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[Bluebell]

Hi ladies, I just turned 70 and I’m 11 years post menopausal having had my last period aged 59. I’ve been on this forum a few times in the past for reassurance about my symptoms.

I’m not on HRT apart from the oestrogen pessary I use for dryness down below.
I still get every few weeks palpitations/beating pulse and it can go on all night and the next day then it goes away again.
I still have regular hot flushes and night-sweats.🥵
 I’ve had all the ecg’s and all are fine as is my cholesterol and blood pressure.
My pulse can go up to a 100bpm when I have the palpitation/beating.
My Doctor said that she wouldn’t be keen to put me on HRT now so I am using Wellsprings Serenity 20-1 cream.
 I haven’t noticed any difference as yet and that’s nearly a month.
I eat well, don’t smoke and exercise and I’m not overweight.

I’m just wondering if anyone else still gets symptoms at this age? 🤦🏼‍♀️

The other strange thing is when I have the symptoms they seem to affect my 25 year old gall bladder removal scar? 

[CLKD]

What reason does your GP give you for not using HRT?  70 after all is a number 

Interesting about your scar, sometimes my sterilisation or appendix scars irritate so I have to put a cream on the areas.  Last period over 20 years ago.  Had never associated it.

R the palpitations cyclical?

[orrla]

Hi there!

Life is tough, isn't it? ..particularly when one is a woman!

First thing I thought when I read what you wrote was that, your body works without hormones and that's how it feels without them. Giving synthetic ones to it now would only cause more problems, I think. They are manmade powerful drugs science still learns about and body needs to learn to work with them, when it's still relatively ok, with original natural ones still in it. But this is my understanding, of course. I am sure there are other opinions.

Best, I think, would be to deal with each symptom separately.

To contrast, I am 69,  on HRT from 45, smoke, drink, never had any heart problem, no other medication,  blood pressure perfect they say, stomach, liver ok, no cholesterol, but, from ca 63, issues showing up one after another, like, I have now 5 different kind of tumours, 6th awaiting diagnosis, collapsing spine due to scoliosis plus osteopenia plus discs degeneration, prolapse, dry vagina, varicose eczema, rhinitis, falling out hair,  blurring eye, ..and 🤔..a corn on one foot!😉

It sucks!  ..no other conclusion!

Best🤗

[CLKD]

Our bodies have lots of hormones including the sex ones.  Orla: R U able to explain 'working without' 

Also thyroid function can be affected as we go into peri which may bring a whole lot of other strange symptoms  .  If HRT helps then age should not be an issue if a woman is otherwise heathly. 

[orrla]

Yes, CLKD. Some are there but working with less of these that are not.I never had any issues with libido, for example, and VA got me at ca 65 after going from 100 to 50 patch, so..

Each body is different, genetics play big part too. But, HRT does not make us immortal, I can see well. My body is going off, it's clear, HRT or not.

[Bluebell]

 
Hi CLKD, the Doctor who is female said she wouldn’t advise HRT at this age - if I had been on it years ago she thinks it would be safe but not starting it at this age. To be honest I think most Doctors are out of their depth as far as menopause symptoms are concerned. 🥴

[Bluebell]

Hi Orla, sorry to hear you have so many symptoms.
I too have a 3rd grade prolapse, frozen shoulder, constant lower backache even after all the physio it’s still not right.

The Serenity cream I am using is a bio identical cream as is the HRT you get nowadays.

I just think the Serenity cream isn’t quite strong enough.

I can put up with the hot flushes and night sweats but the palpitations/pulsating/beating or whatever it is just brings me down and makes me anxious even though I have had it off and on since my menopause started. 🤯

[orrla]

Thanks, Blubell!

I read once a perfect explanation of how HRT works, dr saying, it could be like putting newest Ferrari engine into 60s Mini. It could explode tearing it apart!😅 That's why they are cautious.

I don't know much about palpitations but that's related to heart and blood pressure, isn't it? People take all sorts for that, to regulate.. Ask for cardiologist appointment..?

VA wise, I had a ring installed, to hold it up, and Estring  ring as well, which worked straight away, no problems but Phizer who produce it decided to reorganize their production so they are unavailable now, so am back to square one with it, but keep your eye on them. They really  work!

Also, visit to Women's physio helped me. Doing regular pelvic floor exercises helps with back pain. Did you look into it?

🤗

[sheila99]

I would try a different gp. If you get no joy there ask for a referral to an NHS menopause clinic. There's likely to be a long delay so if you can afford it going private may be a better option. You might want to have a look at the NICE guidelines which now has no age limit. The 'window of opportunity' when it does most to protect your heart and bones is within 10 years of meno and you're only just outside it. I don't see it being hugely different from someone who is meno at 40 starting at 51 though many gps still believe the fable that everyone is meno by 54. It's important that you start on a low dose as you've been without it for some time, and increase gradually if you need to. Transdermal is safe than oral. There are people on this forum who have started hrt late in life and It's been successful. You may be fortunate and your symptoms will resolve on their own but for many they can be lifelong. I started hrt at 57 though still peri, it changed my life (anxiety and insomnia). IMO quality of life is important and there's no need to feel lousy when there's treatment available.
 I don't agree at all with the 'new ferrari engine' theory (if only it would!). Perhaps more akin to a service and tuning.
 

[orrla]

Sure, but you did not start at 70, did you?

It could work if they knew which one to start one on but, as all here know, it takes awhile before one gets comfortable after finding one that works for them. And that's the hardest part during which things could go wrong.

I am sure that what contributed to my health deterioration was pandemic forcing me into idle lifestyle combined with national shortages of HRT,  and cutting down doses,  forcing to go on different, apparently not equivalent drugs, resulting in havoc within my body. And then lack of appropriate help due to delays, waiting times, etc.

They do work, no doubts, but need to be applied wisely!

🤗

[CLKD]

Quality of Life should not be denied simply due to age.  That bus may be along behind long B4 any health symptoms begin from HRT.

Also, while women over 69 aren't 'allowed' HRT, there won't be any progress as to how a regime will help us in our later years.  This of course could be a Research topic for someone!

[Bluebell]

Thanks sheila99. 🙏🏼
That sounds like good advice.
I agree with everything you said.
 Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.
I’ll see if there’s a Menopause Clinic nearby. 😊

[CLKD]

A menopause specialist rather than a gynaecologist ;-)

[Hollyboll]

Sorry to hear you’re having symptoms.

As others have said, it’s ludicrously outdated to suggest an upper cutoff age for starting (or for that matter stopping) hrt.

If you want to try hrt I’d personally:
- show Gp the nice guidelines (I think changed in 2015?!!) and if they still won’t prescribe either insist/complain or tell them they need to refer you to meno clinic. The waiting list will be long but get in the queue
- if you can afford it, while you crawl up the waiting list, see a pvt meno specialist once who should then write to your Gp who should then prescribe for you (they just want cover although they shouldn’t need more than the NICE guidelines). There are plenty who do online consultations so no need for local. I’d personally find a meno consultant, not a Gp who describes themselves as a meno specialist eg not newsonhealth (who are GPs charging consultant prices), for several reasons anyway but for you particularly because your GP is more likely to do what a consultant recommends.

Good luck and keep us posted x

[Bluebell]

Thanks Hollyboll … just wish there were more Menopause Clinics with highly trained up to date Menopause Consultants. Thanks for replying. x