Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Eddie]

I'd have to say my opinion of HRT is very good.
The good. Joint pain has massively improved, feeling cold all the time is much better, foggy brain much clearer, nights sweats gone, day sweats gone, period almost regular and light, confidence is slowly improving.
No difference. Sex drive, motivation or mood (but that may be hindered by other meds)
Bad. Occasional headaches, fluctuating blood pressure.
So overall i'd say pretty damn good result.
Eddie. x

[Rivadan]

I would agree - my overall experience of taking HRT has been very good - I'm just having a few symptoms since switching to a no bleed product and am wondering if I would have been better off staying with a monthly bleed,albeit it does seem a bit weird having "periods" still at almost 56!

[gst300]

Hi
I'm new here. Been on HRT for 5 years now, and it's been fantastic! I decided to stop a couple of months ago. Can't do it! The sweats, the hot flushes, the foul modd - just not worth it, so from today I am back on HRT. Anyone else been on it long term? What are the downsides?

[Eddie]

Hi GST300, I've only been on HRT since April, but wanted to welcome you to the forum, i'm sure someone with a longer history will come along. Eddie .x

[cojan]

I started HRT when I was 50, but had to come off it due to polyps in the womb which nobody could say whether or not the HRT contributed to their developement. After conflicting advice from specialists and doctors I came off it, only to find my symptoms were ten times worse than before I started it. I think I started it far too early, - with hindsight the problems I had at the time were NOTHING compared to what was to come. HRT doesn't appear to solve menopausal symptoms, - just delay them until you give it up. I'm sure that if I'd never started it I would be over the worst by now!   

[Taz2]

Hi cojan - how many years were you taking HRT for and how long did you take to wean yourself off it? It is advisable (though not followed by myself recently!) to take up to six months to gradually reduce your dose. As for starting it too early - I wouldn't have thought that was the case. It has been known for some time that HRT doesn't help everyone "through" the meno but delays it. When you come off then you often have to go through some of the symptoms but if it is carefully phased out then after around three months of being HRT free your symptoms should be more manageable. I visit a meno clinic and their take on it is that, providing the woman is a healthy weight and doesn't have high blood pressure, there is no reason why you can't take it for life. I am not sure that it would be over by now - it is not something that seems to have a definite time span or an ending to be honest.

You sound as if you have the most important thing though - a great senses of humour. I am sure you will fit in well on here!

Taz x

[Rosalie]

Hi
I'm new here. Been on HRT for 5 years now, and it's been fantastic! I decided to stop a couple of months ago. Can't do it! The sweats, the hot flushes, the foul modd - just not worth it, so from today I am back on HRT. Anyone else been on it long term? What are the downsides?

Hi I have been on patches for 17 years, tried coming off it but symptoms returned with a vengeance (I am 59)

[cojan]

Hi Taz

I was on the HRT for about 4 years, but me being me didn't wean myself off it, just stopped (against advice I must admit!) One day I'll learn that I don't always know best. Still, at least I'm keeping the manufactures of supplements in profit as I try everything on the market. I'm sure there must be some threads on supplements on here somewhere, I'll see if there are any I've missed

[brigitte]

Hi all, first post!!

Right - I need advice regarding HRT.  My GP recently told me that 'we' ought to start tailing off the pills in around 5 months time.  I am on Prempak C 0.625 and have been on for around 18 months.  Doc doesnt want to keep me on any longer than two years.  But I am still getting the odd flush on the medication, and the flushes were really bad before which is why I decided to go on HRT.  When I was younger I always swore I would do the menopause naturally and had loads of books on this.  But when the reality came I tried many things before going cap in hand to the docs!!!  (Black cohosh, soya, red clover, plenty of soya milk) 

I am not at all happy that the doc has suggested it, and especially as I am still getting the odd flush, and I do not want to go back to how it was before.   What is the best suggestion, and can I insist I stay on HRT even if the doc disagrees?   

Thanks

Brigitte

[Bette]

Hi Brigitte
Can I ask how old you are and at what stage in this wonderful journey?!
My 1st reaction is to say to see another gp! It depends what reasons he has for his "2 year rule" of course but many of us on here have found that gps have very different views to each other so it's sometimes worth speaking to more than one before you decide. The important thing is to find a sympathetic, well-informed one who you can work with.
I'm 50, peri and started HRT last year. My gp is happy for me to stay on it till I'm 55, then maybe try coming off slowly. If I don't like it, she has said she'd then let me go back on it again.
Bixby x

[brigitte]

Hi Bixby

I'm 48 and my GP is a female at I'd guess agewise 38(ish)  Maybe she will be sympathetic, and agree to let me stay on, but I'm just getting myself worried about it.  I was peri, getting periods with long gaps in so she started me on HRT.  Was expecting 3 years before I needed to stort worrying about coming off, so this news came as a bit of a surprise..  Possibly be worrying unnecessarily, being autistic anxiety and worry is something that comes with the territory!!

Been thinking if I say I'm still getting flushes even though I'm taking the pills she may think it isn't a good option to stop - not going to lie or anything.  I know the risks of long term use, but this is something I am prepared to face. 

Thanks

Brigitte

[Bette]

Hi Brigitte
I don't think the sex and age of the gp affects their knowledge/opinion of HRT. Mine told me it was more to do with where/when they trained - they're inclined to stick with what they were told then and it can depend  on the "fashion" at the time. Dreadful thought!
I can understand you being anxious - I would be too. Just decide what you want to do and tell her calmly. It's your body and you have the right to decide how you feel about the benefits and risks. If you really want to stay on it and she doesn't want to prescribe it, ask to see another gp.
There's a lot of really useful info in the Green Menu - maybe print some off and take it along?
Let us know how you get on. 
Bixby x

[brigitte]

Wellllll.... I think I MAY have the answer.  For the time being anyway!!  This morning I had a really bad hot flush while having breakfast with friends - I had one a couple of days ago while in the library too.  When the GP told me about tailing it off I had forgotton to mention about these flushes - I have had several minor ones over the past months, and at the time while on the phone to her it didn't cross my mind to mention this.  Only this morning and my friends - all male - were quite shocked, they were all really surprised at how red I went and this made me decide to ring the GP this morning and make an appointment to discuss it.  A case of 'that is it'!  Maybe this will sway her opinion and rather than take me off it, maybe change it or give a stronger dose!!

Tuesday afternoon is tha appointment, so i'll have a good idea by then - at least I don't have to wait until spring, will save a lot of anxiety.   Thanks, Bixby, for your help on this - I'll post the outcome when I've seen the doc.

Cheers

[Bette]

You're welcome! 
Bixby x

[veganbiker]

I can't believe my GP, she is in her late 50's. She told me I needed to come off HRT which I had only been on for a short period of a few months anyway. I went in there after two months off it distraught, crying, exhausted after months of no sleep due to rabid night flushes, an emotional and physical wreck I think the word "bonkers" just about covers it, having had yet more time off work and feeling actively suicidal and she says she doesn't think HRT is a good idea, menopause isn't an illness etc etc whilst not even looking at me.
I went to another female GP in the surgery who put me on a higher dose and I am completely normal, not only normal but now actually enjoying life, my sex drive has returned and I am actually smiling again. I'm sleeping for 9 hours through every night and all my energy and joie de vivre has returned.
In what way is HRT more dangerous than suicide?
I think some medical professionals are so blinkered against HRT that they are just unable to see the bigger picture!