CHAPTER 5
Roadworks
At last the opportunity to not have to travel such a complicated and expensive route to procure my medication. With Susan Samimi the compounding chemist now available in Townsville and not too far a distance from me, it meant that I didn't have to airfreight my medications from New South Wales, not a huge issue as long as I was organised enough to order my new supplies before the old ran out. Usually this meant being at least one week ahead of myself, and only failed me a couple of times, each time resulting in a day or so without medications and hence not a big issue.
My next biggest challenge was now to find a doctor in Townsville willing to prescribe me the medications I had been prescribed in Brisbane so that I didn't have to fly to Brisbane every 6 months. The Brisbane doctor would be missed but it would be more desirable to have a local GP to take care of all my 'life dramas' as since going to Brisbane I didn't have a local GP. I was fortunate that nothing had happened to me requiring medical attention since leaving my Townsville GP three odd years before although there were many local group practices if I had to find one quickly.
Several leads proved fruitless and then a lightbulb moment struck me. Why not ask Susan (the compounding chemist) if she knew of anyone. Brilliant idea. Susan gave me the name of several doctors who used her service and would most likely consider such a medication regime although no guarantees were made. As it happened one of the suggested doctors worked in a family practice that my partner at the time attended. So I made an appointment with her for the following week. The doctor was very reluctant to follow the medications I presently was prescribed as she had no knowledge of this regime. In desperation I enquired as to whether she had read the book written by Dr. Lee. She hadn't. I asked her that if I lent her a copy would she consider reading it and then re-consult with me in a weeks time to discuss further (time was of the essence to me as I would have to decide very soon as to whether I made another Brusbane trip). Surprisingly she agreed. So off I went wondering whether I should make an appointment with one of the other doctors in Townsville recommended by Susan. I decided against it and instead pinned my hopes on the outsider doctor.
One week later, I'm in the doctors room apprehension in full regalia in every cell of my body. In she walked with the best poker face I've ever seen. "Well Noelene, it's a very convincing read. I agree that what we presently recommend is not ideal by a long way. But also what Dr. Lee recommends, although it sounds like a much better option, is not trialled or tested and it's very risky. However I agree with you that there is a lot of merit in trialling compounded preparations".,. I almost cried when she said this as at least she had an open mind to what was being suggested. She then continued to say that she had spoken with Susan and they both felt that a similar regime could be initiated but with several stipulations. Firstly, I had to acknowledge that this was not authorised by the FDA and if I proceeded with these preparations, it was of my choosing, my responsibility, as she still was not happy recommending such medication without proper trials. Secondly, I was to go off all present medications for 6 weeks and then have blood hormonal readings done to see what my base readings were and as the medication preparation dosages would be determined by these blood level readings. Thirdly, I was to start this new drug regime on a very low dose despite my hormone blood readings and slowly step it up with regular blood tests, and breast examinations for lumps, and annual Pap smears.
Deal, deal, deal. I couldn't believe it - it was happening. Finally I could do everything from Townsville - no more Brisbane trips and NSW drug ordering. Yes it was risky, very risky, but I felt I had no choice as I was not going back EVER on synthetic pharmaceutical preparations and I needed something. And having close medical supervision was perfect. It wasn't going to stop me developing a 'nasty' if this was the result of taking such medications but hopefully the "nasty" would didcovered early. I thought these stipulations, in the big picture of things, a pretty good deal.
So off all medications I went for 6 weeks without another thought for exactly what this really meant. Can I say without any exaggeration that this was the worst experience I've ever had. It was instant menopause - a crash course in it. I cannot begin to fully explain exactly how I felt except that I felt old - very, very old. All energy and life left me. I was emotional, most times weeping for no real reason, and depressed, not just the blues but all shades of black. I had no problem getting to sleep by 9.30 to 10pm as I was now always very tired and bored with life but awoke every morning around 2am and had great difficulty getting back to sleep. My body aches and pains probably had something to do with this as it was now a constant in my bone joints and back but worse at night. I almost wanted to give up on life I became so depressed. Six weeks without medication couldn't end quick enough.
It actually turned out to be 8 weeks without medication, with two extra weeks being absorbed in blood tests, discussions between Susan and my GP , medications determinations, and preparations. But as soon as I collected my preparations, I was off and running on an oestrogen/progesterone/testosterone preparation and something new - DHEA. Susan convinced my GP that my body would also benefit from the addition of this preparation.
And so I commenced on my new monitored drug regime and it felt like a miracle was happening. Although the dosages were very low initially, I could already feel the old me starting to return. The dosages increased over the next several months with nil side effects and many noticeable benefits. I once again felt full of life and energy, my night sleep was uninterrupted, aches and pains gone. But I was also experiencing something else now that I hadn't experienced in a long time - in fact not since my pre-cancer days when in my late teens, early twenties. I had a sex drive - a very healthy sex drive as it turned out! Life was indeed very, very good for someone now in her fifties. I will leave this chapter saying my sex drive was that healthy that I was almost terrorising the neighbourhood. Ha! Life was indeed good.
At last the opportunity to not have to travel such a complicated and expensive route to procure my medication. With Susan Samimi the compounding chemist now available in Townsville and not too far a distance from me, it meant that I didn't have to airfreight my medications from New South Wales, not a huge issue as long as I was organised enough to order my new supplies before the old ran out. Usually this meant being at least one week ahead of myself, and only failed me a couple of times, each time resulting in a day or so without medications and hence not a big issue.
My next biggest challenge was now to find a doctor in Townsville willing to prescribe me the medications I had been prescribed in Brisbane so that I didn't have to fly to Brisbane every 6 months. The Brisbane doctor would be missed but it would be more desirable to have a local GP to take care of all my 'life dramas' as since going to Brisbane I didn't have a local GP. I was fortunate that nothing had happened to me requiring medical attention since leaving my Townsville GP three odd years before although there were many local group practices if I had to find one quickly.
Several leads proved fruitless and then a lightbulb moment struck me. Why not ask Susan (the compounding chemist) if she knew of anyone. Brilliant idea. Susan gave me the name of several doctors who used her service and would most likely consider such a medication regime although no guarantees were made. As it happened one of the suggested doctors worked in a family practice that my partner at the time attended. So I made an appointment with her for the following week. The doctor was very reluctant to follow the medications I presently was prescribed as she had no knowledge of this regime. In desperation I enquired as to whether she had read the book written by Dr. Lee. She hadn't. I asked her that if I lent her a copy would she consider reading it and then re-consult with me in a weeks time to discuss further (time was of the essence to me as I would have to decide very soon as to whether I made another Brusbane trip). Surprisingly she agreed. So off I went wondering whether I should make an appointment with one of the other doctors in Townsville recommended by Susan. I decided against it and instead pinned my hopes on the outsider doctor.
One week later, I'm in the doctors room apprehension in full regalia in every cell of my body. In she walked with the best poker face I've ever seen. "Well Noelene, it's a very convincing read. I agree that what we presently recommend is not ideal by a long way. But also what Dr. Lee recommends, although it sounds like a much better option, is not trialled or tested and it's very risky. However I agree with you that there is a lot of merit in trialling compounded preparations".,. I almost cried when she said this as at least she had an open mind to what was being suggested. She then continued to say that she had spoken with Susan and they both felt that a similar regime could be initiated but with several stipulations. Firstly, I had to acknowledge that this was not authorised by the FDA and if I proceeded with these preparations, it was of my choosing, my responsibility, as she still was not happy recommending such medication without proper trials. Secondly, I was to go off all present medications for 6 weeks and then have blood hormonal readings done to see what my base readings were and as the medication preparation dosages would be determined by these blood level readings. Thirdly, I was to start this new drug regime on a very low dose despite my hormone blood readings and slowly step it up with regular blood tests, and breast examinations for lumps, and annual Pap smears.
Deal, deal, deal. I couldn't believe it - it was happening. Finally I could do everything from Townsville - no more Brisbane trips and NSW drug ordering. Yes it was risky, very risky, but I felt I had no choice as I was not going back EVER on synthetic pharmaceutical preparations and I needed something. And having close medical supervision was perfect. It wasn't going to stop me developing a 'nasty' if this was the result of taking such medications but hopefully the "nasty" would didcovered early. I thought these stipulations, in the big picture of things, a pretty good deal.
So off all medications I went for 6 weeks without another thought for exactly what this really meant. Can I say without any exaggeration that this was the worst experience I've ever had. It was instant menopause - a crash course in it. I cannot begin to fully explain exactly how I felt except that I felt old - very, very old. All energy and life left me. I was emotional, most times weeping for no real reason, and depressed, not just the blues but all shades of black. I had no problem getting to sleep by 9.30 to 10pm as I was now always very tired and bored with life but awoke every morning around 2am and had great difficulty getting back to sleep. My body aches and pains probably had something to do with this as it was now a constant in my bone joints and back but worse at night. I almost wanted to give up on life I became so depressed. Six weeks without medication couldn't end quick enough.
It actually turned out to be 8 weeks without medication, with two extra weeks being absorbed in blood tests, discussions between Susan and my GP , medications determinations, and preparations. But as soon as I collected my preparations, I was off and running on an oestrogen/progesterone/testosterone preparation and something new - DHEA. Susan convinced my GP that my body would also benefit from the addition of this preparation.
And so I commenced on my new monitored drug regime and it felt like a miracle was happening. Although the dosages were very low initially, I could already feel the old me starting to return. The dosages increased over the next several months with nil side effects and many noticeable benefits. I once again felt full of life and energy, my night sleep was uninterrupted, aches and pains gone. But I was also experiencing something else now that I hadn't experienced in a long time - in fact not since my pre-cancer days when in my late teens, early twenties. I had a sex drive - a very healthy sex drive as it turned out! Life was indeed very, very good for someone now in her fifties. I will leave this chapter saying my sex drive was that healthy that I was almost terrorising the neighbourhood. Ha! Life was indeed good.
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