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[pricey]

I posted recently and am grateful for Hurdity's kind advice.  I've decided I feel so uninspired by HRT and its benefits after 5 years I want to try stopping it. It could be I quickly realise it is doing me some good, but that in itself will be a bonus.
I'm currently using 1 pump of Oestrogel and 100mg utrogestan vaginally for 12 days. I realise it's probably best not to stop suddenly but I am on quite a low dose. Any advice on how to do this sensibly?

Thanks in advance.
 

[Hurdity]

Hi pricey - me again!

Best not to stop suddenly because if your symptoms are going to come back they may also do so suddenly. I haven't used pump gel but if you are able to use say half a pump or just gradually reduce the amount you spread ( by eye) over the course of the next few weeks, this may ease the transition. The only time I tried stopping HRT ( was on 50 mcg patches at the time) I stopped suddenly. At first I didn't notice but the symptoms gradually came back and by 3 months they were bad and some new ones appeared that I hadnt experienced before so I went back on it - still there at mid 60's.

Good luck with your attempts to come off and I'm sure others will be along too. There are various threads on stopping HRT but they can be controversial!

Hurdity x

[Kathleen]

Hello pricey

I took HRT for six years and then one year ago I came off it. I didn't consult a medic so I don't necessarily recommend it but it is least one example for you to think about.

 My regime at the time was two pumps of Oestrogel and Utrogestan vaginally every night. I actually stopped the Utrogestan first and noticed two weeks later my breast tenderness resolved. Over the next few weeks I reduced the gel a little at a time. After two weeks gel free I experienced VA symptoms of burning and itching but Yes vaginal moisturiser has worked to keep that under control.

I also become frustrated with HRT as I still had flushes and other symptoms while taking it and I wanted to see how I managed without.  I now have the occasional and very mild hot flush and my anxiety and moods are problematic  but they were on HRT as well.

I hope this helps you in some way.

Wishing you well.

K.

[Sammiejane]

hi

i’m thinking of to stopping it my regime currently 2 pumps alternate days prog

i feel better on 2.5 pumps and daily utro but my estrogen reading was 1238 pmol so menopause told me to reduce estrogen and as 2 pumps and daily prog gave me bladder irritation and watery discharge i decide to try alternate prog and yes huge boobs feel better and less bloated but i feel crap hair loss worse it’s the up and down on it all i felt my best at 2.5 pumps i still had hair shedding and bloating huge boobs and few flushes at night but my mind so better had more energy compared to now personally i think the estrogel is giving me to much fluctuation in the hormone and now obsorbing it to much according to levels what to do ?

[pricey]

Thank you for your input ladies. It seems some months I'm fine and just have my withdrawal bleed, but often painful and swollen breasts. Then others I get the withdrawal bleed plus my own as if my own hormones have kicked in. This feels as unstable as it did before I started HRT and I just feel there is little benefit now.
This month my withdrawal bleed dragged on and because of the headache I got and the increase in flow just when it was waning, I suspect my own bleed came straight afterwards. So I have now been bleeding 17 days.  Admittedly 4 days ago I reduced my Oestrogel to half a pump so that has probably further complicated things. I now have a low grade headache too. I'm hoping the bleeding will resolve as my body adjusts. Is a bleed to be expected when you reduce oestrogen? My breasts have finally stopped being sore after about 3 months.
Any feedback is much appreciated. x

[Kathleen]

Hello pricey

I assume you are peri menopausal as you say you are having your own bleeds as well as the withdrawal bleed.

I didn't experience any bleeding when I stopped HRT but I am post menopause with my last natural period being ten years ago. I was three years post meno when I started HRT and stayed on it for six years.  During that time I did have some unexpected bleeding but that was due to changing regimes or increasing the dose.  As I said earlier my tender breasts resolved shortly after stopping Utrogestan so perhaps you are now responding to the lack of progesterone.

I also had daily headaches when my periods stopped and I had never been a prone to these before. They went away after six months and I wasn't taking HRT at the time.

I hope my experiences help you in some way.

Take care.

K.

[KarineT]

Pricey,  I wish I could advise you but I'm not on HRT for the very reason that I'm worried that I might not be able to wean myself off it.  Also, I'm not convinced that it will help with the anxiety and low mood I am having (my most problematic symptoms)  Kathleen, you mentioned that you are 10 years in post-menopause and that your anxiety is problematic.  Do you still get anxiety after all this time? I thought that HRT was supposed to alleviate this symptom. Did you also get anxiety in perimenopause?

[pricey]

Hello Kathleen,
Thank you for your kind response. Yes it appears I am still perimenopausal despite being 55. I'm hoping I might at least find out where I'm at.

Karine, I suffered from anxiety which eased when I started HRT. However I also took up yoga about the same time, so again, that will be interesting!

X