I was without hormones for 17 very long years. I had no quality of life. My physicians would not allow me to take hormones due to my having had two breast cancers. I could not sleep, I had horrific anxiety, the health of my vagina was failing and I could not make love with my husband. I had been in school to become a physician's assistant but had to stop due to my not being able to remember anything and I was unemployable as I could not stay awake or remember anything. I had every symptom a women possibly can have most unwanted and life to me was never fun -- all of my joy was completely gone. I felt like a dead weed all dried up and had hot flashes - 40 per day. 17 years of this was a living nightmare. I did finally meet the amazing physicians who understood that hormones help us - they do not harm. At age 59 I was given hormones - compounded bioidentical hormones and now at age 63 I work full time and I interview a world renowned menopause specialist twice per week and I am finishing up my first year of school. I laugh, I am able to sleep again, I am enjoying life. For me to live as I was without hormones was not living and it was awful. I cried daily for no reason, felt depressed and lethargic. My husband felt so helpless as to how to help me. Compounded bioidentical hormones were my lifesaver and never ever will I go off of them. Protecting my heart, brain, vagina, bones and muscle too is vital to me to do. I feel 100% safe in taking my hormones prescribed to me by a well trained doctor who does not wish to do any harm to me. Menopause is a specialty as is dosing correctly. Copying nature is not a bad thing - it is a good thing! We women and men need these we do. To take them from us would be a huge tragedy for almost10 million women and many men too. Thank you for reading my testimony. It is very important to all of us. Carolyne S. Los Angeles