What benefits have you felt from HRT?

[Daffodildainty]

I’m 54 and just about to start HRT/ hoping it will help with insomnia, restless legs, night sweats, hot flushes and make controlling belly fat easier. What benefits have you noticed?

I started mine a week ago, my sex drive is coming back. That wasn't that important to me, but it shows I'm getting back to fully functioning, me again.

I'm sleeping more deeply. I'm having less day sweats and anxiety.

I'm 51, went trough the menopause five years ago.

I decided to push for HRT after a health seminar. There's now a HRT to suit nearly everyone. New research has shown that everyone who goes through the Menopause under 50, should be on HRT to protect their Heart and bones. For everyone else, the once thought other risks aren't worth worry about in comparison to Heart damage.

I was told to persevere with any symptoms for six weeks and they should settle down. It was decided that the patch would be better for me, but there are many types.

I’m glad I found this thread. I’ve been feeling “off” for the past year. Generally low mood, forgetful, unmotivated, etc. Went to see GP, saying that I wondered if it might be connected to menopause. I turned 50 last year. She asked if I had hot flushes - no. Did some blood tests which all came back normal, and wrote name of a website about menopause on a bit of paper for me.

I have an appointment to see a different GP next week as things have got much worse. My sleeping pattern has been wrecked over the past month. I’m either awake all night and asleep all day, or sleeping for maybe 3 hours a night then wide awake at about 7am only to be overwhelmed with tiredness by late afternoon. If I go to sleep then, I can sleep for over 24 hours with only a few short waking spells.

I had a dream/panic on Saturday night that I was teetering on the edge of a major breakdown, and that was what motivated me to act. I’ve confided in a couple of key colleagues, and have approached my employer for help. I did say to man in HR that this isn’t caused by work, although it’s definitely affecting my work.

I am convinced that it is hormonal. When I got Mirena coil about 4 years ago, I felt a “boost” even though not aware of feeling low then.

When I’m at GP I’ll ask about HRT.

Phew! Hopefully I can get out of this fog that pps have mentioned.

No hot flushes and night sweats any more.

My only adverse symptom of menopause was the hot flushes, on the hour, every hour after midnight, until about 4.00-5.00., so wrecking my sleep.

I went to my (female) GP who gave me the full MOT, including family health history. The tabs worked very quickly. What was significant is that the doctor said I should take an HRT "holiday" after a year, just to see if the need was still there. I had one holiday and went back on, another six months later and stopped HRT as my symptoms had disappeared.

I count myself very lucky indeed to have had the business wrapped up in about two years, and not to have the many horrid and persistent symptoms that plague women.

Another, unfortunately it’s my age, I’m in my 30s and I believe the guideline age is 40. I went in recently and saw a different gp (previous 2 have agreed the symptoms are spot on and it’s definitely peri) the most recent dr is doing a full screening, then says it will decide if we use a contraceptive pill to balance it or hrt. Despite them all agreeing it is peri they are hung up on the 40 barrier. Only 18 months to go, but with my periods rapidly getting shorter and lighter I may have got there myself by then!

I started supplements this week to try and relieve some symptoms and yesterday afternoon I did feel much more myself. I feel like I’ve had my 30s stolen, I started drenching nightsweats at 33 and went through all of the leukaemia tests as they thought that was what was wrong. I just want to be the smiling, happy me again, the last 18 months have been hell.

Is 40 wrong? I just read nice and they recommend the test under 40, but 5 years on with 3 agreeing it just is so frustrating. There’s no clinics near me unfortunately, nearest is London so a good hour and a half away.

I’m so sad how muc misinformation women seem to be getting

Hormone blood test is pointless and a completely normal hormone level does not preclude you from HRT. It’s only useful to decide women no longer need contraception
Do not agree to one and suggest your doctor does some reading!!

Tablets should be avoided and use patches or gel instead as the clot risk is much lower

Start HRT early before any heart disease starts if possible as once heart/vessel disease or present then starting HRT carries a small risk of causing an event such as a heart static. This is why family history and smoking status is also so important

And the risk of clot is highest for the first few months after starting and once established of reduced right down so having a HRT break can actually be dangerous and isn’t advised.

Sorry about the typos am on phone
Hope you still get the gist!

I'm on month 3 of patches

Bran fog & tiredness gone or vastly reduced
I'm sleeping again!
hot flushes disappeared
More energy generally & I think more general optimism: though I wouldn't have said I was depressed before maybe I was a little

I'm peri, as I'm still having periods. My (female) doctor prescribed on symptoms alone and insists on a checkup every 3 months. Hope that helps,

Oral contraceptive pill is a much higher dose of hormones. Useful if you still need contraception but not if you don’t.
Ask to be referred
To local memo clinic as prema

Sorry!
Premature menopause is a special case

maybe my 'bran fog' hasn't totally cleared!

ihatethecold are you on Livial (tibolone)? I am 10 days post hysterectomy at 42 and 1 week into starting this tablet. Reading with interest (and huge sympathy ) everyone’s experiences of menopause & HRT. My understanding is that Livial is this type of ‘bio identical’ HRT and I’m keen to hear how others get on with it. Two women I know tried it but ended up going on to patches instead as they found it wasn’t ‘strong enough’ and had breakthrough symptoms. My consultant gynaecologist made it sound like a wonder drug so if that’s true, I’m really hoping it will suit me! Too soon to say just yet of course....

Great, helpful & interesting thread

Perhaps relevant to add that my surgery was total hysterectomy, including tubes, ovaries & cervix.

Definitely make sure you get the right doctor. I'm in my early 40s but post menopausal so doc is very keen for me to take HRT for a few years at least. First (female) doctor I saw told me they weren't interested until I hadn't had a period for 2 years (which I've since discovered is a load of bollocks). When I went for me regular smear I asked the nurse which doc at the practice she would recommend for menopause issues. After the 2 years were up I went to see the doctor she named, and now I feel like I'm dealing with someone who knows what she's talking about. It's staggering that something that affects half the population is still so badly supported.

No hot flushes, no brain fog, less tiredness, weight loss.

redcherries read the NICE guidelines on Menopause - you probably need HRT to protect your bones if you are going through it so early.

Huge difference to me, less anxiety, brain fog, better sleep, night sweats stopped. No difference to belly though...

I'm going to ask my GP for a prescription for this tomorrow, so very timely question, thanks ladies. Another personal question, if I may.... Does it help with the the, um... moustache? I'm getting a bit over having to carry bloody tweezers everywhere I go!!! (Am worried GP is going to say no to oestrogen as I get migraines with auras). Also want to know if anyone's bone density has improved with patches or gel please. (I know it's the more important question, really...)

Thanks another and peridot. I’ve spoken to Dh about it today, got a bit tearful. I’ll arm myself with lots of information and book back in. Do you think I should do the bloods first, as I’m meant to go in after these anyway?

Big unmumsnet hug to everyone, it really is so shit, I’m trying to get my Dh to do some reading so he understands why I’m not the same person at the moment!

redcherries they really ought to go on symptoms I think...but check the guidelines. From what I understand the bloods won't tell them much unless you are through perimenopause and are menopausal. Sounds like you in peri. But a good GP should be able to help. I had to work round most of the practice till I found one who would listen - and she just wrote out a prescription straight away. Took 3 goes to find an HRT that suited me...but it's the right thing for me.

I swore I would never use HRT and was coping ok-ish for a couple of years but the night sweats and mood swings were getting really bad so I changed my mind. I was on it for 9 years and the difference was amazing.
I was scared to stop it but the doctor said I should. I've been ok since but I feel more tired and get low mood.

Loads! I started on it four years ago when I was 42. Within a couple of months the hot flushes and horrendous mood swings vanished. The biggest thing for me though was that I had a constant feeling of dread and that went too. I hadn't realised just how awful I was feeling before I started on it. I've lost a stone in weight too.

God, that dread feeling is exactly what I have right now. It's like I'm afraid to go to sleep. Also the explody - if someone breathes near me I might just stab them - feeling. Luckily DH has taken his snoring on a business trip.

I'm so glad I found this thread. I'm debating going to see a GP about HRT. I'm 50 and I think I'm peri menopausal (100 days + between periods). I don't think I have hot flushes as such but I do tend to run a bit warmer than the rest of the household. I'm not sleeping at night and my libido has flat lined. My moods are actually better as I don't seem to have PMT. I can relate to the tales of lethargy and joint pain too.

My mum died six weeks ago from endometrial cancer so I'm worried that will affect the decision.

Would it be worth speaking to a doctor?

Forgot to mention, HRT was like magic for me. I felt the fog lift within 2 hours of first dose. Please see your GP if you think you need help.

For those that a seed what bio identical HRT I'm on.
Its Utrogestan 100 (progesterone) 2 before bed for 14 days in a month.
Oestrogen Gel (2 pumps) every night.