Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Pandora on September 11, 2019, 11:16:12 AM
-
Hi All
I came off HRT in February this year as I had hyperplasia, not for the first time. I had been on HRT for over 15 years. I decided that I would try to come off it and see how I felt, also I was fed up of the progesterone routine, how it made me feel and the awful bleeding. Up to now I am feeling ok apart from hot flushes and a general feeling of overheating especially during the very hot weather.
I did visit my GP and asked for Clonodine, as I had heard from someone this was used for hot flushes. I was told they dont prescribe it and it is not very efficient anyway. I have just struggled along with the flushes. I am trying Starflower but not sure if this is helping, I have been taking it for about 4 weeks, but not noticed any difference. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Pandora
-
Hi Pandora
Have you tried Sage at all?? It seems to be the thing most health food shops stock for hot flushes. Worth a shot or a chat with someone if you've got a good independent store nearby?
All the best
Mog
-
Hi
Thanks for replying. I have tried sage some years ago but unfortunately it didnt help.
Pandora
-
Hello Pandora
I am also off all my HRT mainly because I was concerned about the mood effects of progesterone. Unfortunately I think that I didn't have enough oestrogen to counter balance this and every time I increased oestrogen I had lots of bleeding.
The lovely ladies on the forum suggest that it takes three months for all HRT to leave your body. Can I ask if that was your experience.
I'm sorry that I can't help with your specific question as flushes were never a huge problem for me and still aren't even now at two months without hormones. I seem to have alll the emotional problems instead.
Hopefully you'll have some more advice soon that will help you in finding a solution to your problem.
Wishing you well.
K.
-
I wonder how long HRT actually takes to 'leave' the body :-\
Maybe ask for the appropriate anti-depressant, known to ease hot flushes?
-
Hi Kathleen
I came off HRT patches in February this year. I found that I was ok with no real side effects (only flushes), which was lucky. I had been on it as I said earlier over 15 years. I found taking the progesterone quite difficult and the effects lasted weeks. I was advised at the hospital to come off it as I had hyperplasia. They were prepared to let me have hysterectomy if I needed to go back on HRT, but im ok so hopefully that is not necessary.
Maybe you still need it if you are having emotional problems. I first went on HRT as I too had emotional problems.
Good luck with what you decide to do.
Pandora
-
Hi CKLD
Yes I think I will ask about anti=depressants. It was on This Morning today, Dr Zoe said, " ask your gp for clonodine or P....c (dont know if Im allowed to say it)
Thanks
Pandora
-
Let us know how you get on.
-
Hello again Pandora.
I am taking Venlafaxine which is said to treat hot flushes which may be why mine are not too extreme. This may be an anti depressant you could ask for.
The emotional struggles have been my worst and most persistent problem. Can I ask if HRT completely resolved those for you and I assume that since coming off HRT they haven't returned.
Wishing you well.
K.
-
Thing is - many drugs World wide have been found to ease symptoms of conditions that they were not initially designed for. I don't see a problem ....... forget the terminology, i.e. anti-depressant and look at drugs that are enabling?
-
Hi all
I initially started on tablet form HRT, then after a couple of years started the patches, twice a week. Yes they really did help with my emotional symptoms, but most of all helped me feel normal rather than always feeling not myself but couldn't really put my finger on it. I have felt ok and normal since I came off it, which is good.
I was pleased they offered me the hysterectomy at the hospital, as yes they were taking my symptoms serious, and I didnt worry as much about symptoms returning and being left with no HRT. When I had hospital appointments previously I felt bullied to come off it, I refused to. I came off it this time as a. I wanted to , and, b. they offered me the hysterectomy . I felt that their attitude had completely changed, not mine.
Yes I had always had the regular bleeding regime, but hated it. I worried that taking progesterone all the time would make me feel awful, as it had before and after the bleed.
Pandora
-
Pandora good luck with all of this. I hope you continue to feel okay. Low dose AD's have been VERY helpful to a few women I know and have give them a nearly hot flush-free life. They truly can help. It's up to each person to decide, but they are definitely worth considering. I have used them off/on at various times in my life and never had any difficulty stopping them. I stopped my HRT about 2 months ago and so far, aside from some flushes at night, all has been okay. Good luck!
-
I stopped hrt 7 weeks ago.
I started getting awful hot flushes and night sweats, I was also not sleeping well. For the last week I've been taking 2 magnesium tablets at night to see if it would help me sleep better. It has really helped and also has helped with flushes. I've only been feeling slightly warm a couple of times a day and fine at night.
Maybe worth a try.
I don't know how long this will continue but I definately feel so much better.
-
Hi Pandora, as you've now been off hrt 6-7 months, i wondered if your hot flushes have been getting less and less or not? X
-
Hi Jara
The hot flushes seem to have got worse, but it could be the warmer weather I suppose.
Pandora
-
Hi Pandora, I was only on hrt 2 months, but when I came off it, it took 2-3 months for my hot flushes to return, but, they were definitely less intense..
I'm wondering, as you were on hrt for 15 years, the hormones with the hrt will take, i guess, at least 2-3 months to leave your system??!
So, what you're now experiencing is likely the return to your “natural hormone levels†?!
How many years post meno are you?
Just out of interest, what is your bmi?
Are you getting regular good exercise?
I would think that they won't continue to get worse, but will gradually level out and then start to decrease as your body finds its way again.. x
-
Hi Jari
I am 63 years old, dont know how many years post menopause that is. My BMI is 23.3. I do get some excercise, but not enough probably.
Pandora
-
Hi Pandora
Post menopause starts 1 year after your last period..
Your bmi is a good level! 👍
At 63 I would guess that your body just needs a little time to adjust and allow for all the hrt hormones to leave your body.
My guess is that things will start to balance out in a month or two. Keep posting how you're doing!! X
-
Thanks for all your good wishes. I will let you know how it goes.
Pandora
-
I had a total hysterectomy in May 2011 because of a severe intolerance to progesterone. I was in peri menopause before this.
I have been on HRT for 10 years. I decided to come off HRT in June 2017 & my symptoms gradually came back over 6 months until I couldn't cope with them anymore & had to go back on HRT but everyone reacts to HRT differently I think
-
I'm so glad I stumbled upon this post!
Can anyone help me please?
I've always had severe PMS (suicidal most months). My first HRT was Elleste Duet (Sp?) but I had to come off that as it was really disturbing my mental health. I then went on to Evorel (the one that has different patches) and it suited my mental health in that I was back to a one in three week of bad PMS. Patches kept falling off as well.
Now I'm on Oestrogel and Provera 2.5mg (I started off every day but due to continuous bleeding am now taking it three out of four weeks (now bleeding three out of four weeks).
I can cope with the bleeding but not the moods. I'm almost murderous most of the time, swinging to suicidal the rest.
My gynae is lovely - it took me years to find her on NHS as we have no meno clinic here and the other gynae and GPs I've seen have, frankly, been quite awful. The trouble is she doesn't want me to try Utrogesten (sp?). I have no idea why. She just said it wouldn't suit me.
Now, I'm being sent for a hysteroscopy I don't believe I need - she stated abnormal bleeding and family history in my letter (I don't have a family history and the abnormal bleeding is cyclical with the tablets). I don't want to refuse as I risk upsetting the one good medical professional I've seen.
Any help greatly appreciated and sorry to hijack.
-
Hi onion relish, not hijackig at all!! ;)
It's nice that you've found a gynae that you get on with, but you mustn't feel like you have to have a hysteroscopy just to please her.
I would feel quite stressed by that, as I'm sure you are and I would definitely be asking her to explain why she feels you need one. Just email her or make an appointment and ask her that you don't understand it and can she explain. I think that's normal and you shouldn't feel bad about that. Absolutely not! She may well be very nice, but she may have missed something and it's worth questioning her on this.
X
-
Hi Jari. Thanks for replying.
I had an appointment to see her in a few weeks but she cancelled it as she wants the hysteroscopy result first.
Her secretary refuses to let me speak to her until I've had the results, too.
Looks like I'm on my own and off HRT unless I go to the appointment and try to explain to the person doing it. I suffer with severe anxiety so explaining is often a problem.
I just feel like such an idiot/baby about refusing (huge backstory - I'm under a psych/sex therapist for my issues).
I can't be the only one like this can I?
-
Hi onion relish,
I do understand and I think you should talk/email her or her secretary or through your gp and explain your concerns and that you'd like to know exactly why you need this.
I would want to know the same. You deserve to know exactly why you need it and there should be no problem to explain that. I think I'd explain why you don't feel it's necessary and your concerns about the procedure and see what she says.
Hrt estrogen builds up the lining in the womb and the progesterone triggers the shedding of the lining, so that's maybe why you've been bleeding?! I'm just guessing, but maybe she's concerned that the hrt is causing you to bleed too much. Not sure, just a thought?! Don't be worried to email and tell her your concerns! X
-
Thanks, Jari.
I was fine on Evorel - a "period" every month. It was only when she put me on a no-bleed regime that I started with the constant bleeding. She changed me to three weeks of Provera so now I'm not bleeding for the week following my week off.
If it was intermittent I'd understand her worry but I'm like clockwork so I wouldn't consider it unexplained bleeding. I've just never reacted well physically or emotionally to any form of progesterone. My moods are also following the bleeding/non-bleeding.
I'm trying to learn as much as I can here as I'm completely out at sea but it seems to make sense to me.
If anyone reading this can tell me I'm wrong (or right) please can they clarify as simply as possible?
Thanks again, Jari (and everyone else past or future who's helped).