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[Dancinggirl]

You would need to use hrt till at least 55 to really gain the benefits and protrction for your bones.
I can't remember where I found the research that showed the statistics regarding using HRT in your 50s - I wish I had saved it.
There are many factors at play when looking at pros and cons with so many treatments but the press love to highlight risks.
I have recently stopped taking parectomol having down some research - it's considered relatively safe but paracetamol can still cause internal bleeding, damage kidneys and liver and gives very few benefits in terms of pain n relief!!!
Pain killers, PPIs and ADs are dished out so readily by GPs with no information about the many long term risks. DG x

[Cori]

So that would mean I would be on HRT for 12 years. I'm not sure if it will be safe to do that? Would I be best waiting until I'm 50 to start taking it??

[Dancinggirl]

If you wait the bone loss will be worse and harder to treat. I was on hrt from the age of 37 and took it for nearly 25 years. The old idea that a women should only use HRT for 5 years is now defunct.
Natural menopause is between 51-55 so technically, until 51, if you are hrt, it is only replacing the hormones you would have naturally. The very small risks kick in if you are still on hrt after 60 and even then the benefits can outweigh risks if you have osteoporosis.
There have been so many scare stories based on flawed research regarding hrt it is appalling. If it was something that helped men I doubt there would have been so much negative press. I have a friend who was diagnosed with advanced osteoporosis 5 years ago and she can't have hrt because of having had aggressive breast cancer. She had sailed through her meno at 53 so never used hrt. She is slim and fit, always ate what was would be deemed a healthy diet but sadly never liked dairy - there is also osteoporosis is her family.  She is having to have treatment for her bones that can give some very nasty long term side effects - she really wishes she could have hrt.
Just be thankful you have hrt as an option for you and stay with it as long as possible. The back problems I am getting at 62 would probably be far worse if I hadn't been on hrt.
I think you have been given the combined patches and this is medium dose. Do expect your body to react a bit at first as it can take 3-6 months for things to settle and you may have to try different hrts till you find the right one for you.
Do try not to overthink things. If you had heart disease you wouldn't question any drugs you were given so just accept that hrt is the best treatment for you now. DG x

[Cassie]

I have been on it since 40 and intend to stay on it until well into my 70s with the blessing of my gynae. The best and safest is transdermal, I use the gel its amazing along with Utrogestan for 12 days per month, its essential at your age, that GP needs his head read!

[Cori]

Thanks.. I will ask my doctor how she feels about me staying on it until I'm 55... it makes sense to do that.

[Dancinggirl]

Unless your doctor is up to date on the latest menopause treatment, he/she might still quite the old 5 year guidance. I wouldn't muddy the water at this stage, just get yourself going on hrt and then when you get to 52-55 review the situation and discuss your options then.
Do remember you will have an annual assessment while on HRT so you will be monitored.
I can tell you are very anxious about all this but it's no good worrying about any future problems - just focus on the benefits you will gain.
DG x

[Cori]

Thanks DG. I am very anxious about it all. I'm planning on starting wearing the patches tomorrow evening.

[Dancinggirl]

I expect your oestrogen levels are very low so when you start these patches you must expect to get some side effects that you may find worrying e.g. sore breasts, a bit of bloating and you may find your intimate area will tingle - these are all signs of your body waking up and and welcoming the hormones.
All these things should settle over the first 3-6 months.

I can't remebrr whether you have men given a sequential or continuous hrt patch?

If it is continuous (non bleed version) then sometimes there can be more side effects due to the progesterone. We can help you choose a different hrt if the side effects are too troublesome - it can be trial and error till you find an HRT that suits you.
Having said this, many women do great on combined patches so you may find you feel really good in 3-4 weeks time.
You must try to keep busy and not focus on the HRT - just get on with life knowing you are doing the right thing for your health and well-being.
DG x

[Cori]

Thanks DG. It's a continous patch.

I used to be on the contraceptive pill for 17 years, so I'm guessing the side effects will be similar to that? I did get a lot of bloating with one particular contracetive pill I tried, but the other two were fine. Whenever I tried coming off it and then went back on it, I got a bit of a buzz and always felt better on the pill. So I'm kind of hoping I feel like that on HRT rather than feeling worse with lots of side effects. But like you say, I wil just have to try different ones until I find the right one for me.

[Cori]

Well guys, I've applied a patch! I've been nervous all day! I applied it onto my butt cheek at the back in the middle, tying to avoid the edges of my underwear. Is it normal for it to go on a bit wrinkly around the edges? I knew it said to apply it to non irritated skin, but I've just realised I have a tiny pimple at the edge of it! I'm worried that if I bend over, it will spring off as obviously your butt stretches when you walk and bend over.
I'm suprised at how discreet they are. I was expecting a big square flesh coloured thing like a band aid haha.

[Dancinggirl]

I only tried patches once and found they weren't good for me but many women love them.  I think they do crinkle a bit. Try not to worry, Good luck. Dg x

[Cori]

Thanks. It's still stuck but I haven't been sweating and I didn't spend too long in the shower. I find it amazing how the hormones can pass through the skin and into the bloodstream. How will I know if they are actually working? If I don't feel any different, I won't really know, will I? I only get hot flushes/over heat when it's really warm anyway and as for the joint pain, I'm not expecting that to disappear overnight. So how will I know if they are having an effect?

[Sid]

Hi Cori
My specialist put me on HRT following a DEXA scan which showed I have severe osteopenia with a T score of -2. I am 53 but haven't gone through the menopause yet (so most bone loss would be expected over next 5 years or so). My mother and grandmother had severe osteoporosis and they both died following serious fractures (hip and pelvis). My mother's fracture spiralled down her femur and was untreatable. My grandmother had an embolism resulting from the pelvic fracture. Osteoporosis is an awful condition.

I have always eaten dairy, my vitamin D levels are fine and I have always done loads of exercise. My specialist thinks it is genetic: we just turn over bone too quickly.  HRT is my only treatment option at this point - they will not prescribe bisphosphonates yet.

I won't know whether HRT has helped until my next DEXA scan in 5 years but I have trust in my doctor that she knows what she's doing.  I hope it works out well for you 

[Cori]

Thank you Sid.

I've had a bit of a scare... So, 27 hours after I applied the patch and just about to go to bed, I get this intense pain across the bottom of my stomach, on my pubic bone and in my ovaries. That area looked slightly swollen too. It went on for about 20 minutes and I was worried, as towards the end of my cycles, I used to get intense ovary pain when I ovulated and this felt similar. One time when I ovulated, I collapsed and ended up going to hospital in an ambulance. It was worse when I sat down. I wasn't sure what to do, so I removed the patch.

Is it normal to have pain like that after first applying the patch? Should I have left it on? I intend on trying again once this pain has gone. Should I speak to my doctor? I just don't know what to do.

[Dancinggirl]

Cori - the sudden cramps are exactly the type of thing that will happen when first starting HRT - your body is reacting and waking up having been dormant for some time. Unfortunately starting with a continuous HRT can give more reactions at first.  The patches you have been given are also medium dose, so you body is getting a biggish dose straight off. Don't worry it should settle.

You could try cutting the patches in half for the first 2-4 weeks to allow a slower adjustment but check with you doctor first.  Personally, I think you might have been better with a low dose pill HRT e.g. Low dose or Ultra low dose Femoston and then move to a higher standard dose after 3-6 months when the body has adjusted.  One gynaecologist I saw actually suggested starting on half a dose for 2 weeks before increasing to the standard dose to allow the body to adjust. Don't forget, you may well get some spotting or bleeding in the first few months as well.

I think it should be fine to simply cut the patches in half as many women do this.  Do try to persevere as you are far too young to be oestrogen deficient and as Sid has said, osteoporosis is truly awful and I can't begin to tell you the horror of urogenital atrophy (due to oestrogen deficiency) that brings so many problems - it will be worth it and you may find your feel great in a couple of months and wish you had started sooner.   You may need to consider a sequential HRT which unfortunately means putting up with a monthly bleed as many of us prefer to stick with this instead of a conti HRT.  It will probably be trial and error I'm afraid but we are here to help.  DG x