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[Snoozy]

I've been on HRT for around 10 years, about 4 years of which I've been on Premique 0.625mg, and I've felt great.  The nurse at my surgery was totally in favour of staying on it for the rest of my life (I am now 60).  However, today I have been to see my GP and he suggested that I should consider gradually coming off it.  Having read some of the posts about the problems resulting from stopping HRT, I am now uncertain what to do.  My GP said that the disadvantages of continuing outweigh the advantages.  Does anyone have any thoughts - I know the ultimate decision is mine, but any additional information would be welcome!

[karenw]

Here's a good website which analyses some of the flaws in the research to date and concludes that long-term HRT isn't necessarily a bad thing or as dangerous as the two main studies to date have suggested.

http://www.studd.co.uk/

(Ooops - I had to edit the post to add the link. Blame my meno-memory!!)

[Taz2]

Hi Snoozy - welcome to the forum.

It is always difficult when it is "suggested" that you might like to come off HRT - though lots of docs refuse to prescribe it after the age of 60 and some even set 55 as the limit.

Obviously the final decision is yours and if you are happy with staying on it and have read up on all the possible risks and benefits then there seems to be no reason why you shouldn't stay on it. My own doc is of the opinion that all ladies after five years on HRT should at least try to come off it with a view to seeing where they are symptom wise. If symptoms are still unbearable then HRT should be restarted.

Have a good look around the forum - there is much, help, information and support to be had,  and please let us know what you decide 

Love Taz x

[Meg]

Dear Snoozy

Was talking to a lay today in here early seventies who started HRT a couple of decades ago when the prevailing opinion seemed to be that it was OK to stay on it forever I suppose.  To me she seems pretty good for her age.  Good skin, good hair, getting about OK, articulate, pretty confident but she is having a battle to stay on her preferred HRT and she told me that her friend, a contemporary of hers, cannot get HRT anymore of her GP.  I thought, what a mess all of this was.  I should imagine that without topping up hormones you will feel the decline in them which are well known to women on the forum here.  For myself I have had a what feels like a myriad of symptoms associated with the decline in oestrogen and possibly other hormones that I was producing in more abundance before the onset of menopause.  In my most cynical moments I wonder if the medics want women off HRT because of the costs but I feel there is so much that science does not really know about the interaction of the hormones, dosages etc.  I envy women who have found an HRT to suit them because so many dont and they are trying to slog things out on a daily basis.  If you are on something and it makes you feel better at least you have the improvement in your quality of life.

Good luck

Meg

[Maghag]

Hi, I'm new to this Forum but would really appreciate some advice regarding HRT.
I'm 58 and nine years' post menopausal, most of which time I've been plagued with hot flushes and night sweats.  The first six months after my final period were the best in my life hormonally speaking, as I've always suffered from terrible PMT, so it was great to feel like a rational person for the first time since I was a teenager!  However, it wasn't long before the hot flushes arrived and I started on my first round of HRT, Femapak, which brought pretty instantaneous relief, but caused me to gain around a stone in weight.
I don't know whether it was the oestrogen or the progestin part of the combo, but I felt constantly hungry and strangely bloated.  After about 18 months, I stopped it and the flushes and sweats came back with a vengeance, but thanks to diligent dieting, the weight gradually came off again.
My aim was to tough it out - 'it has stop eventually,' I kept telling myself brightly, but apparently not and at the back end of last year I was suffering so badly from night sweats that sleep became impossible and I started on HRT again - this time a continuous regime,  Evorel Conti.
Once again, the relief came quickly and for three months all was well, but then I began to suffer from intermittent bleeding and a near constant feeling of PMT, complete with horrendous bloating and water retention.  I was also gaining weight again at a tremendous rate of knots - I put on a stone again.  I stopped using it and now six weeks later, the night sweats are back with the concurrent sleep problems.  I feel so fed up and I really don't know what to do - put up with broken sleep or expand like a barrage balloon!  Thinking back, I could never tolerate the contraceptive pill either, so maybe synthetic hormones just don't suit me.  Has anyone any ideas regarding a new HRT regimen or any recommendations as to an HRT combo that doesn't lead to weight gain?
I'm no sylph at the best of times, so I really can't afford to be any fatter!

Thanks.
 

[Sleepless in London]

Hello Maghag and welcome.

I'm 58 too. Can't help with your query as I have never taken HRT but maybe if you post your question again on New Members, or start a new topic in All Things Menopause, you may reach a wider audience. Just a suggestion. Hope someone can help you.

Sleepless

[Maghag]

Many thanks Sleepless, I'll do as you suggest!

[Cazikins]

Hi Maghag & welcome.
I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. We are damned if we do & damned if we don't.
I couldn't endure the hot flushes either, especially the ones at night. It was affecting my work, my social life & it took up every waking hour of my day.
I am on HRT - 1mg Cimaval & the mirena coil. The hot flushes have gone but I have put on a stone since the start of all this (nearly 3 years now).
I don't like being overweight but I can't live the life I had.
I don't know if it is the HRT causing the weight increase or not, I remember when I was younger woman always seemed to get bigger around their 50's, I was always told it was the middle age spread.
I hope you get some relief.
Love Cazikins

[suzieQ]

Hi Maghag Just wanted to add my 2 pennyworth! I am 59 and had to come off HRT recently as I had a small DVT following foot surgery and was put on Warfarin. They said when the Warfarin stops ( in August) I had to be off the HRT. So i started to wean off the HRT very gradually. I had been on it 6 or 7 years ( I think) and tried twice before to come off - both times disastrous. I had very bad sleep problems which didn't even resolve for ages after I went back on it - also heart palpitations like skipped beats, also hot flushes and panicky feelings. Anyway now I am into my 3rd week of being off the HRT and for the past 2 months only on decreasing tiny dose. I started to use natural progesterone cream the day I stopped HRT ( I think its called Serenity - mail order from Jersey) I know its very early days and I am being cautious but I can report the following. Hot flushes came back as I was weaning right down but have now stopped. Sleep is fine so far - skipped beats been quite bad but getting less and less, mostly after eating now but quite mild and no heart racing.  And I feel really well, calm and very happy! So .... I am glad I have stopped the HRT. So far its not as bad as I feared - I THINK the cream may be helping! I will keep you posted, but so far so good
SuzieQ

[een]

Gals I am in a quandry, have made an appt to see my doc nxt week . Have spoken to him b 4 and got a presc but decided against it. My natural mothers sister has had breast cancer, dont no what to do. On one hand if I hadnt known bout it, I  would have been trying HRT, but as I do no , I cannot decide what to do. Am I putting myself at risk , Any help advice would b so welcome

een xx

[Taz2]

Hi Een - what a dilemma for you. There is a lot of advice on HRT and Breast Cancer on this site http://breakthrough.org.uk/index.html  They give risk factors and also the family link. I think that if the cancer is oestrogen receptive then you would be advised not to take it but a lot of breast cancers do not have the hormonal link and if your auntie had one of those types then I think your risk would be the same as anyone else.

I am sure someone else will be along in a minute with more advice but in the meantime check out the Breakthrough link. It makes for interesting reading, especially the risk factors.

Taz x

[een]

Hi Taz thx for the link, will have a good look tonite.

een xx

[Hotnbothered]

Hi Een,
my doctor put me on HRT even though my mum had breast cancer (specialist told her it was hormonal & was caused by the HRT she took for years) her mum also had a breast tumour (no HRT in those days though!)
He told me that for short term it would be fine & the increased risk of cancer was minimal, I did read up about HRT & the risks before deciding it was worth a try 

[een]

morning gals, am going to give it a miss i think , i have kinda decided to see if doc will  give me something to keep at home for nxt time , to use to stop the heavy bleeding . Not sure what way to go as so much going on in my head , and do not want to add to it. sleep is bad enough lol.
een xx

[Rosebush]

Ladies just wanted to ask what dosage of Hrt are you taking, and is it helping with your symptoms, i have been taking Femsven Conti 50uj for 3.5mths to eliviate hot sweats, day times are very good now, but not night times, so feel i may need a higher dose, but a bit scared as i have just reached 60..