Is 48 too young to start HRT?

[OverByYer]

I’ve got a GP appointment later as I believed I am peri menopausal and have been for over a year.
I’m struggling to cope and keep bursting into tears and struggling in all aspects of my life.
Have tried herbal remedies, eat well and exercise- although foot pain is impeding this right now. TIA

Absolutely not too old. Most women are somewhere on the menopause nightmare from 45.
Go for it.

Oops meant not too young!! I was 48 when I started HRT

I am 49 and started HRT a year ago. It has transformed my life. I’m no longer a crying, anxious, depressed mess.. go for it!

Thanks! Brain fog too?!

Oh yes.. that’s all gone. I started not to be able to remember words.. basic words like ‘table’ or ‘glass’. It was excruciating.. i would be halfway through talking and then couldn’t remember the word.. my brain would be scrabbling round trying to find an alternative but inevitably couldn’t so I would have to change the sentence.. was awful but thankfully all gone now. I also had the RAGE.. literally wanted to murder everyone.. thank god for HRT!

@cosmos yes to the rage. I came out of the ladies at work the other day and couldn’t remember whether I needed to go right or left

I’m anxious, paranoid. It’s awful

I hope you get it sorted quickly. It’s such a horrible time of life for so many women. Thank god we can talk about and realise we are not going mad..

I started peri at about 46, went on HRT at 42....made a huge difference. Had to try a couple as the first one sorted out the symptoms but I was still bleeding a lot.

If you look up the NICE guidelines for menopause Nov 2015 you’ll get lots of info on how peri/meno should be treated by GPs.

Good idea to print it off and highlight appropriate sections in case you get a crap GP who is clueless as many seem to be in this area.

Check out Louise Newson aka The Menopause Doctor for brilliant up to date info.

Thanks everyone

I'm 48 and on my 3rd month, brain fog is lifting, night sweats reduced, irritation and tearfulness improving. I wouldn't hesitate!

Saw my GP she gave me the option of HRT or SSRI’s. Wants to check bloods to rule out anything else. Go back in 2 weeks but will be pushing for HRT

@OverByYer ADs (SSRIs) are not to be used for menopause. This is the NICE guidance from 2015. Sadly many GPs don't even bother to educate themselves on this. ADs are for women who have perhaps had breast cancer or heart attacks and cannot use HRT.
There is a massive campaign going on by menopause specialists at the moment to try to teach GPs this- but so many are offering women ADs which do not work and may do harm. Peri symptoms are caused by loss of estrogen. The treatment is estrogen. It's that simple. Read the NICE guidelines (easily found online by googling) and the website of Dr Louise Newson and also listen to the podcast I linked to a few threads down on this page, where consultant Nick Panay discusses all of this.

Thanks. I will have a read before I go back

I started hrt at 42 after a few months suffering from meno symptoms.

Just started at 46. Only month one but so far so good.

I started it at 36 due to early menopause due to autoimmune conditions. It’s actually really important to start it as early as you need it because it provides protection for your bones and heart - lack of oestrogen in younger women is really dangerous long term.