Is hrt just for hot flushes?

[CarrieErbag]

I'm pretty sure I'm peri, I have no not flushes but have awful joint pain, am knackered and have awful nausea and dizziness.
I wondered if hrt would perhaps help?

Of course not, hot flashes are only a symptom. If your quality of life is affected and you are in peri ask for hrt.
My biggest concern isn’t about meno symptoms but the longterm consequences of estrogen loss in my health and especially in my brain.

My gp was very reluctant to prescribe hrt (meno is a 'natural' process etc ) because I didn't have flushes. She was prepared to give me antidepressants though even though I report no anxiety, depression or similar.
I think it depends on how clued-up your doctor is.

Lots of things are a natural process including all diseases. That doesn't mean people should suffer when drugs can alleviate the symptoms. Dying is a natural process! Does she believe that medicine has no place in quality of life? I don't understand these GPs.

thefirstmrsdewinter that was my worry, as flushes seem to be so much the defining thing.
I don't go to the GP very often but when I have been he's been a bit of a twerp. I'm loathe to go only for him to do an eye roll and send me away with a pat on the head, especially as the best i can come up with is feeling crap, rather than specifics.

Well on one hand I don't think my experience should put you off asking; on the other it's something to keep in mind so you can at steel yourself. Any chance you'd go private? My impression is that that may be a better way to go.

Even if I went back to gp and said 'Oh look, I've got flushes now. Can I have my hrt?' I would rather not take drugs she doesn't feel confident prescribing iyswim, so I'd be inclined to go private myself.

How old are you op? If you're (I think) under 45 they can do a blood test and might be more inclined (for heart and bone protection) to offer you hrt for early meno.

I've only just started to have some flush-like stuff happening and I've been in peri for at least a year so don't worry you too could be headed for flushes soon.

I find it helpful!