is there anything apart from hrt that helps?

[Justchillaxing]

I tried hrt but started having migraines so have stopped.

Any idea what helps with the aches and pains apart from constantly taking paracetamol? My wrists, knees and hips ache all the time. Paracetamol doesn't get rid of it, just helps a little.

I heard black cohosh helps with hot flushes?

I've tried menopace but didn't notice any difference to anything.

I'm going to make an appointment with my gp and wondered if there's anything I should ask her to test for.

I stopped the antidepressants because I couldn't sleep and it wasn't helping with the flushes.

I'm confused. Why don't you try another type of HRT? You may well be fine on another sort. There isn't anything as effective.

Mainly because I can't find a gp that will take the time to listen to what I want.

Sorry posted too soon ...

I'm also worried about strokes. I have health anxiety and the migraines really worried me.

best thing to do is ask away here or on the Menopause Matters forum. Learn as much as you can, read the website for migraine support which I mentioned, and then go to your GP being proactive asking for what you want.

If you have health anxiety, no amount of anyone trying to persuade you it's all ok won't work! Transdermal estrogen actually opens up the blood vessels and keeps them working better, so there is no risk of strokes- that only applies to pills where the risk of a blood clot is slightly higher.

Thanks

I don't really know what to ask. I just want something safe that won't cause horrendously heavy painful periods (last proper period was October last year but had two hrt induced ones recently) and that helps with the flushes and joint aches and pains.

can you say which type you were on before? Some women like Estradot which is an estrogen only patch then they get the progestogen part from Utrogestan ( capsules) for half the month. I think you need to experiment with the dose of patch ( all patches contain the same type of estrogen) maybe starting very low , and working out if your migraines come on because the dose is too low or too high. Obviously a lower dose will reduce the amount of blood loss each month.

This link shows you the different patches that are just estrogen.

menopausematters.co.uk/treatafter.php

This link shows you the combined patches which is probably the one you use now. They start at 50mcg which is higher than Estradot.

menopausematters.co.uk/perimeno.php

It will be a case of trial and error to get the right combo for you.

Thanks. I was using Evorel Sequi patches.

The bleeding was heavy, painful and lasted 7 days at least. I guess I expected the periods to be lighter like when taking the contraceptive pill. I also had a lot of abdominal pain, period cramps, leading up to it.