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.

Hypertension isn’t necessarily a contraindication (especially for patches / gels).
It’s more likely to reduce your blood pressure than put it up - but all women are different and you may be in the minority. It could be worth a try if you’re struggling to control your BP with the usual medications and lifestyle - unlike the depo HRT would be out of your system really quickly if you did have side effects or increase in your blood pressure.

There are other non hormonal medications your GP can prescribe or discuss exercise / psychological support / lifestyle changes. Herbal remedies remedies I’d be careful to check there’s no interaction with your blood pressure medications so get advice from someone with proper training.

There's something called Femarelle which for some reason isn't well publicised but which is natural - not sure if that would work for you?

@monitor1

no I don’t forget them.

i’m on candesarten and amlodipine.

It just doesn’t respond as well as the doctors expect it to. I don’t really know why but there is a history of hypertension in my family from quite young and historically finding the right drug combination seems be challenging.

Clearly this isn't individual medical advice but I'd be optimising the doses, adding a 3rd and possibly 4th tablet and then referring to cardiology if I couldn't control your BP. And of course making sure it was checked at home to rule out white coat hypertension.

@monitor1

i am under a cardiologist - he also treated my grandmother who had the same issue.

definitely not whitecoat. It all started in pregnancy and 5 days PP I was admitted TO HDU with a borderline crisis.

Took weeks to get it stable and it sort of goes a bit odd every 6 months of so.

It sounds like they should be doing more so thank you - I’ll mention these things at my review which is coming up next month.

sounds odd to be under cardiology and only on two meds - hope it gets sorted

There are some things which can help. Vitamin D. Evening primrose oil. Exercise. Mindfulness.

but I why are you so anti HRT? It works very well for many women.

I used starflower oil, black cohosh and menopause vitamins and pulled through the other side ok, they did seem to help with hot flushes etc and am now 67 so I survived! Just didn’t want to take hrt.

@HufflepuffRavenclaw

Did you read any of my other posts?

@monitor1

I don’t want to divulge masses but my family history puts me at a higher stroke risk which might be why.

Fair enough - might be worth asking for a referral to a menopause clinic either NHS or privately. would recommend Sarah Gray in Cornwall if you do private - she will consult remotely and is very clued up.

You absolutely can have HRT with high blood pressure.

As long as the high BP is being controlled with diet/ lifestyle or meds.

The newest types- transdermal- do not affect BP like the old tablet forms, or The Pill.

What symptoms are you experiencing? There is nothing that acts as broadly as HRT but different things can be effective in managing individual symptoms, and there are lots of things to try that aren’t ingested (like weighted blankets for sleep or wicking sheets for sweats etc)

I’m not sure about this but I think you can take oestrogen vaginally for dryness and other issues (recurring cystitis possibly) even when it’s contraindicated because it works differently. I’m fuzzy on that though but it’s one to discuss with a doctor.

I wonder would it be worth an appointment with a specialist? Presumably they have patients who don’t respond well to HRT and have to be taken off it, so they must have other options to recommend too. They might also have more insight into your previous reactions to hormones (the pill triggered terrible depressions for me but HRT has been fine)

There is no stroke risk with most types of HRT. It doesn't raise your risk higher than not taking it.

HRT actually protects against heart disease, which is why it's prescribed for those women with an early menopause.

I think from your posts, you're not aware of a lot of this perhaps?

I haven’t investigated or tried it myself yet but was told by my physio that acupuncture might help with some symptoms, you do need a practitioner qualified for women issues/ menopause for this.

There is loads that can be done. I tried HRT for 6 months and it did nothing apart from make me put on weight. I react very badly to any form of hormonal intervention. Hated the pill, suicidal on depo etc. There are loads of lifestyle things and diet etc that helps. I work with a brilliant peri and menopause specialist nutritionist. The right diet and supplements has really helped, plus exercise and meditation etc.

A low carb diet will definitely help - may also help with the hypertension too.

Cut down/out caffeine and alcohol too although I never managed either of those!

Boots Menolieve really helped me too.

I couldn't take HRT because of breast cancer risk. (My mother died from it).

I'm 63 now, and haven't had any hot flushes for around a decade.

With a family history of heart disease, you should definitely be considering HRT.

It helps stop the arteries clogging up.

Any menopause specialist will tell you this.

To reduce your BP, are you getting at least 30 minutes of brisk exercise a day? Walking fast, jog-walks? Reducing salt in your food? eating more than the suggested 5 a day or fruit and veg? Getting lots of fibre in your diet?

There's lots you can do without HRT.

I had a history of cancer which led to early hysterectomy (36) followed by HRT

(wonderful) then within a year, I got breast cancer. Not necessarily related to HRT but "just in case", (word of my breast specialist), I gave up HRT and menopause ensued.

By then (because of cancer) I was also following a very healthy diet; avoiding stress, practiced yoga, meditation, excercised gently, swam a lot, got more sleep, aromatherapy, reiki, reflexology. All of those can benefit menopause symptoms too. For hot flushes/sweats, I took evening primrose oil capsules. (used to be available on prescription but no longer; get it in Health food shops). 30 years later DH had prostate cancer, treatment produced the manopause. (like the menopause, only much much worse in men, like manflu).
He took EPO and sage for the hotflushes ; also a homeopathic treatment (from NHS) all of which helped.

   In hindsight, I realise that the lifestyle changes forced on me 40 years ago  (and by extension, DH)  were a blessing and  longterm benefit.  We are 76,  fit, robust, active. I'd recommend anyone approaching midlife, to step back, reassess, and  make the changes NOW .

I think this thread has been really helpful so thank you.

Just a few points.

1. GP told me HRT not possible with my BP issues but that needs to be challenged which I will do.
2. I’m nervous of hormones as I’ve had terrible experiences with hormonal birth control - I appreciate this is not necessarily the case but after significant mental health issues it’s still concerning.
3. I wanted to understand if there were other options as I’m very early in my menopause journey - just starting to get the beginnings of symptoms
4. I need to tighten up my diet and exercise a LOT.

Thank you everyone - eye opening and I’m very appreciative of you all taking the time.

Maisie Hill’s Perimenopause Power is a good read and has tons of practical suggestions.

I tried all the non hormonal ones. They did bugger all.

folk- thanks OP

I was very fit and well before the menopause. I had decided decades ago I would never have hrt because at that time, a lot of HRT came from pregnant horses and I was very aware of that disgusting business. (Premarin still does) Google it if you doubt me.

Menopause was a hard time, but I got tips from kind women along the way. Sweats and flushes day and night - take sage tablets. No man-made fibres - linen, cotton, wool and silk everything. Stop alcohol completely - I know this one is hard because menopause drives a lot of women to drink even more - wine every night etc- best not as it makes everything worse. I didn't sleep much at all for two years but I used that time to do online courses and work. I took Menopace.

I have many friends who took HRT, and when they stopped, some of them suddenly had all the symptoms I had and got over, but they were older. I could not have put that off and dealt with it in my late fifties or sisties - no way.

My GP said if you can come out of it with your marriage intact and keep hold of your job, you are doing well. I agree with this. I remember at a health conference at long time being told that HRT is a "workhorse drug" to keep women in the workplace as economic units until retirement and get them over that line to pension age.

I hope you have an easy one. Try and eat well and look after yourself - you might breeze through it!

My mum couldn’t take HRT and really struggled (MP went on over 7 years and she had the whole catalogue of symptoms). She did find a good diet and exercise helped (although not completely). Good luck!