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[roisen]

Hi Everyone,
Advice would be very much appreciated.
I started HRT 12 years ago. I was put on Femosten 2/10 because I was experiencing severe mood swings. A bad incident precipitated the start of treatment. Twelve years on and it has been decided I should wean off HRT. I was changed to Everel conti patches and bled the whole time. My symptoms of recurring Bartholin cysts came back. I was sent for a scan as the bleeding seemed abnormal. Fast forward a year after three scans, a hysteroscopy and final removal of multiple polyps and I'm back still trying to reduce my HRT intake. I have gone from femoston 2/10 to Femoston conti. I started on 2mg conti lowering to one and half. Since changing my mood swings have grown increasingly worse. Any decrease of Oestrogen  sees me go off the rails mood wise. Now I'm on one and half it is like I've gone back to the beginning. I've upset my stepson and husband and caused rifts. I know it is me and I have no control. I am scared of the outcome of these moods. Is there anything I can take to help them. Can one stay on HRT for long periods. Why am I made to feel it is so terrible to do so? I would love to hear others stories. Thank you so much.

[dazned]

Hi there ,who decided it was best to come off of hrt ? How old are you now ? Sure a few will be along to help you more knowledgeable than me but you will have lots of support here.

[roisen]

Hi there ,who decided it was best to come off of hrt ? How old are you now ? Sure a few will be along to help you more knowledgeable than me but you will have lots of support here.

Hi, thanks for responding. The specialist said 12 years was too long. I'm 62 now.

Lynda

[dazned]

Well there's a few on here that are 60 plus,but my lips are sealed.   
There's no need to stop if you don't want to,however it seems to be advisable to lower your estrogen as you get older and 2 mg is quite high,having said that you will need to allow your body to adjust to this and unfortunately these things take time. Sure others will be along soon with more experiences to share.

[CLKD]

Why change if it isn't causing problems?  What 'specialist' exactly ………… you could send an e-mail to Dr Currie on here, it costs but if you are precise you may well get a reliable reply.

As for the rages, have you really caused 'rifts' or is that your interpretation because you feel volatile?

[honeybun]

Also patches or gel are supposed to be safer for the older woman, and has been said the smaller the dose the better.

If you are on gel or patches then it's easier to cut down.


Honeybun
X

[Annie0710]

I'm 48 and been on hrt for 16 years now and gynae said I can stay on for life

Annie xx

[roisen]

I'm 48 and been on hrt for 16 years now and gynae said I can stay on for life

Annie xx

That's great to hear Annie, what HRT product are you on?

[roisen]

Why change if it isn't causing problems?  What 'specialist' exactly ………… you could send an e-mail to Dr Currie on here, it costs but if you are precise you may well get a reliable reply.

As for the rages, have you really caused 'rifts' or is that your interpretation because you feel volatile?

Yes, thanks for that. I may well send an email to Dr Currie.
x

[Annie0710]

I'm 48 and been on hrt for 16 years now and gynae said I can stay on for life

Annie xx

That's great to hear Annie, what HRT product are you on?

I'm on 2mg elleste solo

Annie xx

[Hurdity]

Hi roisen

I'm 62 and I've been on HRT for 8 years and intend to continue - my doc is OK with this ( one of them) as was the spcialist who did a hysteroscopy the year I turned 60. There is little information about older women and HRT that is bio-identical (ie oestrogen and progesterone) but the advice on here is that between the ages of 60 and 70 the risks are equal to the benefits, so all being well healthwise, 70 is what I am aiming for, and that will be 16 years on HRT. Many women who have early menopause stay on HRT much longer than that. I presume the doc is thinking that you have been on it 10 years after the average age of menopause (51-52). Nevertheless guidelines are changing.

Do have a read of these papers if you are interested - 2013 recommendations of the British Menopause Society and Women's Health Concern: http://min.sagepub.com/content/19/2/59. Prevention of diseases after menopause (where HRT is reviewed in relation to various conditions eg heartm bones etc) http://www.imsociety.org/downloads/world_menopause_day_2014/white_paper/wmd_white_paper_english.pdf. New draft NICE Guidelines on menopause https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/GID-CGWAVE0639/documents/menopause-draft-guideline-nice2 Nothing is said about limiting time on HRT or age to stop.

As honeybun says if you intend to be on it long term then gel or patches are better/associated with lower risk. I am still on a (long) cycle at 62 because I don't want to take progestogens the whole time - but not sure how that would sit with your history of cysts? It may be the specialist is concerned about your uterus lining? You would expect mood swings on Femoston 2/10 due to stopping and starting progestogen just as with normal pmt - although your oestorgen level remains constant. Changes in your digestion and other factors can alter the absorption of oestrogen from tablet HRT too. Is your specialist a menopause gynae or the one who treated your polyps?

Ideally you want to remain on some sort of HRT but without endangering your health ie uterus, since you've had problems.

I think if you want a professional opinion on your situation before going back to the specialist then an e-mail consultation (costs £25) with Dr Currie ( tells you how to do this on the site home page) might be the way forward - be as explicit as possible about your history as you have detailed below and she will be able to advise.

Hope this helps

Hurdity x

[roisen]

Thank you Hurdity. I will look at the papers for sure. I've been back and forth to the specialist at the hospital who treats menopausal women. The guy who performed my op suggested Mirena coil but since the op my bleeding eased and stopped altogether after going on Femoston 1/10. Sadly this doesn't control the mood swings. 2/10 does but that means periods. I really think the mood swings are the most urgent to get under control.  I will email Dr Currie. Thanks for the great advice.
love
Lynda

Hi roisen

I'm 62 and I've been on HRT for 8 years and intend to continue - my doc is OK with this ( one of them) as was the spcialist who did a hysteroscopy the year I turned 60. There is little information about older women and HRT that is bio-identical (ie oestrogen and progesterone) but the advice on here is that between the ages of 60 and 70 the risks are equal to the benefits, so all being well healthwise, 70 is what I am aiming for, and that will be 16 years on HRT. Many women who have early menopause stay on HRT much longer than that. I presume the doc is thinking that you have been on it 10 years after the average age of menopause (51-52). Nevertheless guidelines are changing.

Do have a read of these papers if you are interested - 2013 recommendations of the British Menopause Society and Women's Health Concern: http://min.sagepub.com/content/19/2/59. Prevention of diseases after menopause (where HRT is reviewed in relation to various conditions eg heartm bones etc) http://www.imsociety.org/downloads/world_menopause_day_2014/white_paper/wmd_white_paper_english.pdf. New draft NICE Guidelines on menopause https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/GID-CGWAVE0639/documents/menopause-draft-guideline-nice2 Nothing is said about limiting time on HRT or age to stop.

As honeybun says if you intend to be on it long term then gel or patches are better/associated with lower risk. I am still on a (long) cycle at 62 because I don't want to take progestogens the whole time - but not sure how that would sit with your history of cysts? It may be the specialist is concerned about your uterus lining? You would expect mood swings on Femoston 2/10 due to stopping and starting progestogen just as with normal pmt - although your oestorgen level remains constant. Changes in your digestion and other factors can alter the absorption of oestrogen from tablet HRT too. Is your specialist a menopause gynae or the one who treated your polyps?

Ideally you want to remain on some sort of HRT but without endangering your health ie uterus, since you've had problems.

I think if you want a professional opinion on your situation before going back to the specialist then an e-mail consultation (costs £25) with Dr Currie ( tells you how to do this on the site home page) might be the way forward - be as explicit as possible about your history as you have detailed below and she will be able to advise.

Hope this helps

Hurdity x