In the last article I discussed the different routes of Bioidentical Hormone Therapy. SottoPelle inserts, which are the Estradiol (for women) and Testosterone (for men and women) pellets that are implanted in the fatty tissue of the hip, are by far the most convenient, most effective, best absorbed and nearly identical to the way the body releases hormones into the blood stream. To show you how life-changing these hormone inserts can be, I would like to tell you about Natalie… a 54 y.o. business owner who came in for a hormone consult 3 mos. ago. She had gone through menopause 3 yrs earlier and was placed on synthetic hormone replacement therapy because of hot flashes, night sweats, no sex drive, sleep problems, anxiety/depression, loss of energy, weight gain, and poor memory. After being on the synthetic hormones for a few months she began having multiple side effects such as weight gain, breast tenderness, headaches, bloating, hair loss, and nausea. She just felt awful overall. Her OB/Gyn Dr. tried adjusting her dose, but nothing helped. She finally stopped the medication, hoping to feel better. But, she once again found herself feeling miserable as all the prior symptoms returned.
Unsure where to go from here, Natalie’s friend recommended she see a Dr. who specialized in Bioidentical Hormones and prescribed the topical hormone creams. Natalie took her advice and scheduled an appointment to see this new Dr. After some testing and review of results, Natalie was prescribed Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone creams. She began using the cream immediately, hoping to feel better right away. In the beginning she got good relief from her hot flashes and night sweats, was sleeping better with an improved sex drive. But, after being on the creams for 9 weeks, her hot flashes and night sweats returned. Her Dr. tried raising her Estrogen dose a couple of times with no improvement in her symptoms. She actually began gaining weight due to the increase in the amount of Estrogen she was using. Natalie did admit that she may, in part, be responsible for the inability of her Dr. to stabilize her hormone levels, as she found it very difficult to remember to apply the cream twice a day. After 6 mos. of fluctuating results, decided to come to SottoPelle after reading one of our articles and doing some online research.
Natalie presented in our office with most of her original symptoms. She was so tired of feeling lousy and desperate for help. After reviewing her medical history and labs, Natalie and I discussed her expectations and I answered her questions regarding the procedure and any possible side effects. She was so excited to get started, we inserted her pellets that same visit.
When I called Natalie 5 weeks later to review her 1 mo. post-insertion labs, she sounded like a new woman. She stated that her hot flashes and nights sweats were gone in 4 days and she was sleeping like a baby. She had resumed her exercise regime since her energy had returned. She was cleaning her house and garage….tasks she had put off for years as she had no motivation to do much of anything. Her husband was very happy that her sex drive had returned and was telling his buddies about this miracle pellet that changed his wife’s life. Natalie was no longer stumbling over lost words or forgetting names and appointments. She was so happy to have her old self back.