Hi carolann.
Seven years is a long time to suffer from hot flushes etc. I'm sorry to hear about your sister and can understand your reluctance to try HRT however it depends on whether your sister's cancer was oestrogen dependent as to whether this would be a factor to prevent you using HRT and, also, you need to have at least two close family members (sister mother grandmother) with such a breast cancer to increase your risks. There is also a query over the age that the family members suffered their cancer - under 40 seems to be relevant.
At your age a patch or gel HRT is considered the best option.
As for feeling so low - if you decide to try HRT then you will probably find that as you begin to sleep better and feel better with less aches and pains and freedom from the flushes then your mood will lift.
Let us know how you get on.
Taz x
