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[honeybun]

On the other hand there are women like my mother who at nearly 92 never took HRT and had an early meno. No heart troubles, no more bone degeneration than would be expected at her age. At 83 she was bowling three times a week so no lack of zest for life.
There are pros and cons for both cases. My mother had a good quality of life for many years.


Honeyb
x

[coolatlast]

I want to hang on to my female hormones and try and stay young for as long as possible!

(I expect we are influenced by our mothers more than we realize!)

[Sarah2]

My Mum is coming up to 87 and was complaining last week that she still gets hot flushes- usually within a few minutes of getting up, and she has not slept well since the menopause. Her former dr refused to give her HRT in her 60s and at the time that was current ( and still is with some drs) opinion but she has suffered in some ways. She is still fit for her age, but that is mainly down to a really big effort to eat healthily and take exercise and keep up her interests, but I know she has suffered for many years with flushes.
My gynae told me that some women never ever get rid of hot flushes and other meno symptoms.

[coolatlast]

Yes, sometimes diet (and lifestyle changes) alone, aren't enough.

As an example, I've suffered with mild to moderate eczema/psoriasis all my life and over the years I have tried most things 'natural' - St John's Wort, Evening Primrose Oil, Fish Oils, Vitaimin E, Ginseng, Oil of this, Oil of that, various Chinese herby things that sound similar to Black Cohosh etc -  I could have opened up my own Holland & Barretts with the amount of natural stuff I bought and tried over the years,  (not to mention spending a small fortune), but guess what....

At the end of the day, when I get a rash and I want it sorted, without any fuss -  I go to the Doctor and get a Prescription Cream and it clears it up within hours (if not minutes).
Yes, the 'natural ways' can help towards keeping things at bay a little, but when symptoms are severe and prolonged, then medical intervention is GOOD.

I, (personally) think the same thing applies to the Menopause -  Yes, there are some 'natural' things that MAY help towards alleviating things............ but at the end of the day, the only way you are going to get enough female hormones back  into your body once again, is by going to the Doctor and getting a prescription for HRT of some sort.

The other stuff may keep you healthy up to a point, but they are no substitute for the real thing.

[CLKD]

I think we need to inform our daughters.  So that as they get to mid-30s they begin to engage with their GPs/Practice Nurses for discussion before any intervention is necessary.

Isn't it the same when women can't breastfeed?  They are told by the Nursing Staff that they 'should' be able to do so, I was talking to a young girl yesterday who said she felt like a bad mother because her milk never did come down.  But the Nursing Staff insisted she should get her baby to latch on. 

It's a vulnerable time of Life: periods, breast feeding, menopause …….. my GP is great, he recognised when I was depressed many years ago before I realised and he realised that I was starting with VA before and as soon as it began he prescribed …………

If I find he is a bit 'short' or distracted,I make another appt for the next week and go in : "I wasn't listening properly again last time, could you explain again ……… "

[coolatlast]

I think we need to inform our daughters.  So that as they get to mid-30s they begin to engage with their GPs/Practice Nurses for discussion before any intervention is necessary.

Isn't it the same when women can't breastfeed?  They are told by the Nursing Staff that they 'should' be able to do so, I was talking to a young girl yesterday who said she felt like a bad mother because her milk never did come down.  But the Nursing Staff insisted she should get her baby to latch on. 

It's a vulnerable time of Life: periods, breast feeding, menopause …….. my GP is great, he recognised when I was depressed many years ago before I realised and he realised that I was starting with VA before and as soon as it began he prescribed …………

If I find he is a bit 'short' or distracted,I make another appt for the next week and go in : "I wasn't listening properly again last time, could you explain again ……… "

CLKD,
Your Doctor sounds like a 'good un' 
I agree that we need to educate our daughters to learn how to make informed choices, instead of being swayed by media 'scare stories'.

[oldsheep]

My mother had a menopause from hell. Constant migraines with 3-4 days in bed every 3 weeks or so. She had undiagnosed osteoporosis, the complications of which she died from, aged 80, having spent a year in agony, bed ridden.
She also had constant UTIs.
I know I'm going to have to fight for my HRT after I've been on it a few years, as the GPs still mostly think it's "dangerous". Who knows, there may even be a NICE guideline saying 'only x no of years' (?).
They don't have the time or inclination to stay up to date, so I think it's vital to get referred to a hospital meno clinic. Although my GP still reserves the right to ignore what the consultant prescribes. It used to be that they had to listen to a consultant, but now they have so much power, they don't. Or that's what I've experienced. Just one eg - one of the GPs at my practice was reluctant to  prescribe vagifem as she said the clinic hadn't told me that it can cause cancer. At the meno clinic, the consultant just peered at me and said "doesn't she know you are taking Utrogestan every night? Plus the absorption is very low" (GP is prescribing it).
I have to see one of the GPs only, who knows nothing about HRT, but will prescribe it for me (at the moment). He's quite difficult though, so I get stressed; he's been nicer to me since I told him that he made me stressed!

Private medicine is cashing in on the budget and drug restrictions - we have to put a certain amount aside  for my private consultant (another health problem) who currently charges £180 per half hour and I need to see him every 6 months.
Those of you who have had to go and see Dr Studd will have paid upwards of £300 I think? And I found out to my cost that private insurers (OH has one through work) won't pay for anything they deem chronic ie more than 6 treatments. And definitely nothing to do with "menopause".

[Trey]

Up to now all my many gyn docs have encouraged estrogen.  I had a hyst at 32, ovaries not taken.  However, my current gyn insists on a mammogram annually before she prescribes.  I didn't even like that somewhat reasonable attitude as I do think it is my choice to weigh risks and make decisions.  I'm convinced that my health is due to estrogen.  My mother is still on the oral tabs at 98 and she was healthy until 97 when she had a moderate stroke.  The US is getting far more restrictive now so our freer days on decision making may be behind us.

[coolatlast]

oldsheep,

We need more prominent women in the media to raise awareness for us.

I often wish that some of the Celebrities would take up the cause, and write more articles about this 'dilemma' and the currently shoddy way that menopausal women are being treated by the NHS.

We could do with somebody like, for example, Janet Street Porter taking up the cause, or maybe Jenny St Clair - both feisty ladies who are both good at writing and as far as I've read - both take HRT.  (I'm sure there are LOTS of female celebs taking it).

There needs to be lots more articles and awareness about the good points of HRT (and less of the scare stories).

If only

[coolatlast]

Trey,
that's disturbing to note that the USA are getting more restrictive!

[Joyce]

I reduced mine to half dose. Only taking half of 12.5 estradot patch. Yes I'm getting flushes, but can cope. Reason being, I was told I would need to come off at 60, so trying to get my body used to it. Got 2 years to go.  If I could be sure I'd get HRT beyond 60, I'd be more than happy.

[Sarah2]

Private medicine is cashing in on the budget and drug restrictions - we have to put a certain amount aside  for my private consultant (another health problem) who currently charges £180 per half hour and I need to see him every 6 months.
Those of you who have had to go and see Dr Studd will have paid upwards of £300 I think? And I found out to my cost that private insurers (OH has one through work) won't pay for anything they deem chronic ie more than 6 treatments. And definitely nothing to do with "menopause".

I think those fees are very high. I don't know what Studd's fees are but clearly there is a range.   (It's not a case of private medicine cashing in- there has always been the option to have private treatment for anything.)

I see a very good consultant in Harley St and his fees are less than you pay your consultant.

You will sometimes find that drs have 2 rates (speaking generally not personally) one if you self-fund and another if it's paid by insurers. Bit the same as garages with cars!

Private insurance will pay for menopause symptoms - but clearly not if you say you are having flushes or sweats etc!
A close friend of mine has had her consultations paid for  by insurance because the consultation was for 'heavy and painful periods' ( not menopause, though that turned out to be the cause along with a fibroid) but insurers will not pay once it becomes 'routine' and they like a resolution of the condition. They paid for my initial scans for various things but once they become routine ( if ever) they start to draw the line.

[Taz2]

Do the private consultants feel that women over 60 are ok to stay on HRT or are you warned of the risks - much as in the NHS?

Taz x

[Taz2]

I've just found Professor Studd's "current thoughts" on the prescribing of HRT and, again, 60 seems to be the age where things change 

http://www.studd.co.uk/hrt_current_thoughts.php

Taz x

[Sarah2]

I can only speak for what I have found and this will not necessarily apply to all consultants private or not.
 My consultant has women MUCH older than 60 on HRT  and works on the basis of each patient is an individual and has her own preferences and medical history. He is not averse to women being on HRT forever if appropriate for them. He does discuss risks- I discuss risks and stats at almost every appt- and ethically/legally he has to- but he prefers to look at the risks in context of other risks in life, as well as other medical risks.
I don't think private consultants dish out HRT willy nilly if there are reasons why it could be harmful,or that by paying to see them you can demand something.

I also know of and have posted about this before-a friend of a friend whose NHS dr has given her HRT again at 73 after a 6-month break because she is adamant that she accepts the risks and quality of life over quantity.