Two and a half years ago at age 53, I had a radical hysterectomy and I was left feeling devastated with the side effects of no longer making any hormones on my own. I had horrible, debilitating hot flashes that made me completely miserable. Not to mention, they were completely unpredictable! I have always been physically fit (fitness instructor for 25 years) and all of a sudden, even though my exercise regime didn’t change, I was losing my muscle and gaining so much mid-section weight. I was losing hair, my skin was aging rapidly, a good night’s sleep was a thing of the past, I felt completely brain fogged and my mood was all over the place. My sex drive was zero and that was causing issues with my marriage. I thought to myself, “How can I possibly live this way the rest of my life?” I wasn’t willing to accept that this was how it was going to be for me, and no one should ever have to accept that when there are people to help and compounded hormones to help. I feel so sad for people who just live with it and think that is how it has to be! It took some time to find the right help but I didn’t give up! Approximately one year after my hysterectomy, I found a special lady who knows all about hormones. She has put many many hours in to hormone education and knows how they work and just how NECESSARY they are to our overall HEALTH and quality of life. She has been a blessing in my life and helped with finding the compounded hormones that are made “just for me” and are exactly what my body needs and I love that! Hormones are not a one size fits all as so many doctors think. Mine were prescribed to fit my needs based from very detailed blood tests. Today, exactly two and a half years since my hysterectomy, and one and ahalf years after beginning compounded bioidentical hormone replacement, I can honestly say that I feel amazing! I am now 55, almost 56 and I feel young and vibrant again. My hot flashes are 100% GONE! My midsection weight has slowly left and I am back to where I used to be prior to my hysterectomy. My brain fog is gone. I can think clearly! And, last but not least, my mood is stable and I am back to being the easy going person that I used to be. I no longer feel angry, sad, flat... basically all over the place, I am sleeping so good and my sex drive is back! I cannot live without my compounded hormones... the thought of it completely scares me to death. I love my life again!