Women’s stories

“This isn’t for sissies!”

Clara had a complete hysterectomy at age 40. Now 60, she’s spent most of the intervening years on hormone replacement therapy — in her case, Premarin. The drug helped with some symptoms but created equally unpleasant side effects. Clara has tried many times to stop her Premarin but always suffered terrible consequences.

Like many women, Clara was frustrated by what she perceived as a lack of support from her doctor. She was trying to do what was best for herself, but her doctor’s only alternative to HRT was antidepressants. While she felt determined to stop hormone replacement therapy because of the health risks, she knew in her heart that antidepressants were not the solution to her menopause symptoms.

When Clara came to us she was cautious, skeptical, and full of questions. But she was committed to trying something new. As a result, we agreed in our first talk that she should wean off HRT very slowly to avoid a repeat of her past unhappy experiences.

After a couple of months on her Program, Clara confessed she had a fear of giving up her Premarin completely. “This isn’t for sissies!” she said. But she persevered and was careful to follow her Program strictly.

By now this approach is clearly paying off with the results she wants. The last time we talked she said, “I feel better now than when I was young. I feel like I’m 35 again!”

This go-slow approach is also driven by how much Clara is learning about how her body works. The more she learns, the more questions she has. (That’s what we’re here for!) Recently she has found herself adopting other good health habits, like gentle exercise and taking time for herself. When she was on Premarin, she wanted a solution in a pill. Now that’s behind her. Soon she’ll drop the last of her Premarin and be free of it forever.

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Last Modified Date: 05/25/2011