Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Shazzie on May 10, 2014, 10:21:35 AM
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Hi everyone
Hope you are all doing ok.
Just wondered if using HRT completely stops menopausal symptoms.
Really interested in hearing your replies.
Have a good weekend.
Shazzie x
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Hi shazzie
I don't think so. I wish it did! But on balance I think it's better to take it than not to.
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Thank you so much Carrie.
I have been on HRT for a while now as I was suffering with palpitations and night sweats. When I stopped them a month ago just to see if I could manage without them the palps came back so I am back on them now. The palps are definitely better but haven't completely disappeared. Guess we just have to accept that this is how it is gonna be for a while eh?
Thanks again for your reply Carrie.
Shazzie x
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Hi Shazzie - Its too soon to tell for me. (only on week 2 of Elleste Duet).
I have a horrible feeling though (after reading through the boards), that for it to improve your life as it should -
they need to be giving us testosterone as well! Its the missing hormone that would make all the difference and just a small amount would make everything balance out nicely.
Whats the point of over-hauling the car (with oestrogen & progesterone),
and then disconnecting the fuel pipe (testosterone) ::)
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For me HRT stops all flushes and sweats and also the ectopic (missed) heartbeats. It makes my skin soft and supple again. I sleep much better. It didn't get rid of panic or low mood though. The downside, for me, was chin hair.
Taz x
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Also stops my flushes and palpitations. Helps me sleep a bit better and improves my mood a bit......Not so many highs and lows.
Down side is it does not help with anxiety at all.
Better on than off though I think.
I think I expected HRT to make me feel like I did years ago and that was totally unrealistic. Don't think that happens for anyone.
Honeyb
x
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Oh no Taz!
(off to look in the mirror!) :o
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Sorry cool! They grow amazingly fast on HRT but totally disappear when off it.
Taz
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I could do with some more hair - Just not on my face!
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I don't know whether this counts (seeing as I only started 9 days ago on Elleste Duet 1mg), but here are the results so far:-
I seem to have more enthusiasm for doing things. Whereas before, I would think about eg clearing/tidying my wardrobe, since from about Day 3 of taking HRT - I will think about doing it - and then go and do it. (long may it continue).
My skin seems to be getting softer, especially on my face.
The nightsweats have reduced a lot. Sometimes I feel overly 'warm', but not that horrible heat of before.
I feel as if my 'brain fog' has lifted. I'd got to the stage where I couldn't concentrate very well. Now my mind is starting to feel a lot sharper.
I haven't noticed any excess hair growth in any wrong places, but that side of things doesn't worry me too much, as none of the women in my family suffer with excess hair. (I don't even have any on my arms).
My nails are really taking off - growth wise.
Just before I started taking HRT I would feel like bursting into tears over the slightest thing - that horrible feeling has now stopped.
Anxiety levels are about the same. But, I'm not expecting miracles in that department.
Okay - on the personal side (will try not to be graphic) ::)
Any dryness has disappeared! Yay! ;D I was on the verge of buying some silk or KY j , but there's no need now.
But, something else seems to have disappeared :'( - and its only happened since I started taking HRT - So it has to be the HRT causing it. I'm hoping that it will find its way back once my body adjusts to everything......
still a bit worrying though - (am not ready to turn into a nun just yet)
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That's the trouble cool - you can't always have it all. It's a nuisance if you are no longer dry but can't enjoy it! HRT has always dampened my libido down. Hopefully yours will soon right itself.
Taz x
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The crazy thing is, anti-depressants which are supposed to dampen libido have never dampened mine! But HRT can dampen it? ???
I suppose when we had our natural hormones - there were times of the month when we felt up for it more than other times (usually just before a period).
Maybe HRT is mimicking that pattern!
When I reach the green pills and the oestrogen levels drop - I will be gagging for it hopefully ;D
(is like being on a rollercoaster)
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In nine days not possible!
Nails only grow 3 millimetres a month, like wise hair!
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Could even be that they are not breaking so easily and are much stronger - which would make them longer.
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coolatlast it would not happen that fast! maybe you should read up on physiology and anatomy.
What may have changed is your perception and the placebo effect, estrogen can cheer you up.
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Yes.
So far it has stopped all the horrible things and I have no side effects at all except slight ones during the progesterone phase.
It stopped my flushes and night time waking in 4 days.
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Wow it's amazing how quickly these things can work! Pleased its working for you Sarah! :)
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Thanks so much for all our really helpful replies.
I know what you mean Taz about the chin hairs. Oh well. There is always the circus I suppose.
I am feeling much better on my patches. Just wish the palps would completely disappear but I reckon that is something that won't go too soon. At least it is natural.
Take care and thanks again for the replies.
Shazzie xx
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Hi Shazzie
I'm not sure about what symptoms - eg I have lots over the years and some are to do with ageing and some connected with menopause.
The main ones for which I started HRT over 7 years ago - hot flushes and night sweats - lessened within days and disappeared within weeks, never to return - except when I stopped (once for 3 months) or reduced the dose (twice).
In that sense - a resounding yes! The night sweats and sleeplessness/disturbed nights are what I found more debilitating than the hot flushes, because at least with the latter I could fling clothes on and off and flap myself - embarrassing but I didn't find them so exhausting as the night sweats.
Other symptoms - dryness - unfortunately once you are well post-meno, many women find local oestrogen also necessary, although when I started HRT ( while still not quite at menopause) I was fine in that dept.
Someone mentioned libido declining with HRT - I think I read somewhere that oral HRT is more likely to have this effect - something to do with the metabolites and free testosterone but I can't remember and brain not working this w/e sorry (fog!). However since testosterone declines with age irrespective of menopause - and more so in some women where menopause can exacerbate this (no more T produced by ovaries - for some women the adrenal glands still produce enough) - then a decline is probably expected.
I have found though, and so have other women in the past on here , that although HRT alleviates the troublesome symptoms, once you are well post-meno - the excitement and huge enthusiasm for things, life etc does not seem to return. There are no hormonal mood swings any more, and oestrogen levels are just not high enough compared to our fertile days - so you have to make more of an effort to do things and make things happen, I suppose everything is more on an even keel. No tears, no hormnal surges ;), but also things are just fine - if you see what I mean. Better this than the alternative though - on balance!
Hurdity x
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Thanks Hurdity
You explain things just as they are for me.
I feel much better on the HRT than when I was off it. I haven't bled for a couple of years now and am very dry as you describe. Haven't noticed any change to my libido apart from the dryness.
I first went onto HRT as I was really suffering with the hot flushes and sleepless nights due to palps. My GP prescribed me HRT as I suffer from Relapse Remitting MS and if I get hot my MS symptoms flare up. I can even go blind if things are very bad. My temperature seems to have returned to normal since starting the patches so I will definitely be staying on them as long as I can.
Thanks for your helpful reply Hurdity, I really appreciate it.
Have a good weekend.
Shazzie x
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It certainly helped a lot of my symptoms. The most noticeable were the hot flushes. I still get what i call blips every now and then, ie Weird head feelings, aches, headaches, itchy skin, tiredness, disturbed sleep and odd dreams. palpatations, ectopic heartbeats to name but a few, but like i said only now and again and thankfully not all at once.
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My HRT finally kicked in after three and a bit months on the Femoston 2/10.
I still get morning dread, anxiety and depression, but that may be due to my factual circumstances rather than medical or hormonal.
My IBS and flushes finally vastly improved after stopping gluten two and a half weeks ago.
I still need the fan on, on a morning in bed, because I do get very hot, but I dunno if that's just because of the warmer weather we have been having recently.
I can blend in with the crowd in town more now, because I don't need to walk around in a vest or shirt sleeves while everyone else has a coat and jumper on.
A brisk five minute walk to the town no longer leaves me in a lather of sweat and burning up.
My IBS has gone and I am finally able to pass normal stools. I also only go once most mornings now.
It was stopping the gluten that finally helped my HRT to kick in.
I would say, for any woman who finds that their sweats and flushes are still happening, because their HRT is not working, to try going gluten free for a period of time to see what difference that makes.
I'm not a doctor though, so you may want to tell your doctor especially if you have medical issues.
It doesn't have to be expensive. The gluten free bread is more dear but its lasting longer than normal bread, and you don't need as much to fill you. The pasta is the same price. Don't bother with all the other expensive gluten free products, they're mostly junk anyway.
If you're like me, your HRT will suddenly start working.
I never told my doc about gluten, because she fobbed me off when I told her I thought I had IBS cos my symptoms matched the criteria.
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Hey Dandelion - really great that it seems to be working out for you now healthwise! Long may it last!
Hurdity x
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Thanks jgr and Dendelion and glad you are doing ok.
I am much better on the HRT than off. Sleep is definitely better.
It's really interesting how HRT is working for many of us.
Shazzie xx
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Hey Dandelion - really great that it seems to be working out for you now healthwise! Long may it last!
Hurdity x
Hi Hurdity,
Yeah, long may it last.
I gave up coffee today, just an experiment to see how it feels.
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Thanks jgr and Dendelion and glad you are doing ok.
I am much better on the HRT than off. Sleep is definitely better.
It's really interesting how HRT is working for many of us.
Shazzie xx
It's really strange how my hrt likes me more now that I am not eating gluten.