Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[creativesarahv]

Hi I had a hysterectomy at 39 and was put in evorel patches dose 50 I am now 59 and my new GP has decided to stop the HRT I thought I would be able to be weaned off it
Is it normal to stop abruptly and will I go cold turkey!

[honeybun]

Some of us have done it both ways when trying to stop. I really think it's an individual choice and you won't know till you try.
I am cutting down but at just short of 54 I do have a bit of time yet.

I have also just stopped but flushes were back around 6 weeks. Now I manage on a half patch.

You will find some ladies who will say it makes no difference. The good thing is with patches is you can cut a bit off over the months and see how it goes.


Honeyb
x

[Rowan]

If you have to come off ERT, which I don't think you should unless you want to, then you must insist that you are allowed to come off slowly, first by going down to a 25 patch, and slowly reduce by increments, its the least your doctor can do for you, and to let your body get use to a lower state of estrogen.

Also start to support your body with natural estrogen  supplements e.g. phyto estrogens.  http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Phyto-oestrogens.htm

Hope you have luck with your doctor creativesarhv.

[Joyce]

I stopped cold turkey a few years back, truly awful.

This time I've been gradually reducing it. It certainly hasn't been so horrid this way, but not sure when I will able to stop completely. I'm too scared.

[Taz2]

I have tried both ways - and I had the same results - awful both times!

Have you been told to stop because you are coming up to the not-so-magic age of 60?

Taz x

[peegeetip]

hi Creativesarahv

I'm assuming you don't want to stop? if you don't then all the best on the next step you take.
Totally agree with Silverlady at the very least.

But what is it with GP's - this new GP doesn't even know you yet! So how he or she can suddenly make this life changing decision on your behalf is awful.

I too have a gp who is always moaning about trying to get the older ladies (70+) off hrt - why should the GP tamper with their health and wellbeing when they are obviously happy with things as they are is beyond me - and should be beyond a GP's remit!

Just to point out this GP is behind the times - as the British Menopause Society are now saying the following since last year.

"Arbitrary limits should not be placed on the duration of usage of HRT; if symptoms persist, the benefits of hormone therapy usually outweigh the risks."

So if its done you good since you were 39 - then it can do you good till you want it to

[Taz2]

Sixty is still sadly the time when GP's think that we should come off HRT but as long as you are told the risks then most will continue to prescribe. I was under the care of the menopause clinic in Oxford who were definitely against prescribing for me after the age of 60 so I returned to my GP who also decided that I should try to come off. My gynae consultant is also against women over 60 being on HRT. The main risk is thought to be stroke not cancer as most people seem to think.

I was taken off last October and have found it really difficult. I did manage to find a box of unused patches in the cupboard in April and stuck them on. The difference that month was amazing. I haven't been allowed any more due to having to have a major op in July but I'm hopeful that the GP will continue to prescribe when I go back to see her in a few weeks time.

This "stopping at 60"  is a nightmare for many women now that we have to work until at least 65. I have already been moved to a "less challenging" role in my job - I was fine up till October!

Taz x

[Winnie]

Hi

I feel the same way as you.  I just had ovaries removed last week and have been told I can't continue on HRT because a relative had breast cancer.  6 days off it and already in floods off tears not a nice symptom to have on top of the pain I am in.  On antidepressants to try and calm things down.
Winnie

[creativesarahv]

Thank you all for your answers

I have mild cognitive impairment and I am worrying that my memory loss will become worse already a friend has noticed that I am more random than usual!

[Taz2]

How long have you been off it Sarah and what symptoms are you experiencing?

Taz x

[creativesarahv]

Taz2 i have been off it now for about 3 weeks couple of hot flushes but the main problem is my memory (well lack of it!) and irritability I am not usually an irritable person (well I don't think so )
This weekend felt absolute hell

[peegeetip]

Sorry to hear things have got so bad in just a couple of weeks.

But as I said earlier if its done you good since you were 39 - then it can do you good till you want it to

Hope your getting back to the doctor and back to normal asap. (Don't be fobbed off by the doc - please)

 

[Taz2]

It could be that as time goes on you will start to feel better sarah but it's always difficult to know. The menopause clinic said that it could take up to six months after stopping HRT before the symptoms ease but I've given it a year now and there is no change. It took around three months without HRT for me to get back to where I was when I first started it at age 53ish. Now, of course, I face another battle with the GP as the first year of using it is where the highest stroke/blood clot risk is and as I've been a year off it (apart from one month's worth in April which I found in the cupboard) it's as if I'm a new user.

Most docs will continue to prescribe if you have given it a try without but they do take some persuading.

Taz x

[Rowan]

Taz low or ultra low dose estrogen only patches don't represent so much of a risk for stroke specially if you take fish oil to keep blood thinner.

Its combined HRT that may be more of a problem.

There are two types of stroke due to blood clots or bleeding, keeping blood vessels healthy is the key and knowing what you might be prone too.

I try to cover both bases with rutin supplement daily and fish oil supplement a couple of times a week.

Keeping an eye of cholesterol and triglycerides helps too, if you show your doctor you are willing to incorporated this into your life he might relent and prescribe estrogen patches.
 

[peegeetip]

Hi Taz/Silverlady

sorry if this has been mentioned before - not trying to contradict anyone here either

From what I can see - the stroke risk is associated mainly with the Women's Health Initiative Study when the ladies were targeted for HRT treatment long long after they'd passed into menopause (using conjugated estrogen HRT also). Obviously the use of newer HRT options helps reduce our risks also (patches,gel,bioidentical etc) as has been mentioned before by others here.

But the average age of ladies in that study being "started" on HRT for the first time was 63.2 years. 
That was a real surprise to me...

More recently the 2012 Danish and MWS studies/reports have apparently shown that the combined HRT started close to menopause showed a reduced heart disease and mortality.
More importantly the studies were showing no increased risk of thrombosis (blood clots).

Sarah, hope you are feeling better as soon as possible.