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Frequently Asked Questions

Health and Hormones Q&A with Suzanne Somers


1.	Q: Do I need a doctor to get BHRT (bioidentical hormone replacement therapy)?
	SS: Yes, you need to go to a doctor; but you must ask this question: ”Have you chosen to specialize in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy?” If not, this is not the right doctor. Then ask, “Do you prescribe pharmaceutical bioidenticals or bioidenticals from a compounded pharmacy?” Why? You need to know the limitations of pharmaceutical BHRT as opposed to BHRT from a compounding pharmacy. Here is what I mean: Pharmaceutical bioidenticals… Prometrium, Vivelle patch, or Climara come in “fixed dosages.” The pharmaceutical BHRT contains “estradiol” only and does not contain “estriol”. A woman makes estrogen in her body with three classical estrogens: estradiol, estrone, and estriol. Estriol is the component of our estrogen that is breast cancer protective. So even though these are the “approved” bioidenticals, it is bothersome to me personally that it is missing this valuable component. The bioidenticals I use personally are made at a compounding pharmacy. All ingredients made at a compounding pharmacy are FDA approved. By custom preparation, I get the “exact” dosage I require, so I get to feel perfect; or as I told Oprah, it took some patience but I have found the “sweet spot” and I feel great all the time… plus I get the added protection of estriol plus estradiol. This is what I prefer, but the choice is yours.

2.	Q: How do I find a doctor? Can you recommend a doctor?
	SS: In the back of my books, The Sexy Years, Ageless and Breakthrough are doctors I have found who “specialize” in bioidentical hormone replacement. Check out my doctor resource guides in the Heath & Hormones section. Also, check out the Life Extension link for the blood test. They will provide a female hormone panel blood test, or male hormone panel blood test, or the weight loss hormone panel blood test to determine if there is something going on in your metabolism hormonally if you are having trouble losing weight. They have a discounted rate for members, but this is usually approximately $1000, so it is a good deal. Life Extension is a non-profit organization that has excellent supplements and information. They will also assist you in finding a doctor in your area to interpret your blood tests.

3.	Q: Does insurance cover BHRT? How can I afford this?
	SS: Some insurance does cover BHRT; but, unfortunately, not all. They should because the health ramifications of hormonal balance are so profound; but… sigh… it will take a while for them to catch up with this information. My hormones cost me approximately $65.00 a month. The addition of thyroid is another $25.00.

4.	Q: What is the link between hearing loss and aldosterone?
	SS: According to Dr. Jonathan Wright (read his interview in Breakthrough), he has found that in people with age-related hearing loss, he does a blood test and finds that they are missing a hormone called aldosterone. By replacing that hormone, over time hearing improves or is restored completely. My husband Alan has a 5% hearing loss and he is on aldosterone and has noticed marked improvement in just a couple of months. Remember, every body is different. Patience is required with natural medicines.

5.	Q: How can I avoid macular degeneration?
	SS: This came up a couple of times while interviewing doctors for Breakthrough. My mother was blind from macular deterioration so I asked Dr. Jonathan Wright if I was genetically programmed. He said, “You’ll be surprised to find where macular degeneration originates.” I asked, “Where?” He said, “In the gut.” It originates from a lack of hydrochloric acid. When I think about it, my mother had lots of symptoms of a lack of hydrochloric acid; acid reflux, phlegm, bloating, gas, constipation burping. I now take Betaine HCl (I get mine from Designs for Health) because I have had radiation and discovered that radiation knocks out all the hydrochloric acid in your gut, and I was starting to have symptoms. It thrills me to take this simple non-drug step to avoid macular degeneration and to replace the hydrochloric acid (HCl) that I have lost through aging and radiation. Read about it in Breakthrough.

6.	Q: What can I do about bloating or heartburn and what is the link with HCl?
	SS: Again, I buy my hydrochloric acid from Designs for Health. We make HCl in our GUT until around age 40. We require HCl to digest our food. Without it we bloat and get heartburn, and the nutrients from our food are not able to process and do their jobs. This is a big loss. Most people go to the drugstore and buy ANTACIDS which is exactly the opposite of what your body wants. It wants MORE acid... and that acid is hydrochloric acid. I take three tablets with each meal. The way it happens in nature is that it pours after you start eating. So I take mine after my first couple of bites with each meal. The result is my stomach is flat, no gas, no bloating, no heartburn and no constipation.

7.	Q: What are the dangers of fluoride?
	SS: Don’t get me started…. Fluoride is a waste by-product of the aluminum manufacturing companies. It does not prevent tooth decay; in fact it does the opposite. According to scientist David Schmidt (read his piece in Breakthrough), fluoride is highly carcinogenic. Other doctors have told me it promotes tooth mottling and bone cancer. Also, when a city puts fluoride in their water, they also have to put in aluminum to make the water clear. So now you are getting a carcinogen, (fluoride) and aluminum (a heavy metal) which is damaging to the brain. What are we thinking???? The only way to protect yourself from fluoridated water is to invest in a reverse osmosis filter for your house in every outlet that you can afford and especially your drinking water and shower.

8.	Q: What can I do about hair loss?
	SS: If a woman is in her 20’s and 30’s and losing hair, according to Dr. Jonathan Wright who says in Breakthrough that it is often too little stomach acid and pepsin. Because of that protein isn’t digested and hair is made of protein. Read about this in Breakthrough. For women in their 40’s who are losing their hair, most often it is a combination of low stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) and hormone loss: estrogen and progesterone. For these women Dr. Wright replaces missing bioidentical estrogen, progesterone and thyroid. Then he replaces missing or low hydrochloric acid. But sometimes the woman is missing DHEA (a hormone) and that can be found through blood testing or metametrix 24 hour urine testing. Dr. Wright will do this for you through his Tahoma Clinic. Go to www.tahomaclinic.com.

9.	Q: What can I do about memory loss?
	SS: I take 20 mgs of over-the-counter Lithium. It has brought all my thoughts back. Read about it in Breakthrough in Dr. Jonathan Wright’s interview.

10.	Q: How do LifeWave patches help you?
	SS: LifeWave patches are, for me, little miracles. They are non-drug patches that you wear for pain, sleep, energy or detoxification. I wear the glutathione detoxification patch every single day. There are so many chemicals bombarding us on a daily basis that this is my defense. It also has made my skin clearer, smoother and less wrinkled (all over my body) because it is constantly detoxing from the inside out. I use the sleep patches for the nights when I cannot turn off the “noise” in my head. I put on a patch and in a half hour I am in a deep natural sleep. For workouts I always wear the energy patches. I get a better workout and I have more energy and stamina. And for pain in my lower back or if I have a headache, I wear the pain patches and the pain goes away. I haven’t had an over-the-counter medication or aspirin or painkiller in years as a result. Read about LifeWave nanotechnology patches in Breakthrough in David Schmidt’s interview. He invented the patches, and he is an amazing scientist. You can go to the LifeWave section of my website and download the teleseminar I did with David Schmidt.

11.	Q: Which supplements should I take and what brand do you recommend?
	SS: I take supplements as determined by blood work. Designs for Health or Life Extension both have blood tests that can determine your deficiencies. The four supplements I would not miss for myself on a daily basis, even if I wasn’t taking anything else, are: Vitamin D 800 units, antioxidants, CoQ10 and Omega 3 Fish oil. Take liquid Carlson’s Cod Liver Oil, lemon flavored (it tastes like olive oil with lemon… honest). I am not a fish eater and I do not taste any fish. You can get Carlson’s at retail drug stores or grocery stores (usually a natural or health food store).

12.	Q: How do I get my stem cells stored?
	SS: This is such a big answer that I invite you to read Dr. Robin Smith’s chapter in Breakthrough. I have banked my stem cells for future use in case of any situation. If I had a heart condition or an accident or decide in the future to re-grow the part of my breast that was taken from breast cancer, or when I am old, I might use my stem cells to rejuvenate. Read about it in Breakthrough. It’s as easy as giving blood, although the process takes about four hours; and it is surprisingly affordable and can be paid over a few years. Make sure to check out the link to NeoStem.

13.	Q: How did you fight cancer with Iscador?
	SS: When I was diagnosed with cancer, some of my doctors recommended chemotherapy for my after care, and other doctors said it was not necessary for my specific type of cancer. I thought the concept of poisoning my body and ruining my immune system was crazy. It turns out that the chemo medicine I was offered has since been proven ineffective. But that’s another story. I heard about Iscador from researching the Rudolph Steiner Clinics in Europe. They have been using Iscador in lieu of chemotherapy since the 1920’s and getting better results with no side effects. It works by building up your immune system which made and makes a lot more sense to me than ruining my immune system with chemical poisoning. I am not telling you what to do; I am just telling you what I did. Every case is different and you have to make your own choice. I am very glad I made the choice I did. I am strong and healthy and I never get sick; and my quality of life is superb.

14.	Q: Is BHRT safe?
	SS: There are many, many studies proving the safety and efficacy of using bioidentical hormones. Bioidentical hormones made by a compounding pharmacy are the safest in my estimation. I am not a doctor, so factor that in, but I have done a lot of research and bioidentical (BHRT) made by a compounding pharmacy has estradiol, estrone and estriol. These are the three classical estrogens in a woman’s body. Estriol is the component that protects us against breast cancer. Synthetic hormones are made from horses’ urine, and they are a chemical and have been declared by the Women’s Health Initiative to be “dangerous, harmful and even fatal.” It goes on to say that women would be better off not taking anything at all than taking synthetic hormones.

15.	Q: When should I use BHRT? Am I too young? Too old?
	SS: Read The Sexy Years or Ageless to learn about symptoms of hormonal loss. Women are losing their hormones earlier and earlier due to stress and toxicity; as early as age 32 in many cases. Once you start to decline hormonally, the doctors I have interviewed all say that replacement should begin… just what you need as determined by blood work. I call it “filling the tank,” and this restoration gives back quality of life and according to my doctors keeps you healthy. Problems all begin with hormonal loss. So “putting them back” lets the body know that “all is well.” And as for how old? YOU are never too old. I interviewed two 80- and 90-year-olds in The Sexy Years. They were the most robust, active ladies with great working brains and bones. Read about them. They are still “with it” rather than the present template of old age of being “out of it”. Again, it’s your choice. Just know that it is available.

16.	Q: Who should use BHRT? Can I use if I had a hysterectomy?
	SS: I have had a hysterectomy (uterus), and I feel it is imperative for me to replace my hormones for health and quality of life. I talk about his in Ageless with Dr. Prudence Hall and in Breakthrough. When they remove your female organs, your hormone-making apparatus is removed. You will feel terrible. Hormones bring you back to life physically and emotionally. A qualified, and I can’t stress this enough, a qualified doctor who has chosen to specialize in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is the best person to discuss this subject.

17.	Q: What kind of bioidenticals should I use (cream, pellets)?
	SS: I use creams as transport for my hormones. With cream I am able to “dose up” or “dose down” according to my stresses. If you take too much hormone cream, you will be symptomatic. But when I have a very stressful experience, my body requires a tiny bit more estrogen; and then when I calm down, I dose back down to my normal dose.

18.	Q: Where can I get more information?
	SS: Health & Hormones Life Extension LifeWave NeoStem Women’s Health Initiative

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