menopause.

6. Urogenital & Sexual Health

• Reduces risk of urinary tract infections.

• Improves bladder function in some women.

• Restores vaginal tissue health and comfort.

⚠️ Important: HRT isn’t right for everyone. It can increase risks of blood clots, stroke, breast cancer, or heart disease in certain women—especially if started later in life or if risk factors are present. Therapy should always be personalized and closely monitored by a healthcare provider.