An IOP offering hormone replacement drug?

I am looking for an internet pharmacy - and I am pretty sure I mean an IOP (overseas) because I don't want to have to have a prescription, or supply my medical records (my doctor doesnt want to give them to me - if I insist, he will have to I suppose, but it is sticky) - anyway I am specifically looking for a hormone replacement drug called (in the USA) FEMHRT 1/5 - here is a website that describes EXACTLY what it is
http://www.earlymenopause.com/hrt_femhrt.htm

Of course there are similar products, I have taken others, I just particularly like this one but if I can find ANYTHING that is 1) taken daily and 2) COMBO of estrogen AND progesterone - NOT just estrogen - I will take it.

I am an informed consumer, aware of risks of HRT continued "for life" but to me the benefits - MAINLY KEEPING MY HAIR which is already thin on my head - and keeping at least SOME pubic hair, please - outweight any possible risks. The last thing I want to be is a "bald" old lady.

I am extremely tired of my doctor badgering me to get mammograms (I finally did, had to go back for 2nds, it was negative of course as I knew it would be) and NOW he has said he won't refill my prescription unless I get a PAP smear. To me this is just blackmail - I am sorry - this should be my choice. I am NOT going to sue him if I have problems. I realize the govt. and insurance cos. control a lot of what doctors do, so it may not be ONLY him - but I am tired of the whole thing, I went through this from age 18 through about age 30 because I was on birth control pills (I thought that was the only acceptable form of birth control other than tubal ligation, and another "smart" doctor refused to tie my tubes when I was 18 even though I knew then I would never have kids - when I was 30, another doctor was finally willing to tie the tubes) - anyway, at that time, if you were on birth control pills, it was "the ol' yearly PAP smear" - or NO PILLS.

I am sure I can find the blood pressure meds I get from this doctor somewhere on the web - I have seen them. But the selection of HRT products seems to be very thin.

Does ANYBODY know of an International Pharmacy that is reliable and offers some kind of HRT similar to what I now take?
Thanks for any advice.

 

I don't know where you could get this stuff. However good doctors reserve the right to make sure patients are safe and healthy, and that always extends to drug refills. In most states doctors aren't even supposed to refill ANY prescriptions unless they see the patient once a year. This IS for the patient's well being. THings can change in a year, and the need for the drug, or your reaction to it might change, also.

Seeing as HRT increases your risk of cervical and uterine cancer, he has an obligation to do a PAP before giving you more HRT. If he didn't you could sue him for malpractice, if you got cancer. Saying "I won't sue you." doesn't change his professional ethical stance on this dangerous drug.

Doctors have certian protocols (I work in health care) they will only do certain things. A lot of people "promise' not to sue doctors, it doesn't change their ethical stance or medical stance on certain things. You can't force a doctor to give you narctotics or sleeping pills, or tranks, unless he does what he feels is healthy for you, and even then he can say "no" same goes for HRT. Only HRT has even more health risks than even most narcotics. My OBGYN won't prescribe HRT at all. He says the risks outweigh the benefits.

I guess you could Google the name of the drug and see what comes up. From what I know, hormones on the net are expensive. I know a womyn who doesn't want to get a PAP every year, and was paying $78.00 a month for the minipill from a website.

I dunno, PAP smears aren't that bad. And, cervical cancer is almost completely curable if caught early, and a killer if it spreads. I don't know why you have a problem with a life saving test. But, it's up to you.

what about nonhormal ways of keeping your hair? I am blanking on the name of the drug, but you can now get it OTC, and it comes in a strength for womyn.

From the opinion of someone in the Health Care field, this is just suicide. Your BP should be monitored regularly, and adjustments on your dose, or even changes in your meds, drug interactions ect, should be CLOSELY monitored. I know I wouldn't be taking ANY hormones if my BP were high. My mother had TWO strokes, by going to different doctors, and getting HRT from one, and blood pressure meds from the other. She freaked out when the doctors found out and cut off her HRT. But, she was killing herself, because she didnt want hot flashes.

Every doctor you see should have the records of every other doctor you see, and you should fill ALL your prescriptions at the same pharmacy, so that any interactions can be checked, not to mention, if you have a stoke or a heart attack, they don't have to call all over town, to see what meds you are on (like they had to do with my mother, when she stroked out.)

 

Here is an excellent article on the pros and cons of hair loss drugs, including female hormones, propecia (which isn't yet approved for womyn) and minoxidil, which is probably your safest bet.
http://www.hairdoc.com/book/chapter8.html

But, it IS your body. I hope you end up with good results, no matter what you choose to do.

 

I tried one or two hair loss products, didnt work. Actually I lost a lot of the HEAD hair in my 20s - same as my father did. I expect if I were male, I would be bald, as was he. (Actually - it was weird - he had hair all over his head, kept it cut military-short - but it was very thin) (My hair hasnt grown since I was about 19 years old - no kidding - or, it grows but is fairly curly so it breaks - which amounts to same thing.) (No, cutting it doesnt help - just made it shorter - so now it has not been cut for more than 30 years and about reaches my waist.) As for the more intimate hair - I am very brunette so I kind of don't miss all that *(@$()*((&*$@ curly hair on my legs which had to be shaved daily and I realize a lot of women think shaved pubises are great, enticing, etc. - but I just find that GROSS - like being a 5 year old, maybe men who like it like 5 year olds, too. Anyway, I know the law and the insurance cos DO govern a lot of what doctors do. Also of course they (the docs) DON'T want to get sued. I am sorry to appear so cyncical - but I'm afraid that's where most of their heads are at. If they REALLY cared about me, they'd respect my right to say whether or not I want these tests or am willing to take my chances. (I have NO family history of female cancer and I am getting a bit old to get it - not impossible, but most cases are in women younger than I.) Suicidal? I'd sooner be dead than bald. That's no joke. My husband has instructions never to allow my head to be shaved or hair cut, no matter what. If something should happen to him, I'll see to it I carry something in writing to this effect.

From a larger perspective - since doctors got control of the prescription drugs - they are in a wonderful position to bully people and they do, and, sorry, particularly women. And I know just as many cases of doctors NOT warning people about possible side effects of medicines(and then the patients were scared to death when the side effect happened), and NOT doing tests

Personally - I think everyone should have access to whatever drugs (and they need to be cheaper too - the drug companies, of course, are cleaning up BIG TIME here - this probably means govt price control and I don't like that AT ALL but how else do you stop these profiteers? Drugs have always been wildly profitable and I am not just speaking of heroin, cocaine, etc) Let the buyer beware - why expect the doctor to be totally responsible for your health, you should know as much as possible about every drug you take. A lot of people on this site DO know - I have seen that browsing it occasionally and that pleases me very much. If you feel you need a doctor's help and/or advice, then go to one - if not, not.

Of course my blood pressure should be monitored (altho' I will say - its been constant on current meds for some 5 years - constant means, "close to the same" - no ones is ever exactly constant) - well guess what, I can take it myself, and if I could not, so can any pharmacist. I know those do-it-yourself machines in stores, etc., are not too reliable.

Meanwhile I think I have found the IOP I need--- will cost a bit more than my meds on insurance BUT no doctor copays, no lab copays - and no hassle - it will be worth it.

Blackmail - in any form - is inexcusable morally even if some forms are legal.

 

I just wanted to add to this - for all the people who think I am nuts or something because I am so concerned to retain my hair - I caught my doctor in an outright lie. He told me he could NOW only give me 3 refills (of my blood pressure meds as well as FEM HRT) instead of the 5 he has always given me for several years. He told me this was an insurance company requirement. I emailed my insurance company and this absolutely is NOT true - they may regulate how much of some medication a doctor can give in one month, but do not regulare number of refills. I had continued to see this doctor MOSTLY because he runs a very efficient shop and is always always right on time for appointments and this is extremely important to me as I have about a 3 hour daily commute----However, after catching this doctor out in a direct lie, you can be sure I won't be seeing him again. Its pills by internet from now on - I've had it.
So, ladies, please don't ever make the mistake of thinking your doctor is somewhere up there next to God, and if he or she says or does something you don't like, or it does not ring true, QUESTION IT!

 

I hope you find what you are looking for. I hope the meds you choose do what you want them to, and that you stay healthy and safe.

Good luck and blessings.

 

When I am uncomfortable with a health care professional, I fire them and get a new one! This needs to be a good relationship where you feel safe and comfortable...otherwise your health could suffer and YOU would be the one to deal with the consequences. (the doc probably wouldn't lose much sleep)

I hope you find someone that listens to you and hears what you have to say.

 

Medicine is a business and you are a consumer. I am sure if you shop around you'll find a doctor who will give you what you want.