To ask if starting HRT ruined anything for you?

[CurdinHenry]

For example, did it reduce your ability to enjoy wine or coffee?

I am about to start (so excited for many reasons) but a couple of people have suddenly given me the fear. If it's no coffee I am just going to ride things out the medieval way (except with coffee).

Not at all but one tiny caution for anyone reading: I got melasma on my face which I'm pretty sure was caused by HRT and in particular high levels of oestrogen. When I started I didn't use SPF regularly and now I know better, I wish I'd used it every day - I think it would have helped prevent the melasma from forming (and once it has, it's almost impossible to get rid of).

I mean it's possible people confused stuff that just happens with age and stuff caused by menopause since they happen around the same time

Fingers bloody crossed anyway

I wish it had this magical effect on me that so many talk/post about. It has helped with the insomnia but I've tried all kinds of combos (had to go private after the GP's stuff made me miserable) and still feel sub-par and not myself on it. I'm sticking with it because on balance I think it's better for me long-term, but definitely none of these magical effects and there were some very bleak and weary times with the various combos just to get to this "mostly okay-ish" state. It hasn't effected my tastebuds though so that's something I guess. Good luck!

I'm not at that stage yet, but read posts to educate myself-I didn't know HRT caused weight gain? I'd have guessed the opposite if anything?

I went through the menopause without Hrt. I heard to many horror stories. So glad I didn't add it contains horse wee.

Sorry @CurdinHenry but it has ruined wine and coffee for me. All alcohol really. I get a hangover setting in now during my first (and now only) drink. It is disappointing. And if I drink coffee it plays havoc with my nerves.

But I am happily living without those because of how much it helps my brain fog, anxiety and general ennui. I went on HRT when I felt like I was on a treadmill of nothing - just get up, work, cook tea, walk the dog, take kids to and from endless activities and bed. Same again the next day. And the next. Forever. Dull dull dull. I had never felt like that before.

HRT has been so massively beneficial for my mood (and bleeding) and now I no longer think everyone is live with is a complete idiot. I can do without the coffee and wine.

No negatives... all positives. Not sure why anyone would say otherwise?

Because some people can react really badly to it, especially the synthetic stuff. The initial patches I was put on made me feel incredibly low and then even with the more organic stuff, taking the progesterone orally made me feel drugged. It's better than it was now after a lot of calibrating - some people need it bespoke rather than the off-the-peg hrt - and it's still only close to neutral. Only saying this so expectations are checked as not everyone has a glorious time off the bat and it can feel a lot worse than un-tasty coffee. If it doesn't work for you first time, OP, do keep pushing as there's a lot of ignorance still and some GPs can fob you off with a 'just stick with it for 6 months' while your life slides down the drain. But obviously great if the magic does happen!

Because not everyone has had the same experience?

Personally I tried it and it really worsened my mood. I was snappy and angry. Felt like I had every month for my twenties and thirties… and forties.

Previously I had felt I had come through menopause relatively unscathed and actually was much more calm and level headed and it was great. I tried it as so many people say it is amazing and my hair is falling out (although have also lost a lot of weight).

Became someone I really didn’t like!

Stopped and am back to being calm and measured whilst still having the assurance of experience.

I have also been diagnosed ADHD and have heard that the menopause helps with that, and HRT does not, so not sure if that might be a contributing factor.

Which brands are better then, I mean the ones you can get on the NHS, if you don't mind me asking?

HRT pulled me out of a hole, I didn’t even realise I was in until I got out.

I was able to have a full night of sleep, first time in over a year, and honestly, I didn’t realise how much sleep deprivation was impacting me, until I was no longer deprived.
no issue with going off things or not liking tastes or smells.

Modern stuff doesn't! The old premarin stuff (which still works for some people apparently but isn't the main option) does.

A supplement, you can buy it anywhere like health food shops, Amazon etc
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/chapter/edited-volume/abs/pii/B9780124017177000484

Yes they are the only thing that work for me, my optician recommended them.

I guess the problem is presumably you do have to try for a few months before you can know for sure? I am going for the progesterone tablets (possibly vaginally based on helpful pointers like pp) and oestrogen gel (I know a lot of people prefer patches but I think mine would curl off in the sauna and I can't really imagine it being very sexy to have it on during Intimate Moments)

Hm I am in this boat too. Tbh I find my thinking so clear now (except for premenstrual worrying away at certain things) but I guess I don't want to assume that won't change.

what’s HRT and what’s just menopause?
I’ve been on it for the last 5 years and I’m around the same weight, but a stone heavier than 10 years ago.

coffee is fine. Wine not so much and I can’t tolerate spicy food as much anymore.

i don’t think that’s the effects of HRT though, which has been mostly positive. I took an unplanned months break last year and was shocked at how quickly my mood went down, how quickly the flashes returned and just how awful I felt. I want to be buried with my oestrogel.

you don’t have to stay on it, if you think it’s not doing anything.

I’m pleased to hear this. I’m on month two and I’m still angry and can’t remember various words.

OP my side effect is breast tenderness but luckily this hasn’t affected my ability to enjoy the odd glass of champagne

I have also been diagnosed ADHD and have heard that the menopause helps with that, and HRT does not, so not sure if that might be a contributing factor

it’s actually the opposite. Declining estrogen affects every part of your body, including your brain.

www.drlouisenewson.co.uk/knowledge/adhd-and-hormones-in-women

I love HRT. I can finally sleep and no hot flushes anymore.

I was nervous trying it, but i didn't get any negative side effects, just positive. Been on it around 18 months now. It also increased my libido

Colleagues asked me what I'd been doing with my skin as it looked so much better. So skin improved.

Ive started drinking coffee after not drinking caffeine for 12 yrs.

And I've gone off wine. Because I'm always really tired and wine doesn't make that better. Also I'm more focused on what I consume and it's impact on my body.

That's nothing to do with HRT tho.

DH has never mentioned my patches and they don't come off even after swimming daily.

It's not really about better brands, every body is different and you have to start out and see what works or doesn't for you then try other things. Body identical is the 'better' stuff for me, but not everyone will react in the same way and it's hard to predict. Plus as OP replied saying, you do have to give it a while to bed in, but I couldn't bear another 6 months of trying the stuff that was making me lose all hope which is when I switched to private because then at least the doctors felt to give a monkeys how it impacted on my life and could try different doses and all kinds of other subtler shifts until it was as good as it was going to get. So read up and don't take the first doctor's word for it if it's not working for you is all.

Everything HRT related was crap. I tried it because I was struggling a bit, but it made things so much worse, I’m totally fine in comparison x

HRT massively improved my mood, energy, sleep, anxiety level and motivation. It has been amazing for me.

I put on 5kg in the first six months. But I realised that really wasn’t on, started intermittent fasting and lost the weight really quickly. I am now back to my pre-HRT weight and just watch what I eat a little more (which you probably have to do in your 40s anyway.) I rarely have more than a glass of wine (still tastes lovely, and it’s only one glass I drink the expensive stuff now) but again, this time of life isn’t really compatible with much booze so 🤷‍♀️

Thanks, appreciate learning about this.