Page 3 | If I don’t want HRT then I basically have to deal with it

Merryoldgoat · 2023-01-31T10:06:00+00:00

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.

Hankunamatata · 31/01/2023 13:26

www.bloodpressureuk.org/news/news/blood-pressure-the-menopause-and-hrt-.html

Hrt preps through the skin like patch or gel doesn't affect bp and can actually lower it

Hankunamatata · 31/01/2023 13:27

I take hrt. I find anti depressant, exercise daily and losing weight helped but only hrt stopped the sweats

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 31/01/2023 13:31

Merryoldgoat · 31/01/2023 10:57

@monitor1

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

My mum takes HRT and blood pressure tablets. Might be worth having another conversation.

(She also takes a variety of other tabs that I have no idea what they're for!)

crosspusscrossstitcher · 31/01/2023 13:32

@Merryoldgoat In a similar boat with hypertension and strokes in the family (also breast cancer).
I know I need to cut out alcohol completely, my BP is not great at the mo, trying to lose weight and exercise more.
Not going to take HRT.
I'm on menopace and some multi vits.
The exercise is helping, and smalled sized jeans I just need to put the 🍺down. 🤞

I have been told menopause takes 7yrs to complete 😱😱😱
which leaves me about 2 more...

PragmaticWench · 31/01/2023 13:37

I read a paper recently that showed hypnotherapy was as effective at helping with hot flushes as HRT. Discussed it with my GP.

HufflepuffRavenclaw · 31/01/2023 14:21

PragmaticWench · 31/01/2023 13:37

I read a paper recently that showed hypnotherapy was as effective at helping with hot flushes as HRT. Discussed it with my GP.

Fabulous - if your only symptom is hot flushes. There are about 34 potential symptoms of menopause and hypnotherapy isn't going to do anything about insomnia, joint aches and brain fog.

I agree @Merryoldgoat that going back to the Gp is the way to go. Some GPs are amazing. Other GPs are completely crap. The problem is that the crap ones often don't have the self-awareness to realise they have gaps in their knowledge and when to refer to a colleague/specialist, so fob women off. I have known so many friends who have been given a flat NO to HRT because of some medical issue and then when they've pressed and seen a specialist, the specialist has recommended the patches but not tablets, or a lower dose, or some other combination of treatment.

I also think there is still a strong underlying attitude that women who "manage" without HRT are in some way morally superior, stronger, better. Complete rubbish, just in the same way that nobody goes round the postnatal wards giving gold stars to the mothers who "managed" labour without pain relief.

I used to think that menopause was this time in your life where your hormones went a bit haywire for a few years, your periods stopped, and then all back to normal. But it's not that at all - once your ovaries stop producing oestrogen they stop for good. At the age of 50 I have 30 years or more of life ahead of me and I don't want those years filled with repeated UTIs because of vaginal atrophy, nauseating anxiety, insomnia and brain fog. I have been on HRT a year and happy to remain on it for life. Modern HRT gel/patches are body identical, the same as you produce yourself. How can replacing something your own body makes be "artificial hormones"?

JinglingSpringbells · 31/01/2023 14:31

SelinaKant · 31/01/2023 13:19

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!

@SelinaKant There is a lot of misunderstanding about HRT. One is something you have posted, that is just 'delays' the menopause and the symptoms come back when it's stopped.

That's not correct. HRT controls the symptoms for as long as it's taken and the women who find they have symptoms when they stop would have have those symptoms anyway whether on HRT or not. For them, using HRT gave them a break from the symptoms, it didn't delay them.

There is also a misunderstanding over how long symptoms can last.

Some women- about 15%- have symptoms for life and they may choose to take HRT for ever. There is no limit on how long to use it.

Also- you mention your friends having symptoms in their late 50s-60s. That is normal. Many women don't even start HRT till they are in their mid 50s.

The types of HRT that aren't made from mares' urine have been used for a long time- certainly the last 15-20 years. So I assume you could have had that type if you are still under 70?

AcrossthePond55 · 31/01/2023 14:41

I don't know if it's available in the UK, but the women in my family (including me) swear by Lydia E Pinkham for menstrual and menopausal issues. I sailed through menopause with just very minor hot flashes and no real 'mood swings' or 'emotionality', as have most of the women in our family.

It's basically an herbal tonic with 10% alcohol. But do check with your doctor to be sure none of the ingredients are contraindicated for hypertension or will adversely affect the meds you're taking.

PragmaticWench · 31/01/2023 14:43

HufflepuffRavenclaw · 31/01/2023 14:21

Fabulous - if your only symptom is hot flushes. There are about 34 potential symptoms of menopause and hypnotherapy isn't going to do anything about insomnia, joint aches and brain fog.

I agree @Merryoldgoat that going back to the Gp is the way to go. Some GPs are amazing. Other GPs are completely crap. The problem is that the crap ones often don't have the self-awareness to realise they have gaps in their knowledge and when to refer to a colleague/specialist, so fob women off. I have known so many friends who have been given a flat NO to HRT because of some medical issue and then when they've pressed and seen a specialist, the specialist has recommended the patches but not tablets, or a lower dose, or some other combination of treatment.

I also think there is still a strong underlying attitude that women who "manage" without HRT are in some way morally superior, stronger, better. Complete rubbish, just in the same way that nobody goes round the postnatal wards giving gold stars to the mothers who "managed" labour without pain relief.

I used to think that menopause was this time in your life where your hormones went a bit haywire for a few years, your periods stopped, and then all back to normal. But it's not that at all - once your ovaries stop producing oestrogen they stop for good. At the age of 50 I have 30 years or more of life ahead of me and I don't want those years filled with repeated UTIs because of vaginal atrophy, nauseating anxiety, insomnia and brain fog. I have been on HRT a year and happy to remain on it for life. Modern HRT gel/patches are body identical, the same as you produce yourself. How can replacing something your own body makes be "artificial hormones"?

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I completely agree, and am going down the HRT route myself, but the OP has clearly wanted info on alternative options. This is one and has been shown to be very effective, so worth mentioning.

AgathaMystery · 01/02/2023 21:39

OP I hope you find some relief.

I too have absolutely mad hypotension - most recent hypertensive crisis was in September so you have my sympathy.

I take antihypertensives with limited effect & also take HRT. I had premature ovarian failure aged 40. I started with Estrogel & now use patches. I have always had a mirena coil because who really wants a period? Not me.

not every treatment is right for everyone but perhaps an endocrine Gynae would be better than a GP.

KangarooKenny · 01/02/2023 21:43

Can you tell us your individual problems so that we can offer suggestions for them ?
I’m taking magnesium as Epsom salt baths and L-Threonate tablets. These massively help my word recall and sleep. These tablets are said to cross the blood brain barrier so can also help anxiety.