I just want to thank you for all your efforts! Your full page ad gave me hope that there are others fighting this outrageous order by the FDA. I had initially been contacted on 01/10/08 by my independent pharmacist and have since written my legislators, Oprah and Dr. Northrup. After seeing your ad, I called the White House. My health carrier, Aetna, has stopped covering my bio-identical prescriptions after 18 months. I will now incur $100+ monthly out of pocket. I am furious with Big Pharma & the FDA! You have my full support and I will not give up this battle.

Nancy Holt

I had symptoms of muscle weakness, anxiety, severe memory loss, sleepless nights! I was not feeling well and was unable to care for my children or to be loving to my husband! My personality changed and I lost all energy! There was something very wrong with my body and I was afraid I had MS or Alzheimers! I was offered the traditional sleeping pills and anti-depressants  though I had no reason to be depressed.  I refused this treatment and proceeded to get a complete hormonal baseline to see where my levels were at. I had less estrogens than a man and very little testosterone and projesterone. I was in bad shape! With in three days of my bio-identical hormone replacement I was back to work and very happy! This treatment is a blessing!

Sincerely, Sonya Crane

As a research neurobiochemist I have studied the molecular and clinical integration of the estrogen spectra. I also was on the team that conducted the original research articulating the molecular distinctions between Provera and progesterone (at U of Denver- pchem lab). I will speak up for the science wherever possible. I cannot do my research without compounding pharmacies supplying pure cream estradiol and estriol.

Phyllis J. Bronson, Ph.D.

I am 69 years old. I took Premarin and Provera for about 11 years. I gained 30 lbs. immediately after I began taking it. My HMO Doctor stopped prescribing it for me about 3 1/2 years ago, when the big scare happened. Six months later, I read The Sexy Years (by Suzanne Somers) and I have been ordering Bio Identical Hormones for almost 3 years. I really was happy with the results. I am able to maintain my correct weight and am remarkably healthy. I feel that my mental facilities are as sharp as ever. The ban on Bio Identical Hormones has nothing to do with protecting women's health, but, a lot to do with corporate profits. Please, allow us to once again have access to these products that greatly improve the quality of our lives.

Wanda Bernal

To whom it may concern,
 
I first heard of hormones of the natural (estriol) nature when I had completed the menopause cycle.  I am now dealing with the problems of the loss of estrogen and progesterone and else.  My recent pap was very painful due to dryness for which the attending physician was highly upset to have had to perform on me.  I was given a Premarin Creme for dryness. It contains horse's urine or coagulated estrogens. I am highly skeptical of this treatment. It was prescribed by the VA clinic here in Savannah, Ga.  As for the natural hormones, I would have wanted those very badly when I was going through the symptoms: night sweats, hot flashes, and heavy bleeding. I was absolutely miserable, so I took birth control pills for a year to relieve the symptoms.  It is cost prohibitive and no health plan supports it.  It is $75.00 per test, each of the oral kind and five of them.  Once compounded by the pharmacist the cost each month is $60-$80 per month for the prescription.  I am very angry that Viagra is supported but not this. Suzanne Somers's book The Sexy Years talks of this kind of natural hormones and it apparently works for her.  However, she is wealthy and can afford the initial visit to the endocrinologist and other specialist for beginning tests to determine your hormone levels. Those costs to visit those physicians are very expensive and most are on a referral basis for definitive diseases only: thyroid, diabetes, etc....not women's hormone counts. 
 
If the defiant dork heads at FDA and Wyeth can embrace these natural hormones it would prove them to be humane instead of giant profit machines at the expense of women's bodies. Of course, they won't because profits won't mesh on the bottom line. Little by little, the rights we win are whittled away through time and some smart women who remain steadfast and concerned keep this in check but we women out here need these natural hormones just to have a CHOICE.  I am not "one size fits all" in my needs for a better health in my later years.  My best friend, suffered breast cancer because of synthetic hormones given her after a hysterectomy years ago. 

 Holly A. Cummings

Janelle Carey

When are the trends in medicine going to begin to change? Am I naive to believe that the medical system will become one that cares about the public that supports them through the use of health care dollars? I take passion in educating the public to empower themselves to take charge of their own health care. What will it take to align the medical system with morality? The CDC statistics on health trends and money spent compared to other countries is atrocious and reflects the unfortunate direction of our country.

Theresa Ramsey, NMD

I called in my refill this week and got an automated return call that informed me my progesterone was filled and shipped but my triest could no longer be filled. I called and was told because of FDA they could no longer fill my triest as the main ingredient is E3 or estriol. They couldn't even give me one refill. I am to call my doctor and get something else.

So I try to file a complaint with the FDA; what a joke. I contacted my local govt. officials. I also called the White House number which gave me a number to the Pentagon who couldn't help me. Seems the Pentagon doesn't have the address for the FDA or a phone number. So here I set writing this wondering just how much I can do about anything the FDA decides I shouldn't take because a drug company wants my money.

Sincerely
                                                    Edith Earnshaw

Since beginning to take Bio-Identical hormones I feel well. It is as simple as that! Not only does it help with the usual symptoms but it helps the bladder problems that used to end me up on a course of antibiotics much too often. It makes the whole area around the opening to the bladder more normal and more able to fight infection. For me learning about and using Bio-Identical Hormones was a process that began with not feeling well on traditional remedies and listening to what my body was telling me. The people who helped me greatly were Suzanne Somers, Dr. Wright, and Dr. Steven Hotze of Hotze Health & Wellness Center in Katy, Texas and Rosella Menta, R.Ph of Rye Beach Pharmacy, Rye, NY.

Patricia Flenner

I've use tri-estrogen ever since Dr. Wright published his book. I've never had any side effects and I'm 63 years old and look and feel like I'm about 50 at most. Now my doctor has started me on the tri-estrogen with a little testosterone. And I'm confident that I'll not have any problems with it, whereas I had all kinds of problems with Premarin. Thank You. I hope this will help others who might be worried.

Sewanee M. Kracalik

I became aware of BHRT when a local pharmacy, Kuler Compounding, began compounding HRT for patients in our office. I previously had reviewed literature on BHRT use and was impressed with the effectiveness women reported with particular improvement with decrease in mood swings, hot flashes, and overall a generalized sense of "well being." I was elated to see that my patients had similar experiences. I remember one patient who sent out an e-mail to over one hundred women explaining the relief she was finally getting for depression, hot flashes and in particular, fatigue. I think it is crucial that women be able to obtain BHRT; the alternative may be FDA approved, however, not all FDA approved medications are the best nor the safest alternatives for our patients.

Gina Gilliland RNC, WHNP

Where is the voice for the women who are young without ovaries any longer due to illness? I never was able to successfully take synthetic hormones such as birth control pills without terrible side effects. Now in surgical menopause, I am fearful my life and quality of it will be reduced or completely destroyed in the near future.

I just found out today, COMPLETELY to my surprise, my insurance company, Triwest, no longer covers estradiol so I can barely afford my bi-estrogen monthly now. I must have estradiol/estrone along with progesterone/ DHEA in order for my brain chemicals to function appropriately and to have a quality of normal life. I will need bio identical replacement for at least 10 more years to finally be at an age where I would be naturally experiencing menopause.

My doctor and I just recently found the right combination so I feel much healthier. My surgery was 14 months ago. Now this happens that they want to take away my right to health.

Damn the pharmaceutical companies like greedy Wyeth - and the FDA which is in their pocket . I feel patients and doctors should boycott Wyeth drugs. DO NOT PRESCRIBE A WYETH DRUG.

I pray that those who made these bad decisions personally have a younger daughter, sister, or someone they love suffer the effects of their choices the way they are going make tens of thousands of women suffer now and in the future.

Robin

My Experience with The Dow Jones Newswires Organization.......
Dow Jones, Global Information Company, in Bed with FDA on Compounded Hormone Debate

On January 9, 2008, Jennifer Corbett Dooren of Dow Jones Newswires wrote two updates on the FDA crackdown on bio identical hormone called "FDA: Bio-Identical Hormones Not Safer Than Prescription". When we contacted Dooren about the article providing her with pages and pages of information and studies that show that bio identical hormones are safer than synthetic hormones, she refused to look at the information and said that she will only write something about hormones if the FDA has something to say about it.

Kristi Bell