Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: catfreak on August 05, 2016, 07:04:24 PM
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Good evening. Havent been on here for a while. Ive been on HRT for about 4 years now. Im 47. So had/having early menopause. I initially went on HRT to help with drastic mood swings. I had horrendous physical side effects with my first HRT medication. Im now on Femoston 1/10mg which are 2 sets of tablets 14 oestrogen & 14 progesteron - I was put on these because I was still having some spotting and for about the first year I was still having very slight spotting in between the oestrogen and progesteron tabs. I went for an HRT review today and the nurse said she would advise I come off HRT altogether now as HRT isnt meant to be long term and I need to see the doctor to discuss. I asked about my side effects coming back - in particular my evil moods and anxiety :( :'( & she said I will still get side effects of meno but as my body will now be "used" to going through the menopause they shouldnt be as bad. I was thinking about coming off HRT in any event to give my body "a rest". I understand I'll have to be weaned off them. I'm just wondering if anyone else has had any similar experiences?
Thanks
xx
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Change your surgery!!! she is way out of date and this is probably her personal feelings rather than what is the new guidelines!
Don't stop until you have discussed with someone in your Surgery who is knowledgable. HRT can be prescribed for ever if necessary and if there are no contraindications.
Why need to give your body a rest unless you need to know where you 'are' in this journey? Are you prepared to go through what may still be awful symptoms? Then you may have to fight your corner again.
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Sounds like complete and utter nonsense to me not to mention out of date information. As others have said, seek advice elsewhere, I would not trust anything these people say.
The guidelines have changed and there is no longer a time limit on HRT and many of us, myself included, intend to take it for life.
You are way too young to be oestrogen deficient for years on end which could lead to all sorts of long term health problems like heart/bone/bladder issues.
If you don't have any joy with the NHS or they put you on a long waiting list, why not consider seeking the advice of a private hormone/menopause specialist?
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Oh! Thank you so much for your replies. I wasnt expecting them to say that. But I think deep down I had a feeling I wanted to check it out as, I dont profess to know much about HRT (silly I know as Im on it so maybe I should) but I did think you could take it for an indefinite period - otherwise whats the point in it. I did mention I can sometimes feel a small moveable lump in my breast which I will see the doc about and she said even more reason to come off. I have a telephone appointment with GP on Monday to discuss but Im stressed now in case they wont prescribe it to me. But surely at the end of the day its only their advice/opinion and down to me if I want to continue? I thought I had seen posts previously about specialist menopause nurses - does anyone know anything about them? Im getting all het up now about it! Sorry xx :-\
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Hi there
I had to see a specialist gynae after what turned out to be a proper period after I'd been told I was post. Anyway, he was an older doc and I was really surprised when he said he had no issue with ladies on hrt forever as long as they have all the check ups and are aware of potential risks.
When I was in hospital there was an old lady in the bed next to me, very frail and a little dotty but she was sprouting on about being on hrt and there was no way she was giving it up!
I can't see the issue with a low dose long term if if prevents bone, bladder and other issues. Yes, there is a risk of breast cancer but then they say drinking alcohol is just as much of a risk.
You should probably still have hrt for a few years to prevent health issues in the future. Some GP's are outdated and what surprises me is comments from meno age ones, unless they are the lucky ones with no symptoms!!!! Surely you'd get some empathy from them?!
Try a break, see what happens. I know when I came off it for a few weeks whilst under investigation it didn't take long for the flushes and other issues to return. Good luck!
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I agree with the others. Let's see if that nurse wants to "get used" to menopause symptoms when it's her turn.
Honestly, as much as I hate that I keep saying it, sometimes women are a woman's worst enemy, and nurses aren't always the "angels" they think they are. Find another surgery that actually knows something about menopause and HRT.
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I can't imagine going off of it now, and I do worry because when I started my doctor seemed to stress that it was a short term thing. But to give a positive experience, I have a friend who had a hysterectomy and went on hrt. I don't know the details, if she kept ovaries, but she dropped the hrt cold turkey. She said it was hell for a week or two and then everything was fine. She must have been in her 30s at the time and she's still healthy 15 years later. I guess everybody is different and there's no way to know without trying.
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I think that you are meant to be on HRT until 50 anyway to protect your bones. Before that it is classed as an early menopause. I think. Dancing Girl writes about this rather eloquently.
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I would ask during the telephone consult for referral to a menopause specialist and not discuss my needs with the GP/Nurse.
This is your Life. I work on the premise that the large lorry might be along way before any adverse health effects from HRT [I don't' require it yet by the way] - even if there is a history of breast disease in the family, recent guidelines are to discuss ins and outs with the patient so that everyone is aware of what treatments are possible.
Instead of your GP saying that you should stop HRT because of a breast lump, has she not referred you to a breast surgeon :bang: :bang: :bang: this is something else that you should request if you haven't been referred in the last 4-6 months.
Let us know how you get on!
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I think I will be on it for the rest of my life if I can as there is no way I am coming off it again if I can help it. I am 57 been on it for 5 years then came off for 3 months and nearly lost my mind.... now back on it.
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Let's see if that nurse wants to "get used" to menopause symptoms when it's her turn.
;D - her turn will come ;)
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The nurse is talking rubbish. You should be on HRT until 50 because you are simply replacing what your body would be producing by itself if you hadn't had early meno. So you are at no greater risk than any other women your age - the only reason for stopping HRT would be if you had another health condition that would be adversely affected by it.
I started at 35 and my GP has advised me staying on the birth control pill until 50, at which point she advises coming off to see what stage I am at and whether, after weighing up symptoms & risks, I want to go onto another form of HRT.
I'd see what your GP says - I've twice had nurses saying that I need to come off the pill & I must see my doctor, and when I've seen the doc, she's been happy to keep writing the prescriptions. So it may just be you have a nurse who is being ultra-cautious or unaware of latest advice.
As for the lump, it needs proper checking out, not just 'oh, you'd better stop HRT'. If it's something that is going to be affected by HRT then it needs dealing with, and if it isn't, you don't need to stop anyway.
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Well Said Dorothy, far more eloquently than I could put it! ::)
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Thanks again everyone. More I think about it and read your replies the more it makes sense for me to stay on it. Im just concerned as Im on Femoston 1/10mg and I dont now have the "bleed" in between the 2 different tablets. Its pointless asking my GP about that as she was the one who put me on the original HRT tabs - Elleste something I think and I had really bad side effects - I was basically turning into a man!! I had to do my own research with help of this site and tell her what they were doing to me & thats why I went on to Femoston as at that time I was still having very very light sporadic periods. Im definitely going to say I want to stay on and them and insist she continues to give me prescriptions and I will see about the lump which has done a disappearing act now! Ive just gone through the worse 14 months of my life, my darling daddy passed away in May last year and my father-in-law passed away this May so I dread to think how I would have got through it without the HRT - I probably wouldnt have if Im honest :'( xxx
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Well Said Dorothy, far more eloquently than I could put it! ::)
I have a LOT of practice saying this. And I'm probably going to be saying it a lot more in the future, bearing in mind I have another 9 years to go before I get to 50...I practice thinking calming thoughts before walking into the surgery now, so I can deal with the 'you need to come off HRT' types without actually braining them ;D
Catfreak, I'm so sorry you have had to deal with this on top of two such major bereavements. You may find as you adjust to your grief that the physical symptoms ease. Mine went through the roof when my Dad died in 2013, and my GP told me major stress such as bereavement often triggers or 'speeds up' an early menopause. I've certainly found things easier to deal with this year. Don't be afraid to push for what you need - a lot of GPs are clueless. Mine admits she doesn't know much, but she recommended MM to me and uses the site herself to keep informed too!
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Explain to your GP that you are working through two bereavements and don't want to risk upsetting your system at this moment in time. Ask if there is a menopause clinic or consultant in your area and the lump should be investigated regardless of whether you can palpate it/not. Push your point that she should offer to refer you particularly as she wants you to stop HRT - maybe it's her personal view or it may be due to Practice FUnds!
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Hi. Just an update. Spoke to GP today. Wants me to go in and discuss about HRT & breast lump. I asked if she was prepared to continue prescribing HRT and she said for now but not long term. She knows women can be on it for up to 10 years but not forever! She said about hot flushes coming back if off HRT told her I can live with them but not the moods - she said they could give me something else for them Shes given me another prescription for now but I need to go to surgery to discuss. Im not happy as by sounds of it they dont want me on it. I will tell her howI feel when I see her. xx
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Ask for a referral to a meno clinic/specialist? Explain also that ladies can stay on HRT for as long as necessary, 80 years+ …….
Let us know how you get on. Don't wait until the end of this script ……...
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One step at a time. Get the lump checked out first, so you don't have to keep worrying about it.
If the GP is happy to keep prescribing HRT for up to 10 years, that gives you another few years' supply by which time a)hopefully you will be in a better place emotionally b)you will be past average menopause age, so no longer so vital to keep taking it and c) you may have a different GP or the guidelines may have changed again! Still be worth trying to find someone more knowledgeable in case you need further help and advice meanwhile, but at least the pressure is off short-term if you know she will keep prescribing for a few more years.
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Words of wisdom from Dorothy :thankyou:.
Let us know how you get on cat freak ?
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Thanks so much for the replies & comforting & supporting words. I will update once Ive seen GP if people dont mind - I dont want to be boring ..... x
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Please do let us know - that's what the forum is here for!
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I have been asked to step down my HRT recently from Everol 50 patches to 1mg tablets and have found the whole process quite terrifying with extreme symptoms returning to the point where I was afraid to drive my children in the car. I'm now on 2mg tablets which should be equivalent, but I'm still really suffering. Please be cautious about how you come off HRT and also when you come off it. I went on HRT quite reluctantly because I was scared of the risks, but my symptoms were so bad in the end I had no choice. It's very easy for those not suffering in the same way to dispense 'best advice' without understanding the potential impact.
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So why Bomber did you change if you were feeling 'better'? Maybe go back to your GP and ask for the regime which suited you better?
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catfreak - you are too young to be without HRT. I am now 60 and had a premature meno which started in my 30s - I have been on and off HRT since my late 30s. The 5-10 year rule only applies if you are in your late 50s or into your 60s - your GPs are out of date. Hope you breast lump is OK. I would ask for a referral to a gynae or meno clinic if I were you to get specialist advice. Do look at the NEW NICE guidelines as well - your GPs need to be brought up to speed. DG xxx
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Catfreak, sorry to hear about the loss of your father and father in law, you have had a very difficult time and it is a lot to face and try to come to terms with.
Would it be possible for you to ask for an ultrasound breast scan? This is more accurate than a mammogram (although they will probably do a mammogram first) and they can tell you immediately what the lump is which will put your mind at rest. I was told that breast cysts can come and go all the time (inflate and deflate with liquid?) or sometimes you have them for years but they are very common and very easy to identify.
I agree that your doctor is out of date, there is no longer any time limit on taking HRT so there is no reason to give you unnecessary stress by threatening to withdraw it. If your doctor continues to be difficult, it would be worth finding another doctor who is HRT friendly and actually knows what they are talking about. You might have to do this privately but why not try another NHS doctor first?