Is it worth visiting the GP about these symptoms?

[countdowntothenewyear]

I'm 50. For the past couple of years had erratic periods, they stopped altogether for about 8 months then started again for a year, and now nothing for six months. I'm having horrendous headaches at least every other day, hot flushes are constant and I'm waking every couple of hours at night as I'm so hot. I've cut out alcohol, sugar and am taking Menopace, but can't get on top of these symptoms. Is it worth talking to my GP at this stage about HRT, or will she tell me to wait until my periods have stopped for a longer time? Thank you

See your GP. HRT is just as valid for peri meno as post meno.

You can certainly start HRT in the peri stage, I wouldn't hesitate in your case, your sleep disturbance sounds horrendous!
The headaches can also be a peri symptom, mine improved when I started HRT.

Thank you. I had presumed I wouldn't get anywhere with the GP for years. I'll get an appointment booked.

Symptoms can be worse during peri when hormones are all the place.
There is no question of having to wait years after a final period for HRT. Many women start HRT in their mid-late 40s.

HRT absolutely.

You just need the sequential sort (where you get a bleed every 4 weeks) rather than the continuous sort (where you have progestogen in every pill and no bleed.)

(It is also a double prescription charge because there are 2 sorts of pills in the one packet )

Update as I've just seen the GP. He prescribed Femoston conti as a first try on HRT. Two months to see how it goes. Very pleased. Thank you all for your advice.

well that's good and bad news :)
If you are using conti HRT the rule is it's for women who are post meno = no period for 12 months. You are still in peri with your last period 6 months ago.

This is medical advice- not mine!

It should say this on the patient info in the pack.

What may happen is you might get break through bleeding of your own cycle. You may also find that 2 hormones daily , every day, is not idea and you won't know which of them is the culprit. Really you ought to have had a sequi patch. I don't know why GPs don't know this

Good luck anyway.

sorry forgot - the timescale for conti HRT is 6 months' trial because it can take that long to put the uterine lining into an atrophic state where it doesn't build up and bleed. 2 months is not long enough.

Thank you Polly. I'll see how it goes!

I'd go to a specialist menopause clinic if I was you. GP's don't have enough time to be thorough and often don't know the best drugs to put you on.
I honestly feel my marriage might have survived the menopause if I'd had some decent (longer than 10 minute) advice.