Please tell me about HRT

[Tessticklesyourfancy]

I'm sorry if this has been done to death but can anyone tell me about HRT
I'm 50, started with night sweats well over 18 months ago. I'd been on the mini pill for years and didn't bleed with that. I stopped taking it in May and haven't had even a spot since, not that that bothers me.
I'm constantly tired and no mater what time I go to bed or how knackered I am. it takes me ages to get to sleep then waking absolutely drenched with sweat several times a night. My mood has dropped along with my sex drive, I feel quite teary some days and I'm definitely more angry and argumentative.
I haven't been to the doctor although my DP has said several times I need to go, my moods and snapping are having an impact on our relationship.
I've read posters saying how wonderful HRT is and I'd like to know more. I've suffered yfrom migraines since I was 11 but these last few months they've subsided so I don't want them to increase , I'd rather not bleed and what happens when you stop taking HRT? Do the flushes and mood swings come back? If I started it now and took it for say 10 years I think I'd be less able to cope than now. Sorry for the long ramble and if I'm being a bit dim.

@pollyperky and @LuluandtheNightshade thanks for the good advice..got a prescription for patches. So, hopefully will help the sleep and muscle pain.

I'm new - 50 next month - doc very anti hrt - refused to do blood test fir menopause though I knew in myself it was happening told me try herbal supplements - think I've been peri fir a couple of years - but too scared to challenge her - hit rock bottom in June - night sweats soaking the bed - no sleep - constantly tired - needing to pee then cystitis, feeling low, moods affecting my job - anxious - nervous and to be honest like a stranger to myself - and the past month ashamed to admit that I've felt suicidal - I'm a very strong person too as an only child with no family and lost my dad then had my poor Mam with Alzheimer's fir 4 years and an awful death and coped with it all alone and without any medication or counselling as I'm a bit old school and just get on with it - but this menopause lark is worse than anything I've ever been through. Feel really alone - no one to talk to - no family at all and friends have their own problems - hate to bother them - only been with my boyfriend for a year and a bit embarrassed to admit menopause but sex drive gone - finally got a blood test from a doc covering my docs hols - proved I was in menopause - still took 3 appointments but I finally got elleste duo 1mg on Tuesday - I was so happy after over a year of trying to get hrt I cried with happiness outside the Asda pharmacy !!! praying it works quick as me and my boyfriend (if he can put up with much longer!) are going away to Scotland fir my 50th birthday in 2 weeks time - I'd be happy if the night sweats have lessened as although we have been living together I've had to leave him as he was getting no sleep due to my embarrassing sweating. Why oh why when hrt is there to help will docs not prescribe it? I have no health issues at all to stop me taking it? And to be honest if I lose a couple of years of life towards the end it will be worth it to make the now bearable - sorry for the rant but I've just found this site and I see I'm not alone after all x

Gill it's good you have got what you want. Hope it helps.
I'm unclear why you think you might lose a couple of years of life on HRT? HRT is not as risky as drinking 2 units a day, being overweight, or sedentary .

It might help other women reading to make these points:
GPs should not be 'acting as Gods' and refusing women HRT. The guidelines are that GPs discuss benefits and risks, and unless there are no medical reasons to refuse HRT, it is the woman's choice.

This is from NICE
Vasomotor symptoms

1.4.2 Offer women HRT for vasomotor symptoms after discussing with them the short-term (up to 5 years) and longer-term benefits and risks.

I am sure it can be hard if a GP is anti-HRT for some reason, but the conversation to have is 'I have xyz symptoms, I've read about the risks and benefits of HRT and I'd like to try it, unless there are medical reasons which make it a higher risk for me'.

In other words, your GP has to come up with reasons NOT to prescribe it, not simply say you can't have it or don't need it.

If your GP refuses , change your GP , or if this isn't possible and you are desperate, refer yourself to a menopause specialist .

Hi Polly and thanks for your reply - I probably didn't express myself well by saying I'd be happy to lose a couple of years - it was just an expression of how desperate I was to try HRT - I think the worst thing was that my doc is a lady of similar age to myself and has always been great about any other problems but when I first mentioned the menopause it was as if the shitters came down and she didn't want to know. Another doctor I had a telephone appointment with after the blood test results came back last week said it looked like I was peri menopausal and shouldn't need HRT then he said oh - no the levels of FS (or whatever - I can't remember now) showed I was well into the menopause but why did I feel like I needed HRT?!!! Really? I sometimes wonder if docs read notes or test results correctly - I honestly felt like I was trying to obtain something illegal - I wasn't asking for methodone or sleeping pills or anti depressants- - and the blood test proved I was menopausal - I'm just glad I didn't give up despite being told there were no appointments for weeks I went and stood outside the surgery before it opened and almost begged to see the first doc who had suggested the blood test who thankfully could see I was at the end of my tether. Have any other ladies had problems getting HRT? A girl I know through work who is 36 went to her doc with mood swings and was offered Hrt without a blood test! Surely there should be one rule for everyone not this selective prescribing???

Hi @pollyperks thankyou so much for all your encouragement and help to lots of ladies on this site.
I took the plunge 5 days on Fem seven conti. Feeling good five days on patch can't believe the difference it has made to me!! Patch stinking well no problems. I did have a headache days 1&2...
Thankful that so far so good.

Sticking* lol not stinking

Hi hoping someone can help: I'm 52 and haven't had a period for about 3 yrs. My thermostat has definitely gone up and I haven't slept well for ages. But, I really went to my GP for emotional help - non-existent sex drive, going off to hide and cry and anxiety which I think brought on tingling in my chest and down my arms both in the day and during the night! She recommended HRT, reassured me about breast cancer and heart disease and gave me Kliofem to use for 6 months (with a 3 month check up). I'm a bit concerned because they seem to be a higher dose option and I have heard of people having heaving bleeding (and no periods is the one bonus at the moment!). Has anyone had any experience and can you say whether they helped with these kinds of symptoms. Sorry to gabble but really need some female advice.

If you have not had a period for 3 years then your GP should have offered you continuous HRT which means you will not have withdrawal bleeds. Conti HRT is not mandatory post menopause- some women still prefer the sort that gives a cycle as it feels more natural- but I am sure Kliofem is one type that is no-bleed. Have a check online or in the leaflet. You have nothing to lose by trying it- you can always stop or try another type.

Hi i have started taking femiston conti dual 2 weeks ago 1mg/5mg. This morning i have spotting and awful period pain. As anyone else experienced this

is that 1mg progesterone 5mg oestrogen? That seems quite a high dose of oestrogen tbh

yes I had a couple of terrible periods when I started on elleste (1mg prgesterone 1mg oestrogen) but it settled by the 3rd month

Thank you for that