Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[jeannie960]

Hi
I've very recently started to show high blood pressure readings 166 or 170/80 odds.  I've been using a decent monitor.  I used to be too low! 100/50 etc until about 2 years ago.   I had a total hysterectomy 23 years ago and have been on Zumenon (oestrogen only) since.  I never had any problems with it and initially was on 2mg and I got it cut to 1mg years ago.  Anyway I'm 60 in a couple of weeks and I'm thinking that perhaps it's time to stop taking my HRT.  The high blood pressure has made me scared to continue. I'm going to phone the nurse on Monday to ask for a chat but I'm worried that having taken my HRT for 23 years I may have done myself some damage.  It will probably be stopped anyway when the GP finds out that I have high blood pressure. I have another thing that's surfaced and likely unrelated.  A small mass below the right groin on the top of my thigh.  Gp doesn't know what it is and has referred me for a scan.  So many things to worry about in a time that we can barely get to actually see or speak to someone with some expertise.  Think I just needed to come on here and vent as sitting worrying about it doesn't help.

[Uptick]

Hi jeannie, I have exactly the same thing! High BP out of the blue and this mass, mine is a pea sized lump, but it doesn't move, so it's not lipoma. Have your skin changed colour? Mine is purplish. Oh and my tongue has a smooth red patch surrounded by white stuff, dentist said it's called Median Rhomboid Glossitis, and it's caused by chronic thrush! I've never been diagnosed with thrush before!

[Taz2]

Hi Jeanie. Could the lump be a hernia? This is especially likely if it flattens out or disappears completely when you lie down. There are two types you can get. It's good that you've been referred for a scan to get it checked out.

With the blood pressure problem then HRT can usually be continued if the blood pressure is controlled but tablet HRT is not recommended over 60 and you should be changed over to patches or gel to minimise the risk of stroke. The advice now is that it is not necessary to stop HRT at 60 as long as there are no relevant health problems. I hope your GP is knowledgeable on prescribing HRT in older women. Let us know how you get on.

Taz x

[Uptick]

Hi jeanie, thanks, lump is shrinking, so I think it could have been something like folliculitis or a varicose vein? I have stopped shaving so let's see if it doesn't come back. Anxiety can trick the mind! How are you? I agree with Taz2, it sounds like a hernia and transdermal hormones are much better than oral for BP. My own experience (have just been investigated for high BP) is that breathing properly has a huge effect on BP. I often forget to breath, it should be an unconscious thing, but with anxiety and stress, I can stop breathing without noticing. I'm trying to stop whatever I'm doing from time to time to focus on my breathing. It's working, BP is back to normal.