Happy Autumn! You know I love getting emails from women, and sometimes even men! Here's one that made me smile:

"Hi Lyn and HHC Staff!

     I am doing WONDERFULLY!! I have never felt better! So good that, while I try not to ignore anyone, returning calls to your staff, would....well... entail me slowing down and I've got a lot of time to make up for the large period of time that I felt absolutely miserable. At the end of this month, I will be celebrating the 1 year anniversary of having to have an unexpected hysterectomy. While the doctor took time to explain the surgery itself and even told me what to "expect," what he explained and what I experienced were two vastly different things!! I remember a couple of weeks after surgery I thought to myself, "Gosh...this isn't THAT bad."   When I returned for my follow-up post-surgery appointment, I was given a patch for estrogen and told "you'll be fine." Honestly, I was fine for a few months. Then small things started escalating into larger things: weight gain, depression, foggy thinking, sleeping through the night was basically impossible, and NO energy what-so-ever to do anything about it. NOT a pleasant thing to experience when, as a single Mom, both kids are looking at me like I've become an alien.

     At work, I overheard co-workers talking about the Happy Hormone Cottage. I remember that night I got home and decided to google and find out what the "big deal" was. From your site and various sites linked to your website, I read and read as much as I could for a couple of weeks and then decided that living in misery wasn't for me and maybe there WAS a place I could get help. It was obvious, this stupid patch wasn't doing its job and I didn't have the time or patience to go back to the doctor who thought that slapping an estrogen patch on me was the way to handle this stage of life.  So, I ordered the saliva kit, made an appointment and waited for someone to tell me that YES, I CAN be helped!

    The HHC staff has been nothing short of amazing...explaining, answering questions, making suggestions of various reading material that would answer anything I still questioned. Ironically, of the 2 doctors in the OB/GYN I was with, Dr. "Patches" (as I call him now!) while the other doctor strongly believed that Bio-HRT was the way to go. I only wish I would have met with HIM post-surgery so I would never had been put on that patch!

     I don't remember exact dates but I know July was my 3 month mark to return to the doctor for my follow up on your BHRT. However, what I do clearly know, is that my life has NEVER been so wonderful! This summer has been the most life-changing for me and my kids. We are up and moving; we rarely sit and watch tv; up and moving....CONSTANTLY. I have so much energy and feel amazing. I've lost 23 pounds since starting on your natural hormone therapy.

"Old Me" is back and ready to face life head on!! Only occasionally do I have a "not so good" day, but given all that's gone on, I WILL NOT COMPLAIN!

     THANK YOU SO MUCH for everything. I will definitely schedule my free appointment with Jeff RPh or Jess RN soon, so they can also evaluate my progress on my natural hormone therapy.

With heartfelt thanks, Lori."

My response to Lori:

"Hi Lori,

          I remember you! I am SO happy to hear how well you are doing and very pleased that you have gotten your life back! I so appreciate you taking the time to let us know how our journey is going. As you know, there is nothing more important to us than our women who are educated, empowered and committed to their best lives naturally! We are very grateful and blessed that you are feeling better!

          I had to chuckle when I read your "Dr. Patches," as I knew right away who you were talking about. The poor man doesn't have a clue. Thank goodness for his partner. Now HE gets it! The biggest problem with the estrogen patch is that doctors who slap this on you, haven't checked  hormone levels before doing so, and most women are already estrogen dominant (gaining weight, brain fog, heightened risk of breast cancer). So by slapping on an estrogen patch to help with hot flashes, they are actually making the symptoms listed above worse. The first line of defense we use is progesterone. "Dr. Patches" has told us that "women who don't have a uterus don't need progesterone."  Our response is to this is that we don't use progesterone for the uterus. WE use progesterone for it protective benefits for the heart, brain and bones. Interesting, huh? THIS is the beauty of being open-minded. It is very rewarding for us to send our women to doctors who have MORE in their tool box than synthetic hormones and an estrogen patch!

          Keep on keeping on and we will keep on checking in.

Warmly, Lyn"

Lori's email response to me:

 "Hi Lyn,

      Thank you for your email! You know, there's a stigma attached to women really understanding their bodies. I'm surprised at the number of women I talk to who are very hush-hush when it comes to talking about hormones and/or women's health. Of course, I was also one of those! This stuff-women's health-is not discussed openly like it SHOULD be. I've talked to my Mom and my Aunt. Older women were lead to believe that "feeling crappy" is just part of life. I don't get it! I was also hesitant and didn't even talk openly about my impending visit to the Happy Hormone Cottage for my first appointment.  Then, through your website, your employees, reading, etc. I learned differently AND have now gone so far as to share "the word" with my women friends. NOW that I have cracked the door open, a few were rebelling saying it's just part of life. Really? I don't think so! I hand them literature and all my material I have gathered and I tell them to read and THEN we'll discuss their opinions!  We then set aside "girl night" just to talk and figure everything out. I believe I'm up to 3 or 4 close women friends who are now pursuing their healthcare with you at the Happy Hormone Cottage. I believe in it THAT much!

     LOL-you guessed correctly on "Dr. Patches!" He has been a part of my family's lives for quite awhile. One of his first deliveries was my niece. I held him in high regard. I wasn't with him during the birth of my 2 kids, but my twin sister was a firm believer that he "knew it all." When I gave in and returned after I had problems last year, in the realm of diagnosing problems, he is very good. BUT in the realm of understanding women? Hm-m-m-m,  maybe not so good. He may understand physical aspects but hormonally? NOT AT ALL! He wanted to "quick fix" me, which would have been fine IF it had worked! Although, if he hadn't done that, then I wouldn't be as knowledgeable as I am now, so it all worked out for the best.

     Thanks again for the wonderful work you are doing! Talk to you soon and have a wonderful day!  Lori"

I think this email correspondence sums up why we do what we do! Our mission statement for our Happy Hormone Cottage is to LIVE the following INTENTIONS:

• To be FULLY ENGAGED in EDUCATING women on their options for natural hormone balance, and then EMPOWERING them to be FULLY COMMITTED to LIVING THEIR BEST LIVES NATURALLY.
• To continue to SERVE the women who come to us by LISTENING to their stories, VALIDATING them and offering them HOPE  and a STRATEGY for their NATURAL hormone balance.
• To LOVE the women who come to us and HONOR them by fostering an AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIP with them, for as long as they need us.

If we can do this and live with PURPOSE AND INTENTION, then we will have fulfilled the mission we set for ourselves!

Best,

Lyn

Want to learn how other women feel about their experience at the Happy Hormone Cottage? Click here to read more testimonials on our website.