So HRT

[oldschooloon]

Yes ? .... Or no . Thoughts please ?

[PollyPerky]

I think we need a bit more to go on.
ie why you are thinking about it, your age, where you are in terms of meno, your possible risk factors, your concerns.....

Have you looked at the website Menopause Matters? If you go to Treatments/ HRT/ risks and benefits there are some very good stats and some 'scales' (weighing up the risks and benefits according to age.)

Me personally, yes. 8 years on it. feel great, need it for my bones, bladder and it reduces risk of heart disease.

[oldschooloon]

Hi , thanks , sorry for somewhat terse post , I'd just been to the Gp and he was a bit useless ... I'm 48 , haven't had a period in six months , had bloods for possible hypothyroidism as gaining weight and lots of other symptoms ( strong family history of thyroid issues by this age ish ) they're checking hormone levels too , and iron . Had a diagnosis of fibromyalgia a couple of years back but I'm wondering if HRT might help of hinder ... I never coped with hormonal contraceptives when younger , mood swings and so on ...

[oldschooloon]

I'll go look at that site , thank you

[PollyPerky]

Two important things:
HRT is a much lower dose than birth control pills.
Oestrogen in them is natural (in almost all brands) not synthetic as in the Pill. One kind of progesterone (Utrogestan) is the same as our own too.

Both of these mean there are likely to be fewer side effects.

[oldschooloon]

That's good to know ! Thank you ... I'll see what the bloods say , book with a less awful Gp and discuss my options

[Teresa811]

I'm 43 and peri menopause journey now begins !!! Felt terrible and like I was going crazy irrational thoughts panic feelings and very low mood especially about self .. the gp today has prescribed Estelle duet1 mg in pretty scared to take it and would love and advice or experiences

[Teresa811]

Is it really one juat come off birth control pills last week and now been prescribed HRT

[PollyPerky]

why are you scared? It's a lower dose of hormones than in the BC pill.

If you don't use HRT the risks of diseases later in life are far greater as you are having an early menopause.

The risks of HRT do not apply to young women like you. You are simply replacing what you ought to have up to around 52 -53.

[Teresa811]

Hi
Thanks for reply I couldn't find any information on HRT apart from 2012 on this brand Estelle duet
Doctors dnt really explain its lower than contraception pill so thank you feel better for that knowledge

[oldschooloon]

Good to know I'm not alone , it's a proper system meltdown

[Teresa811]

Horrific isn't it feelings of yeah I'm okay then oh no dnt think I am .... yesterday I found myself wondering around Tesco car park on verge of tears couldn't find my car??? Like your mind turned into mush
I'm going to try the Estelle duet and see if helps

[oldschooloon]

, " I would take a tablet made from the poo of a syphillitic warthog if it made me feel normal again. " patient.info/forums/discuss/perimenopause-and-severe-joint-pain-any-one-else--36790

[oldschooloon]

Thyroid has come back as normal , but hormones have definitely crashed ... Severe joint pain is the biggest problem and that thread above makes it all clear

[Teresa811]

I've been on Estelle duet 4 days all joint pain gone to fraction of what was but having hot flushes which said should settle down in work now hiding behind a barrier as I look a purple shade of red in cheeks !!!!

[oldschooloon]

I'm of a mind to give it a go , the effects of menopause are definitely way worse than I'd anticipated glad you're feeling better !

[Teresa811]

I really thought something was seriously going wrong someday joint pain was horrid and didn't ease doctor said somlow hormones will cause pain and risk of osteoporosis and in early 40s with 2 jobs n 4 kids ain't a option
I read so many scary stories from some ladies that come into salon where I work and others that say it's changed there life's and they can feel like used to so I think it's about how your body adapts or rejecte HRT

[Mermaidinthesea123]

HRT totally changed my life. I honestly think I would have killed either myself or someone else without it. I had debilitating night sweats, horrific mood swings, could not control my anger.
HRT worked straight away and now I feel completely normal again.
My new doctor is great and that really helped, found something that worked perfectly for me and I'm sleeping really well again.

[Teresa811]

Hi
I'm on day 8 and the effects have been fantastic all joint pain gone almost overnight and hot flashes gone too
I feel like I should do no panic attacks or massive anxiety over nothing which is such a relief I thought I was going crazy

[Mc180768]

Ah, a menopause HRT thread.

Hello ladies. I'm post menopausal after starting peri-menopause at 41.

I struggled through and am usually a robust, even tempered person, despite suffering with heavy periods since coming off BC in 1999 when I was sterilised.

I'm now 49. Period-free since 2015. Night sweats for years. Coped old fashioned way with a fan at my side (and a large electricity bill) but enjoyed the period-freend 18-months.

In February of this year, GP recommended Kliofem. I have had excruciating cramps, heavy periods, tearful & driven my OH up and down the wall. He's now 2ondering what had happened to his even-tempered wife. I've taken them for 56 days and largely feel like chucking them in the nearest bin.

Apparently, it's normal to have withdrawal bleeds and it all is to settle down. The biggest impact on me has been that I feel like I did 10 years ago every month. I'm not used to taking any format of medication. But my moods are seriously sour and work has been seriously affected.

Then my breasts. I feel like I'm carrying two cannonballs round reminiscent of early days of pregnancy in my 20s.

Wondering if any other women in early stages of HRT have experienced symptoms and stopped HRT due to being unable to cope with symptoms.

Thanks for reading and any replies in advance.

[Teresa811]

I'm day 14 Estelle duet 1mg
It's working very well so far mood more positive and stable my joint aches which were constant in knees ankles and hips
I felt like I did 2 yrs ago before this peri menopause started xx

[PollyPerky]

Hi there Mc

Don't give up yet!

My consultant (who is a top of tree in UK) is of the view that you've sometimes got to try a few types to get a good fit.

You have got one with Norethisterone in as the progestogen. This can be a complete bugger for some women. I used it for a few years (along with transdermal estrogen) and was fine-ish. The issue with the type you are on is it conti HRT so every pill has Norethisterone in it rather than sequi where you have 14 days of it in a 28 day cycle (like a natural cycle.)

So...you need to try another type with a different progestogen. Some women swear by Femoston which contains dydrogesterone (instead of Norethisterone.) But it IS sequi so you'd have a monthly bleed. It would be controlled and on time most months.

Usually, the advice for younger women like you is to start HRT with a sequi type just to work out what's going on - so you can tell if it's the progestogens that are not suiting you. Taking conti makes this impossible because you don't know if it's not enough estrogen, the wrong type of progestogen, or what.

If you could bear to, might be worth trying a sequi type for a few months or longer term. I- and other women I know - are still using sequi types from choice in our 60s.

[carabos]

You asked "yes or no". I'm a no. No I haven't researched it, no I haven't discussed it with my GP, or in fact anyone. I have changed my diet, taken up a demanding exercise regime and given up alcohol and caffeine. I have no symptoms other than night sweats. I'm 53, no periods since December 2014. HTH.

[Mc180768]

@PollyPerky TY very much for your advice. I'll try as you suggest as I'm at my three-month follow up GP appointment in a couple of weeks.

I've found this one quite aggressive in the way it's made me feel & the pain I'm experiencing is knocking me off my feet. I've become quite down with it all and struggling to cope particularly at work which is an emotionally intense trauma-informed role.

TY so much.

[cricketbat]

Carabos in what way have you changed your diet, please ?

[PollyPerky]

Mc Hope you get on okay!

cricket I did all the things that carabos did - It's a really good way to go around meno as it all helps. Everyone should try that and in fact make it how they live from now on. (no refined carbs, almost zero sugar, loads of fruit , veg, omega 3, good fats etc) However, it didn't crack it for me. My dr said I'd done everything I could re healthy living which is why I went for HRT. But if having a healthier lifestyle works for some women, that's great.