Informed consent for hormones

[Kristin Lynne]

Hello everyone. I had a heart transplant almost 6 years ago. After my recovery my cardiologist told me that I could go and do anything any normal person could do. When I recently approached the subject of hrt with him. he said absolutely not. I became very depressed. I recently found out about a program offered by the Howard Brown clinic in Chicago and on Line from a company called Transclinique where you are seen by a doctor, you get the needed blood tests and you sign a release that you understand what can and may happen from hrt use. After they review the blood test results with you they give you the hormones then monitor you every 3 months. My question is has anyone used this type of service/ Is it safe? 

[VickySGV]

In an otherwise healthy person, they are generally OK, but I am not going to recommend them to people to use.  If you have had a heart transplant though, while your physical activities may approach normal, you are playing with dynamite.  Your doctor has informed you that the are dangerous and if you need that doctor to care for you,  you risk severing the patient / doctor relation that until now has kept you alive.  Choose life please.  Check with another doctor or get your doctor more information and he may change his mind.  I do not want you going behind his back though. 

[Ivy]

I started HRT at a PP clinic under informed consent.  They wouldn’t give me estrogen because of my age, but did give me spiro.   I was on it 3 months before I had another blood test, and got really bad sick due to my sodium dropping.   I thought I was dying.    I can’t take spiro apparently.    We tried again, but monitored it really close.   It started to drop again, so nope.   They gave me progesterone which was okay, but didn’t seem to do much.   
 

But after that I got accepted into the VA system.    Things have gone a lot better.    The endrocanologist (sp) put me on estradiol (after warning me of the risks).   They monitor me regularly and things have been okay.  
 

But I don’t really have any other health issues.  I would be really careful.   Things can go really bad.     

I hope you find a way to work things out for you.  

[Abi]

Hi Kristin,

    Any time anyone needs certain kinds of special care, such as you do, it is not good to pursue that without a great deal of information and the inclusion of any current healthcare professionals you already have. They are warning you because this could do great harm to you based on what they know. It will not be helpful if you cause yourself irreparable harm in the process either. I'm sure you don't want that for yourself, nor does anyone else want that for you. I agree with Vicky 100%. You should completely involve your doctor and pursue information that may give them a way to still help you. I truly hope you find a healthy path towards achieving your goals. I don't know if it will make you feel better or not but, you are not alone. Many of us have run into situations that made progress difficult. However, this is part of what our community is great at though. We have each other to lean on when times are rough. None of us needs suffer these moments alone or in silence. Each and every one of us has something beautiful to share.

 

With hopeful regard,

Abigail