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[Dandelion]

Hello everyone.

I spoke to my GP and arranged an appointment on 22nd Oct, and a blood test on thursday to determine if I am peri-menopausal.
The doctor said that blood tests did not always determine if peri menopause was present.
I told her I have been looking online but only on boards (here) that keeps out all of the rubbish and mis-information that is currently going about online.

She asked me if my mum or sisters or grandmother had breast cancer and I told her not.
She asked me about my symptoms and I told her that I was getting irregular periods, bad moods, headaches sometimes, etc.
I am reducing tranquilisers and was going to put this off until after I have come off them, as I only have 1.2mg to go, but I don't feel as if I can cut my tranquilisers any more as the meno symptoms are getting in the way.
I said that some of the meno symptoms are like tranquilser withdrawal, and it would help me be able to reduce my dose again if I could get rid of the meno symptoms.
I also said that my tranquiliser withdrawal symptoms are worse when my period starts and only stop getting worse mid cycle. I had found out from people who know about tranquiliser withdrawal and hormones that when progesterone is low, less of the tranquiliser dose gets to the receptors, so, no wonder I feel as if I am having a drastic reduction in dose at this time.

I want to go for the bio identical hrt, but I wonder, how easy is it to come off, once it's no longer needed?

Thanks

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Dandelion - welcome to the forum.
You don't say how old you are ?  ARe you getting any other peri-menopause symptoms e.g hot flushes, night sweats etc.?
I associate headaches and bad mood as part of PMT and these symptoms often get worse during peri.
If you and your doctor decide HRT is the way to go, as you are still getting periods you will be put on a sequential HRT which will mean you get a withdrawal bleed each month. I'm afraid it is quite common to get PMT with the progesterone part of HRT that produces the withdrawal bleed.

As you have been on tranquillisers it sounds as though your doctor is proceeding with caution - you don't want to 'jump out of the frying pan and into the fire'.  Many of us experience all kinds of side effects with HRT and sometimes you have to try a variety of different ones to find one that suits you.
I get bad episodes of depression whether I am on or off HRT.
During my peri stage I ended up using Oestrogel with a sequential progesterone after trying at least 3 different other HRTs which did not suit me.  The Oestrogel gives you flexibility regarding amount of oestrogen - great if you need to adjust up or down to find the right balance.

Hurdity may get in touch - she has a science background and is really positive & helpful.
As to coming off HRT - well I tried being without it for 3 years post menopause and the flushes, night sweats etc returned and didn't subside at all so I gave in and went back on HRT.  I am about to take a break from HRT now - 4 yrs later -  who knows how it will be this time!!  I'm now 57 by the way - so very post meno.

You are absolutely right to get as much information as possible re meno and HRT
Keep us posted with your progress.  Goodluck   DG x

[Dandelion]

Hi Dandelion - welcome to the forum.
You don't say how old you are ?  ARe you getting any other peri-menopause symptoms e.g hot flushes, night sweats etc.?
I associate headaches and bad mood as part of PMT and these symptoms often get worse during peri.
If you and your doctor decide HRT is the way to go, as you are still getting periods you will be put on a sequential HRT which will mean you get a withdrawal bleed each month. I'm afraid it is quite common to get PMT with the progesterone part of HRT that produces the withdrawal bleed.

As you have been on tranquillisers it sounds as though your doctor is proceeding with caution - you don't want to 'jump out of the frying pan and into the fire'.  Many of us experience all kinds of side effects with HRT and sometimes you have to try a variety of different ones to find one that suits you.
I get bad episodes of depression whether I am on or off HRT.
During my peri stage I ended up using Oestrogel with a sequential progesterone after trying at least 3 different other HRTs which did not suit me.  The Oestrogel gives you flexibility regarding amount of oestrogen - great if you need to adjust up or down to find the right balance.

Hurdity may get in touch - she has a science background and is really positive & helpful.
As to coming off HRT - well I tried being without it for 3 years post menopause and the flushes, night sweats etc returned and didn't subside at all so I gave in and went back on HRT.  I am about to take a break from HRT now - 4 yrs later -  who knows how it will be this time!!  I'm now 57 by the way - so very post meno.

You are absolutely right to get as much information as possible re meno and HRT
Keep us posted with your progress.  Goodluck   DG x

Hi Dancinggirl

Thanks for the warm welcome.

I have just turned 47 last month.

I sweat both at night and during the day if I get flustered or if I walk anywhere.
I get wet patches on my clothes sometimes.

I never ever suffered from PMT thankfully, and used to feel sorry for all the poor buggers that did. All that negativty every month, phew glad i didnt have it.

Thank you for telling me which hrt I will be put on.

I tried to hold out till I was off the tranqs but can't stand much more of this, so decided it best to do it as soon as possible, and I can get off the tranqs even quicker.

I'm on a period now. I came on on Sunday, only 19 days since I started my last cycle. The cycle before that was 43 days. It's all over the place.

I don't mind the withdrawal bleed. I used to get that years ago with the contraceptive pill.

Sorry to hear you get bad episodes of depression on or off HRT. Thanks for letting me know about ostragel, I may go for that one, as it allows me more control over how much I get.

I look forward to hearing from Hurdity. Nice to have an expert on board.

Sorry you had a hard time coming off HRT. How come the symptoms returned, even though you were way past peri?
Good luck coming off it next time.

Many thanks

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Dandelion
From what you describe you may be getting typical peri menopausal symptoms but your blood test may reveal more. I think you need to do a little more reading about what happens during menopause and why HRT can help. 
Go through the menu on the left of this screen to learn more.
When you are on HRT you are replacing the oestrogen your body no longer makes.  When you stop taking it, even if you are post menopausal, then the symptoms of menopause e.g. hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness etc. will return while the body adjusts to the lack of oestrogen.  These withdrawal symptoms can last months or years, everyone is different.
Hopefully your doctor will discuss everything with you.
DGx   

[Dandelion]

Hi Dandelion
From what you describe you may be getting typical peri menopausal symptoms but your blood test may reveal more. I think you need to do a little more reading about what happens during menopause and why HRT can help. 
Go through the menu on the left of this screen to learn more.
When you are on HRT you are replacing the oestrogen your body no longer makes.  When you stop taking it, even if you are post menopausal, then the symptoms of menopause e.g. hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness etc. will return while the body adjusts to the lack of oestrogen.  These withdrawal symptoms can last months or years, everyone is different.
Hopefully your doctor will discuss everything with you.
DGx   

Oooh I didn't know that.
Is there any way you can taper off them slowly?
I only get a short time with my doctor, so there's not a lot of time to ask questions.
Does HRT make the meno symptoms last longer when we come off them?

Thanks

[Dancinggirl]

When you come off HRT ideally you should reduce the dosage gradually but as the body stores some oestrogen it can take a little time before the menopause symptoms emerge.  How long the flushes etc. last once you come off HRT is entirely individual - we are all different.
If you find the meno symptoms you are currently experiencing to difficult to cope with, the HRT could help while you are on it.  Just don't expect it to be the cure-all for how you are feeling now.
At this stage I wouldn't worry about coming off HRT - you have got to see if it suits you first.
See if you can make the appointment you have with the doctor a longer session.

Get back to us when you have seen the doctor.
Keep reading some of the threads on this site.
Take life day to day - I find it's the only way to be.
DG x

[Dandelion]

When you come off HRT ideally you should reduce the dosage gradually but as the body stores some oestrogen it can take a little time before the menopause symptoms emerge.  How long the flushes etc. last once you come off HRT is entirely individual - we are all different.
If you find the meno symptoms you are currently experiencing to difficult to cope with, the HRT could help while you are on it.  Just don't expect it to be the cure-all for how you are feeling now.
At this stage I wouldn't worry about coming off HRT - you have got to see if it suits you first.
See if you can make the appointment you have with the doctor a longer session.

Get back to us when you have seen the doctor.
Keep reading some of the threads on this site.
Take life day to day - I find it's the only way to be.
DG x

Hi DG and thanks for answering my questions.
Sadly, as the docs appointment is already made, i am unable to request more time to see her.
So, basically, the HRT is just postponing the symptoms for another time.

Please may I ask one more question, if a woman doesn't go onto hrt, but is suffering some symptoms in peri-menopause, as her oestrogen levels get lower and lower, do these symptoms get worse and worse?

Will let you know how docs visit goes.

Thanks again.

[Dancinggirl]

Menopausal symptoms vary with every women.  There is no way of knowing how yours will progress - you may be lucky and just have a short time of flushes etc and then your body may settle down.
As I said before - I think you should take things one day at a time and do what you feel is right for you now.  See what your doctors suggests and come back to this site for info and help along the way.
Good luck  DG x

[Dandelion]

Aww that's a shame. Meno sounds really hard to pre-empt.
Thanks anyway.

[Taz2]

It's the same as when will puberty arrive and whether you will get painful periods and pmt really. Nobody knows but at least we have somewhere like this to come to and share.

Taz 

[Hurdity]

As I said elsewhere, oestrogen levels continue to fall after the last period for another 2-3 years until they reach their lowest level - but as has already been said - there is no way of knowing how long your symptoms will last.

And I would never look at it as just postponing the symtpoms until another time. For a start, many of the bad symptoms are caused by the flcutuation in hormones levels - both oestrogen and progesterone, as well as the loss of oestrogen. At least if/when you stop it will be just be the effects of declining oestrogen that may cause further symptoms!!

Come on - let's be glass half full and look on the bright side!!!! What's important to me is to feel better now   - as I have done since age 53 to 60 - instead of miserable.

Hurdity x

[andius]

I have a friend who is 68 now.  She took hormones 45 to 52 on the recommendation of her doctor that he didn't want her to suffer in menopause - obviously this was 16 yrs ago and the recommendations are different now.  She had no symptoms at the time.  When she tapered off, she went very, very slowly, taking about 6- 8 months.  Afterwards she had no symptoms and still doesn't (so she says). I guess she is one of the lucky ones. 

You might be just like her.  She has 7 grandchildren that all live in her town and she is a pistol!!

[Dandelion]

Hi

I just saw this post.
Thanks for your replies.