Sharon Giles <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>This whole anti-HRT thing is really annoying me since it is not a theoretic,
>romantic, 'life should be this way' affair to me. As an actual
>postmenopausal woman who takes HRT, I personally feel the benefits. It helps
>a lot of problems, including vaginal irritation and a leaky bladder. It
>makes a quite noticeable difference in my memory, especially for names of
>both people and things. It also raises the level of my sexual interest and
>my husband appreciates that. Plus my bone density is great in spite of being
>a meat eater and consumer of diet sodas. It helps to clear my skin (I have
>Rosacea) and I do enjoy having less wrinkles than my contemporaries. The
>evidence on the prevention of heart disease is conflicting, but there are
>still a lot of studies that show estrogen is beneficial for a woman's
>cardiovascular system.

Amen, sister!  There are a lot of benefits to estrogen and a lot of
anti-aging effects.

I had a complete hysterectomy at age ... well, never mind the age stuff but
let's just say I was still in the prime of my life....and I can assure you
that my life would not be worth living right now without HRT.  I know just
from the weeks of adjustment following the surgery (my face broke out, I
had hot flashes, I had mood swings, I was a mess) that I would not want to
be without it.

Well, that was three years ago and I have never in my whole life felt more
mentally stable.  Never.  I don't have those monthly ups and downs and I am
rarely depressed.  I no longer cry for no reason at all (which was common
before), I don't gain 5 pounds once a month and scream at the people I
love.   In fact, I can barely relate any more to my friends' complaints
about their periods.  (Sometimes I find myself recommending that they get a
hysterectomy.  Just kidding, though.)

I wouldn't live without HRT.  I'll gladly accept the risks in order to have
a normal life.

--Dena