Hi - I wanted to detail my experience about stopping HRT. Over the last 5-6 years I have taken first taken tablets but then in a desire to come off HRT (due to horrendous migraines), I stopped for approx 7-8 months (sheer HELL) and then went onto oestrogel and (eventually) provera.
I felt wonderful apart from the migraines, which unfortunately did not abate and got worse.
I am 56 now and figured I was probably through the worst of it (though how can you ever tell) so at the beginning of this year, I decided to reduce my dose in order to taper off completely. This is the only way the migraines were ever going to abate.
I reduced my dose from 2 pumps to one every third day, then one every other day and then one per day over a 2 month period. I then skipped every third day and so on for another 2 months till eventually I was down to one pump per week. Then stopped completely.
What came back - I count myself extremely fortunate that all that happened was that I get hot flushes but nowhere near bad enough for them to disable me. I did however, notice a level of paranoia and mood dip occurring (which I suspected would happen) so with the assistance and advice of a wonderful practice nurse at my surgery, started taking 10mg Citalopram (which I believe is the lowest dose you can take). My mood picked up tremendously. I did a couple of months in try and reduce the citalopram dose, but the paranoia etc came back. My plan is to stick with it until the hot flushes start to subside and then try and taper off.
I have started taking high strength turmeric, omega 3 and calcium as supplements but have noticed my joints are definitely stiffer. I'm going to start a separate thread for help with that. The great news is, my migraines have all but gone.
please do ask if you want any further info