LCIS take HRT? Evamist - SSRI Anti-Depressants for Hot Flashes

NYCMs

Hello dear friends,

About 6 years ago I had ALH, and with an excisional biopsy LCIS. I also have a sister who passed from bc at age 42 (I don't know what kind she had). Since then my MRIs, Mammos, Ultrasounds and Thermography's have been normal and large genetic panel negative.

I am 54 years old and had menopause at 50. Then Lyme disease which took me 3 years to heal and left me autoimmune with Sjogren's. Needless to say my 50s have not been my best decade ever.

I am now riddled with hot flashes, poor sleep, no sex drive and extreme fatigue. I was recently layed-off from my job and am enjoying taking much needed afternoon naps. I can not get through the day without a nap.

I went to see a menopause doctor who is prescribing Evamist then progesterone at specific intervals. My gynecologist said I should try the e-ring and an "SSRI". I am concerned about both choices. I have never taken an anti-depressant and don't like the thought of it. Also--I was hoping some hormone replacement would give me a better quality of life. (I started dating and am meeting some really wonderful men but I'd much rather stay home and clean out my junk drawer )

I consider myself a good researcher but the amount of information is overwhelming both pros and cons.

I am wondering if any of you have experience with either Evamist/progesterone or the e-ring and Anti-depressants.

Thanks in advance for any replies and I wish you all good health.

LL

MelissaDallas

Women with LCIS are strongly encouraged to take tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor to reduce their high risk for breast cancer, so my thinking would be any form or estrogen/progesterone would be pretty much not even considered by most doctors.

I have seen several fairly recent (retrospective) studies that some small doses of vaginal-only estrogen do not seem to increase breast cancer risk. Personally I am pretty risk-tolerant, but don't think I would try it myself.

NYCMs

I'm at Sloane Kettering but they did not recommend the tamoxifen for me.