HRT

[DoreenLethal]

Another HRT thread - sorry.

But 7 years after asking, and after my periods ending, and after 7 years of hot hot flushes, sleepless nights, aching muscles I finally got HRT patches two days ago. I raced home, put one on and life has already changed for the better.

No hot flushes.
No aching muscles [I can walk to bed now, not hobble].
And although I am not sleeping well at the moment it is due to the heat and more than a little excitement at maybe getting a decent night's kip [so excited about this I can't sleep!]
And even though I am still doing 12,000-15,000 steps at work, in this heat, in the polytunnels and gardens, shifting and heaving stuff about, I am not feeling like death by the time I get home.

7 years I have suffered and overnight the difference is amazing.

I asked why I was not allowed them before and the [male] doctor told me that there were health concerns 7 years ago...I didn't want to keep poking the hive as he got the book and started looking up the right prescription but oh my god I can't believe the change.

I feel like a human again.

I'll probably get no response but just needed to get it out there!

yay! great that you feel human again, Doreen

I'm 48 and probably a bit peri, but nothing too bad at the mo.
However, I will definitely be going down the HRT route, if needs be.

have a fab day!

Mine started at 41. Am 48 too. I never wanted to go down the HRT route but as it gets progressively worse and worse and you are hobbling up the stairs at the end of the day knowing you are likely to only get 4 hours sleep at best, something has to snap at one point.

But thank you. I am so chuffed! And we are off on hols for a fortnight tomorrow - such good timing.

That's fabulous ! I'm off to the GP today for HRT. I've had hot sweats for a while and this week have ached all over, I can't bear it any more .

I didn't realise that the menopause caused aching muscles , I thought I had some sort of virus until I googled .

Is it a free prescription like contraception or do you have to pay ?

Well done.
I've been on patches for 2 years now and although I don't exactly feel 21 again, I wouldn't be without them.

Some thoughtless fucking woman at my dance class gleefully informed me that I was at risk of cancer when I was discussing my patches with a third party in the loos.
I turned round and said that I wouldn't be here to even get cancer without the patches.

I was seriously depressed by my menopausal symptoms before starting HRT and it's managed to pull me out of there.

Same here. It changed my life.

We're all at risk of cancer in one form or another CuttedupPear - stupid woman . I hope that GP will prescribe it for me, he's notoriously tight on giving out any medication .

Doreen Good news! Out of interest, was it peri that began at 41 or did your periods stop then?
If they stopped before 45 that is classed as an early menopause ( average age is 51 as you might know!) so your Gp ought to have given you HRT at the time - it's negligent not to (this is the advice from NICE by the way- not me!)
I'd really urge you to ask for a bone density scan if you have had 7-8 years with no periods because the risk of osteoporosis is so much higher. I found I had quite serious osteopenia ( almost osteoporosis) in my late 40s even without any risk factors. Thankfully, due to lifestyle changes and HRT it's reversed.

I'm just back from GP. - no HRT ! They are having to check whether I can have it as I have the Mirena coil

So your GP doesn't know the first thing about HRT??!!!

The 'gold standard' option for combined HRT is the Mirena coil and a separate oestrogen- either a patch or oestrogen gel.

If your GP doesn't know this it's really appalling.

Sorry but the number of posts on this forum about GPs who don't even know the basics about HRT is shocking.

What are you supposed to do now?

Scroll down this link to Mirena - at foot of table.

It's been licensed for HRT since 2004. So your GP is either incredibly young or incredibly out of date with their training. Whichever, print this off and go straight back!

www.menopausematters.co.uk/perimeno.php

www.menopausematters.co.uk/perimeno.php

Read the bottom of this, and print it out and take it to the doctor.

Doreen it is good to hear you are feeling better. Long may it continue! I second the proposal that you ask for Dexa scanning.

Whoops - that is the same link as Polly's It is a good link though and often recommended by doctors.

Thankyou for the links , my GP is hopeless ( no shit Sherlock!) . I NEED HRT I can't carry on with disturbed nights sleep and the awful aching . I will go back and show them .

GP has just phoned me ! I can have HRT but need yo get the coil renewed

Result! (I presume mirena is nearing 4 years?)

Read the oestrogen pages on Menopause Matters.

Your best bet is oestrogel which is more flexible, but patches are good too and can be more even (if they stick!). Tablets have to be digested then processed through the liver, with an obvious daily peak, so no advantage there.

Periods stopped long before 45! I mentioned to the doc that I also might be at risk of osteoporosis as I was allergic to dairy and didn't eat any for 10 years and he had to stop himself from sighing. I have had a huge swathe of blood tests done and when I go back after I get back from my hols I will mention that, thanks.

#feeling30again

I would be looking at an osteoporosis site to find info about good bone health and prevention and see what you can do to optimise that.

Did they check your vitamin D? At least it is sunny Sardines on toast are good for vit D, omega 3 and calcium. I prefer the ones in tomato (the ones with lots of tomato!) on homemade wholemeal toast with loads of butter but I suppose you will have to give that bit a miss.

Bollocks. I started HRT 7y ago due to early meno and overwhelming symptoms. My periods had not yet stopped. GP sent me for various scans and blood tests, and encouraged me to take HRT in order to protect my bones.

I thank God and Science twice a week when I change my patches! They have saved my life, my sanity, my marriage and my children's mental and emotional health.

Doreen- if your GP is that rubbish then be prepared for them NOT to refer you for a DEXA scan. No dairy and an early meno are really putting you in a high risk group. You MAY be fine and I don't want to worry you. But if I'd not had a DEXA scan (I paid for it myself privately, really out of curiosity and 'prevention' strategy) I'd be in serious trouble now. I would certainly have had osteoporosis. It's taken me over 12 years of bloody hard work (exercises for bones), diet and HRT, (though HRT is not prescribed for my bones) to improve my bone density. Do what you have to and don't take 'no' for an answer from your GP.

Just to add, calcium and Vit D are important but on their own they do not build bone. I've researched this an awful lot, and although we need calcium and Vit D, it's only elderly women over 65 whose bone mass improves with Vit D supplements. You can swallow tonnes of calcium but unless your bones are stimulated by regular, weight bearing exercise using weights, or lots of energetic walking, etc, they will not build new bone. Bones are maintained by the muscles pulling on the bones to give them a 'jolt' or 'stress' as it's called, which makes them produce new bone.

I've had the Mirena since 2010 ! And on the card it says it should be changed 2017 .

I'm fuming just been given the run around trying to get FP clinic appt to get it changed . Was told they don't do it at my GP . Finally got through to correct dept after being put through to wrong extentions umpteen times , to be told next appt is October !

Phoned GP surgery to be told by the fucking know all receptionist that this won't affect my hormone levels if I've got an old coil in . THEN she said I could have a new coil fitted by my GP. Why the fuck didn't they say that this morning when I was sat I front of the bastard ????

Doinmummy I am speechless.

Talk about 'your life in their hands '
Ffs

I've been back to the surgery to pick up the prescription that the stupid GP could have given me at the time if he'd known what the fuck he was talking about . I took it to the chemist and they haven't got any patches in stock !