He gave me a script for Estradiol that is bioidentical (or molecularly identical) to human estrogen. He also had to give me a handout with all the data gleaned from the Women's Health Initiative, a poorly design study in which skewed results were obtained due to many factors, not the least of which being that the median age of their "newly menopausal" subjects happened to be 63!?!
Being the certified hypochondriac that I am, I could not just start popping a pill just because it was prescribed for me without a lot of agonizing over the whole ordeal. I don't suffer from menopausal symptoms to such a degree that my life is disrupted by them. The main issue was going to be with whether or not it was going to help me with bone density.
I have had a LOT of steroids since being diagnosed with MS and I had strong suspicions that my bones were thin. I have other risk factors including being "thin" (that's according to my doc, not my own definition because I think I could stand to lose 10lbs), not eating enough calcium rich foods due to being lactose intolerant, I used to smoke, and I am menopausal.
So I promised myself I would hold off on the estrogen decision until the results of the bone density test came back. That happened this past Tuesday when I went in for my checkup.
The nurse looks through my file when she's preparing to take my vitals and she's the one who broke the news. "You have osteopenia. It's a precursor to osteoporosis. Here's a bunch of pamphlets to read."
Gee. Pretty anticlimactic.
So I'm going to see the doc and he's a real talker. My sister had the appointment slot 1/2 hour previous to mine and they put us in adjacent (not to be confused with adjoining) rooms. The doctor talked and talked. I got so bored waiting for my turn that I decided to go all McGyver and try to hear what was going on by cupping my hands in a circle tightly against the wall and jamming my ear down into my home made water glass and see if I could hear anything. I could.
Not much, mind you. Mostly my sisters responses because a) her voice is louder and b) she was facing the wall.
Having fun with my spy game, I decided to get all scientific about it and stand up, slowly sliding my water-glass-hand-cup along the wall searching for the optimal audio reception, finding that the studs really do hinder the sound quality, and if I went above the counter level I could get even better audio.
Realizing the compromising position I was in, half squatting with my ear plaster to my hand-cup against the wall and between the exam table and the chair they give you so your clothes aren't just thrown on the floor, I decided that I better just chill out and resume a more natural stance in a section of the room the nurse would not be alarmed to find me.
It wasn't like he'd been telling her anything she's have needed to go all HIPPA on me about. They were discussing what foods constituted a balanced diet. Big whoop. But it was something to do and I tend to do stuff that hidden camera people would EAT UP if I think I'm alone.
About the time I got situated back in my chair where I had been told to sit, stay, was about the same time I heard her door open and the doc saying his goodbyes. Then I could hear him and the nurse discussing his next patient (moi) out in the hallway.
"Oh, they're sisters? Really! Cool."
He then came in, not mentioning my sister or any Family Plan Discount Coupon he might have in his wallet, but just shook my hand and got busy reviewing my file.
He talked about osteopenia and how it shouldn't be confused with osteoporosis since that's not what I have. We talked about how I need to take an aggressive proactive stance against it and start making changes that would decrease my odds of ending up with osteoporosis.
He then asked me how the Estradiol was working for me. I told him my plan to hold off starting until I got the results he'd just given me. He said that was a fair decision. (I didn't know I was getting judged on my decision making).
So now that I was presented with the results it was do or die time. We rehashed all the risk factors checking off those which apply to me..
"Used to smoke, don't have high intake of calcium, sedentary lifestyle, you're thin..."
"Woah! What was that? You think I"m thin?? Can I get that in writing on your watermarked letterhead?"
Then we go on to discuss the percentage of body fat that people have and your optimal body fat in order to hover in a safe place farthest from osteoporosis risk (on the low end) and cardiac complications (on the high end). It needs to be between 25 and 30% on the scale.
Then he tells me there are scales which can accurately calculate body fat and body water, and you can purchase them at wal-mart.com among other places. Intrigued I whipped out some scratch paper and a pen and started taking notes.
Simultaneously he whipped out his iPhone and started surfing to find the one I needed to get, were I so inclined. After writing the brand name (Taylor) and that it needed to be digital and say that it measures body fat and body water, I felt my heart skip a beat...
I had a defective iron I had purchased the day before and needed the receipt to take it back for exchange. I was hoping against hope I wasn't scribbling all over the back of it. I flipped it over and for a second I was relieved.
Then I burst out laughing and confessed to the doctor that I was taking notes about the scale on the back of a Dunkin Donuts receipt. He, too, had a good laugh.
So we decided that I would increase my calcium intake to between 1100 and 1500 mg / day (I have a 1200 mg chewable I got from Walgreens that fits the bill), and I would get that scale, (which I ordered from Wal-mart.com from this ad) , and that I would begin taking the Estradiol as opposed to my inevitable choices I would later be presented with should my bones continue thinning...
Things like Boneva, Fosomax, and other super expensive osteo drugs. I decided I'd give the Estradiol (at $17 for a 1 mo. supply or if I join Walgreens Rx plan I can get it for $4/mo for a 3mo supply) a try. May as well try the cheap route since I'm not made of money last I checked.
That brings us up to date and I am on day 3 of being an estroginated subject.
Here's what I have found.
- 1st day I was a little dizzier than my ususal MS/Fingolimod dizzy.
- I have only gone through 2 nights since starting and already I sleep better with less insomnia, less restless light sleep, more sound sleep and less hot flashes.
- My hips don't hurt as bad. They were stiff and sore all the time but I just figured it was from sitting so much and getting older.
If this helps my menopausal symptoms I had been ignoring (the sleep issues, hot flashes and hip aches) and helps increase my bone density, then I guess I am willing to risk certain minimally possible adverse events.
After all, I'm becoming a pro at this drug taking, weigh the pros and cons stuff. I've had 3 years practice with Fingolimod. :D
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