Can HRT withdrawal really cause BP this high?!

[LapinDeBois]

I'm a bit unhappy with the care my mum's getting from her GP, so I'm coming to MN for wisdom. My mum's been on HRT for 20 years, and her new GP has taken her off it a couple of months ago. Since then, she's had a variety of nasty symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, hot flushes and dizziness, which the GP thinks are likely to be withdrawal symptoms. On one of her visits, her blood pressure (which has always been on the low side) was 220/120. They immediately put her on BP meds, which brought it down to 180 a week later; they've now doubled it, which has brought it down to 153. They've done blood tests, which have come back normal, and urine/faecal tests, which haven't come back at all yet (nearly three weeks later!). At her last visit, the GP told her to come back in a month to check the BP again, and that they'd call her if the urine/faecal tests showed any abnormality.

I'm no medic, and I may be being unfair, but I'm a bit concerned that the doctor isn't doing more to investigate the rise in BP. Mum's been given no advice whatsoever on using lifestyle to manage BP, and as far as I can see they haven't really got to the bottom of why the BP has increased so much - whether it's to do with the HRT, or something entirely separate, and if so what? I thought generally that being on HRT was supposed to raise your BP, although I have found one article online where it said that coming off can raise your BP - but by this much?

I would welcome any advice or similar experiences, thanks!

I have just been put on HRT and feel so alone as have such little information from GP. I now am just so confused as so much confusion plus I was told as I have a fibroid I should not be on it but they have put me on it anyway and I have got in a bit of a muddle with the patches anyway as two different sequi evoril.

On top of this I have dreadful insomnia since start of year and losing so much weight, 10 kg since start of year. Not intentional. I am so tired but barely get more than 2 hours sleepma night.
HRT only started end January this year. I have been told I have depression too, well if you have such little sleep is that not surprising. Have other symptoms too such as a white tinge,mo going for 7 months, dry nasal passages, eyes, mouth all since placed on sleeping pills and antidepressants. Off these now but know I will have to return to a to depressants as I feel so not me.

If anybody has any advice it would be greatly appreciated. I'm feel so alone, it is having a huge impact on my family. I have seen several specialists who cannot find the root cause, everything is so disjointed too.

Finding each day that I have less concentration, and doctors have done blood tests but nothing significant showing.

These are my symptoms and if any one have any ideas ...

Dry eyes (only began when on sleeping pills and antidepressants) as did the loss of sensation that I need to pee. None of these are being taken seriously in fact they are being ignored and I continue to suffer.
Dry nasal,passages, dry mouth with a horrible metallic taste and a tongue that is often furred but always white. Originally told oral thrush but then told was not. Insomnia (although told by neurologist last week that this was not insomnia as I don't dose during day, I would happily dose during day if I could. Also constant pressure in head all the time like my head is being squeezed, this was ignored by Nurologist who did not believe me. In fact he believes all my symptoms don't exist but I have them, have little saliva in my mouth, gums don't even bleed when I floss anymore either but they look swollen, gums that is.

I just want to be able to sleep and regain my weight and get my life back. Instead I feel so alone, my husband has been so supportive but even he now is being swayed by medical profession. I am only 50 yes am premenopausal but because of that I feel,I don't exist as a person just as a menopausal woman... And now told depressed where do you go for help if your GP does not believe you...

Blood tests do not always pick up everything and surely there is something not right if your weight is decreasing and insomnia too so why cannot they help.

Have been doing Mindfulness but am even finding this hard to do.

With thanks,

Lapin
Your post is a bit too complicated for a non-medic to answer- and in fact you may be better off posting in the meno forum where we all hang out!
In a nutshell unless your mum has medical reasons why she has to stop HRT there is no age limit or timescale now. The new NICE guidelines advise drs that women have to be advised of the risks and then allowed to make their own choice.
HRT is supposed to be withdrawn slowly over 6 months by reducing the amount. Her symptoms are due to withdrawal but not sure about the high BP- maybe she is just stressed, not sleeping and this is causing it to rise.

Thanks for that. Yes, it probably was a bit too complicated, you're right. I'm just worried about her and my instinct is always to try to find out as much as I can! She's made another appointment with the doctor this week, as she wants to make sure the BP rise isn't anything more sinister. I guess I just haven't been that impressed with how they've treated her - particularly as they told her she mustn't drive because of the dizziness and the high BP, but equally just said that she should come back 'in a month or two' for her next check. It feels like on one hand they think the BP's really serious, but on the other they don't seem that keen to get to the bottom of it!