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!

[Piscivorus]

Could anyone give me a link please to some info on HRT that is unbiased?
My aunt died of breast cancer some years back and was convinced it had been caused by the HRT she had following a hysterectomy so I had always thought I should not have it but am now reconsidering

My periods stopped about 3 years ago at 51 and I thought I was getting off lightly as my only symptoms were feeling a bit warm now and then and not sleeping well (I am never tired until at least 2am and find it impossible to get to sleep before then which leaves me knackered each morning). About 6 months ago I had some vaginal symptoms which were diagnosed as atrophic and have Oestriol cream for that. Just recently though I feel anxious, dithery, can't make decisions and feel as though I am constantly on edge which seems to be a common menopause symptom

I am really torn on this as, irrational as it might be, I am scared there may be risks but would appreciate learning more so I can decide

[PollyPerky]

The latest research seems to show that HRT does not cause breast cancer- it may promote the growth of cells already present. So a woman may have one cancer cell which would have developed in maybe 10 years into a tumour, but HRT has accelerated that growth. I have been told this personally by a consultant.

I left a link on a previous thread written by the chairperson of the British Menopause Society. If you go t //www.menopausematters.co.uk Home page, scroll right down to the bottom, you will see Blog. There are 2 links there to HRT and breast cancer. The author of these blogs is Dr Heather Currie, consultant and chair of the BMS.

Lifestyle causes more breast cancer than HRT- alcohol, being overweight and inactive. If you look at the stats this is shown. There is a lot on the website I linked to under HRT Risks and Benefits.

[Piscivorus]

Thanks, will have a look

[lljkk]

@Piscivorus:
I don't know what you think of as an unbiased source.
Cancer UK or cochrane reviews?
They both suggest that HRT definitely raises the risk of cancers (they call this a "statistically significant" increase).
But when you look at the raised risks, it might be one extra case of ovarian cancer for every 1000 women on HRT. Or a similarly small number of breast cancer cases per 1000 women (I can't find numbers, but might be 5-10 extra cases).
You might decide that those are pretty small risks if HRT hugely makes your quality of life better otherwise, in mean time.
But No one can decide that for you, it's a personal choice.
It sounds like you don't even know for sure if HRT would help you, or how much it would help, so that might be the first thing to find out (you'd have to try it to find out).
Best of luck.

[PingPongBat]

I've been on the combined pill for as long as I can remember, but stopped taking it this summer monthly hormone headaches over the last 2 years. Initially I felt OK, a few headaches here and there, but in the last few weeks I've been experiencing incredibly achy muscles & stiffness - I just feel really sore in my arms and legs all the time. Taking off a shirt over my shirt is a struggle, getting up from sitting is painful. And then this week I've started having irregular heartbeats and feeling lightheaded, even when just sitting watching TV.

Are these symptoms the sort of things that can be alleviated by HRT? Is there anything else I can do to help with the aching?

My mum and grandmother also had osteoporosis, and I've read that HRT can help with this too so I'm tempted to book a visit to my GP to ask about it.

[PingPongBat]

... stopped taking it this summer because I had been getting monthly hormone headaches ...