Anyone on HRT? What has it done for you? Has it given you back your life? I'm in a dilemma.

[BorntoDillyDally]

If you could score it 0-10 what would you give it?

I'm 52 in a few weeks and believe I have been in perimenopause for 5+ years.

I have been under a lot of stress during these last 5 years and put a lot of my symptoms down to that. I care for my elderly mum who has Alzheimer's and breast cancer (and heart disease, osteoporosis, cataracts and glaucoma..... 😞). Life with someone suffering with dementia is hell tbh so no wonder I am stressed.

I don't suffer from sweats much at all and (thankfully) atm, I sleep well but I am knackered all the time. I have anxiety so bad from the moment I wake until the evening when it settles (I can not emphasize just how bad my anxiety gets). I cry every day and over nothing and everything, I am super low too, no joy in my life at all, I have reached a point in my life where I would be happy staring at a wall all day until I can get to bed, what a bloody way to live!
Zero libido, itchy skin, thinning hair, very achy at times, dry skin etc. Alongside these emotional/physical symptoms I have dreadful digestive issues (nausea, acid and burping mid cycle with bloating, gas, diarrhoea and/or constipation all other times,). My digestive symptoms have definitely worsened during this time despite suffering with IBS half my life (I used to have it under control).

I live a healthy a lifestyle as I possibly can. I walk my dog every day, do yoga/stretching and weights during the week. I listen to a recording of hypnosis from a face to face hypnotherapy session, each night. I follow a healthy diet (under a dietitian's advice) for my gut issues. I don't drink any alcohol and in fact only drink water. I avoid foods I know exacerbate my issues (dairy, wheat etc). I am slim with a low BMI and always have been yet I still struggle every day.

I have tried antidepressants but they make my gut issues worse.

I think I have tried everything and do everything to help but I now feel feel HRT may be my only chance of feeling normal again but I have endometriosis and adenomyosis which was only picked up a year ago and I'm still on a waiting list for a laparoscopy. I worry HRT will worsen this.

I have spoken to 3 menopause specialists. One was a GP specialist and one a specialist from a gynae at a private hospital. Both suggested I should try bio identical HRT despite my mum having breast cancer and my fears over this, they said the risk is low but I'm still worried. Not helped by my last consultation a few weeks ago with a menopause gynae from my NHS hospital telling me that HRT should be a last resort for me and even suggested I take a braca test! She suggested venlafaxine but from everything I read about this antidepressant it says it only really helps sweats which I don't suffer from.

I know I need to protect my heart and bones and because of my poor mum's situation I very much fear dementia which hrt 'possibly' could protect against but this last consultation has put me off hrt as I already fear it for possible BC risk and worry what it could do to my endometriosis as well.

What is everyone's thoughts on hrt? Has it helped you?

When I was deciding whether to go on it or not what helped me is the fact it doesn’t have to be a permanent decision you can just see how you get on.

It’s been utterly life changing for me. I tried all the lifestyle stuff first. I eat healthily /exercise etc. But I could not sleep and would wake many times a night in a blind panic. Also mood was flat. Zero libido or energy.

I sleep so much better. My mood is great and actually stable for the first time in about 10 years. I have a bit more energy. I’m also on testosterone.

I am also on it for the protection for bones and I personally believe (after researching) that is is also great for the heart and brain but there are not quite enough studies to prove that yet. There is for osteoporosis though.

Doctors are not up to date I find with current research on the modern HRT. What is true is that for most women the benefits outweigh any small risks.

The book ‘Oestrogen Matters’ is very good to dispell any fears over breast cancer. That study (and it was done on the old HRT) has been debunked. It’s worth a read if you are on the fence and what more information. It goes through all the studies that have been done.

Shamelessly following as we have very similar symptoms except for night sweats.

Just started on HRT patch and started a thread on it recently. For me it's the insomnia that made me get off my arse and try HRT as really can't function on such little sleep.

I think maybe you should do the brac test first. You might be presently surprised as my aunt died of breast cancer and my Mum her sister took the test and was fine. It might ease your mind or at least help you plan treatment going forward.

You sound really depressed and is it any wonder being a carer for your Mum and loosing her slowly to Alzheimer's which is an utterly cruel illness for both of you to deal with. I didn't see you mention counselling but you need something right now.

I'm hoping HRT is the answer,I was reassured by my GP that the risk is very low. Search my username name and you should find my thread.

Good luck, I'm really sorry to hear about your Mum Alzheimer's too.

Out if 0-10 - personally I’d give 20.
It was life-changing for me - as within a few days of starting on it I started feeling more and more like my old self.
It doesn’t fully cure anxiety - but, for me, makes it more manageable.

In your place - I’ll try. Would also ask for both oestrogen and testosterone, btw.
And, in parallel make sure to keep up with breast exams and mammograms - as we all should be in any case. And - of course have the Braca test!!!! Not related to HRT - it’s a good thing to do.

Good luck 🤗🤗🤗🤗

what about doing the brac test forst and then deciding? if you are negative, would be much easier to go ahead.

Didn’t do anything for me sadly. I went as high as 100mg patches with no effect. I know for some people it’s been amazing though, so I would say it’s worth a try

Who decides what hrt you need if they have no previous profile to compare it too? Some women have more oestrogen and some more testosterone

I think most doctors start you on a low ish dose of oestrogen and see if that helps resolve the symptoms. Then increase it if it doesn’t.

Testosterone is a standard dose - I have a blood test every 3 months or so just to check it.

Honestly its been amazing for me...the reduction in anxiety and inability to get back to sleep is huge....I feel awful with poor sleep..

I started on gel but have swopped to patch just as easier ..
I had a coil put in due to abnormal bleeding.. will be interesting to see what happens when that comes out..

have you had any blood tests recently? Your symptoms may well be menopause related but they could also point to thyroid issues. Underactive thyroid has the same symptoms you describe and often affect women your age.
(I'm the same age and have an underactive thyroid)

I got my brain back, essentially. All the awfulness that menopause was causing disappeared.

It was something I dithered over for a long time, but when I realised that I did t want to go out, that’s when I knew I had to do something.
How about committing to a 6 month trial? This is what I did, I wrote down my symptoms and then checked every month to see my progress. I didn’t come off it and wish I’d started earlier.
But get your iron/thyroid/B12 checked too.

Oh love it's awful isn't it? HRT saved me.

I was initially diagnosed with depression when I wasn't. I had a very low mood and couldn't keep a thought in my head. I moved GPs and initially went on a very low dose. I felt better in 2 weeks but then the night sweats started. I then went on the gel and capsules and I was back to feeling myself almost instantly.

You could try it? If it's not for you you can stop.

Thank you, everyone.

I'll ask my GP if I can get the braca test then take it from there.

I did have a full blood panel taken but all came back in normal ranges although I have been told on a FB B12 group that my results are low even if they are within NHS guidelines but as they are my GP says all is ok so not sure what to do there as I can't face the thought of self injecting b12 off the internet like a lot of them do.

I think that's what I'd have to tell myself, just try for a few months and take it from there maybe?

10/10 from me. HRT has been fantastic for my mood. The gut issues that have accompanied menopause for me have been resolved very effectively with Gut Love probiotics from the Naked Pharmacy, which took about 10-14 days to kick in and I wouldn't be without them now.

I agree with other posters saying that you should have the Braca test first of all to rule that out if you’re worried.

Personally, I was on HRT for about five years to help with appalling mood swings and often feeling quite violent 😳. I was so miserable and could pick an argument with a puppy I was so bad tempered. In hindsight I should have started treatment years before as I think I’d been perimenopausal for years.

The HRT (patches) definitely helped with all of that and reduced the night sweats too.
I decided to come off it when I realised I was feeling a lot better but by then my marriage had started going down the pan, along with my libido, and I realised that I didn’t really want to be on it any more and I didn’t care if I had no libido.

I was then diagnosed with low grade breast cancer two years ago and after surgery and radiotherapy my consultant advised against going back on HRT. I’ve had the all clear and feel fine now and I know that in theory it would probably make me feel better again, but I’ve decided to treat myself with exercise, good diet etc. instead. I take magnesium, Vit D and glucosamine for my bones and aching joints and I can just about keep symptoms at bay.

Ultimately I hope that you can get some good advice and make the right decision for your body. You are going through such a lot it’s no wonder you feel awful. Wishing you well OP 💐.

I started HRT to see if it would help arthritis and probable sjorgens syndrome. I didn't have typical menopause symptoms but have family history of osteoporosis and Parkinson's so thought it made sense to at least try it - you can always stop.

I think it has helped a little with dry eyes and arthritis but not a miracle. I will probably keep taking it for family history reasons. Also my sleep improved a bit and I seem to have lost weight.

10/10! I was reluctant to try it and very nervous, but decided to do a 3 month trial. OMG! The difference was incredible! I didn’t have any hot flushes at all but I did have awful anxiety and felt like a shrivelled shell of my former self. My skin looked awful and my hair was thinning horribly.

I started on an oestrogen patch (lowest dose) and Utrogestan and the difference was incredible! I felt like myself again! Bloody amazing! It reduced my anxiety hugely, stopped my hair loss, increased my energy, stopped me having to get up to pee in the night - just brilliant! I felt so much more like me again.

10/10.
I feel like me again, I'm loosing weight, my hair doesn't fall out, my mood is stable and my libido is good! I love my hrt

My friend found her anxiety increased with HRT.

10/10.

I'd go at far as to say that, for me, it's essential.

I started HRT for extreme anxiety and it worked. I suffer with anxiety anyway but it had really escalated in perimenopause and despite taking other meds to combat it, HRT is the only thing which worked.

I'm 42. I found it caused painful bloating, anxiety and insomnia. Took the patches off and now just standard peri, which is preferable to sleepless nights