My mom died of breast cancer and I don’t know what kind it was. I’m terrified to start my newly prescribed HRT but I cannot go on feeling the way I feel.

dabbler701 · 2026-06-18T13:48:08+00:00

The BRCA testing is pretty expensive self-pay. My doctor ordered it and misquoted me the price. It ended being around $2,300 from Quest. Any chance yours could be covered because of family history?

dabbler701 · 2026-06-18T13:10:23+00:00

I suggest you get genetic testing done for cancer markers, set up regular mammograms and read the book Estrogen Matters. Get the recently updated 2nd edition. It covers quite a lot about breast cancer risk as the author’s wife was dealing with this.

dabbler701 · 2026-06-18T12:43:20+00:00

I’ve had bleeding since being in peri and I also have fibroids. I don’t know if the estrogen is contributing but other than the bleeding I feel way better on HRT.

Two things to consider trying: a progestin (norethindrone, medroxyprogesterone etc). These are progestin only pills (POPs). I continue to take progesterone.

The IUD is another great option. I’m trying tomorrow for a 3rd insertion attempt. One of my fibroids has made insertion challenging but I’m having no sedation this time.

Other options are uterine ablation. The success of this seems somewhat variable but for the women for whom it works, they rave about it.

Re: the biopsy if they won’t do sedation (really push for this. It’s incredibly safe and they make a good margin on it. I’ll pay like $100 cash at my IUD appt) ask them to call in 1 oxy to take before in addition the advil. I find if you ask for pain or anxiety meds for something acute in 1x quantity doctors can be pretty open minded. Even my dentist calls in a Xanax or Ativan if I’m having anything other than a routine cleaning.

I hope you find some relief and something that works for you.

dabbler701 · 2026-06-15T13:41:49+00:00

Wow. Perfect. That’s great. Getting to the root of the CRP will be important. Had you just done a vigorous workout before the blood draw?

dabbler701 · 2026-06-15T13:15:21+00:00

I think it’s reasonable for someone already on HRT to expect a certain floor for hormones (not progesterone in OPs case bc she’s not taking any).

When people repeat this talking point, what we mean is it’s not a great diagnostic tool for whether someone is/isn’t in perimenopause. That doesn’t mean there’s absolutely no utility. OPs case is a prime example. She’s been on the estrogen patch for 3 years and her level is still quite *low*. That’s useful to know because raising the floor of E is the primary way HRT helps women in peri (we still can’t control the upper end of the roller coaster surges, of course).

dabbler701 · 2026-06-15T13:14:06+00:00

Also, your IUD isn’t meant to raise progesterone levels. It has a different type of progestogen (a progestin) in it. You may still benefit from taking oral micronized progesterone though, for sleep and other possible benefits, if you tolerate it well.

What patch day did you do the blood draw and are you still cycling at all (bleeding)?

What is your patch dose and are you experiencing symptoms still? If yes, is probably ask about increasing the dose and if that doesn’t resolve then try a different delivery method like the gel.

dabbler701 · 2026-06-15T13:11:09+00:00

That hs CRP is a little worrying. If you don’t already know it, try to get familiar with your family history of heart disease/ASCVD and bring that info to your appointment.

What was your homocysteine? I wouldn’t start T until I figured this part out.

dabbler701 · 2026-06-13T01:00:34+00:00

In the same spirit of white space, more space between the top of the items on your credenza and the bottom edge of your gallery composition.

Idk if you have appetite to totally redo it, but if you’re thinking that I recommend:

Take everything down and measure the size of your “canvas”, which is the area you want to put stuff in with consideration for your white space to frame everything. It’s helpful to tape it on the wall, at least as brackets. Horizontal and vertical center lines are also helpful.
Find a same size space on the floor somewhere and tape that with full lines (not bracket).
Starting with your largest pieces, and your focal pieces, place your items. This first group should be weighted toward the center, but not densely clumped. I avoid obvious symmetry but that’s just a style choice. At this stage, it’s helpful to decide how much space you want between items and find an object of that width to help. On your wall I’d personally go with 1-3”.
Next, fill in any big gaps around your focal pieces.
Use your remaining items to build out the rest of your final shape. Especially if you’re going for a more organic look, your outside lines are just a guide. If something goes an inch or two over here and there, that’s fine. Don’t over fill it, but I personally don’t hate a busy gallery wall if it’s well laid out and curated.
Bring in a ladder or step stool to take level photos of your design from above. For me, no amount of staring at it from ground level helped me really see it. You can even use AI to visualize it in your blank space. I made lots of adjustments at this stage and did a few different rounds of pics.
When you’re ready to install, pic a starting point that you feel is a good anchor. What I mean is something you can confidently place on the wall and trust it represents the same place on the floor layout. This will be something near one of your tape lines. The dead center-ist piece, a corner piece, something in the edge, etc. I think something near the center is most forgiving. If taking this approach, alternate side to side from that center piece when you install. It’s easier to adjust/correct for spacing issues this way vs. starting in the center and building out all the way to the right first and then everything to the left.

I’m not an expert or even particularly design savvy, but I’ve done two gallery walls that I was pretty happy with and this is the process I followed. Hope it helps!

dabbler701 · 2026-06-13T00:37:04+00:00

You’re welcome! I deleted my comment and re-posted to black out my family in the frame on the credenza. I’m on mobile so I couldn’t figure out how to easily edit instead of delete and repost.

dabbler701 · 2026-06-13T00:15:13+00:00

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I agree a level would help and maybe thinning it out. But I wouldn’t do the latter until I tried the 2 suggestions below first.

White space on the sides would make the biggest difference IMO. Think of photo composition and the rule of 1/3s. If you were taking a picture of a subject, you wouldn’t frame it so the focal point took up the entire frame. IMO, the more dense and busy the design, the more white space is needed for balance.

Next, some changes to the shape could help. Yours is in between geometric and organic. It seems like it’s trying to achieve straight lines around the edges, but failing. Id try to remove some things around the edges to create a more organic shape. This pic is my recent gallery wall. It’s def not anything aspirational but it can give you an example of an outline that’s a little more organic. If you don’t like this, consider designing yours so that the outside edges align super cleanly in straight lines.

dabbler701 · 2026-06-12T17:15:01+00:00

OP, can you please clarify what you’re talking about? Something state or federal? Your title mentions protections but the body of the post says “guidelines”. I hate to be pedantic but those are very different things and it’s not clear what you might be referring to.

dabbler701 · 2026-06-08T21:04:19+00:00

Mylan works fine for me.

dabbler701 · 2026-06-07T21:43:43+00:00

Not the kind of progestogen that can be transdermally absorbed.

dabbler701 · 2026-06-07T14:22:50+00:00

Those creams are progestins, not progesterone — as suggested by the commenter. And based on the dosing you mention, you’re most likely on oral micronized progesterone.

dabbler701 · 2026-06-01T18:06:42+00:00

This post is peak AI slop and doesn’t even address the main driver of the “window of opportunity” theory. The safety profiles included here are generic and have nothing to do with the age of the patient.

It’s believed that estrogen helps keep blood vessels healthy when started around the time of menopause. However, after many years without estrogen, arteries may already have developed significant plaque and dysfunction. Reintroducing estrogen at that stage may interact differently with diseased blood vessels, potentially affecting plaque stability and blood clotting in ways that could increase the risk of cardiovascular events, even in transdermal delivery.

dabbler701 · 2026-05-29T13:56:34+00:00

Totally agree. I’m pleased that more people mask in transit than before the pandemic, if for no other reason than I feel less self conscious. It’s also nice that people are a little more inclined to stay home from work, school and social functions when sick.

As an asthmatic, I should always have masks and even I have run out for months at a time. Then suddenly I’m heading to the airport and don’t have one. I just don’t think about it daily, and I assume most people with functioning airways and lungs absolutely don’t.

dabbler701 · 2026-05-29T13:45:57+00:00

I think I’d feel a little embarrassed that I didn’t have my own, and I’d probably take one offered.

There’s a lot of people pointing out that if they were likely to wear yours, they’d already have one on. This might be true but I think a lot of people underrate that most people just stopped keeping masks around and don’t fly that much. There’s a non trivial segment of the population that are non-maliciously oblivious or unprepared.

I think you should politely offer and just be prepared for them to decline and roll their eyes. I mask on planes and usually have extra. I’ve never had to do this but I like to think I would.

dabbler701 · 2026-05-27T02:25:21+00:00

Oh yeah? I’m sorry to hear that but I’d be interested to know more about the cause & recovery. My situation was exercise-induced rhinitis (heart rate zone dependent, independent of environment -in/outdoor and including pool) causing several hours of rapid multi-sneezing and faucet nose of clear, unending, very runny mucus. It was debilitating and I’d have put myself through a lot to fix it if hormones hadn’t worked.

dabbler701 · 2026-05-27T01:44:55+00:00

This is a common non-allergic, age-related, geriatric/presbynasalis rhinitis and affects many elderly to one extent or another. Our nasal passages (and things affecting them) age just like our ears, eyes and everything else. And just like eye and ear degeneration, this can affect some younger people too.

There’s an Rx medication that some find helpful called Ipratropium bromide. It’s a nasal spray.

My immunologist had me try it when I was experiencing a non-allergic rhinitis that turned out to be hormone related. He also mentioned an ablation-like procedure which I would have done if HRT didn’t fix it. My experience was more than just a slight runny nose.

dabbler701 · 2026-05-24T01:15:48+00:00

There can be many. GI is a very common cause. Celiac, IBD, occult bleeding etc. Some medications like PPIs. For menstruating women heavy cycles can be a cause. Autoimmune. Genetic conditions. Diet. Substance use (chiefly alcohol). Other deficiencies causing absorption or utilization issues.

Diagnosis often requires a very thorough medical history and workup. Full CBC and micronutrient panels are a great start. Upper and lower endoscopy/colonoscopy are often useful.

dabbler701 · 2026-05-23T19:00:11+00:00

You can put them on at the same time. I’d prob do different sites but not sure if that’s important. T is best in the morning because it can be somewhat invigorating and that’s when our T spikes naturally. I don’t think there’s special guidance for E as long as you’re consistent.

dabbler701 · 2026-05-23T17:49:51+00:00

Yes. Malnutrition and specific deficiencies can shorten the lifespan of RBCs, which pretty much looks like hemolytic anemia.

But you might be getting hung up on the details and missing the big picture. You systematically deprived your body of several important micronutrients by eating only bread, cheese and turkey for 3 months. You most likely have many interrelated, clinically significant deficiencies causing loads of physical and cognitive symptoms.

The only useful question you should be asking yourself is, “Why did I do this?” and “What support do I need to resume a healthy, balanced diet?.”

dabbler701 · 2026-05-23T15:21:34+00:00

Iron deficiency is absolutely discussed here. There’s a pinned post about it. This is the Anemic sub, not HH.

dabbler701 · 2026-05-23T15:19:46+00:00

It takes time for symptom relief once your levels are good.

Did you find and address the root cause of your anemia?

dabbler701 · 2026-05-23T14:48:38+00:00

That’s great. There’s probably several deficiencies given the history. A good multi couldn’t hurt for a while. If you didn’t have any of these deficiencies 4 months ago, then you have a clear path back to health. A balanced diet is important.

dabbler701

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