Im 55, and 3 weeks ago, I was due to re order my HRT, and rang for my review first, completed all the information by text message, but then got a phone call from the GP to say, the risk was too high. My BP was fine but the significant weight gain was now to much of a risk (blood clots/stroke) for me to be given any more, and to finish the pack I’d got then stop. I had a few days left to take then it was cold turkey. I’d read that the best way to come off HRT was to do it gradual, so yes I was worried about the cold turkey route. I was told you will feel pretty dreadful, and it wouldnt be an easy ride coming off them. I’d been taking HRT for about 5 years. The return of hot flushes I could deal with, getting slightly better now after Ive been taking Menopace. The worst return of symptoms, and one of the reasons I started HRT in the first place, is the return of anxiety and general up and down emotions and moods. Like a roller coaster, and feel all over the place, and it is a bit unbearable really. Just hoping as the weeks and months pass, the body will get used to lack of HRT and things will balance out eventually.
Before I started HRT the GP did say, this is only a temporary fix to ease the worst of the symptoms, but eventually you will have to go through it. I’d never thought about all this before, what happens when the time comes to stop. HRT helped during the worst time for symptoms, but then I think would it have been better to ride the storm, let the body do what it should have done naturally, instead of the HRT making your body believe its not in menopause, and now Ive got to go through it all anyway. Its a difficult one. Ive concluded HRT got me through some terrible symptoms, hot flushes, lack of sleep, anxiety and many other symptoms. So maybe now after 5 years of HRT the body is through the worst, and I’m more on the post menopause side but Ive just got to ride the storm whilst the body gets used to the withdrawal. I was expecting some bleeding after stopping the HRT but thats not happened yet, so fingers crossed.
So in answer to what the original topic was about, I personally believe a GP should only suggest stopping HRT for very good reason. Their personal beliefs on HRT should not come into whether they prescribe this or continue to prescribe it. In some cases I know some women who have had to have a battle to get HRT because their GP does not believe in it, that is not the right approach. In my case, I know my GP is not a fan of HRT, as Ive already said above, she explained the reasons because of the temporary fix, but I have to trust the reason for telling me to stop it, is based on my health risk not on personal belief.
