Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Kimberly on September 18, 2014, 08:20:27 PM
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Hello all, I am 58 and have been on HRT for 10 years (Elleste solo 2mg) after a hysterectomy. I have been really well and very happy taking it. My doctor has asked me to think about stopping soon, although I know that I will be under more pressure to do so as I get closer to 60. I have been reading as much information as possible on this forum and it seems that all the symptoms return as soon as HRT is stopped. Does anyone have any different experiences and would it have been better to have gone through the menopause 10 years ago without Going on to HRT. I am thinking of trying the very gradual reduction as this seems to be the best way forward. Any advice on your experiences would be gratefully received. I am new to this forum with regard to posting but have been following it for some time. Many thanks :) :)
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Hi and welcome to MM Kimberley
Your question has been put forward by many women and the answer will depend on each women's experience of the menopause.
If you are happy on HRT and the benefits outweigh the risks then there should be no reason to stop HRT particularly as you are only on oestrogen. I believe the breast cancer risk is more associated with combined HRT. There are ladies in their 70s and 80s still using HRT.
I would say it is worth well worth taking HRT. Firstly, until you are 53-54 you should take HRT as it protects your heart and bones and delays the onset of vaginal atrophy and bladder problems. It is also worth taking it for the better quality of life it can give you -even for a few years. You won't necessarily get bad meno symptoms when you come off HRt as everyone is different - your body may adjust in a few months. You could reduce the dose a little to see how you feel - sometimes doctors are happy for you continue using HRT if it's a lower dose.
I wouldn't let you GP pressurise you into stopping if you are happy taking it - ask for a referral to get advice from a gynae if necessary.
I'm sure others will be along with thoughts and advice. DG x
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Not everyone has a return of symptoms once HRT is stopped. You don't know until you try.
A friend and I started meno symptoms at the same time. She decided not to go down the HRT route whereas I gratefully embraced the power of the patch ;D After seven years and having had to stop taking it due to my age I am now experiencing the same symptoms as I was before starting it - hot sweats, vaginal dryness, sleeplessness etc. The difference is.. she is STILL experiencing these things but hasn't had a seven year break from them like I have. There is no guarantee that meno symptoms will only last a few years before disappearing.
I hope that if you do decide to stop HRT then you will find your symptoms have gone. I've stopped both gradually and cold-turkey but the result has been the same in both cases - return of the dreaded sweats within three months of stopping.
Taz x :welcomemm:
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And I am the opposite of Taz - stopped gradually over 6 months - no return of symptoms.
Bramble
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How long did you take it for Bramble?
Taz x
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this is my concern too as I have heard hrt only delays the menupause x
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I still think it mainly boils down to a 'quality of life issue'. Nobody knows how long their menopausal symptoms will last - it can be many years or even for the rest of your life. We are expected to work into our late 60s. This is also a time when we often have the extra pressures of ageing parents and our children struggling financially and possibly still living at home. To then have to cope with the lack of sleep, the anxiety, flushes, aches and pains etc. that so many of us suffer from, often puts an unbearable strain on our bodies. HRT can relieve these symptoms to allow us to cope with these stresses through this difficult time.
I came off HRT nearly a year ago and I have coped with the meno symptoms quite well because I am currently going through the calmest time in my life for more that 20 years.
Personally I think the decision to come off HRT has to be made in relation to what the current stresses in your life are. To deny a women a medication that enables her to cope when going through life stresses is frankly cruel. An holistic approach is needed.
The timing of the reduction or ceasing of HRT needs to be carefully handled and put into context of the individual needs.
We all want this challenging time of our lives handled better by the medical profession- it would benefit our families, our work colleagues and employers, the economy of the country - and simply bring a better quality of life. DG x
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I cant understand why you should be taken off it if its doing you good ,would your gp tell you to come off your high blood pressure medication or your diebetis medication if it was doing good controlling your symptoms so whats the difference if hrt is doing you good controlling the symptoms cant work that one out as well x daisie
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Hi Kimberly, I can't comment for myself as I have not used HRT but my friend and neighbour was like you, had hysterectomy then 10 years on Elleste solo 2mg. After 10 years her doctor said she had to stop as her blood pressure was too high. She is a lady who just does what she is told without question or argument but she has not been the same since. Her blood pressure came down but she now has more trouble with menopausal symptoms than I do as mine are gradually getting less.
The ladies are right, it is a very personal thing but I do not think ladies should be made to stop their HRT if they want to continue, especially after a hysterectomy when they are immediately plunged into a menopause.
Could you see a second opinion doctor?
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I agree with what the others have said.
My only extra comment is firstly if you want to stay on it longer term you could either maybe try to reduce the dose a little - or perhaps think of changing to patches or gel since transdermal methods are probably associated with less risk long term and certainly don't have to go through the liver like tablets do.
If I was in your position - with a hysterectomy, and happy and healthy on it, then nothing would induce me to stop. It is just the progesterone phase that causes most of us problems - and either dealing with the sdie effects permanently, or having to put up with a bleed in your 60's like me!
Hurdity x
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For me the point of HRT is that it has offered me quality of life when taking it.
I tried not using it, it didn't work for me.
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I agree with everything Dancinggirl has said on this topic x
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How long did you take it for Bramble?
Taz x
I was on HRT for 5-6 years. Went from a medium dose (conti) down to a low dose for a year and then from the low dose to zero over 6 months. Was on a conti version for about 2 years of the 5-6 years.
Bramble
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Strange reading these posts, at 58 im sitting her looking at a prescription for femoston conti. having had a heated discussion with my GP. I was coping fairly well (allbeit extremely tired) reluctantly with the night sweats/flushes living in the hope one day they would stop. My practice nurse 2 weeks ago throws a curve ball and suggests i try seeing a 'sympathetic' GP!
Was she? No!! why was i wanting to start something so obviously dangerous for the 'odd hot flush' heated discussion ensued
she eventually prescribed it but she said I will back with the same issues whenever i go back to come of it, she wont prescribe above a year.
then she took my BP which was way too high and said no way if it doesnt come down when i test it at home.
So here am I wondering what to do, what is the point if it all comes back in a year, they will be harder to tolerate cos ive had a time without, maybe I go back to 'embracing' them .....undecided and scared :-\
poppins
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Stellajane, hte flushes sweat are far from occasional, i get no more than 2 hrs mx at night without a sweat and has been the same for 7plus years, ive learned to cope, chnged diet etc, natural fibre clothes, you name it ive tried it. however the high BP did scare me because whatever route there is a higher risk of strokes and with all grandparents having had them i am wary to say the least. I am going tp 'sleep' on it for a few days
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Hi poppins
I presume you have looked at ways you can reduce your blood pressure naturally?
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/high-blood-pressure/art-20046974
Only you will know if any of these factors could be contributing to your blood pressure reading or indeed whether it was induced by your less than sympathetic consultation!
I presume you have also seen this:
Hypertension
Blood pressure should be measured and, if high, should be controlled prior to starting HRT. Blood pressure measurement should be repeated 3 months after starting HRT and is then usually checked at annual review. There is a very small risk of conjugated equine estrogens causing a rise in blood pressure which resolves on cessation of treatment. In the presence of controlled hypertension, HRT is unlikely to worsen control; some recommend using transdermal (patch or gel) HRT.
Sage should be used with caution if hypertensive and St.John's Wort should be used with caution if taking antihypertensive therapy.
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/atoz.php#GlossH
At the moment you are still in the window of opportunity (age under 60 and within 10 years of menopause) where starting HRT may not be harmful to the heart and may even be beneficial.
"It is very likely that there is a “window of opportunity†whereby, if HRT is commenced early, it may be beneficial not only for control of symptoms and prevention of osteoporosis, but also prevention of heart disease but if commenced later when disease of the blood vessels has developed, further damage may occur."
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/risks.php Scroll down to cardio-vascular disease.
There is no reason to stop a year after you have started and if your blood pressure is controlled there should not be a problem. There are increasing stories of women on here who are starting HRT later than menopause because of continuing debilitating symptoms severely affecting quality of life.
If your unsympathetic GP will not continue to prescribe beyond a year, then perhaps there is another in the practice who understands the current state of play and latest thinking/recommendations from the British Menopause Society, or failing that - there may be a menopause clinic nearby that you can ask to be referred to?
Hurdity x
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Thank-you Hurdity, thats brilliant info, i will take a good look at those links.
I am pretty sure my blood pressure was up cos of the doc, she did in fact acknowledge it had been somewhat heated lol
I will be checking it at home regularly.
I am still not sure but slowly beginning to think i will give it a go, hey who knows it might not do any good or it might not suit me and I would never know if I dont try.
I just cant bear the thought of it all coming back whenever i come of, but still I suppose if I was lucky I may not be working by then and it will be easier to manage.
once gain thanks for all your replies :thankyou:
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Yes, seeing the GP can send the blood pressure up - white coat syndrome. I get it even if I am not nervous. I think GP's are starting to believe that people can check their own BP's accurately?
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I just need to say that in my case it was the menopause clinic who advised me to stop HRT at 60. My GP was happy for me to continue for ever until she received the email from the meno clinic. This was a couple of years ago now when I was almost 59.
Taz x
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Im going to give it a go, another night of sweats and waking feeling groggy, and reading those links have helped make up my mind
:thankyou: