Married 20 years, age 48; No children, 2 dogs. I live in cold, dreary northeast Ohio but love to work in my yard when weather permits.

I would love to share my experience with hormone replacement therapy and what I have discovered that changed my life unbelievably. No more pills or creams!

In October 2006 I had a complete hysterectomy which sent me immediately into "surgical menopause" - (full-blown) at 45 years old. I spent the next 1-1/2 years trying to get my hormones in sync/back to normal. In April 2008 I was using the following hormone replacement meds: 

Vivelle Dot estrogen patch for hot flashes and crabbiness (changed every 3 days)  -  $25 copay per month

Testosterone cream (compounded) to help increase libido (applied in a different area every day)   -  $33 per month (insurance did not cover) and at least 1 week notice on a refill

Ambien to sleep (and then switched to Progesterone)  -  $25 copay per month

Vaginex for vaginal dryness (inserted vaginally every 3 days)  -  $25 copay per month

All of these things combined I still didn't feel well. As the patch wore off & close to the next patch being applied I could feel it. Same with the testosterone. I never felt normal.

In March of 2008 I received great information from my sister-in-law in Phoenix, AZ. For almost 4 years she had been seeing a doctor to have hormone pellets implaned/inserted (as a replacement for all of the meds similar to those I listed above). This process is called Sottopelle Therapy. She went to the website & located 4 doctors in the state of Ohio, none of those in the Akron/Canton/Cleveland area, of course - that would be too easy! The closest was 2-1/2 hours from my home, and I chose a Gynecologist in the Cincinnati , OH area (a 3-hour drive from my home).  Sottopelle Therapy is very popular on the West Coast and in bigger cities. The physicians that do this have to be specially-trained by a physician (I believe in Scottsdale). Why is it not real popular and why don't we hear more about it?? It is not FDA-approved in the U.S. and I am sure the pharmaceutical companies have a lot to do with this. While it is not FDA-approved here it has been used in the U.S. for many, many years for both women AND men. Think about it, could you see a man applying testorone cream in a different area every day to increase his testosterone levels? Not hardly. In May 2008 I met with the doctor, had a consultation and bloodwork to determine my hormone levels. I returned 2 weeks later and had the pellets of testosterone & estrogen implanted just under the skin in the hip/buttock area - first, the area is numbed, a tiny incision is made, the pellets implanted, a tiny piece of tape over the incision and out the door in less than 20 minutes. The cost is $300 (and since it is not FDA-approved is not covered by insurance) and the pellets last about 4 months. The first couple of times may be an adjustment to get the hormones just right. The bottom line is that I was looking for a miracle and I found it. Not only is it cheaper than the prescriptions & creams it was costing me for a 4 month period but I FEEL WONDERFUL! I feel better than I did before the hysterectomy, and I can honestly say I can't rememberr when I last felt this great. It really aggravates me that more women are not made aware of this option and that more gynecologists are not getting involved with learning the procedure. It could change the lives of so many women. So, I travel 3 hours (each way) every 4 months and have the pellets implanted/inserted.  It is worth every minute, every mile, every gallon of gas, and every dollar spent.

There is no reason for any woman to have to deal with all of the ups/downs/pills/creams, etc. when there is an easier option that makes you feel one million times better (and is actually less-expensive, which is a bonus). Everything thing is better and at 48 (and in menopause) sex is over-the-top. O know I sound like an advertisement but I am passionate about it because it has been life-changing (as corny as that sounds) for me AND my husband.

Any concerns or questions I'd be happy to answer what I can from my experience.

(I heard the small bit of info. on the Miso pellets on today's "The Doctors" TV Show. She failed to mention that while it IS used in Europe and NOT FDA-approved for the U.S. THEY (hormone pellets) ARE WIDELY USED IN OUR COUNTRY.)