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[Jules1824]

Hi, have just started having hot flushes and night sweats for the last month (I am 50) and they are driving me insane     

Dr has today recommended HRT (Femosten), but worried to try with all the health risks with it.   What happens when you eventually stop taking it, don't all the meno symptoms come flooding back??   I have fibroids and said to Dr "Won't the HRT affect them", her answer was "Yes, probably" (not the sort of answer I wanted!)

Friend at work has suggested Wild Yam tablets from Holland & Barrett, I'm going to give them a go, but wondered if anyone else has tried them and had success?  Am desperate to find something that works 

[oldsheep]

Afraid they didn't work for me, only HRT did. Can you get referred to a meno clinic as they may know more about managing your other problems with HRT?
My sympathies x

[Winterose]

I think if you have serious meno symptoms then only Hrt or some of the anti depressants are going to help you with the flushes , meno clinic is good idea and have a good look at all the info here to get yourself up to speed.  Drinking 2 glasses of wine a day is given as an equal health risk as HRt - just to give you some perspective. People have been successful with over the counter products but they possibly only have mild symptoms .  Stress doesn't help in any form either, look at the forum latest news on Hrt , it looks like it does help our hearts and vascular systems if started early on in meno,

[Hurdity]

Hi Jules - in a word - no!! All of these remedies are a waste of money and most of not been proven to have any effect. I used black cohosh and thought it worked - but it was either placebo effect, or my flushes would have stopped anyway ( periods come and go when you are peri-menopausal as oestrogen levels rise and fall. When periods come back the flushes usually stop!). Don't waste your money!

What a strange reaction from your GP! Re fibroids - it depends on how bad they are at present. if you have very heavy periods due to the fibroids then the Mirena coil is suggested for those who want to take HRT:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/atoz.php#GlossF


Fibroids   
    Fibroids are benign smooth muscle tumours of the uterine (womb) wall and are dependant on estrogen. They tend to shrink after the menopause but shrinkage may not occur, or they may even increase in size with HRT use. Increase is thought to occur in 25% of HRT users and mainly occurs in the first six months of therapy. There is some evidence that transdermal (patch or gel) but not tablet HRT nor tibolone may promote fibroid growth. [ref 24] Fibroid size can be monitored by regular examinations and sometimes by ultrasound scans. There is some evidence that the use of the progestogen releasing intra-uterine system, Mirena may cause fibroids to reduce in size. Mirena is often used in the perimenopause by women who have heavy periods and/or require contraception and can provide the progestogen part of their HRT.

How regular are your periods? I agree with oldsheep - try to get a referral to a menopause clinic. Meanwhile read up as much as you can about menopause and HRT - this site will tell you that the benefits exceed the risks under 60 years of age.
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/balance.php

Also there are lots of threads from those of us approaching or over 60 and coming off HRT and all the arguments. Go to the forum home page and have a search.

The menopausal years are a rocky journey but hopefully you will find some support and advice on here from others going through the same thing!


Hurdity x

[Jules1824]

Hi, thank you all for your kind words.   I think I will have to check out a Meno Clinic, Dr's just don't have the time to talk or just not specialised enough in this field.   Thanks Hurdity on your Fibroid post, worth knowing.   I do have a stressful part time job which I know does aggravate the flushes. The joys of being a woman