So, I'm going to go through TWO menopauses? [confused]

[Eliza22]

I've started HRT. Ellest Duet 2/1. Hot flushes subsided nicely. Joint pain no different. Sleeping better due to fewer flushes. Find myself feeling bloated and have gained weight, I think. Been on it a couple of months. Yesterday, a friend said "but you DO know that when you come off the HRT, you'll have all your symptoms back again, to "go through the menopause"? Mmmm, no. I didn't realise that.

Anyone?

[PollyPerky]

You might find the weight gain settles down and if not you could change to something different- maybe a patch with a slightly lower dose.
Friend is not exactly right- some women find their symptoms come back, but not as bad, others find they don't come back at all, but the point that the new NICE report hasn't managed to get across ( cos it's not being shouted from the rooftops!!!) is that you never have to come off HRT. Ever. Unless there are medical reasons to stop, then you can carry on. If you become worried about risks in future- long term- it's worth thinking about the type of HRT you are using because they are not all the same. Transdermal is safer re blood clots (and recommended for all women over 60) and natural progesterone (instead of synthetic progestogens) is regarded as much safer re. breast cancer (some go as far as saying no risk at all.)

Unless your dr decided there is a compelling medical reason to stop, you don't have to.

HRT isn't just for flushes and sweats etc- it's good for your body in so many ways.

[Eliza22]

Thank you Polly.

[inkyblue]

That's interesting Polly. GP has put me on HRT for 18 months with a view to gradually reducing it at that point. I feel much better for it and am worried that all my symptoms will come back when I stop having the patches.

[PollyPerky]

This statement from the British Menopause Society says there should be no time limits placed on HRT use- see 3rd bullet point.

www.thebms.org.uk/statementpreview.php?id=1

If you also read the NICE report, the first points made at 1.1 say that women should be consulted and actively involved in decisions about treatment, (in so many words) and all treatment should be individualised. (In other words, not being 'told' what they can and can't have.)

It's not up to a GP to say you can or can't have HRT- it's your choice once they have discussed risks.

Your GP has a duty of care and if there are strong medical reasons why you can't have any drug that is fair- but if they are basing their care on out dated research or just their own woolly opinions, that's not fair.

Sorry for the rant- just get cross for some of you who are battling with this!

[inkyblue]

That's very helpful Pinky, thanks. I will raise this when the time comes. There are no medical reasons that I am aware of that mean I cannot continue HRT for longer.

[inkyblue]

Oops, PollyPerky I meant

[PollyPerky]

The BMS is having its annual conference in 2 weeks; hopefully GPs will go along and learn more about meno and HRT!

I think some of them are still stuck with the '2-5 years' use which is now no longer used as guidance.

There is more info on the Menopause Matters website- it's a bit of a hard site to navigate IMO but in the HRT section you will find a diagram of the scales and how risks/ benefits are weighted; age 50-60 benefits outweigh risk, 60-70 risks and benefits are equal, and over 70 it depends on personal risk factors. And not all HRT is equal- some types have higher risks than others.