Livial

[Lyn]

I have been suffering the usual symptoms of the menopause for almost 2 years (I'm 54). Some 3 months ago my doctor prescribed Livial, which I took for 6 - 7 weeks. The immediate things I noticed were that my weight shot up by 10lbs in the first 4 weeks, I got painful and enlarged knuckles and, although the symptoms were relieved slightly, I still had the flushes. I just didn't feel right on this drug and stopped taking it. I'm still fighting this unusual weight gain and still suffer with swollen knuckles - anyone with any experience/advice/comments on this.

Regards
Lyn from the UK

[Health Dr. 1]

Lyn,
You are not alone in experiencing some of the side effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). According to the manufacturer, Livial can perform actions that are similar to estrogens, progesterone, and other hormones in the body. As is often the case, these do not act exactly as the hormones that you produce naturally. The best course of action is to work with a trained naturopath or alternative practitioner that can provide bio-identical hormones, particularly progesterone. These hormones are identical to the ones produced within the body and can mimic them at the proper level. He or she should also be able to monitor you with regular saliva hormone tests to insure that the doses are correct.

I would also strongly suggest performing some detoxification of the colon and liver. A very good protocol can be found at www.ghchealth.com/liver-and-gallbladder-flush.html. This will begin by removing some of the compaction that may be clogging your digestive tract and progress to a procedure that can help to clear toxins from the liver and gallbladder. This is particularly important because the liver is the primary organ for processing and eliminating hormone-related compounds from the body. You may find that several flushes spaced approximately 1 month apart are quite helpful. I would also consider a high-quality probiotic such as Latero-flora in order to help restore some of the beneficial bacteria to the digestive tract. This is a very important consideration not only for bowel health but also because these aid in the detoxification of hormones as well. A trained practitioner can offer you some other options that can also promote hormone detoxification.