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[Suza]

Is anyone over 60 still on hrt, and would anyone be willing to divulge their age, how long they've been on it, and which type they're currently using.
I need some ammo to present to my GP, as I've described in a previous post, I was told to come off it last year.
I've twice asked to be restarted, this time I'm awaiting a phone call in 2 weeks to discuss my hrt rejection and options.
So if I can show her that other ladies are still on it, maybe I can ask the reasons why I'm not.
Thanks to the help from my first post, I quoted the nice guidelines and she said there probably wouldn't be any problem but she would write to the consultant first.
Thanks

[jaycee]

I was put back on HRT in my early 70s, a new Dr just took it off me but i am going to try to get it back, i also quoted the Nice guidelines to get back on it,
I know some ladies are still on hrt in 80s and told they can stay on it for life
What were you on?  if you don't mind telling me,and were you ok on it? no problems ?

[Suza]

Hi Jaycee
I was on evorel conti 50 patches
I've been on some form of hrt since 1999 following a sub total hysterectomy
Started on tablets, prempak c originally, then premarin .625 as I didn't need the progesterone.
Stayed on that till about 3 years ago when at my review I was told to come off, but said no, so the doc said I could go onto patches as these were safer, so she prescribed evorel 25, then a year later it was decided I needed evorel conti, and a year later, last October I was told I had to come off, and I've been protesting to go back on since then

[jaycee]

Evoral Conti made my hair fall out,it was floating in front of my eyes.onto my laptop, into my meals and everywhere
It was a shame because the short time i was on it it gave me loads of energy
#Keep trying, maybe see a different Dr at the practice,they often have a different view of things

[Suza]

I have a gut feeling this is the end of the hrt road for me, as this was my 2nd attempt, and this doctor was writing to the consultant who I'm presuming is the one who made the decision
While I was on the evorel conti I had no symptoms except slight bloating round the stomach, a few pounds weight gain, and bigger boobs!!

[Taz2]

I've been on Evorel for fourteen years. I'm now 67. NICE guidelines are that as long as other health is good then women can use HRT indefinitely.

Do you still need progesterone if you've had a hysterectomy? I'm not sure what sub-total means. Oestrogen only HRT is less risky as regards breast cancer.

Taz x

[Suza]

Hi Tax
Thanks for your reply
A sub total hysterectomy is removal of womb only, cervix and ovaries left alone.
This was back in 1999 and a hormone test done dinner showed my hormone levels were dropping so I was started on combined hrt
After the hysterectomy if there was no bleed for 6 months you're given oestrogen only hrt, but in 2019 an over zealous new doctor decided to be on the safe side I would have to have the evorel conti combined patch, although I said that wasn't necessary it was still prescribed

[Suza]

Sorry about name typo Taz!! The predictive text gremlin has kicked in again

[Taz2]

That's confusing. If you have had your womb removed where would the bleed come from? Unless you have endometriosis then you don't need to be on a conti HRT after hysterectomy but merely an oestrogen one such as Evorel 50. You have no need of progesterone in terms of protecting your womb as you haven't got one.

How annoying for you to be prescribed the wrong one especially as the breast cancer risk is higher with the combined HRT!  Don't worry about the typo. I often sign it as Tax by mistake 

Taz x

[Suza]

Hi Taz
Apparently the bleeding can come from any endometrial lining left in the cervix, which is why combined hrt is given after hysterectomy for 6 months then if there's no bleeding, oestrogen only hrt is given, which I was on till 2019 when it was changed

[Hurdity]

Hi Suza

Get thee back onto your patches! Your doc is rubbish and out of date! As Taz says it is supposed to be safer on oestrogen only HRT anyway. I am late 60s and have been on HRT since mid 50's 14 years now, like Taz.

Here is the Summary consensus statement for the British Menopause Society  & Women's Health Concern’s 2020 recommendations on hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women

https://thebms.org.uk/publications/consensus-statements/bms-whcs-2020-recommendations-on-hormone-replacement-therapy-in-menopausal-women/

There are several mentions of age and your GP should do well to read, understand and implement these recommendations.

So you didn't get any bleeding at all while on oestrogen only HRT, nor after you stopped the Evorel conti? So you shoud be able to go back onto Evorel 50, like Taz says, not the conti.

If the menopause consultant is not allowing you to have it then s/he is also out of date and presumably not a menopause specialist? I urge you to qeuestion this and dont take no for an answer if you are still experiencing symptoms and have no medical reason not to continue with HRT. Heavens if I had no womb I would never stop ever! The only thing that is a right pain is having to take progesterone and for me - putting up with a bleed because I feel like s*** if I take it all the time!!!

I also have a feeling that Dr Louise Newson might have a GP letter template on her website for docs who refuse HRT but it may be too general?

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Hurdity x

[Suza]

Thanks for your reply
My next port of call is to ask for a referral to a menopause clinic
It's so frustrating at the minute as the doctor's are only taking telephone consultations and you have to wait 2 weeks to get one
This feels like it's been going on forever with no resolution.
I was so sick of all the menopause symptoms last month I found some unused evorel patches in the bathroom and stuck one on.
After a few weeks it was goodbye flushes, night sweats, insomnia and fatigue.
I'm tempted now to just buy them online if I get no joy from gp

[Lamplighter]

Hi Suza, you have all my sympthy for the situation you're in - and dealing with recalictrant and self appointed omnipotent doctors who don't know s**t from clay is frustrating, at best 

In answer to your original question, I am 65, have been on various forms of HRT since 58 (five years after menopause) and currently using Oestrogel 3 pumps, and Utrogestan 100 nightly.   

Hope that helps, and good luck with fighting your corner.

LL

[Suza]

Thanks for the reply. More ammunition to fight my corner!!