I have to stop HRT

[MakeItAmazing]

I have no idea what to expect other than the hot flushes may be worse and I might be more anxious etc. Can anyone give me any advice or tips for managing please?

Can I ask you the reason for stopping hrt? Maybe a gradual stopping is a good idea.

I had to stop HRT, still having hot flushes and night sweats but the anxiety didn't return.

I would reduce very very slowly. If you are on oral HRT could you use patches, or do you have to stop altogether?

I was on tablets and have to stop immediately.

I went to get some stuff from Holland & Barrett but was advised not to take what I planned too but she recommended something else. I plan to be nicer to myself when hormonal, have bought some chocolate and will walk the dog a lot!

Thank you everyone .

Do you mind saying why you had to stop immediately?
The only reasons are blood clot, breast cancer, heart attack, severe jaundice- list is on the leaflets.

If it was anything other, I'd question with another dr.

Breast issues and recurrent really bad headaches.

I trust who I saw so I am fine to do as they said and will be starting on something more natural for me. Tbh I haven't felt any benefits to HRT so happy to stop but I am able to try it again once we sort out the headaches. I may need a brain scan.

You will be advised or ought to be, to stop the tablet form and use patches or gel.
Tablet HRT has a higher risk of blood clots.
There is now a recent move to start all women on transdermal (not tablets.)

I have been worried about a pain in my leg I have had for months but forgot to mention it. If I have to go back because of the headaches I will bring it up then.

Yes, I moved to patches because of the DVT risk. I do quite a few long haul flights every year.

I would definitely mention the leg pain.

Menopace herbal helped the night sweats for me. Pricey but worth it.

@makeitamazing
Leg pain from a DVT is not just 'leg pain'.
The symptoms are quite different- your leg would normally be swollen, hot around the site of the clot, red, skin tight, and very obvious. If anyone has this, it calls for a trip to A&E straight away.

Thank you @JinglingHellsBells but thankfully I don't think I have all those symptoms as the pain is not constant. I will keep an eye. I have another headache this morning. If they are caused by the HRT do you know how long it takes to get out of my system so I know I need to do something about the headaches? I'm also feeling sick on and off plus had concussion ten days ago . I shouldn't be allowed out of the house.

I've just remembered I had a rash on my breast last night too that I need to keep an eye on.

Wow MakeIt - I think you should return to GP. Are the headaches related to the concussion or did you have them before?

FiveShelties I had the headaches before.

Njordsgrrrl - I haven't been bothered by hot flushes much as they don't last long.

@MakeitAmazing
If you google leg DVT there are some photos- not suggesting google is a substitute for seeing your dr, but...

Headaches....hard to say but most headaches with HRT are directly related to withdrawal of the progestogen in the 2nd half of the cycle (if using sequential types.)

I often get a slight migraine 2-3 days before a bleed once I've stopped the progesterone (as I did with my own natural cycles.)

Depending how long you were on HRT (how long?) it should leave your system pretty quickly though some women say their flushes etc took several weeks to come back.

Ironically, headaches can often improve with HRT- depends what is causing them in the first place.
Tension? Anxiety? Food intolerance? Eyesight? Sinus issues?

If they are one-sided and migraines your dr should refer you to a specialist.

I started HRT in May and it was the one with pink for two weeks and cream yellow for two weeks.

I wear glasses all the time (swap to others for reading) so don't think it is a vision thing. I'm very tired, busy and get stressed but I drink a lot of water and very little alcohol so don't think it is that.

Last year I was diagnosed with food intolerances to 30+ things but now it just seems to be bread, flour, that type of stuff.

Just feel bleurgh and fed up with it tbh.

I'm sorry- the colour of the pills means nothing to me. I've never used pill form HRT.

You might want to have your glasses checked again unless you are up to date with eye checks.

Unless there are other things going on, having some headaches (even now, off HRT) and a rash on your boob (which ought to be investigated if your dr thinks so) don't sound like reasons to stop HRT as they could both be caused by so many other things.

The guidance on headaches is to stop if there is an excruciating 1-sided headache (migraine) and the Migraine Trust gives the ok to use HRT with migraine. I have had migraine since aged 11 and it was never even discussed as an issue because transdermal types of HRT have no bearing on it.

The headaches do fit the criteria for stopping with what you've said. I'll try and see the doctor in a few weeks if they haven't stopped as even though they started before I stopped the HRT there's a chance the doctor will think they are because I was on it then stopped and eventually I'll be okay.

Eye test is up to date albeit the last one was nine months late.

Thank you for all your help.