Cori - it's fine to simply stop the patches. You do not need to wait to start HRT till you are truly post menopause - in fact as soon they realised you were peri menopause the doctors should have discussed HRT straight away - I started HRT when I was peri meno in my mid 30s, I was post menopause when I was about 42. However, starting with conti HRT is not always the best idea because the progesterone can bring more side effects which women find challenging, so by using a sequi HRT, where there is only half the month with progesterone, this will often be easier to tolerate. A sequi HRt will mean a monthly bleed but this will more predictable, whereas, with a conti HRt you often have to put up with erratic bleeding for up to 6 months and if this doesn't settle then investigations are done and a different HRT regime would be tried.
You shouldn't have to mention the 2 year thing to your doctor - they should know this already!!!!!!!
Starting on a medium dose is also tougher for many women as it can be a shock for the body to suddenly get this big hit of hormones - it's often best to introduce things gradually.
If you really want a non bleed easy HRT regime, then having a Mirena fitted would be good and then simply have oestrogen as gel or patch alongside. There are oestrogen only patches that are very small and come in various strengths so much easier to start low and then build till you feel good.
Do remember that HRT is about getting the benefits with minimal side effects and it can be trial and error finding the right regime for you - you have more risk factors if you don't use HRT, so you really need to let go of the anxiety over using HRT.
Phone your doctor and ask for a telephone appointment - explain you have had bleeding (which you know is normal at first on any conti HRt), so you want to try a sequential HRT to see if it's better and also ask of Femoston 1/10 because it has the kinder progesterone. Give yourself one to two weeks without hormones to allow the bleeding to subside and then start the pills and see how it goes. If Femoston doesn't suit you then we can suggest something else to try.
Please, please remember that osteoporosis is a nasty problem and you really don't want this to happen too soon - it's a very distressing, painful and disabling condition and at this stage HRT is your best treatment option. DG x