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[Mary G]

It frightens, and angers, me that this ill-researched programme could have repercussions on the already dismal NHS menopause information available.
 
Thanks for the links in your post 23/10/24 joziel re Liz Earle's video and info on links to BBC and Ofcom.  I am about to make use of them - having noted the deadline for Ofcom complaints is today.

  Missed the Ofcom deadline - got my BBC complaint in but I need the BBC reply to do an Ofcom complaint.

It's dreadful that a rubbish TV programme like that has done so much damage in an attempt to trash someone's professional reputation.  Louise Newson has helped so many women that the NHS abandoned in the same way as the late Professor Studd. 

The ultra conservative NHS, BMS etc will always stick rigidity to their self imposed guidelines and it took them years to finally concede that the badly conducted HRT studies in the early 2000s were worthless.

I would not question an HRT regime that clearly works for someone even if it is unconventional or off licence as long as they are being monitored properly with scans.  I don't think people should live and die by studies either because they often conflict.  Remember how much damage was caused by the abovementioned HRT studies where women were denied HRT for years and left to suffer.  They set women's health back years.

[Wren]

And there's the dire consequence of the programme - a comment posted 24/10/24 under Liz Earle's video by a lady trying to get HRT.

I won't quote as don't know if that's the done thing but the gist is -

went to GP last week with her report from the Newson Clinic and told no, won't give anything this woman suggests as she's being struck off.

As someone who is currently going through the process of increasing blood oestradiol levels this is alarming.  Hopefully my GP is more enlightened - previous ones haven't been 
 
It's been hard enough getting HRT in the first place.  Now I fear some will refuse increases in levels even if under the 100.  I'm hoping to increase to a level to help with bone density which I'm repeatedly told they don't prescribe HRT for.
 

[Hurdity]

Sometimes I am glad I have had terrible symptoms because it has drawn my attention to ensure I have adequate hormones and hopefully am protected against a lot of the diseases of aging which I might otherwise have just overlooked or ignored if I didn't have immediate symptoms.

YES!! This!!!
I've said this several times on here over the years!!!
Now over 70 and still on HRT, fingers crossed, so far so good, no loss in height despite my mother in 90's having lost about 6 inches....

(I know a bit off topic but just catching up on the last couple of pages ...)

Hurdity x

[Hurdity]

I don’t post on MM any more because this forum is currently mainly about HRT, nothing against HRT, it’s just not the main subject of my menopause journey.

This forum is about anything and everything to do with menopause (and much more!), not just HRT and all discussion is welcomed. There is a whole board dedicated to general health, as well as alternative treatments, and many threads about emotional and life issues where women seek and receive support.

I am curious to know where you do post - or rather, where there is a forum that offers equally wide-ranging advice, information and support as this one?

Clearly there are FB groups but the beauty of this one is that members are completely anonymous!

Hurdity x

[Dr. Heather Currie]

I have commented in this thread before, and understand that there are bound to be different views.
Hope that you find the following helpful--

https://vajenda.substack.com/p/a-master-class-in-hormone-levels

[CrispyChick]

To be perfectly honest Hurdity. I too find the forum very very HRT heavy.

And when trying to discuss bhrt (which itself is hrt!) I did not feel that 'all.discussion was welcome'. I found the whole experience quite stressful when trying to find help with non NHS hrt.

After all, we're all on this forum for one thing - to find help.

I think this is highlighted even more on this thread - where so many woman are keen to support higher (non NHS, BMS) dosing. Yet so few seem to support or want to discuss over the counter bhrt or clinic bhrt - which is often in lower doses! Snake oil central. But there are plenty of FB groups where people share and help on this topic.

As this thread is proving, most folks don't believe it's all about the documented 'science' as that's only the stuff they've bothered to research!

You can post anonymously on a FB group.

[Seasidegirl]

On FB you can only post anonymously as the topic starter.   You can't choose to comment on someone else's post anonymously which is a shame.   

I think the issue with BHRT is that most of us don't know much about it as we have enough issues getting "normal" HRT!   

[Nas]

I wish Louise Newson could have spoken on that documentary; particularly around using local oestrogen whilst living with cancer.

As soon as I had my secondary diagnosis, wham, my vagifem and Ovestin were taken from me. Made to feel like a naughty child who wanted sweets but couldn’t have!

[CrispyChick]

There's absolutely no issue with folks not knowing anything about something. I do wonder where all those folks that go to bhrt clinics are?!  Must be happily getting on with their lives.

However, in that situation I'd expect them to stay quiet rather than shoot down a conversation between, often desperate, ladies discussing something they are using in the hope it might help them and others.

Just kindly pointing out to Hurdity that not all discussion feels welcome on this forum. 

[Seasidegirl]

There's absolutely no issue with folks not knowing anything about something. I do wonder where all those folks that go to bhrt clinics are?!  Must be happily getting on with their lives.

However, in that situation I'd expect them to stay quiet rather than shoot down a conversation between, often desperate, ladies discussing something they are using in the hope it might help them and others.

Just kindly pointing out to Hurdity that not all discussion feels welcome on this forum. 

Maybe you make a good point about BHRT patients doing well on it so not needing forums!

Thanks for flagging BHRT  I've just been looking at it.   I'm struggling with progesterone and have fewer options because of breast cancer risks. 

It might be something for me to consider if I can't make my current route work.   

[Mary G]

There's absolutely no issue with folks not knowing anything about something. I do wonder where all those folks that go to bhrt clinics are?!  Must be happily getting on with their lives.

However, in that situation I'd expect them to stay quiet rather than shoot down a conversation between, often desperate, ladies discussing something they are using in the hope it might help them and others.

Just kindly pointing out to Hurdity that not all discussion feels welcome on this forum. 

I assume you are referring to my thread on compounded hormones in the Alternative Therapies section.

[CrispyChick]

I think I may be Mary.  .

I just think it's sad that ladies leave the forum because they feel they cannot discuss their own issues - or the things they may be trialling to help them. Without unwanted input.

I certainly do not feel that 'all discussions are welcome'.

Seaside girl - you should look at Mary's old thread. There are people using bhrt, particularly where they couldn't tolerate conventional progesterone. You'll find it on the 'alternatives' thread x.

[Mary G]

I think I may be Mary.  .

I just think it's sad that ladies leave the forum because they feel they cannot discuss their own issues - or the things they may be trialling to help them. Without unwanted input.

I certainly do not feel that 'all discussions are welcome'.

Seaside girl - you should look at Mary's old thread. There are people using bhrt, particularly where they couldn't tolerate conventional progesterone. You'll find it on the 'alternatives' thread x.

A lot of women seem to be scared about speaking freely. 

My thread on compounded hormones has been read over 135,000 times but it's mostly ignored and that is probably because people have quietly read through the different posts and don't want to put themselves on offer and face a barrage of "definitely deadly, unregulated" warnings about bhrt.  I find it tedious but I don't particularly care because I am in a good position myself HRT wise and just want to try and help women who are struggling and/or need information.  That said, it is very off putting when people feel that new ideas/different products are being closed down and threads are being chaperoned - it sometimes feels like people are arguing for the sake of arguing.

I think bhrt (progesterone in my case) is superb and it definitely works 100%.  In my opinion, it's better to use a so called unregulated HRT regime and be thoroughly checked with scans than to use a regulated HRT regime and never be scanned ...until something goes wrong.  Obviously the same applies to Louise Newson's regimes.

[Nas]

I would like to see more threads on living with cancer drugs and the menopause. I feel sure if I started a thread on that, it would be read many times, but replies would be few.

No one seems to discuss it, yet there are some of us poor buggars, who actually have to live with disease AND ride the debilitating storm that menopause can be.

[CrispyChick]

I agree Mary.

Nas. Totally get that. It's awful for you. And you need/want support. Again then, where are all those ladies in a similar position?

I do think the 'conventional' HRT route, or no route - rules this forum. So maybe this discussion on LN's non conventional treatments is a really useful for breaking the mould on this forum.

I'm like Mary, I'm like a dog with a bone. If I want to start a thread on something I will. It's sad if there's noone on the forum to answer it Nas.  . It's even safer if they're there reading, but feel too intimidated to reply. That's the bit that needs to stop.

As Hurdity says 'This forum is about anything and everything to do with menopause (and much more!), not just HRT and all discussion is welcomed' so we should all make sure this is the case.

I know I've personally learnt a lot about meno from you ladies. Most of it the unconventional stuff. As I can find info on the conventional stuff easily elsewhere. 

Just a thought - maybe what's needed is a debate section, so that those that like a good argument can have it, but they don't clog up normal posts with strong views and opinions?