Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Taz2 on August 11, 2016, 05:37:47 PM

Title: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Taz2 on August 11, 2016, 05:37:47 PM: It took a bit of persuading and it wasn't my usual doctor but he finally agreed that I could restart HRT if I was prepared to take the risk. He did say that the blood pressure monitor I had to use for four days showed really good readings so I obviously suffered from White Coat Syndrome. He was very young but easy to talk to. Estradot wasn't available at my pharmacy (I've read the thread on that) so I am going to use Evorel which is the same but a bigger patch. It could cover the whole of my bum and I'd still use it though. ;D I only hope it works this time. He only gave me a month though so I hope my usual doctor (who took me off it in April) will agree with him.

Oh yes - he tested a urine sample for me as I felt uncomfy and, yes, there is another infection. Only slight and he's sent a sample off to the lab and given me a prescription to use if I need it. This was another thing that persuaded him to put me back onto HRT as I made him go back to my notes of ten years ago when I had repeated infections and HRT was the cure.

Taz x :spin: :parti: :madeyes:
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: CLKD on August 11, 2016, 05:38:49 PM: :bounce:
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Sweetscarlett on August 11, 2016, 05:40:44 PM: I'm really glad Taz2 that you are able to restart your Hrt .
I hope you feel better very quickly
💙💙💙Ss X
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Lanzalover on August 11, 2016, 06:02:07 PM: So pleased for you.

Hope you will soon be feeling much better.

Lanzalover x
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Ju Ju on August 11, 2016, 06:14:44 PM: :spin:

Whoopee! I'd hate to be parted from my HRT!
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: linz57 on August 11, 2016, 06:44:29 PM: Excellent news Taz2!! :banana:
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Mary G on August 11, 2016, 07:29:05 PM: Well done! Hopefully you will be back to normal very soon and let's hope they don't try to take you off HRT again.
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: coldethyl on August 11, 2016, 08:07:04 PM: Great news. Might I play devil's advocate and suggest you keep with the BP monitoring to show your own GP that it is white coat and not the HRT elevating your BP as all the readings you did, if I am remembering rightly, were off HRT.
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Janice68 on August 11, 2016, 08:23:50 PM: Sounds like a good doctor Taz. Brilliant news as you wanted your Hrt back!!
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Taz2 on August 11, 2016, 08:39:45 PM: Thanks ladies. Even my son did a little jig around the kitchen when he saw the box along with a "Thank **** for that" ;D ;D

Taz x
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Cazikins on August 11, 2016, 08:50:53 PM: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Great news Taz - I'm so pleased for you.

Cazi xx
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Hurdity on August 11, 2016, 09:53:14 PM: :sunny: Hey there Taz that's fantastic news!!! :sunny:

There's hope for all us over 60's eh?!

Hope you will be back to your old self very soon and free from those horrible bladder infections as well!

Looks like a smiley fest has been going on so I must join in.....

:ola: :ola: :ola: :ola: :ola: :ola: :ola::ola:

Soon you'll have no more of these:

:hotflash:

I expect you feel like the :cat48: that got the cream!

Don't celebrate too much or else you'll be like this:

:drunklaf:

Sleep well!

Hurdity xx :)
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Tempest on August 12, 2016, 03:39:34 PM: Yay!! I'm so glad for you, Taz2! That's great news. :congrats:
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Kathleen on August 12, 2016, 04:43:54 PM: Hello Taz2.

Good news for you and for all of us older women!

Wishing you well.

K.
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Taz2 on August 12, 2016, 09:43:08 PM: Quote from: coldethyl on August 11, 2016, 08:07:04 PM
Great news. Might I play devil's advocate and suggest you keep with the BP monitoring to show your own GP that it is white coat and not the HRT elevating your BP as all the readings you did, if I am remembering rightly, were off HRT.

Yes - good idea - I will do that!

Taz x
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Taz2 on August 12, 2016, 09:49:50 PM: Thanks for all of your congratulations! I can report that tonight my hot sweats are only happening every forty five minutes instead of every twenty minutes so I believe that already the patch is working! The fact that I woke up this morning feeling horrible - nausea, dizziness and upset stomach - has nothing to do with HRT side effects. It was obviously a bad glass of wine last night! II refuse to believe that HRT is anything other than my friend!

Taz x ;D
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Elizabethrose on August 12, 2016, 10:12:35 PM: Good luck Taz. We're damned if we do and damned if we don't! Hope everything calms for you.
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Taz2 on August 12, 2016, 10:15:33 PM: Thank you! I've not had side effects before but think that maybe I was so low on oestrogen that an overnight hit of 50 was a bit much for the poor body. I'm determined to ride it out. Feel so much more positive just knowing that the patch is there. The last sweat was just gearing up and then disappeared - I am hopeful that I will be returned to a normal state. By "normal" I mean functioning!

Taz x
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Elizabethrose on August 12, 2016, 10:23:10 PM: I can cope with the hot flushes but constant disturbed sleep with the night sweats is just a step too far! I'm on an oestrogen high at the moment so sleeping like a log - such joy! Hope you manage to get through the entire night
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Cazikins on August 12, 2016, 10:44:51 PM: I hope it settles down Taz - it's early days so fingers crossed for you.

Cazi x
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Taz2 on August 12, 2016, 10:52:22 PM: Thanks Cazi. I've just gone a whole hour without one! This calls for a celebration :ola: :banana: :drunk:
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Cazikins on August 12, 2016, 10:54:04 PM: Well bottoms up then girl.
:drunk: :drunk: :drunk:
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Taz2 on August 12, 2016, 10:58:29 PM: Hmm not quite sure I'm ready for "bottoms up" quite yet.... ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Cazikins on August 12, 2016, 11:02:21 PM: You will if you go another hour without a flush...... ;D ;D
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: marras on August 13, 2016, 05:17:24 PM: That's great news Taz, such a relief not to have so many flushes. Even if it only reduces them by half its a result eh! 😊
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Joyce on August 13, 2016, 05:28:51 PM: :banana: :banana: :banana:
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Taz2 on August 14, 2016, 12:51:26 PM: I do feel more positive already. The flushes are less - every hour today instead of the three an hour which is great. Plus, sometimes, they begin and then fade away before I get too drippy ;D It's a bit like when you are building up for a sneeze and then it just disappears again. Last night was better too. I went to bed late after going to a gig but had four between 1.30 and 7 which is good for me.

Thanks for all of your congratulations!

Taz x :D
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Taz2 on August 14, 2016, 10:58:31 PM: I am so GRUMPY!! :o It's like the worst PMT ever. I pity my poor family this evening!

Taz x
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Cazikins on August 16, 2016, 03:58:37 PM: :foryou:

How are things today Taz? any better? are your family still talking to you?

Cazi x
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: zelda on August 16, 2016, 05:40:43 PM: I am delighted for you my dear, fantastic news!.

I am doing great now that I am back on it 6 weeks, hurrah for HRT! I can't see myself ever coming off it.
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Taz2 on August 28, 2016, 08:40:53 AM: It's just over two weeks now since restarting HRT after six months off it (this time) and although it kicked in really quickly as patches usually do I now find that the flushes/sweats are beginning to happen more often again. Not as drenching as they were,admittedly, but I'm surprised that they are not continuing to improve. I think I remember that before I had to stop (due to my new doc being worried that my blood pressure was increasing) I was finding the Estradot 50 not quite high enough. My then doc, I'm sure, was happy to put me onto the 75 strength and left me to think about it but I'm not sure this new one will be.

I wondered whether the gel would be better even though patches have always been enough in the past. Sometimes it does seem as if the Evorel patch wrinkles slightly.

On the plus side the skin on my legs and arms is much less dry and my sleep is better. My pelvic floor and bladder already feel much more comfy too. My Rosacea, though, seems to be worse which discounts my theory that it started because I had stopped HRT. :) Anxiety is still the same but I've never found that HRT helps with that.

Interesting times!!

Taz x
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Janice68 on August 28, 2016, 09:23:27 AM: I have to say you have a good awareness to things and your body Taz2.
I agree interesting times that's How I'm looking at things food for thought etc. Learning phase!!
I'm gladl to hear hrt is helping out on some things. Finding the balance I guess or maybe just early days?
Anyway the experience women will be along to help you but you appear savvy too!!
Janx
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Taz2 on August 28, 2016, 09:43:05 AM: Thanks Jan - It's nine years since I started HRT so it's a case of trying to understand how it works while also balancing the getting older stuff.

Taz x
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Janice68 on August 28, 2016, 09:51:33 AM: Quote from: Taz2 on August 28, 2016, 09:43:05 AM
Thanks Jan - It's nine years since I started HRT so it's a case of trying to understand how it works while also balancing the getting older stuff.

Taz x

I totally agree with you with what you have said!! That's how we learn? Balance and what works for us!!! Interesting too!!
Jan x
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: littleminnie on August 28, 2016, 12:00:12 PM: Glad you and your friend have reunited Taz. I cut my everol conti patches down to half and after a few months the flushes came back at night but not during the day. Aches and pains came back. So trying 3/4 of a patch, okay so far.
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Taz2 on August 28, 2016, 12:01:30 PM: Glad that you are doing ok littleminnie.

Taz x :)
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: linz57 on August 28, 2016, 01:47:20 PM: I've read that as we reach 60 and over we should reduce our hrt to the lowest dose , but I take that to mean the lowest dose that suits each woman individually. Yes some ladies do fine on very low doses while others need to increase up to 75 or even 100 mg
I recently tried cutting my 50 patch to half then leaving it off. BAD mistake!! The aches and pains returned and I felt 90 . I am now back on the full patch and feel more human and able to move again. Hurrah!
It's all about finding that sweet spot isn't it? I hope you find yours Taz2 and I hope your doctor is understanding
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Mary G on August 28, 2016, 02:13:34 PM: Taz2, I think you already know what I am going to say and that is I would switch Oestrogel without any hesitation!

I never did get on with the patches, they didn't stick properly, left a horrid mark, an itchy rash and I never could anything like enough oestrogen out of them - I hardly noticed any difference with the 50mcg patch.

I think you could do very well on either 1 or 2 pumps of gel.

Long may your recovery continue!
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Taz2 on August 28, 2016, 04:25:12 PM: Thanks Mary G. I have always got on really well with patches but the consultant did mention to me that, even though my ovaries were left in and were only releasing a tiny amount of hormone, research showed that within two years of a hysterectomy most women's ovaries failed. I take it that I am not now releasing even the tiny amount and maybe that's why I need a higher dose.

Taz x
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: linz57 on August 28, 2016, 04:38:55 PM: Does anyone know if there is an average age where ovaries fail completely in women who still have all their parts inside?
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Tempest on August 28, 2016, 04:59:18 PM: Taz2, my ovaries kept on chugging away full force for a further 8 years after my hysterectomy. My Consultant was astonished! Of course, they are gone now.

Maybe the gel would suit you better as MaryG says? Oh, how I wish it could work for me! I'd be back on it like a shot (I'm hoping to achieve the transition off the blinkin' oral method at some point as soon as, but I need to get SOME stable level of hormones in for at least a while before I try the switch).

I know my Menopause Consultant (NHS and he's listed in the directory here on MM), favours the gel over patches as he says the patches usually cause some problems with consistent delivery. He's pretty knowledgeable about all the different types too. He says the Estradot, in his opinion, IS the most consistent if a patch route is desired (smaller 'footprint', less chance of wrinkling, less skin irritation).
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Taz2 on August 28, 2016, 05:06:54 PM: Thanks for that Tempest. I was on Estradot before but there was a shortage of supply here a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to start as soon as possible. I might ask for Estradot when I have to get my next supply in a couple of weeks time. I was only given one month by this locum doctor.

I used to attend the menopause clinic in Oxford but they were adamant that HRT over 60 was not a good idea so I transferred my care back to my (then) lovely GP who didn't see a problem with prescribing over 60 as long as overall health was good.

Taz x
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Joyce on August 28, 2016, 05:59:36 PM: As you may remember I kept my ovaries for about 10 years after my hysterectomy, until they too were removed. Originally on premarin, then oestrogel, then Estradot. Estradot worked better for me, but like you, problems obtaining it & was changed to Evorel. I gave up on my meno clinic as they kept cancelling my appointment. GP happy to keep me on HRT, saying life quality is more important! Wise man! :)
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Tempest on August 28, 2016, 06:41:06 PM: Another surgical lady! Hello, cubagirl! :)

Can I please borrow your GP? A wise man indeed!
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Dandelion on August 29, 2016, 01:32:49 AM: great news, no doctor should take a woman off hrt and inflict suffering on her that causes harm. I thought their motto was 'do no harm' AND it's your body, your choice, I'd rather die of a heart attack early and be happier than live till 70 and be unhappy
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Joyce on August 29, 2016, 10:27:20 AM: My GP certainly seems to have his head screwed on the right way. I'd been having problems with dizziness & funny turns, I'd had them a few years back too. Was told it was stress back then. This GP twigged & said try taking lower dose of BP tablets & see what happens. Dizziness & funny turns slowly went away & my BP is doing OK too, though I've to keep an eye on it just in case.

So as long as my body behaves itself, doctor happy for me to stay on HRT. I'm on a very low dose nowadays. :banana:
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Tempest on August 29, 2016, 11:15:15 AM: That's great, Cubagirl! I hope you don't mind me asking, but what is your dose these days? I just need some encouragement of what is achievable after TAH/BSO. I'm on a low dose of Premarin 0.3mg at the moment as I'm just trying to start HRT. Id rather be on transdermal but it's a case of getting HRT into my body at a steady level at the moment.
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Joyce on August 29, 2016, 04:05:33 PM: I'm using estradot 25mg patches, cut in half. Get odd flush but I'm coping on 12.5 twice a week.
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Taz2 on August 29, 2016, 06:16:31 PM: That's good CG. Do you find that it keeps all of the symptoms at bay mostly? I can't imagine being able to function on such a low dose.

Taz x
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Michelle46 on August 29, 2016, 08:11:47 PM: Hello everyone
Has anyone else got on better with the gel than the patches? I changed to gel 4 weeks ago from Evorel 50 patches . I'm sure the gel is working better. The only thing is when I'm on the utrogestan for 10 days I feel horrible (all wired up). I take the utrogestan orally. Anyone got any stories on the gel. Oh by the way I use one and a bit pump a day xx
Title: Re: ***I've Got My HRT Back***
Post by: Joyce on August 29, 2016, 09:50:21 PM: Works for me Taz. I did try stopping completely as GP said I was on such a low dose, but sweats were horrid! It's mainly keeping them at bay apart from odd one. Long may it continue. Guess I may have to give in eventually, but until then.......