Menopause cant have HRT alternatives??

[whatsthestory123]

hi,bit of background

47yrs old havent had a period since coming of the Deppo injection Feb/ March

i have been sufferring sweats really bad day and night,not a wave as my friend describes but just full on,at first put it down to the heatwave although it happened before

periods come back very quickly when i have had a break from deppo but nothing 8 months now

greasy skin/ hair on and of like being a bloody teenager

went to my gp today and he thinks im in the Menopause but he wont put me on HRT as im high risk smoke, over weight (thats being tackled) and have just had a bad DVT so HRT is out

does anybody else find themselves unable to take HRT if so what do you find helps,been suggested a hand held fan which is great but any other medication

gp was on about highering my anti d's for my joint pain but i take alot of meds (bipolar anxiety) so would rather not

oh and said my practice does not do blood test now for it over the age of 45yrs

many thanks

well i cant take HRT anyway so look s like i m g o i n g to b e tackling it pretty much head on with a little help from a generous poster that has sent me some Black Cohosh and am looking into other natural methods

had no idea HRT masks it

hedda in my experience no it's not easier, at all. And a lot of medics think that it is, it's actually very distressing on top of the symptoms as there's no support at all if you're younger (except online now of course)

op be careful with supplements and what they contain and your meds. There are herbal supplements I cannot have because of epilepsy I only found out about when I saw a specialist - one of which is extremely common in herbal tea (fennel).

I can't take Black Cohosh as I have liver issues. I do take HRT - it (almost literally) saved my life, the flushes every 20 minutes day and night were becoming intolerable.

IVe learnt that GPs are generally both uninterested and clueless when it comes to menopause. Sadly it's up to us to do our own research and then go back to our GPs with a request and rationale for what you want.

This. I found a GP who was able to risk assess the threat to my mental health vs the risks to HRT.

HRT postpones menopause

That isn't my experience. I have reduced very carefully - I now take 1/4 the dose I took 2 years ago and have not experienced any menopausal symptoms.

You can take HRT but it needs to be transdermal and you need to see a Menopause Consultant. HRT does not delay the menopause. GPs are generally clueless. It is shocking and I am an HCP.

Please, can prev posters ensure they are not giving out medically incorrect advice? Black Cohosh has very varied reports of effectiveness, but certainly evidence of significant harm. I would not suggest it’s use.
HRT does not “delay” or “mask” the menopause at all. Oestrogen replacement simply treats the unwanted, and often significant, effects of deficiency. Your menopause, ie: cessation of ovarian cyclical function, will occur regardless of whether you take HRT or not.
Menopause Matters is indeed a fantastic website, and advice above to access this and the list of specialist clinics is sound.
I’m a consultant gynaecologist with wide experience in menopause management.
OP, there is every chance you can take HRT as a patch or gel as advised above - please do arrange being seen by a specialist and do NOT take herbal alternatives if you have recently had a DVT.
Hope things improve.

COI: I am unrelated to MM website, and am not on their specialist list!

Thanks Quince. To say what HCP I am would be far too outing but HRT and contraception is bread and butter stuff to me. GPs lack of knowledgeis majorly irratating.

Short term see Menopause Matters ,
long term insist on referral to Consultant Endocrinologist

Ask to see female GP male GP will tell you , you have to put up with it , you don't !
and don't be fobbed off , I have wiped the floor with many male GPS who tried to tell my sister and my SIL she had to put up with it

obviously oral HRT is out but as a few women have mentioned Transdermal ie patches/ Oestrogen Creams (prescription only )

but as these are expensive , you will have to persist and not take no for an answer

hi,
Please, can prev posters ensure they are not giving out medically incorrect advice? Black Cohosh has very varied reports of* effectiveness, but certainly evidence of significant harm. I would not suggest it’s use.

can you tell me in your opinion why?

so it is possible a patch of HRT,i have an appointment in November with the practise nurse will get on the website recommended and speak to nurse the female GP

mind you it took me 3 visits for them to test for a DVT after i insisted,may have to push them om this then

many thanks

Have you found out why you had a dvt? I have had several of them and, after a fairly exhaustive round of testing, was found to have a blood clotting mutation. Please get proper medical advice - ask to be tested for anything and everything (I write a list of questions to take with me in case I get flustered), ask for clear explanations if you don't understand and, please, don't take the advice of well-intentioned but medically untrained strangers on a forum. Google black cohosh and anti coagulants - just no!

they think it was due to a recent holiday,flight 5 hrs each way in a week

due a few blood tests when i see the nurse

i stopped taking the anti coagulants 2 weeks ago (was on them for 3ish months)

Will pm you.

If you have had a DVT you need a referral to your Menopause Clinic. Yes you can almost certainly have a patch. It is very, very likely your GP or Practice Nurse will not know you can have a patch or transdermal HRT as it correctly callef. GP knowledge on HRT is very, very patch and inadequate. Please ask for a referral to your local Menopause Clinic. The Menopause Matter has a list of NHS Menopause Clinics.

So glad you are pushing for some appropriate help. FAR too many of us are fobbed off and told to put up and shut up. It's ridiculous.

FAR too many if us are told to put up and shut up

Likewise, you're young it's soooo much easier for you, if younger than usual (that's not relating to a pp but to the HCPs who said that to me - it's crap). I got a good book about early menopause but it's out of print now unfortunately.