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[Heatwave14]

Hi all,
Want to share my meno experience.
I am 52 tomorrow an meno coming up on 4th year.  Put up with flushing and night sweats which really upset my life as felt so debilitating. Have tried numerous alternative therapies but only works for awhile. Took plunge after a lot of anxious thoughts and now on HRT patches and after 3rd week feel like I have my life back-no flushes, sweats and sleeping better so life is starting to get better. I am only gona take for a year to give myself a reprieve and then wean off.  I was always of thought that HRT should only be last resort and only if menopause effects your mood (of which I am ok) but constantly sweating and flushing can drive a woman mad too. So my advice is if u healthy otherwise go for it as you will feel back to normal again

[Dancinggirl]

Hi heatwave and welcome to MM
Thank you for sharing your experience - it's good to hear a success story.
My only comment is, why only use HRT for a year? The new findings have shown that 5 years of HRT in our 50s can give long term benefits for your heart and bones. You say you have been menopausal for 4 years and you are now only 52 so technically you have had quite an early menopause and your body has been oestrogen deficient too early which can cause long term problems. The very small risks relating to breast cancer only really kicks in after 60 and even then the benefits can outweigh the risks.
We are always saying on here that 'quality of life is very important' and 'life is short'. If the meno symptoms are having a negative impact on your life then why not stay on HRT.
I have tried life with and without HRT - I am now 58 and have recently gone back on HRT and I have to say I intend to stay on it as long as I can - I want to enjoy life and be a productive member of society and without HRT there are too many compromises.

Using HRT is a personal choose but I don't think anyone should feel a failure or weak because they suffer horrible meno symptoms and need some hormones to get them back on track.  Nobody is going to slap you on the back and congratulate you for riding the storm of the menopause if you don't use HRT - we all experience it differently and nobody can tell us how long the symptoms will last.  I tried 3 years without HRT and the symptoms didn't subside at all - I lost 3 years of my life.
Enjoy the magic that HRT can bring and perhaps review the situation when you hit 55-56?
DG x

[Kathleen]

Hello Heatwave14 and welcome to the forum.

I resisted HRT for a long time because I kept thinking the horrible symptoms would pass but they never did and three years after my last period I began HRT. I'm 58 and know I'll face the problem of continuing after 60 but at the moment I'm just relieved that I feel better.

Wishing you well and keep posting.

K.

[Hurdity]

Hi Heatwave

 

So glad you are finding HRT has helped you!

I agree with the others - no point in women feeling virtuous if they managed without HRT! It is simply replacing deficient hormones and especially if you use bio-identical preparations as most of us do on here - well at least with the oestrogen.

Absolutely agree how debilitating those symptoms can be. If you had your last period 4 years ago and the flushes and sweats are worse now, then the chances are that they could continue longer than a year anyway. Continuing with HRT for a longer period will have all sorts of other health benefits too as you can read on this site (lots of info on left-hand menu!).

I'm 61 and have been on HRT for almost 8 years now - was late peri-menopause when I first started but suffering as you were. Also thought I would do it "naturally" so I thought and wasted money and effort on all sorts before reading about it and realising what I really needed to take!

As a matter of interest which patches are you using?

Hope you continue to feel better and better

Hurdity x

[Heatwave14]

Thanks all for your replies as feels reassuring to get such positive comments.  The patch I am using is Evorel Conti 😉