Dear Friends,
Today was a big day for me; the privilege of appearing on Oprah’s show and then hearing her speak so enthusiastically about this way of treating menopause with bioidentical hormones was one of the thrills of my career. It has taken me 18 books to get this kind of enthusiasm, and my reaction was emotional. I told her, “Thank you for giving me this opportunity to get my message out;” and she said, “You’ve been out there for ten years; they have heard you.” I replied, “Yes, but it’s different through you.” And it is. Oprah is a spectacular person, and her success is because of her compassion and desire to make this world a better place.
Women are suffering. We have been dismissed for so long when complaining about lack of sleep and night sweats and all the rest of the terrible symptoms. We are told these symptoms are something to be “endured.” Dr. Streicher, the opposition on Oprah, claims that the bioidentical hormones I recommend through my doctors are drugs. As I said on the show, “I disagree…if bioidentical hormones are a drug, then why don’t they require a patent?”
Dr. Streicher works at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. A doctor affiliated with a hospital is not allowed to practice anything but allopathic medicine. That is why she was pushing pharmaceutical grade hormones. Her message was confusing to me; she was speaking of synthetic hormones then switched to calling them hormones, claiming that the term ‘bioidentical’ was not recognized (by the FDA).
It is simply semantics; as Oprah said, “Bioidentical is here to stay.” I said, “It is easier for we lay people to refer to them as bioidentical (biologically identical) and we don’t really care if the medical ‘standard of care’ profession recognizes it or not.”
According to Dr. Streicher, the hormones she was talking about (which was not clear) were the same as mine but hers were approved. Hers were pharmaceutical, I presume, bioidentical hormones. The problem with pharmaceutical grade hormones is the lack of individualization. I get mine from a compounding pharmacy where they make them up for my EXACT needs. It’s not enough to “get close” or to do “quite well.” Until you hit the “sweet spot,” as I have called it, it is not acceptable. I have been able to get my hormones in perfect ratio for my body, exactly what I require; and now every day is a good one.
I know all the information is confusing. I know when the doctors speak we feel obliged to listen because they are the experts. But are they? The playing field is level. They did not study this in medical school; and unless they have gone out of their way to go back to school and attend conferences and work with patients, it truly is like going to a plumber for a heart bypass. Doctors are professionals we hire to help us keep our bodies healthy. They are not gods and they do not have all the answers. We must do our homework and be informed and in tune with our bodies and our needs.
What I offer to you through my books are interviews with doctors who have chosen to specialize in bioidentical hormones. These doctors know their stuff, and I have spent countless hours interviewing them. It has been quite an education and I pass that knowledge along to you.
I feel great every day. I want you to have the same quality of life and you can if you are willing to make a few changes in your lifestyle.
By the way, if you go to Life Extension on my website, they will provide a very reasonably priced blood test for all my ladies and men to determine your hormonal needs. Once they get the results, they will refer you to a qualified physician in your area. It’s as simple as that. And then you are on your way.
Information is power. Replacing hormones is about restoring your body to balance. The choice is restoration vs deterioration.
You have to replace your endocrine system daily to have quality of life once you start to decline in hormonal production or accept the deterioration that is the present template of aging. You do not have to suffer with symptoms with real natural replacement. You can kiss the Seven Dwarves away; “ Itchy, Bitchy, Sleepy, Sweaty, Bloated , Forgetful, and All Dried -Up!”
You really will be Sleeping Beauty (a good 8 hours a night) and wake up rested and feeling great. Life is to be enjoyed, but without hormones it just ain’t gonna happen!
Have a great day.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Somers
Visit me at SuzanneSomers.com!
While I know many
of you have specific medical questions, only qualified experts can
advise on individual cases. Use my advice to arm yourself with
knowledge to pass along to your doctors. The more informed you are, the
better questions you will ask of your health care providers. This will
help you determine if your doctor is right for you. If you are seeking
professional help, please check the Dr. Resource Guide. If you are interested in bio-identical hormone replacement, click on the Life Extension Hormone Panel to get information on low cost blood work and a referral to a physician who can prescribe natural hormones for you.
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