Talk to me about HRT

[VanGoSunflowers]

Can you tell me about your experiences with HRT please?
How old were you when you started it?
What prompted you to start? Were your perimenopause symptoms severe or did you start early? How did you know the symptoms you were experiencing were due to peri?

I am 40, get the odd hot flush in the week before my period (as well as night sweats) so I know that’s due to hormones - and this is quite a recent thing.
I also have quite low energy most mornings, as well as some brain fog and lack of focus but I have no idea if that’s due to hormones or not! Not sure whether it’s time to speak with my GP.

I did do a hormone test 12 months ago (privately) that came back completely normal

Just to add, the lack of energy isn’t just general tiredness - it feels like I am wading through treacle. Like my legs feel really weak and it usually goes after an hour or two

Also, periods are still regular and haven’t changed in duration or flow!

40 is young, not impossible, but definitely at the younger end of the spectrum. I would advise going to see your GP and asking for a full range of blood tests as there are other things (underactive thyroid immediately springs to mind) which can cause a lot of similar symptoms.

I thought I was having symptoms of perimenopause so went on the combined pill which in the UK can be prescribed by a chemist. The chemist took my medical history and checked my blood pressure. They will do this again after 6 months. It has sorted out most of my symptoms (sore boobs, frozen shoulder, rage). However, this won't be suitable for everyone obviously. I was however pretty pleased to not have to fight for an appointment or then fight for some treatment.

Can I ask how old you were please? I thought the combined pill wasn’t recommended for women over the age of about 35 but maybe it’s a risk vs reward thing?

It would be worth speaking to your doctor about your symptoms as it sounds like you are in the early stages of peri menopause. I was experiencing similar symptoms to you last year, feeling like every joint ached, brain fog, hot flashes etc so I spoke to my doctor (who is lovely) and she put me on Everol patches. Since then, I've been feeling much, much better. I'm 52.

I first spoke to the GP about hormones at age 42, but she said it sounded more like my period coming back as my coil was running out. I went back again at age 44 after 6 months of building peri symptoms that were unmistakable - anxiety, brain fog, insomnia, dry vagina, fatigue. I went on oestrogel and progesterone tablets (will get coil changed in December, the NHS in their wisdom changed the licence to 6 years and won't change them for HRT purposes only contraception so although it's no longer effective for progesterone I can't have it changed yet) and felt better within 2 weeks. The progesterone has upset my stomach a bit but if it doesn't settle down and I have to put up with it until I get a coil it's worth it for the reduction in other symptoms.

With the fatigue, was it there the whole time? Mine only seems to be there first thing in the morning and tends to disappear once I have eaten, or even sometimes just on its own. Even getting out for a walk seems to alleviate it.

My sleep hasn’t been affected other than night sweats and I don’t feel particularly anxious (and I am prone to anxiety)

@VanGoSunflowers I'm 41. I had never used hormonal contraceptives before. You're right that you shouldn't use it after 35 if you're a smoker. Otherwise, a few NHS trusts say it's ok up to age 50 e.g. www.devonsexualhealth.nhs.uk/contraception/contraception-for-women-over-40/ If you have a family history of cancer or blood clots you should avoid it too.

I’ve been on HRT (estradiol tablets) for about two years and it’s been a god send. Has muted all of my perimenopause symptoms (night sweats, brain fog, irrational anger) to the point they are tolerable and do not significantly interfere with my life.

I have to support this in various ways: have to exercise and have totally cut alcohol consumption. But it has been a huge positive for me. Also thankfully my GP was very happy to put me on them and there was no fannying around with blood tests.

Do you mind if I ask how old you are please?

I am 50 and was lucky enough to avoid any symptoms for ages and then when I did start getting them, I didn't really recognise them for ages. It was only when I was talking to a nurse about what I thought were general aches and pains while at the doctor's for an unrelated issue, she suggested I should look into HRT.
I so wish I'd done it sooner! Within a week, I was sleeping really well (and I hadn't even realised I was sleeping badly), and the aches I'd been putting up with disappeared so quickly..It's still not been long but I feel amazing and more like I felt half my life ago. Whether that will stop, I don't know but right now, I'm very much more enjoying life than I have in ages.

I stated on patches at 46, I'd been suffering from anxiety (something that is never suffered with before), insomnia, felt like my brain was going to mush. I've got the coil as well so I'm on the 1 patch, best thing I've done for myself in ages, insomnia sorted itself within 8 hours as did the anxiety (placebo effect maybe? I really don't care!) Which made a significant difference to my life, mushy brain took longer and still isn't quite right but vastly improved. Speak to your G.P's menopause specialist, take a list of your symptoms (brain fog kicks in at the most inconsiderate of times!), mine was brilliant, looked at the evidence and offered the patch. BTW did you just have 1 hormone test on 1 day? If so, it won't be accurate, hormones fluctuate all the time, you need 3 tests on 3 days at different times to get a baseline

I have been on hrt for over 2 years. I am mid 50s. Didn't think I had any menopause symptoms. No hot flushes, no brain fog etc .. . The thing that made me consider it was arthritis and family history of Parkinson's and osteoporosis. My sister's doc told her about Parkinson's and link to hormones..

I am on oestrogen gel and progesterone tablets. I did notice an improvement in arthritis since taking it but not a miracle. I do wonder if I would have been better taking it earlier to prevent development of osteoarthritis.

My plan was to try it and see what it did and to be open to stopping it if I felt it wasn't changing anything.

I hate the faff so would prefer not to do it but I think on balance it's helping with what I wanted it to help with. I also think I am sleeping better and I have lost weight which might be connected.

My GP wouldn’t do a hormone test as, apparently, in peri they fluctuate all over the place.

From about 45 onwards I had increasing anxiety, especially in the morning, fatigue, brain fog, forgetfulness, insomnia, and a strong feeling that I just couldn’t cope with things that I’d have sailed through previously. All symptoms were much much worse just before my period.

I still get monthly bleeds btw. Apparently that’s often the last symptom to change.

got HRT at 47.(patches and I have the mirena coil) It’s made a huge difference. Some symptoms have stuck around but have significantly improved. (still can’t drink alcohol as it turns me into a raving loon 😆😑)

@VanGoSunflowers

I’m 51. Looking back I probably had symptoms a couple of years before I started the HRT.

40 is a little young for perimenopause but it happens. As others have said though it may be connected to thyroid etc so in your case it probably is worth ruling that out.

It could also be related to your menstrual cycle? I had awful periods and used to become very depressed and low mood for about a week of each cycle. Mirena sorted this out for me a long time before menopause. I haven’t had a period for over 20 years.

The last time I had my thyroid tested was just over a year ago and was all fine.
I haven’t noticed any mood swings as such, and when I feel low or anxious it seems more tied in to my lifestyle rather than anything else.
My main symptom is the heavy legs I feel I have some days! It makes me feel like I don’t have any energy. Perhaps I could try and go on the combined pill to see if that makes things any better and then at least I would know it is hormone related

Go to the Menopause part of Mumsnet for this.