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?

It’s actually 1 in 7 now. Just double checked.

Thank you. Mum has her follow up at the breast clinic next month, I will ask them about mine and my sisters risks and see what they suggest.

Thank you, I will do that.

I am sorry this happened to you.
It is a fear of mine as I am certain that I have higher than normal oestrogen levels anyhow due to my decades of gynae issues (recurring uterine polyps, frequent thickened uterine lining and now the endo which I have been told are all due to excess oestrogen), so I am concerned about adding more oestrogen into my body. My mum's bc is hormonally driven and she too had similar gynae issues to me.

This may have been encouraged years ago but there has been an uptake in young women wanting to come off the pill in recent years due to the awful side effects that so many suffer from.

@BorntoDillyDally thankyou for your kindness. I am slim, exercise, never smoked and only drank alcohol in moderation. I had no idea of the rate of bc, nor that the majority was unconnected to family history. I guess I just want to raise a “get super expert advice” from specialist people as hrt can be a game changer. I didn’t get the hrt reviews I needed and asked for, which made things much worse for me - but I didn’t know how serious the implications would be.

It was my breast cancer surgeon who told me the hrt was feeding the tumour. He has a profile of excellence in his field and publishes research regularly. My oncologist has put me on oestrogen suppressants for once I’m done with chemo and has ruled out any hormone supplementation (not that I’d take it).

The problem is very few oncologists are experts in menopause and vice versa. I spent 2 years trying to find someone who specialises in both.

There is also a lack of consensus in the medical and scientific world- that only happens with a lack of good research. If the science was clear they’d all agree.

Do your research and find someone who is an expert in both fields. I actually waited until my periods had finished and had hormone levels checked and I top up with a very low dose patch due to my slight risk factors. My oestrogen is still quite low. But it’s hopefully high enough to ward off osteoporosis. When we go through peri menopause levels vary wildly and can go very high. That’s why we feel so awful. I’m happy with my choice - like my doctor has said my oestrogen levels have been higher than they are now for years and I’ve been fine.

Oestrogen levels are highest in pregnancy yet pregnancy is considered safe even after breast cancer.

Breast cancer is more common the older we get - when hormone levels are the lowest..

Only 10% of cancers are genetic. 30 % are lifestyle choices and 60% are environmental or basically bad luck.