Aching joints after stopping HRT

[jardy]

I am 55 years old.For 12 months,(starting February 2009) I took Elleste Duet 1mg-this was a Lifestyle choice,no menopausal symptoms except for occasional night sweats which were not too bad,I could cope with them.I have never stopped having regular and very painful periods.I was checked for underlying cause of the pain but nothing was found.While on HRT I developed blinding headaches,and severe PMT,however I found getting up in the mornings easier.I got so fed up of the dreadful painful periods that I went back to my GP and she prescibed Elleste Duet Conti Tablets to knock my periods on the head.I stopped Elleste Duet 1mg-BINGO!my periods stopped and so did the blinding headaches.
That was three months ago.I havent started the Elleste Duet because I felt so much better without the anticipation of the awful painful period and PMT.I became a bit evangelical about NOT been on HRT because I had NO headaches,and did not notice any noticable loss of energy.Also I kept worring about the increased risk of stroke/breast cancer althought my bp is fine and there is no history of cancer in my family,although my cousin developed a breast cyst while on HRT.However for the last week two weeks I have had vaginal dryness,loss of libido,but worse of all ACHING JOINTS in the morning.I feel like a 90 year old woman getting out of bed each morning.They ache up until at least lunch time.Its really debilitating.I have an appointment next week to see the Doctor about taking oestrogen cream to help the dry vagina and sex Life.My friend said she was like me but she had had a hysterectomy and her ovaries removed,she took HRT to keep going in her job from 55 to 60.She has just stopped and has had no problems with vaginal dryness or reduction in energy.She thinks it would be a good idea to start the Elleste Duet Conti to see if I feel better,then I can make a decision based on both experiences.What do you think?I thought I was doing well without the HRT until these awful aching joints kicked in.I do need my energy because I have a busy physical job and I have to get up my severely physically and mentally disabled son of 22,and it feels a real chore because I am so stiff!Please give me your experiences and/or opinion.Thank you.

Jardy- my investigation is next week.
I am confused about you again- what do you mean your bleeding is HRT induced?

Good Luck for your investigations next week.
I was having monthly regular periods when I started HRT.They were debilitating and also at one point I had a flood.I went on the HRT dec 2009.Feb 2009 I had a hysterscope,it was fine.The first time I realised my regular periods were HRT induced and not normal periods was when you mentioned it.My new GP has arranged a blood test,because she says that the thickened womb lining may be caused by the fact that I am not menopausal.However she thinks I am menopausal and therefore the thickened womb lining needs further investigations.

oh I see!
Yes, if you are on HRT you will have a monthly bleed that is not a period. However, if you are off HRT and bleeding again, it needs looking into.

Thanks for the good wishes- will let you know how I get on.

I will look out for you and be thinking of you

hi purple,how did you get on? also did you hear the article this morning on vaginal dryness on womans hour.The gynae was lovely and i thought it was very good when he said its a subject that needs to be talked about. Still haven`t heard re my test results etc I went for a blood test last thursday and i am waiting to hear.I hope everything is well for you.

Hi Jardy- well he thinks everything looks okay but he did another biopsy so waiting for that result. he has asked to seee me in 4-5 weeks, so unless the biopsy is a problem, I will see him then.

The expereince was not great. It took him 25 minutes and for 20 + minutes he was trying to get the scope in. My cervix was tight and he had to use dilators. It did hurt but not unbearable.

However, afterwards i sort of collapsed- I lost all feeling in my legs, felt terrible, sick etc and had to be wheel chaired out of the waiting area back to recovery. I was wired up and they said I had very low blood pressure and slow pulse- I think I had gone into some kind of shock. I was in there for 2 hours until I felt well enough to be picked up by a friend.

Not a pleasant experience.

No I didn't hear Woman's hour- will listen again.

Hope your result is okay.

purple you poor poor thing,what an ordeal.
I think I read on mumsnet somewhere that this can happen,that the cervix can completely close up and be inpenetrable almost.I am so sorry to hear this but for anyone reading it i am a real scardy cat and it didnt hurt me,I found it really easy.However the nurse kept asking me later whether i was ok and could i walk properly so obviously it does affect some women.Take care and I will be thinking of you. I had a bad car collision yesterday,my car is a write off and i have whip lash.The funny thing is i havent been thinking about my results i have been too preoccupied with my accident.
A surgeon ran into the back of me while rushing to hospital.His merc was hardly scratched!My tow bow was scrunched completely up!

I hope you get over your car crash- that sounds an ordeal too!

For what it's worth the nurse told me that the biopsy tool is larger than the scope and I had the biopsy in Feb this year and didn't feel a thing.

Aw purple you are so brave!
I got the result of my smear,normal but to have another in 5 years.I will be 60 then!Considering I have only had one partner - my dh - I am surprised this is necessary.My GP said the thinking is that it is caused by a virus and that she didn`t feel it was necessary if my last smears have been normal.The Nurse who did the smear said I was low risk but that nuns died of cervical cancer,but she said it was upto me to weigh it up.I think I will have it done for peace of mind and hopefully in 5 years time the test will be less intrusive!

You do need to keep up your smears. Unless your DH has just had one partner ( you) then you are at risk. The virus can also be spread by fingers, not just actual sex.

Actually, I didn't think that nuns did get cervical cacner- must check that out!

Is that all your results back now?

Thanks for the information.I agree with you I didnt think that nuns got cc,infact I recall a doctor telling me 30 years ago that there hadnt been a single recorded case of a nun dying of cc.Whether that is true I dont know.I dont know how many sexual partners my dh has had and dont feel it is my business.I dont want to ask!I don`t think just me.Thank you purple,I will keep having the smears and hopefully they will be easier in 5 years!

No I haven`t had any other results btw.I have been too preoccupied with the car accident and the worry of not having a car which I vitally need.Thank you for asking and I will keep you informed.Let me know how you get on.

Jardy- if your DH has had other partners then you are at risk. keep having smears.

Hi purplepeony-how are you?I have to see the Gynae Consultant for bleeding after the menopause.As I presume the ultra sound scan could have thrown up a fibroid but instead only showed up a thickened womb I am feeling rather scared!

Hi Jardy

I posted a few posts down just for you!

I suspect that you will have to have a biopsy or hysteroscopy like me.

How long to your appt?

I am okay thanks- my tests came back as normal, so the plan is to carry on with the HRT for a while longer. I am trying to cut down my dose by half to see if it makes any difference to how i am.

what's the plan with you now?

See the Consultant ASAP .GP feels that I should have seen the Consultant the first time but I only saw the Nurse who assumed I was still on HRT which would cause the breakthrough bleeding.Now it is ascertained that I have not been taking HRT for 5 months and infact my hormonal levels indicate I am postmenopausal I will be seeing the Consultant as soon as it will be arranged.I am so pleased for you that your results are normal!

Purplepeony-thank you for posting and asking about me,previously.You are lovely-so kind and supportive to anyone concerned as I am on these posts.

Jardy- try not to worry too much.
Thanks for your kind remarks.
I hope you get on okay- let us know.

I will!Thank you

Hi purplepeony,I hope you are well.I still havent got my appointment for the Consultant so I spoke to the GP this morning.It sounds as though it is possible that the Consultant will not follow up the GPs concerns,I get the impression that he thinks that post-menopausal bleeding in someone that has recently come off HRT does not necessarily warrant further investigations,but this is only my impression.The GP said she has asked the Consultant to put his views in writing to me and then she said follow it up after a week as I only wrote last week.I feel a bit confused,sounds like she has had a chat and there is no urgency on both sides.On a positive note,if I am post menopausal,I am really pleased because I am feeling well,I always assumed I would have no energy.My joints have improved and are not aching as much in the morning,almost back to normal.I am taking Vit B and Codliver oil.The best bit out of all this though is that my GP prescribed REPLENSMD and that has had an incredibly beneficial effect and has really worked.So I am delighted about that and hope I can be reassured about the post-menopausal bleeding.

Hi Jardy
I think it is a bit odd if your consultant does not follow- up- I'd ask and try to get something going.

You should only bleed post HRT if it was a periods linked to coming off the hormones, or if it was a "normal" period.

let me know how it goes.

Hi purplepeony,
Thanks for replying.I have my appointment through for two weeks today and I will let you know how I get on.I am so scared,mainly the biopsy,the thought of that terrifies me.
At least I will know though at long last as to what is going on!

Jardy- have I missed something? since when did you know you were having a biopsy- or are you predicting? and you have had one before anyway and said it was fine. no?

Hi purple,I got a letter on thursday regarding an appointment in two weeks time to see the Consultant.Yes you are correct I have had a biopsy before and it was absolutely fine.The difference is that I have time to think about it ( no warning before )and also I have been on the internet and researched it-should never have done that.Maybe I wont even have a biopsy and I am getting worked up for nothing,but think that its on the cards.Sorry,since my first post I have become a bit too focused on everything,wonders of the INTERNET!I will definatly let you know.Thanks again.

Hi purple,well you are made of much stronger stuff than me because I had exactly the same experience as you but it was stopped before using a dilator and i am booked for a GA in 2 weeks because my cervix was covered?closed?Not sure.This upset me but the nurse said that due to been post menopausal the opening to the cervix can be sealed.I will let you know how I get on,what a palavar!