Oprah and Somers misrepresenting self hormone therapy

[pixiesis]

If that's the case, then that's good, but I got the impression -- though its an impression -- that she was doing a lot of stuff own her own. (Though makes you wonder which doctor wants you to take that many supplements. Why would a doctor tell her to take progesterone after a hysterectomy? )

Did you watch the episodes? Everyone interviewed who was using hormones had first seen a doctor. The title you named the thread is itself a "misrepresentation" since the shows do not advocate "self hormone therapy". I can see now why there's so much controversy since the story has been spun that Somers is doing this all on her own. I don't know if her doctor prescribes all the other supplements, and it's certainly possible that she's out of her mind taking all that stuff, but it was very clear that the hormones are prescribed.

I can't speak to what kind of doctor advises her, just that I know she has one and clearly advocated that women see a doctor. Like I said earlier, the show was actually pretty confusing. Both sides were clearly presented, and the conflict between the two was left unresolved. I wasn't sold by either side.

Amy

 

[hottiescientist]

You can access more than just what drug companies want you to see though not immediately (it's actually the reason why I am so resistant to my mother getting on "new" drugs actually). And Carola, you're right, the FDA is not a pure organization by any means-- I think there are people in the pockets of the Pharm industry so please don't think I think their holier than other entities. But I'm just saying just like the FDA was supposed to check the plant but they didn't -- there's no one whatsoever checking the American pharmacist and no one needs to. But I am actually hopeful for what may come for drug approval since there are talks about changing how the agencies work (particularly with the USDA and FDA with the peanut butter recall).

 

[hottiescientist]

In my treatment, at times I was on 20 different supplements.

After hysterectomy progesterone is often prescribed to prevent osteoporosis.

Actually, I've heard of 20. I thought Somers was on ~60. I didn't know about that people used progesterone to prevent osteoporosis! I totally have to look that up now -- thanks!

 

[hottiescientist]

Did you watch the episodes? Everyone interviewed who was using hormones had first seen a doctor. The title you named the thread is itself a "misrepresentation" since the shows do not advocate "self hormone therapy". I can see now why there's so much controversy since the story has been spun that Somers is doing this all on her own. I don't know if her doctor prescribes all the other supplements, and it's certainly possible that she's out of her mind taking all that stuff, but it was very clear that the hormones are prescribed.

I can't speak to what kind of doctor advises her, just that I know she has one and clearly advocated that women see a doctor. Like I said earlier, the show was actually pretty confusing. Both sides were clearly presented, and the conflict between the two was left unresolved. I wasn't sold by either side.

Amy

I've actually watched her multiple times on several shows and parts of the Oprah one and the fact is that I may be fusing the things she's said. I seem to recall her putting on estrogen-like cream and progesterone-cream and promoting its delivery system via the skin and I recall her saying how you can get many of the things she talked about from natural/herbalist stores (and, those creams you can get non-prescription) - maybe I made a connection that none of Oprah's viewers will make. I apologize for the misleading the title though I was mostly summarizing the first paragraph of the newseek article. But the "controversy" in this thread earlier was mostly about HRT and BHRT.

 

[teddy16410]

Did you watch the episodes? Everyone interviewed who was using hormones had first seen a doctor. The title you named the thread is itself a "misrepresentation" since the shows do not advocate "self hormone therapy". I can see now why there's so much controversy since the story has been spun that Somers is doing this all on her own. I don't know if her doctor prescribes all the other supplements, and it's certainly possible that she's out of her mind taking all that stuff, but it was very clear that the hormones are prescribed.

I can't speak to what kind of doctor advises her, just that I know she has one and clearly advocated that women see a doctor. Like I said earlier, the show was actually pretty confusing. Both sides were clearly presented, and the conflict between the two was left unresolved. I wasn't sold by either side.

Amy

Yes........ AND.... Oprah said more than once to Somers: " So you do admit you're over the top with all those supplements?" to which Somers ALWAYS REPLIED: "YES- I know I am- Thats just me."

Regarding the post about a 1-sided show...I didnt think it was totally 1 sided but EVEN IF IT WAS...Thats part of the USA freedom of speech... There are PLENTY of channels & on-going programs that present only 1 viewpoint....Whats wrong with that? What are people afraid of if I cant be allowed to watch 1-sided viewpoints? I am not an idiot... I personally dont run out and buy everything I see...BUT I do want ALL thoughts, information available to me- and YES this may mean that I have to go to multiple sources. Again...Dont go near that slippery slope of censorship - ESPECIALLY when there are just as many various shows/news/documentaries supporting the other side.

 

[cindi1]

When SS came out with her weight loss/lo carb books a few years back - she was seeing Diana Schwarzbein who has a number of books out herself.

I've read her books and found them very informative and credible. I don't know if SS is still with Dr. S.

Here is a little info on Dr. S...

Diana Schwarzbein, M.D., is a graduate from the University of Southern California (USC) Medical School and completed her residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in endocrinology at Los Angeles County USC Medical Center. She founded The Schwarzbein Principle Institute in 1993. She sub-specializes in metabolism, diabetes, osteoporosis, menopause and thyroid conditions, subjects she lectures on frequently. She lives in Santa Barbara, California.

 

[candi]

Let me tell you what I experienced. Ten years of trying to work with the medical community who went strictly by protocol when prescribing hormones. My current doctor and I experimented together on what worked for me which is a bioidentical patch. I finally have my life back. My insurance covers my Vivelle .1 patch.

What many of you who haven't entered this phase of your life don't understand is that hormones ARE experimental because each of our bodies are so different. And, if I didn't run across Suzanne Sommers website, I wouldn't even know about bioidenticals. Did I run out and get them just because she said to....NO. I researched and talked by doctors but until I started ASKING ABOUT BIOIDENTICALS, the doctors did not offer them.

I know about the risks but I also know my quality of life has improved 100% since starting my regimen.

 

[desiderata]

I greatly appreciate this conversation, it's very timely for me. I've recently been going through the perimenopausal symptoms described here, and bought SS's book at a used book store. I've read most of it, and was very interested in her glowing recommendations re: bioidentical hormones. I looked up compounding pharmacies in my area, and my ob/gyn was one of the recommended physicians. I see her in April, and I'll talk with her about it then.

One very, very important point: after reading SS' book, I had NO IDEA that bioidentical hormones have the same risks attached as do synthetic hormones. Now that I think about it, it makes perfect sense -- but that fact was in no way conveyed in her book. That seems irresponsible to me.

Another important point I've learned is that there is no oversight of the bioidenticals that are not FDA approved. I'm not a huge fan of the FDA, but that's not because I disagree with its mission, it's because I don't think it carries out its mission with complete integrity and diligence. The fact that a substance has NO OVERSIGHT at all, as opposed to imperfect oversight, does not strike me as a factor in favor of that substance.

I'm very interested in what my physician has to say about all this.

 

[rjroubi]

I greatly appreciate this conversation, it's very timely for me. I've recently been going through the perimenopausal symptoms described here, and bought SS's book at a used book store. I've read most of it, and was very interested in her glowing recommendations re: bioidentical hormones. I looked up compounding pharmacies in my area, and my ob/gyn was one of the recommended physicians. I see her in April, and I'll talk with her about it then.

One very, very important point: after reading SS' book, I had NO IDEA that bioidentical hormones have the same risks attached as do synthetic hormones. Now that I think about it, it makes perfect sense -- but that fact was in no way conveyed in her book. That seems irresponsible to me.

Another important point I've learned is that there is no oversight of the bioidenticals that are not FDA approved. I'm not a huge fan of the FDA, but that's not because I disagree with its mission, it's because I don't think it carries out its mission with complete integrity and diligence. The fact that a substance has NO OVERSIGHT at all, as opposed to imperfect oversight, does not strike me as a factor in favor of that substance.

I'm very interested in what my physician has to say about all this.

Well said!!

 

[trigirl63]

I also find it offensive that when people disagree about mainstream medicine (actually - mainstream anything) that we are being DUPED or MISLEAD....

Advertising is all about hype...I don't see non FDA approved bio-identicals showing commercials ad nauseum about how my life will be better if I use their product

Breast Cancer occurs in millions of women who have never taken a hormone in their life. If you'd like the name of my 12 immediate female relatives that have/are fighting breast cancer & have never so much as taken a birth control pill - PM me!

I am not misled, misunderstanding, misdirected nor am I being duped. I am a responsible 46 year old woman that has researched and followed the HRT industry over the last 25 years. I have made an informed decision about my medical care, I am thrilled with my results, I think I am to be respected & commended for doing so & not chastised.

I do not judge, look down upon, try to alter someones mind - based on my beliefs & my personal research & history and I'd like the same respect from those on the other side of the fence.

Nothing...absolutely nothing that is considered conventional medicine today was thought of this way 20 years before its time. If new, different, untested, unchartered waters are not consistently embraced we stagnate- we never find cures - we never move forward.

AMEN!!! couldn't have said it better!

 

[hiitdogs]

I haven't read the book, I have only seen excerpts. It sounds like she is talking about what SHE is doing for herself to look and feel younger. I don't see anything wrong with that. Anyone who thinks that a celebrity or anyone who writes about his/her own experience will give a neutral and balanced view of a complicated medical subject needs to re-examine their expectations!
Anyone who thinks that doctors and so-called experts know everything there is to know and will give an unbiased view needs to think again! I don't remember where I read it but it really rings true "doctors give drugs of which they know little into bodies of which they know even less for diseases of which they know nothing at all."

I can say from my own experience that until I found my current doctor, the previous specialists and experts treated me like a minor who is incapable of making educated decisions. They thought they had to take me by the hand and only give me fractions of information that supported their views and recommendations. I had to specifically ask them about research, side effects, results and statistics, pressure / confront them with the information I had found would probably more accurately describe it.

Sometimes it seems like people expect that everything is presented to them pre-digested on a silver platter and this is how doctors cater to patients these days. Maybe I am weird but I want to hear all the information, I expect that the information given by any single source is incomplete and probably "tainted" by exerience and personal agendas. No one book, magazine article or even doctor can give a "fair and balanced" assessment of risks vs. benefits. That's why I was looking and listening to as many sources as possible. I am perfectly capable of looking at all the pros and cons and make a decision based on what makes sense to me and what feels right for me.

I don't think anyone else can make that decision for me, no celebrity, no medical books or magazines, no well-meaning friends or relatives and no doctor. EVERY medical treatment comes with risks and since I am the one who is going to have to suck it up if something goes wrong, I am also the one who makes the decision.

I agree with every word that Traci said in her post. Very well said!!!!!

 

[desiderata]

Carola, I hope you didn't interpret the fact that I bought a copy of SS' book and became interested in bioidentical hormones because of it as meaning that I therefore expected her to be my source of information on a complicated medical issue. As I said above, I researched compounding pharmacies, found that my doctor is one who works with compounding pharmacies,and have an appointment in April.

Having actually read her book, though, I will say you are completely wrong in assuming Susanne Sommers does nothing more than describe what she does to look and feel younger. She uses herself as an example, but her focus is on advocacy. She very clearly advocates that all women who reach a certain hormonal stage should be on numerous bioidentical hormones, in order to alleviate symptoms and reverse aging. She presents herself as quite the expert in bioidentical hormones and gives her interpretation of the science behind it. According to Suzanne, bioidenticals are the fountain of youth, all good, and for everyone.

While reading her book (which I just finished two days ago), I wondered what was the catch. Not having any grand conspiracy theory against traditional medicine (considering how much I've benefited from it over the years), it occurred to me that if there was something that great out there, that safe, that effective at eliminating all side effects of perimenopause and menopause, and aging to boot, medicine would be all over it. Still, I hoped. My doctor refers to the compounding pharmacy, so hey, maybe this is some new, great thing.

Well, the catch is that, like all supplemental hormones, bioidenticals present health risks, the same as all supplemental hormones. SS does not mention this in her book, not once. She goes to great lengths to explain how bioidenticals are identical to what your body makes, unlike synthetic hormones, thereby creating the impression that they are safe, unlike synthetic hormones. Considering that's not true, I think that's irresponsible.

I also make my own decisions on health care, and I make informed decisions. I am open to alternative therapies with sound science behind them, but neither am I biased against traditional medicine. So, I will research all this further and have a thorough discussion with my doctor.

One last thought: my sister is in early menopause. She started traditional HRT last summer and describes the exact same relief from her symptoms and joy in recovering her quality of life as do the posters here on bioidentical hormones.

If the risks are the same, what's the difference?

 

[kathryn]

I can say from my own experience that until I found my current doctor, the previous specialists and experts treated me like a minor who is incapable of making educated decisions. They thought they had to take me by the hand and only give me fractions of information that supported their views and recommendations. I had to specifically ask them about research, side effects, results and statistics, pressure / confront them with the information I had found would probably more accurately describe it.

Sometimes it seems like people expect that everything is presented to them pre-digested on a silver platter and this is how doctors cater to patients these days. Maybe I am weird but I want to hear all the information, I expect that the information given by any single source is incomplete and probably "tainted" by exerience and personal agendas. No one book, magazine article or even doctor can give a "fair and balanced" assessment of risks vs. benefits. That's why I was looking and listening to as many sources as possible. I am perfectly capable of looking at all the pros and cons and make a decision based on what makes sense to me and what feels right for me.

I don't think anyone else can make that decision for me, no celebrity, no medical books or magazines, no well-meaning friends or relatives and no doctor. EVERY medical treatment comes with risks and since I am the one who is going to have to suck it up if something goes wrong, I am also the one who makes the decision.

Well said.
I always want to be informed of all options (and I've even introduced my doctor's to some things!), and be given all info on any condition I may have (the gall and arrogance of some doctors, who decide just what 'dose' of information--about themselves!--patients should be privy to. It's almost like they like to 'keep the secret' to make what they do/know seen so exclusive.)