Handling The Menopause Without HRT

[Eliottsmam]

Many women don't want to take hrt, others can't take it for a whole variety of reasons.

It would be nice to hear positive stories about what helped you with any menopause issue.

For example, I found a fan by the bed helps me sleep all night. So sometimes there is a simple solution to a problem, it's just a case of finding it.

Simple or major changes to your routine, diet, lifestyle, or whatever else, I'm sure there are many women who'd benefit from widening their options.

Linerunner I wonder if you might find this helpful? It's a quote (longish) from a consultant gynaecologist (FRCOG) in his book on menopause.
He looks at HRT risks as being red or amber. For women who have had a pulmonary embolism he says: 'Once this has been treated , you move to Amber Risk'. [so you would as it's almost 2 years ago.]

For Amber Risk for he says ' You have a 5% risk each year of having another clot. You can be screened for risk factors if you have a personal or family history or if you have either antithrombin 111 deficiency or acquired antiphospholipid syndrome. If your screening is negative, you are still at risk of a clot but if you really want to use HRT then transdermal is advisable'.

If you are finding it almost impossible to cope then would you ask your GP to refer you to a cardiologist or a gynae or both to see if you could use transdermal HRT if it is something you want?

Just for the record, no advice here posted by me has been found on google.

The links left have been to sites that have some credibility.

It's becoming offensive to keep reiterating inaccurate comments (that are really thinly-veiled, snide criticisms) about what people are sourcing as the basis of their advice.

Pinkfrocks, neither my gynae nor my GP are prepared to prescribe any form of HRT whatsoever. They say the risk is there. Small, but there.

If I can't find a trusted doctor to prescribe it, then I guess I don't really want it. I am putting it in the 'tough shit' category of life I suppose.

But I do appreciate the advice. And I will read about it.

I think it's terribly hard for you, I agree.
I am not- really not!- pushing HRT or trying to persuade you against medical advice. All I would say is that there is a difference of opinion amongst even consultants. I know that mine- who I have seen regularly for 8 years- has opinions and ways of working that are not shared by others- they tell me this. Levels of expertise and experience plays their part in medicine as in all professions. If it was something that you ever wanted to pursue there are a few of us around these forums who could tell you who to see for a 2nd opinion- gynaes who are very highly thought of (and am not saying yours isn't- just saying 2nd opinions are sometimes worth having.)

You may manage very well without HRT; some women are luckier than others. I hope you manage okay!

pink do you mind me asking if you know what it is like to have had a pulmonary embolism?

I am also interested in alternative things which hwlp I am 50 soon and periods still regular as clockwork and no other signs yet but I know I won't be able to have HRT so this would be helpful thread for people like me

Hang in there LineRunner. Wish I could offer more than sympathy.

Thanks for the sign posting about HRT risks & cardiac risks. I've got relevant family history to consider (stroke, embolism, aneurism).

Line
my post was supposed to be helpful but you clearly think not so I'll not add anything further. I wish you all the best.

I had a full hysterectomy a year ago for ovarian cancer and can't take HRT. Things that have helped me are the fan by the bed, cheapo satiny sheets (I get mine off eBay) which are light and cool and starflower capsules. It is such bliss to not have periods, mine would last ten days and were heavy enough to soak through layers of thick pads. I find that cutting back on sugar/carbs has helped an awful lot.

Having finally got my endometriosis under control with an endometrial ablation, I don't want to risk a come back by taking hormones.
I'm still perimenopausal but the mood swings, hot flushes/nightsweats and insomnia have plagued me for years. Initially, I tried Dong Quai, which was fantastic but stopped my periods altogether; when I lowered the dose to a level that allowed periods, the symptoms returned, so I stopped.
After some reading, I chose to take magnesium for the insomnia and mood swing -it worked and it has the added bonus of being good for bones (and possibly cardioprotective).
Recently, I've started taking 200mg folic acid (found in the vit b complex tablets) for hot flushes: it seems to be working, the hot flushes are less intense and less frequent -down to 2-3 a day for just 3-4 days/month, and no longer needing ice blocks to cool down!

I've just started having symptoms and my periods are still ongoing with a new one or two cropping up every now and again! I'm seeing my GP this week but I won't be discussing HRT as nothing I'm experiencing is limiting me. I'd much prefer to go down a natural route than take pills so please keep your thread going OP.

Do simple changes like soy milk help? What could I be doing to help with bone density? I hate exercise but am doing Pilates once a week, any other ideas?

www.marilynglenville.com/books/natural-solutions-to-menopause-book/ I have borrowed this from the library, haven't got round to reading it yet!

Thanks, ladies, for continuing to share your personal experiences and solutions.

Thanks for your comments, Picachew. There is info on preventing osteoporosis here, www.iofbonehealth.org/preventing-osteoporosis. In the right hand column you'll see various headings, including exercise.

I joined a mixed ability local walking group. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it's just one way to socialize, get weight bearing exercise, and help keep the heart healthy too.

Thanks for the link. I think walking is the best form of exercise for me, anything too energetic and I return to my 14yr old stubborn anti-PE self!

I've found a book called Making Friends with the Menopause which is really helpful. She has one on anxiety too so I downloaded both by Sarah Rayner.

www.nos.org.uk/THIS is the UK equivalent of that site.
It's important to read about treatments etc available in the UK as US/overseas sites have differing information and treatments. Drug treatment in the UK is controlled by NICE, for example.

Pica there are conflicting opinions on soya. Soya contains isoflavins which are weak plant oestrogens ( BTW bio-identical HRT is made from plants and it's not always in pill form- many drs prescribe gels & patches) so for women who are worried about the side effects of oestrogen, soya is sometimes not advised ( eg for women who have had breast cancer.)

All I am saying is it's not so simple as food or supplements = natural=safe and anything made in a lab = unnatural=unsafe. Everything we eat , drink or put on our skin is made of molecules and sometimes products made in labs are very similar to the raw ingredients, just processed and packaged in a more consumer-convenient form!

I'm not anti anything chemical, vitamin pills are lab made presumably. Just wondered if using soy milk on my muesli is better or worse than semi skimmed cow milk.

this is the summary from a paper on soya.

In conclusion, the breast cancer studies discussed in this review mostly have been done using genistein. Only a few studies have used whole soy and therefore it is not clear whether the effects of, e.g., genistein alone, genistein in isoflavone mix, genistein in soy protein isolate, or genistein in soy beans have similar biological effects. It is important to consider the potential interactions between phytoestrogens and other bioactive components in the food matrix that could either enhance or reduce their ultimate effect on health. Westernized soy products are quite different from those consumed in the traditional Asian diet. Most Asian soy products use whole soybeans with or without fermentation. Soy products or second generation soy foods in the US are mostly based on soy protein at different levels of purification or extraction such as texturized vegetable protein (~45% protein), soy protein concentrate (~70% protein), or isolates (~90% protein), each with a different profile of nutrient and non-nutrient compounds, including isoflavones and saponins (112, 113). It is likely that processing of soy foods modulates the profile of isoflavones and modifies their bioaccesibility and bioavailability, but how these differences affect breast cancer risk and risk of recurrence need to be investigated.

It can be concluded that consumption of soy foods or intake of soy isoflavones remains in the spotlight as a possible “treatment” to reduce menopausal symptoms and prevent bone loss The beneficial effects of soy are more convincing if soy has been consumed throughout life rather than if the intake starts at menopause (114, 115). In the breast, soy intake during childhood and adolescence might provide lifelong protection against breast cancer (65–69) and sensitize for the protective effects of adult soy intake (65, 67). Although 2 recent human studies in breast cancer survivors did not indicate adverse effects (106, 107) and suggest a reduction in the risk of recurrence in Asian women consuming soy regularly, more studies are needed to determine whether Western soy products or isoflavone supplements are safe for women diagnosed with breast cancer.

research summary

I'm sorry, that made no sense to me! I'm not Asian. Not to worry. Will speak to GP. Thanks anyway.

www.amazon.co.uk/Change-Women-Menopause-Greer-Gremaine/dp/0449908534

Have a read of this

" I had a hysterectomy 2 months ago, everything out, for medical reasons which were fully supported by my oncologist"

Do you mean it was your idea?

It's unlikely your GP will know a huge amount unless they have an active interest in menopause.

I highlighted the sentence that was a summary. What it said was that soya may help menopause symptoms but it's 'under the spotlight' ( meaning not yet decided.)
It said that Asian women living in the east who eat soya from being born have a lower risk of breast cancer, but the possible risk of breast cancer to western women who consume a lot of soya is unknown and that is why breast cancer survivors are sometimes advised to avoid soya.

There is no firm evidence that soya helps menopause or bones but it's always worth trying if you want to.

Thanks but no thanks regarding Greer! It's an old book and reading the reviews is enough to put me off.

It's a minefield this menopause stuff, seems impossible to get a straight answer. We just got on with puberty, cried a bit , shouted and slammed a few doors. I expect no more or less with menopause!

Thanks pink, Xposted. When I chose to take oral contraceptives I was aware of the risks, seems it's no different to that. It's about weighing up the risks.

I think we should all read it, yes it was published in 1991 but so what? does that mean that a feminist view of menopause should be ignored?
We women are too quick to turn to surgery, even demanding it sometimes.
If a man went to the doctor and said 'I want you to surgically remove my cock and balls as they dont work as well as they used to' would the doctor agree? yet they will go along with women saying this very very quickly.