If I don’t want HRT then I basically have to deal with it

[Merryoldgoat]

I am pretty sure I’m peri menopausal. I’m ‘ok’ but not amazing.

People keep telling me to see the doctor, however since I don’t want HRT then surely I just have to lump it? Or are there non-hormonal treatments I can have?

YABU - plenty can be done without hormones

YANBU - hormones or nothing. Just put up with it.

I take low dose paroxetine for sweats. Works very well for me.

There are plenty of vitamin mixes etc aimed at menopausal (and pre) women, which probably help a litte (or have a placebo affect..I'm still not sure )but tbh the only thing that really works when you are actually menopausal is HRT.

I got to 52 before I gave in.. I couldn't sleep, the hot flushes were insane, and I realised I wanted to murder my lovely dh just for breathing too loudly, and I'm usually pretty chilled!

Got HRT... feel me again!

i'm very happy with my HRT & they will have to prise it out of my elderly fingers but obviously there are loads of alternative options depending on what symptoms bother you (and some women have tons & some barely any & sail through this life stage, my 40's were an absolute nightmare but i have had a lifetime of PMT and bad PND twice) - dietary change, herbal meds, acupuncture, take your pick. There's lots of good alternative/holistic practitioners out there!!

Sorry - I should’ve been clearer - I can’t take HRT - I have hypertension which is somewhat hard to control so it’s contra indicated.

I’m not keen because every time I’ve taken hormones during my life it’s ended with me being in a very poor state mentally or physically or both.

There have been a few threads on here with people talking about what non hrt things helped them if you do a search ... Magnesium was one that I remember people mentioning a lot

The herbal stuff tends to be red clover etc.

There are supplements that can help. Isoflavones and black cohosh are mentioned in the NICE guidelines

And these

Ok thank you everyone - I’ll look through some older threads.

There is a menopause sub forum under Health afaik

If you’ve had bad experiences with hormonal birth control it may be you are progesterone sensitive, which can cause the depressive & anxiety related issues.

B vitamins and magnesium, no caffeine or alcohol & low sugar worked for me but I do now use HRT as needed a bit more support.

Due to migraines I use the gel so the risks are lower & insert progesterone to avoid mood issues.
It seems to work. I had to go privately first though as my GP wrote me off for HRT with no discussion because of migraines.

I'm 55 and never took HRT. The only real thing for me was sweats which were solved as if by magic by Holy Basil leaf, on the advice of my GP who had studied Ayurvedic medicine. I am healthy otherwise and take all sorts of supplements to support my thyroid issue, I cannot recommend magnesium at bedtime highly enough.

Interesting video on ways to treat high blood pressure naturally.

1. Hypertension isn't a contraindication to HRT
2. there are prescribable alternatives to HRT
3. there are over the counter alternatives to HRT

@monitor1

I thought poorly controlled hypertension was a contraindication? That’s what my GP told me.

@Over40Overdating

Yes - pill sent my blood pressure sky high and I started getting extremely bad migraines and depo made me suicidal. I’m a bit anxious about hormones as I’ve only just come off ADs and don’t want my mood to plummet again.

Magnesium at bedtime, no alcohol (sorry), and low carb. My symptoms weren’t horrendous, but they weren’t fun. I feel quite good, now.

I have chronic hypertension and a dilated aorta and I can have HRT @Merryoldgoat

But if you don't want to - there are other ways through. Supplements, meditation, yoga, the mirena coil...

Hypertension is not necessarily a contraindication for HRT.

However some of the things mentioned in this thread are contraindicated with blood pressure drugs.

If you do want to try the herbal route then you need to see a qualified herbalist as all the blood pressure drugs act on body mechanisms that go far beyond just blood pressure and any herbal remedy can have interactions. Magnesium and St Johns Wort are two I can no longer take.

I understand. I don’t react at all well to hormones so am reluctant to take HRT. Hope you don’t mind me following your thread for info. Best wishes to you 🌸

That makes sense. Hormonal moods are awful.

I’ve found HRT has improved my PMDD hugely. I stopped it for a while as I felt so good I thought I didn’t need it but within a couple of months the PMDD was back with a vengeance. Now I’m back on it and my pms is mild if noticeable at all.

Different forms of HRT (patches, gels) can be safer than the pill version when you have migraines and hypertension but GPs can be reluctant to prescribe as it’s a trial and error process and many are also very ill-informed about the new versions. Or, to be honest, lazy. It shouldn’t be that way when it could potentially make life easier for so many.

@Elphame

thank you for that information.

lots for me to look into.

@Cityzen74

depo was the single worst thing I’ve ever done to myself. It was a terrible 6 months.

I hope this thread helps you too - I definitely think I need to make some lifestyle changes before messing with drugs as my blood pressure is the most important thing to control.

Exercise, Mediterranean diet, cutting out sugar all help with perimenopausal symptoms. But obviously requires will power and acceptance that life will be a joyless cake-free zone. So may not be worth it.

Solidarity with you OP. I am on Tamoxifen (and also have high blood pressure) so I’m not allowed HRT. It’s awful!
and for you!

I hated being on the combined pill, it made me feel disgusting, and I had to have various hormones for IVF in my 20s and 30s which also generally made me feel awful, although the HRT I was on wasn't too bad at all.

I started having horrendous problems with PMT in my late 30s and ended up going to a specialist who put me on progesterone, which cleared most of my symptoms up really quickly; I had a couple of heavy periods but they stopped entirely about 6 months in.

Just because you've had problems with hormone drugs in the past doesn't mean you won't find them helpful now when your own hormones are starting to have a bit of a wobble.

I also have HBP which is controlled by a different drug, and also I work out a lot which I couldn't do before I sorted the PMT.

Bottom line is its impossible for anyone to diagnose you over the internet so best to get some tests and medical advice.

Those with a particular interest in menopause would usually be happy to try you on a transdermal form of HRT, in conjunction with close attention to your BP. why is it badly controlled? how many meds are you on and do you ever forget them?