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[loonarider]

Hi,

I should be chuffed I guess, as have been literally begging for hrt from the NHS for a few years now, and I've finally been offered low dose Evorel patch and progesterone by an awesome female doctor yesterday.

Now I'm scared to take it because of the side-effects (breast cancer, clots...) I am 43.

Anybody tried it? How did it help? How long have you been on the medication?

Hoping you can alleviate my worries.

Thank you!

[GetStuffedPeri]

Hi - what symptoms are you trying to alleviate?  The benefits will likely massively outweigh the risks - particularly given your young age.  Estrogen will protect your heart and your bones.  It took my wife and I 7 years to decide for her to go on HRT (she was your age when all this started) - if your quality of life is poor then it's a no brainer, honestly. 

[Taz2]

Hi loonarider. I agree with GetStuffedPeri that at your age it is really important that you replace the oestrogen you have lost. Under the age of 50 you are merely replacing what should have been yours naturally so the risks don't apply and even when you are older the benefits still outweigh the risks up to around the age of 70. There have been studies on this but Hurdity is someone who knows more about this side of things than me. Please give them a try. It will take up to three months before you know whether these patches suit you though so be prepared for a settling-in time.

I've been on HRT for fourteen years and I'm 67 now.

Taz x

[loonarider]

Hi - what symptoms are you trying to alleviate?  The benefits will likely massively outweigh the risks - particularly given your young age.  Estrogen will protect your heart and your bones.  It took my wife and I 7 years to decide for her to go on HRT (she was your age when all this started) - if your quality of life is poor then it's a no brainer, honestly.

Thank you kindly for your response. Wow, I've had so many symtpoms. Panic attacks all day and night sometimes, extreme pain all over my body where preventing me from sitting or lying down/sleeping, confusion, palpitations, radiating heat mostly in mornings and upon activity (but no sweat), shakey, dizzy, brain fog, adrenelin surges, tight chest, weight gain (even though been on the same diet and have been watching calories), feeling sad, constant thoughts of dying and impedning doom. 

My life has been hell, I've had quite a few check ups only for everything to come back normal. Waiting on a smear test currently and another blood test - but yea I really believe it is time. You're right the benefits DO outweight the risk, this is irraiontal on my part.

It's been helpful, you''ve prompted me to not worry and just take the damn thing x

[loonarider]

Hi loonarider. I agree with GetStuffedPeri that at your age it is really important that you replace the oestrogen you have lost. Under the age of 50 you are merely replacing what should have been yours naturally so the risks don't apply and even when you are older the benefits still outweigh the risks up to around the age of 70. There have been studies on this but Hurdity is someone who knows more about this side of things than me. Please give them a try. It will take up to three months before you know whether these patches suit you though so be prepared for a settling-in time.

I've been on HRT for fourteen years and I'm 67 now.

Taz x

Wow, thank you! I guess you're a veteran - very informative. I guess one of my biggest worries is my heart and bone health and if hrt helps towards that then I'm game. I mean I've wanted this for a while so I know I'm being a bit irrational (and I'm usually a rational person) about it - the benefits do outweight the risks.

I''d love to hear from Hurdity too!

Thank you so much!

[CLKD]

Do U keep a mood/food/symptom diary to chart progresss?

All medication has risks.  HRT has gained more media coverage over the last 20 years than most.  Quality of Life?

[loonarider]

Do U keep a mood/food/symptom diary to chart progresss?

All medication has risks.  HRT has gained more media coverage over the last 20 years than most.  Quality of Life?

I do keep a diary yes, have been a little lax lately, but back on it. Thanks. Trying to keep a rational head

[loonarider]

Hi again,

My doc also suggested with the oestrogen patch to try the IUS plastic coil thingy - anybody doing this?

[CLKD]

Put 'mirena coil' into the search box ? 

[Iris67]

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer my surgeon told me that of all women he saw, more didn't have risk factors. I was 7 stone, non-smoker, hardly ever had a drink, active et etc. I had had a decade of severe stress, but they don't really consider that other than in general terms. I also had a non-hormonal type.

What I'm trying to say is that there is a lot of luck/randomness to a cancer diagnosis. If you have a bad feeling about it that may be your answer...if not then go for it. The stats are pretty good if you are on a sensible regime.

[racjen]

I agree with Iris 67 - I've also had non-hormonal breast cancer despite being low risk (slim, non-smoker, no family history, under 50). My life was such hell after the sudden menopause induced by chemotherapy that I had no hesitation in taking HRT, anything to make me feel that life was actually worth living. And the risk of blood clots is miniscule if you're using patches rather than oral estrogen.

[CLKD]

If breast disease is such a risk with HRT, why aren't ladies offered mastectomy ......... 

[Sparkler]

Hi Loonraider

I was the same and it took me 7 months to start taking it. But I am so pleased I did. I was 48 when I started on Evorel 25 patches and 200 mg utrogestan 12 days out of every 28. I am now on evorel 50 patches in place of the 25.

You take the evorel first and I found that having a patch made me feel I could take it off if I wanted to. I was the worried about the utrogestan, but actually it was fine. I never did take the latch off, and after 3 months upped it to Evorel 50. I am myself again. I have normal emotions and a normal worries instead of being scared to drive and having random palpitations and crying fits.

I think if you give it 6 months on the hrt, then see how you feel, always take it properly and always report any symptoms, you will very likely feel better and not worse. But hey! If you feel you need to wait a bit that’s up to you.

Sparkler

Ps it took me a good few weeks to start to feel better.

[CLKD]

I would hold The Pill in m y hand for hours B4 swallowing it.  In case I had side effects, even though I had taken it for years!