HRT or NOT!

Hymn book don't suffer.. How do you cope with sleepless nights? I think you should go back to the doc and tell him/her that you need something.. Surely at 69 you still have many years to enjoy and you can't enjoy anything with no sleep.

i was taken of hrt when I was about 63. I am now 75. I felt really well whilst taking it, once off of it I have never felt really well. tiredness, no libido, etc.etc.

I feel nervous of asking my gp if I can go back on it, and also embarrassed about telling him the lack of libido. I know I am being stupid.

In my working life I was PA to three neonatal surgeons. At age 47 I started the menopause and frequently had to ‘mop up’ whilst taking dictation. One particular Consultant noticed this and asked was I on HRT. No, said I. Please don’t take it he said. The menopause is a natural occurrence, go through it normally. I recall saying to him that it’s alright for a man to comment when he’s not the one suffering. I took his advice be it right or wrong.

It took a while for me to get the correct hrt first tablets then patches fantastic. I wish I was still using them. I'm now 69 still having dreadful sweats particularly at night. I have forgotten what a good nights sleep is like. My gp said l had been on hrt for too long so she took me off it. This was some years ago now l thought the sweats were getting better but they are now back with a vengeance. If you are happy with it and it makes life better then carry on. I really wish l was,still on it.

Wish I had stayed on it longer but I have been off it for about 10 years so I can hardly go back on it. I would see what your Dr says

Again, genuinely wondering- what does the part of placebo effect play- if told, against ones wishes, that one should come off a drug for medical reasons- the 'rebellious side' kicks in? I wonder if they have done double blind testing?

Thanks for being honest- as said, I have no idea would it would be like? I keep taking the Curcumin/turmeric and tell myself it does the same job, without any of the risks.

I still have arthritis pain, stiffness and lots of wrinkles Jura, but when I came off my low dose oestrogen HRT I did feel a lot older!

My skin was drier, I was slower and definitely less positive and happy (the bitch from hell at times) and most of all I had a heck of a lot less energy and my memory (which has always been terrible) went completely to pot to the extent of worrying that I may have dementia. I lasted no more than a couple of months before DH suggested I went back on!

It took easily another month before I felt the effect and now I have no intention of repeating the experiment.

I have been on HRT for 27 years, I’m 72 now and have every intention of staying on it for life. I saw a gynaecologist who said I was the same age as his mother and he would advise her to stay on HRT for life.
I recently went to renew my prescription at my surgery, saw a nurse who said nobody should be on HRT over 72, she looked about 12, I asked her to explain on what research findings she based this. She went off in huff and asked a GP to speak to me. He wasn’t the least bothered about my age and agreed that if I understood the slight risks then there was no problem. He even went as far as to say I could apply for my repeat HRT prescription on line.
I have other health problems and it is just luck what will get me first. All life is a risk.

So sorry you have been through all this, and I get your take. And yet, if a doctor, through careful research, feels genuinely that prescribing a drug could seriously affect your health - should they still prescribe? I mean, should they prescribe alcohol, or smoking, because it is relaxing? Or endless tranquilisers, sleeping tablets, etc?

Notice that no-one has posted who has not taken HRT. I have never done so, and it makes me wonder - what would life be like if I did? Would I sail into old age without pain, without wrinkles, sexed up and sexy, feeling like a 30 year old? I have no idea. I know OH would not be happy at all, because of the risks- so I am fie with that.

As said, no idea- but I do wonder?

I didn’t want to take HRT I think the menapause is a natural part of life I never had any problems so was very lucky 74 and don’t take any medication

10 days ago I started on HRT patches. I started menopause symptoms age 29. Symptoms grew steadily worse including severe water retention for 3 weeks each month. Visits to GP over the next few years resulted in being told I needed to lose weight- I was 8 and a half stone - or I was depressed so that made my condition worse so given anti depressants. I asked several time to be referred to gynaecologist but was told no as I was too young. I saw gynaecologist privately at age 38 but she said she could not help me. At 42 my marriage broke down as a result of my symptoms affecting the marriage. I do not blame my ex husband. Subsequent GP visits were not helping me. I knew what I was going through was not 'normal' but I felt powerless. At 48 I went to see another gynaecologist privately. In 10 minutes he informed me my ovaries had stopped working years before. I had medication to switch off ovaries and took HRT. I became the woman I should have been. 6 months later stopped meds as per dr advice to see if ovaries would start working normally. Unfortunately they did not so had them removed on his advice. Several years on HRT and I felt wonderful. Then was informed by GP that I should stop HRT because of breast cancer risks. Past 2 years have been nightmare. I am 60 in 3 months. After struggling for 25 years with symptoms making my life a misery, I am prepared to take the risk to have my life back. I remarried 18 months ago and my symptoms have begun to affect this marriage. I cannot let this happen and want to be the best I can be. We each have to make our own decisions about our bodies. We know our bodies better than anyone. I wish you all the best.

I had HRT from my early 30’s following a complete hysterectomy/oopherectomy and was fine with it. A (male) GP persuaded, well, bullied me really, into stopping it in my mid fifties. Worst thing I ever did. I felt dreadful for about 8 months, the worst headaches, hot flushes etc. Even though the worst of the symptoms abated, my libido just disappeared altogether, and any sort of intimacy was painful.

I saw a much more sympathetic GP last year, and restarted on a low dose patch. I feel great, but have developed very sore, painful acne, which will not clear. Regretfully, I have decided that it’s not for me now. I just really wish I’d not been strongarmed into stopping it in the first place.

Any drug has some risk, but without being flippant, I’d take it with HRT, quality of life is so important.

I’ve been on HRT for nearly 19 years with one short break in 2005 when I needed hip surgery. My (female) GP accepts my decision to take 2.5 mg on alternate days to keep me free from menopausal symptoms despite her husband refusing to agree to this! She also prescribed a vaginal hormonal cream.
I’m nearly 69 and remarried 3.5 years ago so maintaining my sex life is important. KY forever!

After having a full hysterectomy in my mid 40’s I asked the specialist at that time to prescribe the HRT patch (which had just been introduced as an alternative to HRT pills). That was over 30 years ago and I am still using a very low dose patch (reapplied every six days). My bones are strong, my energy level is high, I sleep well and my weight is unchanged. I prefer the patch to the pill because of the slow absorption of HRT into the system and I am not directly swallowing this medication on a daily basis - kinder to my internal organ? Maybe! To me, the perceived benefits far outweigh the risks- without a doubt!

I loved HRT. Felt just as you do Juliette, but that is going to happen when ever you give it up, I'm afraid. Annoying having hot flushes at 73. I was forced to stop taking it by breast cancer, after taking it for a very long time, but I don't regret taking it, If it was suddenly declared that oestrogen didn't contribute to breast cancer I'd be back on it like a shot.

What is regarded as lose dose HRT?

Having become mentally ill and cognitively impaired during the menopause I don't ever plan to come off HRT. The age group for women with the highest suicide rate per 100,000 in the U.K is 50-54, the average age of menopause is 51; as far as I am aware no research has been done to establish a causal link, but I know from my own experience that the menopause, for some women, can be almost impossible to navigate. Fortunately my (female) GP is clued up on the menopause and recognised it as the cause of my inability to function, which was a blessing for me as I hadn't connected my symptoms to the menopause - I just thought I was going mad.

I am now on a very low dose of HRT, taken every other day; I muddled up my meds one week when I was away from home and missed taking three doses - I found I simply couldn't function. Recent 'spotting' had me nervously awaiting the consultant's diagnosis as I was worried he might suggest I come off HRT, but instead he said that because of a slight gynae problem I have that he recommends I stay on it at my current dose forever. I honestly could have kissed him!

I am 52 and after using various types of HRT (including one where you only have bleeds every three months). For 6 months I came off them and used herbal preparations and omega 7 capsules to try and diminish the symptoms. I struggled with the symptoms all the same. I now use the transdermal patches called 'Evorel Conti' which are a continuous combined HRT preparation. Patches are applied to the skin twice weekly. My doctor recommended these for me rather than taking HRT pills. Generally women are able to take these if they haven't had a period for a year. It was difficult to know if this was the case for me as you get a bleed when taking normal HRT generally - but my gynaecologist seemed to be OK with me using the patches. I am doing fine on them. Initially I was concerned that they could come off easily when showering or bathing - but they don't.

I'm 68 and take HRT; having come off it a couple of times and suffered all of the symptoms of the menopause really badly each time.
I have researched it and the pros outweigh the cons (for me). The increased 'risks' are very very small statistically.
I would rather have a slightly shorter life than one living in misery with all of the hot sweats, lack of sleep, thinning hair etc.
I never took any of the products made with pregnant mares urine - names usually started with Prem.... - but one made with plant derived ingredients.
Two months ago I was changed on to Kliofem as my usual HRT wasn't availableand am now having a period! Wouldn't recommend it. Am seeing my GP on Monday...

If modern medicine means we alleviate some of the side effects, then I’m all for it.

@harrigran

*Not, definitely. The female hormones deplete for a reason why would you want to reinstate them. Some cancers are hormone related and topping them up could put you at risk.*

The reason is biological. Most 85 year old women would not survive child birth. If they did, they would then struggle to raise a child.

I’m a holistic therapist and I have to agree with the above comment about having to go through it eventually. I see lots of people suffering dreadfully at a later age, after coming off hrt. I wouldn’t (didnt) go on it..I think it’s been over medicalised to be a medical condition....and if I was on it, I’d come off. Sorry...I know lots of people won’t agree and you just have to make up your own mind I guess.

I tried HRT for 3 months. I suffered headaches and depression and had to stop it. The menopausal symptoms were nothing like as bad as the treatment.

Allsaints - I started on 2mg at 45 but a new doctor wasn't happy so cut it down to 1mg several years ago. I've been fine on 1mg, so maybe you could ask at your next review if you could try reducing?