HRT??

[sophster10]

I am 44 and have an fsh of 44. I am really struggling with hot flushes and severe mood swings. I am reluctant to go on hrt as I feel quite young for all this but I really need help before I lose my mind. Any help or advice would be really appreciated....are there risks with hrt? Thank you in advance!

I hope it helps PeterSpots. This might be a silly question but do you have to pay for the patches? My dh has to have HRT and he gets free prescriptions.

I am praying I will get some relief. I don't have to pay because I have an underactive thyroid. The bladder/pelvic problem & face twitching is making me so anxious. I am a wreck & I feel like a space cadet. I had the Pelvic/bladder thing 18 years ago and not since & I'm struggling to cope.

why does an underactive thyroid make you exempt from prescription charges- out of interest!

Yes- HRT is chargeable just like any other prescribed meds unless you are exempt for other reasons.

Hello. If you are prescribed levothyroxine for an under active thyroid you have an exemption certificate.

For all prescriptions. I don't know why it's on the exemption list but it is. So my HRT is free because of that. I have patches & the pharmacist put one on my arm & it fell off. I went back for some advice & they put it on my stomach. That fell off. Having better luck on my buttock. But it's twisted a little bit. Just want it to be easy & work. Having counselling on Tuesday to help with my anxiety as the face tingling & pelvic thing has tipped me over the edge. Hormones could play a part but I will have to wait & see. I don't think I have ever been this anxious before

Bit puzzled why you allowed a pharmacist to apply your patch
They are best applied below the waist.

Because I asked for advice and they said they would do it to make sure that it stuck.

& they suggested the position. I know better now. Just hope it helps with the bladder symptoms

Hi Peter, I have Femseven patches and I have several strategies that help them to stick.
First, choose a fairly flat site. I chose a flat area by my shin, but I am always in trousers.
Make sure that after you shower, you don't apply any moisturiser to your chosen area. Before applying tha patch, I clean it with a steriswab, which is the sort of alcohol wipe used before giving an injection. I dry and warm the skin with a hairdryer on low heat. Apply the patch, firmly pressing it down. Then apply the hairdryer for about 20 seconds and again press down. I found this really helped.
Sites below the waist were recommended, as patches applied to the upper arm were found to give a high hormone dose to the breast tissue, which increased risks of breast cancer. I believe doses are now lower, so the risk is lower. Possibly wise to avoid the area anyway.

Thank you. I will try the hairdryer tip :)

Well I saw a very nice doctor today and have some patches. I am hoping things will improve soon as hot flushes in this weather are terrible.

I'm 45 and started the menopause about a month ago the hot flushes are awful I can not cope with them I was put on Femoston Hrt tablets I'm taking them 1wk along with clonadine but still taking the flushes though not as bad I'm on the lower dose 1/10 how long does it take the Hrt tabs to kick in? I have to stop the clonadine but scared to as I'm going to Wales on Thursday and can't face those horrible flushes!!

How long is a piece of string!
Everyone is different. I got great improvement in a few days (on gel) but was much older than you (54) and presumably my oestrogen levels were lower so HRT made a huge difference.
The advice from drs is to give it 3 months.
You need to carry on for a few more weeks then re-assess and maybe a higher dose is what you need. Also, pills aren't always the best form of HRT as a lot of the product can be lost in digestion- patches or gel are safer re. blood clots .
Have you also cut back on caffeine, booze and refined carbs as these can sometimes affect hot flushes?