By Jennifer Andrews, WJCL Savannah
February 18, 2010
“How are you feeling?”
“Tired.”
And tired of the runaround. Angela Lee wound up here at “Live Well MD” with peri-menopausal symptoms, after she’d had it with another doctor.
“Said you’re approaching 40, have 3 kids and a stressful life, job outside the house, so this is the way it’s going to be for you, and I said this is totally unacceptable to me.”
Following an overall health plan and consultations with Dr. Mary Kay Ross, Angela took bioidentical hormones.
I’m sleeping, I have a libido, I have my cycles regulated, my hair’s not falling out, and I’m happier.”
Bioidentical hormones are made from soy or yams that have the same chemical makeup as hormones made by a woman’s body. Plus, they’re custom made for each patient.
“If it’s structurally identical to what your body produced prior, then it’s going to have an affinity for the receptor and work much better, easier. It’ll take less of the hormones.”
After evaluating Angela’s hormone levels from a blood test, Dr. Ross prescribes the bioidentical hormones to meet her needs. And like any HRT treatment, there are risks.
“There have been questions if it’ll include the risk of breast cancer, stroke, however I believe the bioidentical hormones are safer.”
Dr. Shauna Zaren supports bioidenticals, yet says they come with concern.
“The compounded forms are not regulated as closely. While they have FDA ingredients in them, the products they mix them with vary from pharmacy to pharmacy,” said Dr. Shauna Zaren, MD.
Dr. Ross says that’s why she sticks with a pharmacy and approach that she trusts. As does Angela.
“It just seems to help people with quality of life. I think it makes them healthier in the long run,” said Dr. Ross.
And as for Angela, “My energy came back, I was back in the gym, I had my strength back, my knees and joints weren’t aching, and I tell people that was the best thing I’d done for myself in 10 years.”
Copyright 2010 The Coastal Source