Women’s stories

“...Like a lifeline!”

Madison, 52, told us that her menopausal symptoms were bizarre. Her doctors said she wasn’t “typical” and prescribed her a list of medications to help each separate symptom. Shortly after realizing her health problems were related to her hormones, Madison discovered the Personal Program and found out she wasn’t so bizarre. There were other women out there suffering from similar things. She worked closely with a Nurse–Educator to wean herself off of Premarin and is feeling better and better every day.

“Four years ago, things started to change drastically with my health. It began with an irregular heart beat that I was eventually hospitalized for. I was also having hot flashes and night sweats. The doctors who cared for me in the hospital were perplexed by my symptoms because I was only 48 at the time, and they kept saying, ‘This is just not typical.’

“Things progressed from there and I began to get the most bizarre symptoms. First it was swollen legs, then glaucoma, then my blood pressure went up, and then I was diagnosed with a thyroid condition. Every time I turned around, it was something else! As time went on, I recognized that what was happening to me had to be hormonally related.

“I went to my gynecologist, who put me on Premarin (my uterus was taken out when I was 30 years old due to a condition called adenomyosis). After one week on Premarin, I thankfully found Women to Women. I was looking on the internet to see if there was anyone else out there experiencing similar symptoms! When I started to read, I realized Premarin wasn’t the only way to balance my hormones. At this point I knew I didn’t want to continue on it. So, I started the Personal Program and worked closely with a Nurse–Educator to wean off of Premarin.

“Within one week on the Personal Program, I started to notice changes in myself. The hot flashes tapered off, I had more energy overall, and I was sleeping better. I found the one-on-one conversations with the Nurse–Educator so helpful. It was great to be able to tell someone directly how I felt and hear solutions. One of the biggest issues for me was the weight I’d gained over the past year. I wanted so badly to get that off. But my Nurse–Educator told me that I wouldn’t be able to lose the weight until I got my body back into balance. It made so much sense! I’ve started to exercise now and I take my Essential Nutrients every day. I’m trying to be better to me!

“My husband has noticed a definite change in me.  He says, ‘I feel like I’m getting my old Madison back!’ When women become hormonally imbalanced, there is such a feeling of hopelessness and desperation. You just want someone to help, but primary care doctors don’t understand. They just want to throw a drug at you.

“I love how personal Women to Women is, how you are always there - like a lifeline!”

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Last Modified Date: 05/24/2011