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Author Topic: HRT--good or bad?  (Read 742220 times)

sofasurfer

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Re: HRT--good or bad?
« Reply #945 on: July 09, 2018, 10:21:02 PM »

Hi - I have just 'found' Menopause Matters and am so glad as I am struggling! I have all of the symptoms of the menopause, hot flushes, no confidence - I doubt myself all of the time, anxiety, no energy, I have instantly developed a 'spare tyre' after never having one, frequent UTIs and no libido - everything is dry and now my hair is coming out in droves !! My GP is NO HELP whatsoever - I can't find any menopause clinics and have no-one that I can talk to about this. I haven't had a period for around 14 months and prior to this was on the progesterone only pill - I couldn't have the combined pill as I have really bad migraines. I feel apprehensive about taking HRT as am concerned about filling my system with oestrogen - I am 53 - and have read about the negative effects that oestrogen can have on your body so ideally would love to address some of the symptoms naturally or with alternative methods. I am taking Menopause, Ginseng and cod liver oil but not much has changed. I would really love my 'old self' back and would love to feel human again. Has anyone any advice ??? xxx
You and me in the same boat.
janetw,
I've written something about hair. It might not be too late.
Caffeine shampoo will save your hair to fall out. the oil will promote new growth.
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,36339.msg638412.html#msg638412

May be I should source pills online and treat myself that way.
I think this website doesn't require prescription.
https://www.doctorfox.co.uk/contraceptive-pill/
I'll do a yearly uterus scan and that will be it. Keep my fingers crossed.

PS, I don't understand the whole thing and imo, it's much easier to ask for contraceptive pill as I have been on one years ago.
« Last Edit: July 09, 2018, 11:54:57 PM by sofasurfer »
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Dancinggirl

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Re: HRT--good or bad?
« Reply #946 on: July 10, 2018, 10:57:56 AM »

JaneW - If you have been without a period for 14 months then your oestrogen levels will probably be bottoming out soon - so you level will be low.  A low dose HRT will be prescribed at first anyway - until you reach 60 the risks of cancer while taking HRt are extremely low but without HRT your risk of heart disease and osteoporosis go up!   Go to the next appointment with everything written out - your symptoms, questions and the treatment you want.  You should be allowed the patches as these are standard treatment especially if you suffer with headaches.
Many women overthink things when it comes to HRT. There are many drugs like anti depressants that are prescribed freely by GPs which have some very nasty side effects and give bad withdrawal symptoms but nobody seems to worry about these??!!
Do try to look at the positives - HRT might just give you your life back.

Sofasurfer - I really wouldn't self prescribe - really not a good idea. The contraceptive pill isn't the same as HRT and might not relieve meno symptoms.   
DG x
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Shadyglade

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Re: HRT--good or bad?
« Reply #947 on: July 10, 2018, 11:22:33 AM »

Here is a link re HRT and heart disease.  I don't think you have to worry about that at 53 but only if you have an early meno.

https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/living-with-a-heart-condition/women-with-a-heart-condition/menopause-and-heart-disease

and this from this website:-

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/cvdhrt.php


Shadyglade
« Last Edit: July 10, 2018, 11:34:40 AM by Shadyglade »
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JaneW

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Re: HRT--good or bad?
« Reply #948 on: July 10, 2018, 06:45:45 PM »

......thank you so much - obviously the cancer risks have been the thing that have been making me the most anxious about the thought of HRT but as you rightly point out without HRT there are concerns about heart health and I am at the stage where quality of life is getting me down. I am so disappointed though that I am not able to discuss such a 'major' decision in my opinion, with a 'menopause specialist' ! I have had appointments with both female GPs at my practice, both mid thirties, and when I asked at the reception who I could speak to for advice on the menopause was just told , "one of the female GPs". One of the GPs was actually looking things up on the internet whilst I was there so my confidence isn't high. Considering this is something that 50% of the population experience I really thought that there would be more places that I could turn to for advice.
I really appreciate your feedback, it does make me feel as though there is someone out there that I can discuss concerns with and be listened to.x
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sofasurfer

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Re: HRT--good or bad?
« Reply #949 on: July 11, 2018, 01:05:24 PM »

Sofasurfer - I really wouldn't self prescribe - really not a good idea. The contraceptive pill isn't the same as HRT and might not relieve meno symptoms.   
DG x
Really? The content is the same except it's much higher.

We needed oestrogen and progesterone for our immune system as well as many things to maintain our body. Sex hormones aren't just for fertility. When that is no longer there, of course we are going to fall ill. I think doctors are wrong by giving you guys much much smaller dosage because you guys are still suffering even when on HRT. Who decided that 1mcg of oestrogen is the right amount when you had 600-800 when you had your period? Something isn't right Dancinggirl.
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Roseneath

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Re: HRT--good or bad?
« Reply #950 on: July 22, 2018, 07:03:23 PM »

Just to echo who Jane W was saying. I have had 6 different GP opinions on peri menopause treatment from 6 different local GPs. (All under 40 I would say).  Non of them asked me about any symptoms (or lack of them) other than the main two I have had (sporadic anxiety surges, mid cycle gunk). I have been told I need ADs for sure to beat the health anxiety, given two HRT types that was looked up in a book and was a major disaster anxiety wise. I also have hypertension but this was never discussed or checked. I was given propranonol daily for anxiety then told 4 months later I should not be taking it daily at all.    I have been told my estragen may be too high rather than low (which is why the HRT made things worse) but with no blood tests to back this up.  Three years on with a pretty low quality of life at times and I am no further forward what / if /I need to improve things. I live 3 hours from the nearest city so a private clinic is out. We don't even get sent so much as a leaflet on these things on our 40th birthdays.  My hubbie seems to get loads on testicles and bowels!
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Jck

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Re: HRT--good or bad?
« Reply #951 on: July 29, 2018, 06:36:50 AM »

I tried elleste continue duet which got rid of all the nasty symptoms of the menapause but made me bleed...and it was very heavy. I went back to the doc who has changed me to tibilone...after a week the bleeding had almost stopped, I have just had the odd old blood discharge which I can cope with.
I'm hoping that tibilone will suit me better.

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Fruit loop

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Re: HRT--good or bad?
« Reply #952 on: September 16, 2018, 09:21:43 AM »

Lots of positive stuff on hrt but can I just say the whole experience has been a negative one for me.Started elleste duet and felt fab for 3 weeks then ended up severely depressed and suicidal.Went on everol patches and uterogestan,just stopped taking it after 9 months as I was suffering debilitating anxiety.I was not anxious before I started hrt . It's been 2 weeks since I stopped and  the anxiety miraculously disappeared on day 10 almost like someone had turned a switch off but after 2 days where I felt like my old self I am now feeling extremely low and tearful. Worried now I'm going to be like this forever 😢
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Dancinggirl

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Re: HRT--good or bad?
« Reply #953 on: September 16, 2018, 09:49:41 AM »

Do start a fresh thread Fruit loop so more ladies can respond.
It sounds as though you don't get on with progesterone that well and a Mirena might be worth considering.
The peri meno stage can be tough because your own hormones are fluctuating in the back ground.
Finding an HRT combo that work for you can be difficult.
Why not try 50mcg Estrodot patch with Provera progesterone for 12 days each month.
I suspect your mood is to do with hormonal fluctuations. DG x
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sofasurfer

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Re: HRT--good or bad?
« Reply #954 on: October 02, 2018, 10:39:21 PM »

Sofasurfer - I really wouldn't self prescribe - really not a good idea. The contraceptive pill isn't the same as HRT and might not relieve meno symptoms.   
DG x
So eventually I got a pack of contraceptive but my gp prescirbed very low dose contraceptive (loestrin 1mg Norethisterone/20 micrograms Ethinylestradiol) to the point that it's much lower than HRT like Estelle Duo.  :-\

Someone recommended Qlaira but I was denied since it's expensive because it's new.
It seems to be around for a number of years though.

I'm considering buying what I want from an online shop.
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Troomp

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Re: HRT--good or bad?
« Reply #955 on: October 05, 2018, 04:11:12 PM »

Hello,

Just wanting a little bit of advice before venturing to see GP for a review of HRT.

I started on Elleste Duo over a year ago. Fine on the oestrogen, homicidal on the green tablets and flooded every hour during my period. So I requested a change to Femoston 1mg sequential which has worked really well until a few months ago. Now having more hot flushes, problems sleeping (not just due to hot flushes), increase in mood swings, fatigue and PMT. My perception is that things are worse in second half of the month.

Questions are:
1.How long does oral oestrogen stay in the blood stream? I take it in the morning - would the effects the following night be a lot less?
2.For a perimenopausal woman, like myself, on sequential, how would you know when/if to move onto combined?

I am thinking, would I be better on a medium dose transdermal oestrogen plus Utrogestan? I am quite wary of the type of progesterone I take, as a long time ago I tried a mirena and bled continually for 5 months, then there was the Elleste homicidal problems! Could the progesterone be taken every 3 months if I was on transdermal oestrogen? (I am 50 and was having irregular periods, sometimes 4 months apart prior to HRT, sometimes very heavy).

I would like to be armed with knowledge as although my GP is lovely, she is young and didn't agree with me that anxiety was a menopausal problem and didn't seem to know there is sequential transdermal treatment either. Which I don't dis, as GPs can't all be expert on menopausal matters!

Many thanks for any help.  :)

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Hurdity

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Re: HRT--good or bad?
« Reply #956 on: October 07, 2018, 08:41:24 AM »

Hi Troomp

 :welcomemm:

You could try an increase in Femoston as it comes in a 2 mg dose (2/10).

When taken orally there would be a surge in estradiol each day but it is supposed to reach a steady state. The breakdown products from digestion/metabolism are excreted so these may also cause side effects. Transdermal HRT is supposed to be most consistent but because each women reacts indvidually to the different types and modes of delivery of HRT, you can't predict what will happen to you!

If you are peri-menopausal when you start HRT and depending how far into it - some docs will try the woman on continuous combined HRT after a year and see what happens. If bleeding continues to be erratic then better to go back to sequential. Otherwise at 54 women are assumed to be post-menopausal because 80% of women are - so can trasfer to conti if they wish (although I was a couple of months off 54 when I started HRT so I stayed on sequential until 58 when the doc suggested conti - but didn't suit me so still on sequential in mid 60's!).

By all means try the transdermal oestrogen if you would prefer but as you are still young, if the Femoston suits you (the prog part) then I would try the higher dose before giving up on it and trying something different?

Heavens your GP is ignorant! All the HRT types are listed under the Treatment tab on the menu - for peri they are sequential ( including combi patches which deliver both hormones like the pills), and for post they are conti, and you can also do sequi or conti with separate oestrogen and progesterone!

Let us know what you decide and how you get on.

Hurdity x
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Charlie62

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Re: HRT--good or bad?
« Reply #957 on: October 08, 2018, 11:38:57 AM »

Hi Hurdity
I am new to the site but have posted recently. I am interested in your last post replying to Troomp.
I am taking femoston conti 1/5. I have been taking it for about a year after taking the progesterone only pill for many years (tried to have the mirena coil fitted but due to tilted pelvis was unable to have it) I can't remember how many years i was on the pill for but had no periods for the whole time so can't gauge when i actually started my menopause. The pill hid many symptoms but when i was told i had to stop taking it at 55 the symptoms really kicked in so started my hrt. The last year has been ok with mild anxiety & low mood every now & again, which i could handle, but recently have felt really unwell. The doctor has prescribed anti-depressants which i took for 4 days but have decided i don't want to take them. I am now going to see another doctor for a 2nd opinion.
You suggested to Troomp about increasing the Femoston to 2/10. When i mentioned to my doctor about changing my hrt a few months ago when i had a bad episode she was reluctant to do so (tbh i dont think she actually likes prescribing hrt anyway) I am a bit confused about all the different types and if my doctor doesnt know then how am i supposed to?? so confused.
Your posts are really helpful x
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Dancinggirl

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Re: HRT--good or bad?
« Reply #958 on: October 08, 2018, 03:04:06 PM »

Hi and welcome to MM Charlie62


Femoston conti is a lowish dose and doesn't come in a higher dose.
I think increasing to a higher dose HRT might be worth trying - maybe ask for oestrogen only patch(Estrodot 50mcg) with Utrogestan?  I'm afraid conti HRTs can sometimes bring lower mood as progesterone used all the time can give PMT and fatigue.     Low mood and anxiety seems to creep in as we age anyway for many of us and we simply have to learnt to live with it.  Good exercise and some mediation can really help to lift mood. DG x
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Dancinggirl

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Re: HRT--good or bad?
« Reply #959 on: October 23, 2018, 09:50:56 AM »

Hi and welcome jaypo - it is awful that there are so many ill informed scares about HRT. A strong family history of breast cancer does make HRT something that is not a good idea and for some women HRT can often increase anxiety. If anxiety is your main menopause symptom, then you could try the non HRT prescribed drugs that often help: https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/prescribed.php

Some women seem to do well on Citalopram or sister drugs to this.

There definitely needs to be more alternative treatments available for menopause symptoms.   DG x
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