OnlineHost:  Eeisman has entered the room. 
 

Dearest:  It's my pleasure to introduce you all to one of
Power Surge's medical consultants ... but, more importantly,
one of our *friends* -- Dr. Diane Eisman :)


Eeisman:   Thank you, Dearest.



MameB:          How long on average do menopausal symptoms
last?
  

Goosetess1:     Mame, if I only knew the answer to that question!


Dearest:     	Mame, some women go through menopause in a 
matter of two years and others as long as 10 years or more.


BLewis6882:     What uses for prednisone during perimenopause 
have I missed?  I thought it was for nasal congestion.


Eeisman:        	Prednisone has many uses.  Are you talking about 
inhaled Prednisone type drugs?


BLewis6882:     Yes


Eeisman:        	Inhaled cortisone drugs can be used indefinitely.  
Very little is absorbed systemically.


NitaFar:	 I use Azmacort and prednisone when my asthma
is out of control.


Dearest:     	Okay, who has a question for our esteemed 
guest, Diane Eisman, M.D.?


Batchika2:      What's the story with candida?  Is it systemic?


Eeisman:        There is a real organism called Candida Albicans. 
It causes infections on skin surfaces, like vaginal yeast infections, 
if you take antibiotics and let the yeast overgrow.  It can invade 
the blood stream when people are dying, as withh AIDS.


SGETT:          Dr. Allanba has had some recent postings on 
fibrocystic breasts and food allergies.  Are you of the same mind 
on the matter?  What do you think about hormone replacement 
therapy (HRT) and fibrocystic spots?


Eeisman:        I do believe that caffeine and chocolate increase 
cysts in some people.  Some people on HRT do get an increase 
in fibrocystic,  lumpy bumpy breasts.  I hate to call it a disease.  
Mammograms may be harder to interpret on HRT.


FBriggs113:     Can quitting smoking after a zillion years precipitate
perimenopause or hypothyroid?


Eeisman:        	I don't believe so.  I have not heard of this yet.  
Hyperthyroidism and the onset of menopause have been related 
to stress by some people.  That's really stretching! Stopping 
smoking is definitely related to stress in smokers.


EleanordeW:     Is it okay to drink decaffeinated coffee or do 
the chemicals in that cause problems too?


Eeisman:        	If coffee is decaffeinated using chlorohydrocarbons, 
there is a question about safety, but if a water based method is 
used, that is okay.


Nickhelenc:     Do you prescribe natural estrogen and progesterone
through a compounding pharmacy?


Eeisman:        	Yes, I do.


Dearest:     	Nickhelen, email me and I'll send you directions to the
newsletters.  They are loaded with information about natural 
progesterone and estrogen.


MameB:          How long should one stay on HRT?  Is this a
forever thing?  I feel I'm part of a medical experiment.


Eeisman:        	Mame, you asked one of the hard questions.  It 
is a very individual decision.  Some people stay on it forever.  
Others start about ten years after menopause.  Still others start 
immediately at menopause.  Right now I have no definite answer
for you.  I wish I knew.

Nickhelenc:     Could you give me suggestions on finding a 
prescribing physician in the Chicago area? 


Dearest:    	Dr. Allan Aven is in the Chicago area, Nickhelen.  
He's one of Power Surge's consultants.  You can email him on 
AOL at the name  "Allanba."


Eeisman:        	You could also try the University of Chicago 
where I went to school.


Batchika2:      	Can systemic candida affect health in normal 
people?


Eeisman:        	Normal people do not get systemic candida.  I 
know you read it all the time.  Systemic candida is a pre-morbid 
condition.  Some people think it causes Chronic Fatigue 
Syndrome, but I don't find that and I see a lot of CFS people.

Sallyp24:          Do you know anything about Visken?


Eeisman:        	Visken is a beta blocker.  Do not stop any beta 
blockers suddenly without tapering off under your doctor's care.


EleanordeW:     Should I be going to my general practitioner 
with questions about menopause?  Is he or she likely to know 
these details? 


Eeisman:        	Eleanor, your general practitioner is a good place 
to start.  If she or he does not listen to you and talk to you, then 
ask around for others.  You must have a doctor who will listen.  
Menopause is trial and error to find the right balance for each 
patient.

	

Dearest:     	Anyone who wants to be added to the Power 
Surge mailing list, please e-mail me at Dearest.  I'll send you out 
the Power Surge Fact Sheet.


BLewis6882:    Any special concerns for exercise such as 
weight training and aerobics during perimenopause and beyond?


Eeisman:        	Exercise is the wonder drug and it does not have 
to be a fancy class.  Just brisk walking and swinging your arms is 
wonderful.  A little weight lifting to keep those muscles stressing 
your bones to be strong is also wonderful. 


Postrain:       	I have been lucky in that I haven't gained weight.  
Is this normal in peri-menopause? Will it happen later?


Eeisman:        	Not necessarily, Post.  Just keep your body 
moving.  Drink plenty of water and exercise.  You don't 
necessarily need to gain weight.


RCHCTH: 	At what age should one get a baseline bone scan?


Eeisman:        	You mean densitometry?  Bone scans are another 
test.  I am not sure about age, but I would guess around 35.


EleanordeW:     I hate exercising.  I've managed to avoid it for 
43 years.


Eeisman:        	Poor Eleanor, but it is time to start walking.  Get 
some good shoes.  Put earphones in and march away to the 
Canadian Brass, my personal favorite for exercise.


Postrain:       	How long does one have to challenge estrogen 
with progesterone?


Eeisman:        	I don't think of it as challenging, Post.  
Progesterone helps keep estrogen in balance, protects the 
uterus, has a calming effect, and increases bone density among
many things.


FBriggs113:     My mother had two primary breast cancers and 
she died of metastatic cancer.    She had her uterus and ovaries 
out after the first primary episode.  What about HRT?


Eeisman:        	That would depend upon several factors, FB.  
At what age did your mother die? Was it pre or post menopausal 
onset?  Is there anyone else in the family with breast cancer?  Is 
there cardiovascular disease in  your family or osteoporosis?  
You need to sit down with your doctor and weigh the risks and 
benefits.  I do have patients who have had breast cancer and are
now doing well on HRT.  This is a very individual decision.


Remcee:         	Do you know if one type of estrogen is better 
than another for memory problems? 


Eeisman:        	Some people think Estradiol may be a little 
better for memory problems.  But, horror of horrors, the 
Premarin people came out saying one of their estrogens, equilin,
is good for protecting brain nerve cells.  We don't make equilin, 
only horses do. 


Dearest:     	By the way, the April or May newsletter has an 
excellent article on the horrors of animal abuse and Premarin
(wondering why Premarin contains caranuba wax -- sigh)


Nickhelenc:     Vliet suggests tests for thyroid, TSH, prolactin, 
FSH, LH, etc.  Do those cost a lot of money?


Eeisman:        	The most sensitive test for hypothyroid is TSH.  
Hypothyroid often occurs as we age and we do that supplement.  
Other tests vary from hour to hour, but do give a ballpark idea 
about where we are at.


MameB:         	I take progesterone for 12 days per month and I 
get a bit nutsy.  Some of my other friends have the same problem.  
Do others have the same problem?


Eeisman:       	If you are taking Provera, you may need to look 
into a natural progesterone.


LdyJane886:     Premarin makes my heart beat real fast.  What is 
the problem?


Dearest:     	Maybe you should get off the HRT, LdyJane, 
and take magnesium like I do. 500 mg. of magesium taken in
one fell swoop is very effective in diminshing palpitations.


Eeisman:        	I can't explain why, but I have found some of 
my patients get high blood pressure and racing hearts on 
Premarin.  Many of them feel much better on natural hormones 
or something like   Estrace.  Talk to your doctor.  It may not be 
the Premarin, but it should be checked out.


Dearest:     Diane, thanks so much for joining us tonight :)


End of log of Dr. Diane Eisman's visit to Power Surge - 7/7/96


Dearest
aka Alice Stamm
Power Surge
Founder, Host, Facilitator
Power  Surge
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