Hot flushes - how many a day?

[Haberpop]

I am suffering from awful hot flushes, up to 50 a day. This seems excessive to me and they are getting worse not better, I haven't had a period in 3 years and came off HRT 15 months ago. The doctor has asked me to consider taking clonidine to see if it works but I am unsure about it but I am desperate to get them to stop.

I was having one an hour which was too much. been on HRT for 10 years and no intention of stopping unless anything changes.

Why have you stopped HRT?

I had some unexplained bleeding after 12 months without so the GP stopped the HRT. I thought I could manage without it but the flushes are getting worse not better and I need to do something as it is making life very uncomfortable, I can't sleep and they are taking over my life.

I had some unexplained bleeding after 12 months without so the GP stopped the HRT.

Without what? I don't understand what you mean.

Not sure why your HRT was stopped. You/ one doesn't stop HRT because of 'unexpected bleeding'. The rule is:

If any bleeding 12 months after a final period, under the 2-week referral rule you have an ultrasound scan and maybe a biopsy of womb lining with a hysteroscopy.

Was this done?

If not it ought to have been.

If the above shows all is normal, you can carry on with HRT.

It sounds as if you need a new dr! You certainly need to go back to HRT if you are having flushes as you are. BP medication is not the right treatment for women who can use HRT.

If your bleed was not investigated and it was after 12 months after your own last normal period, it needs investigating. If it was a bleed 'caused' by HRT ( conti can cause bleeding for up to 6 months till everything settles down) that is normal.

You need to go back to another GP who knows what's what, and get sorted.

I was told the HRT had to stop because I was bleeding after not having had a period for 12 months. I did have tests and was eventually given the all clear. While this was happening I moved house and now have a new GP surgery, I went today to be asked to be put back on HRT and was told no but I could consider Gabapentin or Clonidine instead. His reason for no was the increased risk of heart disease or blood clot but my BP was OK and I have no other risk factors for blood clots. It is a very small rural practice with only one other GP I can see.

Everything you have been told is so, so wrong and out of date. It's terrible these GPs are allowed to get away with this behaviour, really.
It goes against ALL the NICE guidelines for menopause treatment.

HRT does not cause heart disease- it protects. HRT does not cause strokes or clots if you use transdermal types. ADs are NOT the right treatment and this is explained forecefully in the NICE guidelines.

All I can suggest is you educate yourself about HRT and either go back and discuss, assertively, or you go outside the NHS and find a private gynae who will give you what you need.

This is an excellent website and Dr Newson was one of the speakers at the annual British Menopause Society last month along with other top experts. she is a private GP and you can self-refer to her.

menopausedoctor.co.uk/ Look under the MENOPAUSE tab on the top and you will everything your GP has told you to be a lie. I'd put it as strongly as that. presumably he or that practice has a 'NO HRT' policy?

If you want a name of anyone on the SW or London I can let you have other names.

menopausedoctor.co.uk/what-is-the-menopause/myths-about-hrt/

Maybe take this to your GP????

Thank you. I can't wear the patches as my skin reacts but I will go and fight my corner. I might ask my daughter to come with me, I am not in a good place at the moment as in the midst of all this my dearest dad was diagnosed with, and died from a rare form of cancer. I will go through that link and go in forearmed. Thank you again.

Haber it is important you to take care of yourself and get informed! I had a strong argument with a gyn a few weeks ago and he said a lot of nonsense to me! He was rude and arrogant saying that I don’t accept aging, that I have to stop hrt in 2-3 years and to choose if I want hot flashes or cancer. I am 42. I said to him that if I wanted a child ever at 50, he would give me higher doses of hormones and he wouldn’t talk about risks at all! They remember the risks when we have to deal with meno!

sorry to hear about your dad.

I think you would find some of the videos on this site really useful to watch because there are some on the (wrong) use of ADs, how to empower yourself to talk to your GP, and so on.
menopausedoctor.co.uk/videos/

You need to ask why you are being refused HRT when you have no risk factors (I assume.) Unless your medical history contraindicates HRT, you have a right to it (and any medication) that is available and could improve your health. Your GP is wrong to withhold it without any medical evidence that applies directly to you.