HRT and Memory

[Gail]

Have a new client with two main fears.

She has presented for treatment for the first which is related to losing
her short term memory, she has had a long standing fear of developing
Alzheimers which is in her family. Her other main fear is osteoporosis,
which also runs in her family, and her scans show that her bones are
quite thin at the moment and getting thinner,. She has been on HRT,
currently using patches, for at least 10 years ever since she had a
hysterectomy, and is adamant that the HRT is essential for her bones.

Have been googling around memory and HRT and it seems to be showing
mixed results in studies - some say it helps memory, others say it
worsens memory and shrinks brains. So I'm not sure if what she presents
with is a side effect of the HRT and that she may need to risk a
decision between maintaining bones or a good memory.

When I read through hormone symptom lists, her symptoms seem to fit with
a low progesterone and high cortisol - so the tendency to high cortisol
may have more to do with both the memory and the bone loss than the HRT.

Would appreciate any input from the group around HRT, especially related
to bones and memory, concurrent use of homoeopathics, and also related
to weaning off HRT - if we get that far.

Gail

[Joy Lucas]

The problem is here, when you get 2 sides of the story, the pros and cons, you will only be guessing as to the cause of the memory loss vis HRT. But 10 years of it might well have done some harm. Hopefully the goal is to come off the HRT and treat the underlying bone problem with homeopathy. Weaning off with patches is quite difficult as unlike pills you cannot cut down by taking less but the patch can be worn for less time. This is what I have always worked with but it is a slow process and the weaning off of all long term drugs should be done carefully and slowly and monitored diligently and client co-operation is vital as well.

Joy

http://www.joylucashomeopathy.com
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/homeopathystudy/

[Soroush Ebrahimi]

Dear Joy
Please can you tell us in detail how you wean people off patches?
Rgds
Soroush
________________________________

From: minutus@yahoogroups.com [mailto:minutus@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Joy Lucas
Sent: 17 July 2009 09:31
To: minutus@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Minutus] HRT and Memory

The problem is here, when you get 2 sides of the story, the pros and cons, you will only be guessing as to the cause of the memory loss vis HRT. But 10 years of it might well have done some harm. Hopefully the goal is to come off the HRT and treat the underlying bone problem with homeopathy. Weaning off with patches is quite difficult as unlike pills you cannot cut down by taking less but the patch can be worn for less time. This is what I have always worked with but it is a slow process and the weaning off of all long term drugs should be done carefully and slowly and monitored diligently and client co-operation is vital as well.

Joy

http://www.joylucashomeopathy.com
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/homeopathystudy/

[Joy Lucas]

It will always depend on the individual. If the client is weak , has serious disease and been on the patches for a long time, then weaning will be slow but if relatively robust and not on them for long then the time it takes will be less. You do have to have client compliance but often the client will do as they please and devise their own procedure and time schedule - there is not much you can do about this but keep in good communication and give good advice.

So advising to take the patch off for a few hours and put it back on, each day increasing a bit more - this makes the patch less adhesive and can be a problem but you can always use microporous tape to hold in place. Then you can move to half days, 3/4 days and then take the plunge with a full day, every other day etc. If there are no obvious withdrawal signs increase the weaning off, if there are withdrawal signs then either change the routine or treat the sx. It is possible that you have already prescribed on what sx you have in the case so you have to take that into follow up consideration as well. But if you keep the client in good follow up communication this shouldn't be a problem.

Joy

http://www.joylucashomeopathy.com
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/homeopathystudy/
________________________________

[Vera Resnick]

I have a px I'm weaning off HRT patches - but her patches have small
"dots" which can be cut off, which she's doing together with
conventional monitoring. She changes her patch twice a week. We've
been going very very slowly, she's on Caust LM1 using advanced method,
and taking the remedy in olfactory doses only. Often she will take
the remedy just before changing the patch. On the one hand -
compliance isn't easy, especially since I'm not with the px every
minute and don't want to be! On the other hand, especially when the
px is interested and very much wants the process, I've been teaching
her the "rules" for when to take the remedy, when to reduce the patch,
and she is thankfully doing very well on it.

I suppose it depends very much what type of patch the px is using and
whether the patch itself can be "doctored".

In the past I've weaned off HRT in tablet form by stopping one day a
week for one-two months, then stopping two days (not consecutive)
etc.. I tend to go very, very slowly with this as the slightest
setback seems to have people running back to HRT. it's possible I go
too slowly - I think it also depends whether the px has a more
"laid-back" kind of life or more "dramatic". If dramatic (kids,
spouse, life throwing dramas...) then I think slow is important as
there are so many elements from outside that can throw the process off
course and make the px give up. If more "laid-back" you can probably
speed up more than I do!

Hope it's helpful!

Vera
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Vera Resnick RCHom
Classical Homeopath
e-mail: vera.homeopath@gmail.com