Hi All -

It has been quite a while since I posted on here - sorry, I have and am a mess, an emotional mess, and a physical mess I think.  Not really physical just not who I need to be - it takes so much time! But emotionally it is painful being where I am. In between, not seeing the future quite yet.

I may have asked this before, but I have come out to my wife, I am seeing a therapist now, and I have an appointment with an endocrinologist all good things.  To stay sane I have been using bio-identical hormone creams, but I want to be able to start HRT as soon as I can.  I see the endo in Early November so I am wondering if anyone has a good notion of when I should stop using the creams so that I can get a clean baseline and get started on medical HRT and andro as soon as possible.  I NEED IT!

Thanks to you all - you are an inspiration!

Love and Hugs, Marcie

I can't speak to stopping, depends on how much your body chemistry has changed since starting. You may have issues stopping. Keep a record of how much you are taking and for how long, then call the advice nurse at their office. Otherwise, have that information ready for your doctor when you show up. It's relevant to your medical history.

As Harley said, it will depend on how long and how much you used. It could take months for your body to return to it's original levels. Estradiol passes out of the system pretty fast however if your testosterone levels were suppressed for an extended period of them, they will be slow to recover.

Surgeons who are concerned about blood clots after surgery usually tell patients to stop HRT 2 weeks to a month before surgery.

The rule of thumb for the Pharmacokinetics (study of drug blood levels)  is 5 half-lives of the particular drug concerned for 90 % elimination. Topical creams will continue to provide medication until they are washed off or rubbed off. So, even though you have some drug going out there is still some coming in your body. There are several factors involved here and a specific recommendation is not possible. We can only give an educated guess.

How strong are your bio-identical creams? Even if they are prescription strength, stopping about a week before your Endocrinologist appointment should put you back to your usual blood levels.

Quote from: Dani on August 26, 2017, 06:36:44 AM
Surgeons who are concerned about blood clots after surgery usually tell patients to stop HRT 2 weeks to a month before surgery.

The rule of thumb for the Pharmacokinetics (study of drug blood levels)  is 5 half-lives of the particular drug concerned for 90 % elimination. Topical creams will continue to provide medication until they are washed off or rubbed off. So, even though you have some drug going out there is still some coming in your body. There are several factors involved here and a specific recommendation is not possible. We can only give an educated guess.

How strong are your bio-identical creams? Even if they are prescription strength, stopping about a week before your Endocrinologist appointment should put you back to your usual blood levels.

Thank You!   Much needed info - I am just taking bio-identical OTC creams via rec commendations of my therapist, BUT want to be able to get HRT when I see the endo!  I have taken black cohosh and ovarian tissue but stopped them awhile ago!

Love and Hugs Dani!  Marcie

I'd guess it depends on the endo. I didn't stop before seeing mine, though I did have a baseline from many years before. I suspect it's not that important, and if it is the endo can give you a specific time.

Quote from: Marcieelizabeth on August 26, 2017, 03:50:53 PMI am just taking bio-identical OTC creams via rec commendations of my therapist

I strongly doubt it's doing anything, in any event or even raising your serum levels.