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Seniors Get It August 24, 2010

Posted by Lyn in : Hormone Therapy Joy, Hot BHRT Topics , 2comments

I had a fun experience at a recent Happy Hormone Hour at the Beavercreek Senior Center! I met with close to 50 women (and 2 poor men!!) between the ages of 55-90 and just had the best time. Several of them came into the room yelling, “Is this the hormone room??!!” or, “Do you think I will look just like you when you’re finished??!!” or, “Bring those hormones on!!”  (no pressure!  LOL!!) I really enjoyed speaking with the women and answering their questions. I think it finally hit home how far we are from the way we used to do things back in a simpler time, when one of the guests asked me about compounding “back in the day.” It is true. Compounding was how we used to make medicine customized for each patient and dosed for that individual. Do you know what happened in the mid 1900s to change the face of that? The inception of drug companies! After that, dosing medication for the masses became the way to go! I don’t think that’s a good thing! Why would I want to take the exact same therapy and dosing as every other woman? Aren’t we all different and unique? Especially in the area of women’s health with sex hormones, adrenal glands and thyroid. I want my OWN therapy made just for MY body that will meet MY body’s needs. Anything less than that just doesn’t make sense! I also drove home the point that it is no longer okay to visit your practitioner and just accept every word as law. Since when have we given up any opinions about our own bodies? When did we lose our voice? When did we stop being heard?? It is way past time to take our power back and become educated and empowered to take charge of our own journey. I think doctors appreciate intelligent conversation and respect our choice to stand up for our own bodies. You have permission to dialogue with your doctor about YOUR care. I did a recent blog about current standard of care and how it isn’t always the best option. In fact, just the opposite. I talk with women ALL day EVERY day and never cease to be amazed at how many of them just blindly accept their doctor’s word as law and don’t explore holistic options. You have no idea how many 20 year olds I meet on a daily basis who have had a hysterectomy! In their 20s! And when I hear the reason why…..because it is the “standard of care,” I just cringe! Come on, people! We are beyond this now. We are BETTER than that! Visit our “Resources/Reading” page to become educated. If you haven’t read Natural Hormone Balance by Uzzi Reiss or Ageless by Suzanne Somers or Adrenal Fatigue by James Wilson….it is time to start! Keep me posted on your journey. I have your back!

If you would like more information or want to take your power back (!), come join me for my next Happy Hormone Hour on September 15, at 6:30 p.m.at our newly remodeled Piqua Medicine Shoppe. PMS presents a Happy Hormone Hour! Kind of has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? See you there!

Fondly,

Lyn

The Happy Hormone Cottage and the Three Myths June 28, 2010

Posted by Lyn in : Hot BHRT Topics, Uneducated doctors , 4comments

Once upon a time in the Heart of Centerville was an adorable little cottage where a team of stunning patient counselors lived! They were terribly busy helping women and men navigate the muddy, muddy waters of hormone imbalance by educating them on the strategies for natural hormone balance through customized natural options. Everyone was happy learning new strategies that didn’t involve antidepressants and drugs(!) and women left the cottage feeling validated and respected, AND feeling better than they had in years.
One day it came to the attention of Lyn, the director of the tiny little cottage, that somewhere in the land, 3 myths were being perpetuated. She got fed up and in a fit of energy, burst forth with these 3 “myth busters!”

Myth #1 “Compounded Hormones Are Not FDA Approved”
The FDA’s job is to approve manufactured drugs for the masses. WE customize therapy for one individual. So WE are strictly regulated by the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy.
**HOWEVER, each of the following hormones we use ARE FDA approved: Testosterone, Estradial and Progesterone.

Myth #2 “Insurance Doesn’t Cover Compounded Therapy”
Actually most insurance companies DO cover not only the cost of compounding, but also reimburse for the cost of the saliva testing, as it is considered a billable lab fee.

Myth #3 “Commercially Made BHRT Products Will Produce The Same Results”
Good luck with that! Commercially made BHRT products are “one-size-fits-most”. so the dosage can not be adjusted, we can not customize for the individual, so therefore expectations are not met.
For example, Prometrium®, the commercially-made Progesterone capsule comes in only two doses: 100mg and 200mg. Prometrium® is dissolved in peanut oil and only lasts in the body for 6 hours. On top of that, the dosage can not be adjusted, so when the patient gets unexpected results, adjustments can not be made. The commercially-made Estrogen products on the market (the patches and gels) are developed by drug companies based on blood serum data. When one uses blood serum hormone levels, the levels have been depleted by the heart so they are very low. The result is that the drug companies make their products with WAY TOO MUCH ESTROGEN to compensate for these low levels. IF they would use saliva test results, where the hormones are being measured at the tissue level of cells, maybe their products would be dosed accordingly. Giving too much Estrogen to an already Estrogen dominant woman does not make sense and may actually increase the risk of breast cancer. Also, some of these products were approved by the FDA after only a 12-week study.
Bonus Myth #4 “Compounded Topical Hormone Therapy Increases The Risk Of Blood Clots”
Actually, oral Estrogen has been shown to increase the risk of blood clots. We have several studies that show there is no risk of blood clotting with topical hormone replacement therapy.
Once these myths and untruths were addressed across the land, Lyn, her Happy Hormone Cottage and all who came to get tested, get treated and get better lived happily ever after!
The moral of the story is to always, always think for yourself. Do the research! It’s out there! Become educated and empowered to make the right choice for YOU!

The Happy Hormone Cottage is Bursting at the Seams! March 7, 2010

Posted by Lyn in : Hormone Therapy Joy , add a comment

It looks like we made it through another grueling winter! Luckily, at the cottage, we have been so busy, we haven’t really noticed the winter! AND, with our female population of women stopping by who are having hot flashes, who notices the cold?? We actually sit around and glow! :)


We just celebrated our 6-month anniversary at our little Happy Hormone Cottage and I am just amazed at our growth. I really had no idea when we began our free resource center for women at the end of August, that we would experience this much growth this quickly! It just goes to show we must simply dream bigger! Since opening, we have established relationships with 30 area practitioners in the greater Dayton area, who partner with us in this area of compounded natural hormone replacement therapy. Since we launched our website in August, 744 women receive our monthly email Wellness Updates AND we have gone from 6 free consultations a week to 23 consultations a week. Even more interesting to me is that fact that now that our clients are feeling better, have more energy, and are sleeping better, they are bringing their husbands into the cottage for their male menopause (andropause) issues!! Luckily, my husband Jeff Hogrefe RPh, works with these men on Saturday afternoons and takes them off-site to a nearby location for their meetings. It is just too much for the men to step into a “happy hormone cottage” with grace and dignity! They are much happier meeting at an alternative location and talking over health issues with another guy, who has compassion for men in this area.

Finally, we just finished a $200,000 renovation at our Piqua Medicine Shoppe and Compounding Lab that includes a brand new state-of-the-art compounding facility. We are proud of the fact that we are listed in Suzanne Somer’s last 3 books as THE compounding pharmacy of choice in Ohio and we are proud to stay at the top of our game! Our clients’ health and well-being is our greatest treasure!


Have a great month! I hope to see you soon at one of our Happy Hormone Coffee Hours on Wednesday mornings, a Happy Hormone Hour, or a local health event like the Miami Valley Hospital South free Women’s Health Seminar that is being held Tuesday evening, March 9, 5:30-7:30 p.m.  Check my website’s events page for information and updates!

By the way, you can now schedule a consultation online!  Visit

http://www.happyhormonecottage.com/begin_your_journey.htm and click on Make an Appointment!

Warmly,
Lyn