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Author Topic: New member today  (Read 1098 times)

Doryblue

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New member today
« on: November 09, 2016, 07:50:56 PM »

Hi I've just joined this forum and looks like lots of great advice on here.

So about me, I'm 53 and in the menopause 3 years now, before that peri for about 3-4 years I reckon. I've had most of the typical symptoms hot flushes ,night sweats, tiredness,anxiety, no sex drive, aches and pains,zoning out and being less emotional, funnily enough.

 I had low dose HRT for 18 months as lack of sleep was god awful with night sweats and I find it really difficult to function without sleep. (Dont know how I managed the children years.... oh yes I was much younger!!) I only took it for short time as breast cancer /cancer in my family and really just wanted to get over that initial year or so.
I've been off it 3 months now and although still have the symptoms above, the flushes and sweats do seem to be less than before hrt.
My main concern is the lack of libido which didn't get any better when on hrt . I will  probably post in main forum for advice.   

 :) Doryblue
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CLKD

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  • changes can be scary, even when we want them
Re: New member today
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2016, 07:51:54 PM »

 :welcomemm:
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Kathleen

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Re: New member today
« Reply #2 on: November 09, 2016, 08:31:43 PM »

Hello Doryblue and welcome to the forum.

There are many expert ladies here and I'm sure they'll be along shortly.

It's amazing what we could do when we were younger isn't it, oh to be young again!

Take care and keep posting.

K.
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Hurdity

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Re: New member today
« Reply #3 on: November 11, 2016, 10:09:40 AM »

Hi Doryblue

 :welcomemm: from me too!

Having breast cancer in a very close relative ( mother, sister), is not necessarily a contra-indication to taking HRT and it also depends especially whether the cancer is oestrogen sensitive or not.

There is more about breast cancer risk on this website here:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/risks.php Also if you browse through the news items there are various articles as well http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/news.php.

Finally there is an article written by Dr Currie here:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/article-breast-cancer.php

Under the age of 60 the benefits of taking HRT are thought to outweigh the risks http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/balance.php - but I can understand your caution if a close relative has suffered with this disease. Some research also suggests that the progestogen component of HRT especially the synthetic types give greater risk of breast cancer.

If you are post-menopausal then there is a tablet Tibolone/Livial which can help with libido  - that is different from conventional HRT types. Also oral HRT and some synthetic progestogens apparently decrease libido and sex drive more due to another compound in the body called SHBG (Sex hormone binding globulin) but I don't really know all the details.

Feeling less emotional post-menopause will be because hormones are no longer surging and fluctuating and therefore there are fewer mood swings. Also many of us on HRT find that we don't have quite the same zest for life as when fertile - because we just don't get the lovely oestrogen highs ( but also not the lows) any more, so everything is on an even keel - not depressed as such but just perhaps things are a bit flat. However eliminating negative symptoms is a positive though :)

Hope this helps and yes do post if you have any specific questions!

Hurdity x

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