I appear to have hit the menopause

[DarkMother]

Hot flushes. Lots of them. All day and all night. They are weird. Not sweaty just burning hot all over, I get really restless, my heart pounds and I’m wide awake over and over. Its worse than having a newborn and I’m knackered.
Along with achy knees, zits and dry bits, and assorted other things.
I am a crone.
I really really do not want to go down the hormone route but the herbs have made no difference whatsoever and I really need to sleep.
Any suggestions?

Some hrt is made from mare urine but that’s used less and less now. There are much better alternatives - gel is made from yams as Jingling has said, and is much safer.
It’s about balancing the risks and everyone needs to decide for themselves. But for most it’s probably worth a try if symptoms are bad.

I wish I had known the gel was made from yams. What is the brand name please?

SunsetBoulevard3 The gel is Oestrogel. Not sure about Sandrena- another gel- might be the same.

There are very few types of HRT now made from animals- only a few old types like Premarin and Prempak and they are rarely prescribed.

Not all women want or need HRT and the risks v benefits are what everyone considers.

However, there are some consultants who will prescribe it for women who want the longer term benefits (to heart, bones and brain) even if they don't have menopause symptoms. Statistically women on HRT live longer and healthier lives even taking into account the risks.

Personal choice, but what you read in the newspaper headlines is often sensationalised (against HRT) andd often inaccurate.

Plenty of real evidence and facts on medical sites.

@JinglingHellsBells
Meant my aunt tested negative for the brca gene.

Sorry for derailing your thread op.

How can anyone possibly know that women on HRT live longer and healthier lives? It hasn’t t been around long enough to even begin to quantify that. It’s nonsense.

I've been on HRT for at least 20 years and will take it forever. Why suffer because of a vague idea that it might not be right for you ? Try it and see - that's always the best plan.

How can anyone possibly know that women on HRT live longer and healthier lives? It hasn’t t been around long enough to even begin to quantify that. It’s nonsense.

@SunsetBoulevard3 If I have time today I will find the links to medical research which shows this.

I am posting medical facts, not an opinion.

HRT has been around since the 1940s, so over 80 years. Of course it can be validated by research!

This statement is validated by the British Menopause Society, the International Menopause Society and other respected medical organisations.

@SunsetBoulevard3

www.rcgp.org.uk/clinical-and-research/about/clinical-news/2019/march/making-sense-of-the-hrt-debate.aspx

Numerous studies have shown that shown that when HRT is started in women who are within 10 years of menopause onset it can to reduce future risk of development of osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis and all-cause mortality

hormonehealth.co.uk/2017/03/women-hrt-live-longer/

March 10th, 2017|Patient Information, Research
New research suggests that women on HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) are likely to live longer. Not only does the treatment help to relieve the symptoms of menopause, it can also protect against longer-term health risks such as osteoporosis and heart disease, which rise significantly in women over the age of 50.

Thanks for the links jingling. This report seems to be from 2017, is that right? What about the very recent research that shows a much higher risk of breast cancer than previously supposed?
I wasn’t aware HRT has been around that long. I don’t think very women were on it though until the last twenty years or so. It’s just not long enough to really know in my opinion.
We are told all the time that we’ll turn into old crones with broken bones and heart disease without HRT, but women for centuries have managed to live into old age fit and healthy if hey they take care of themselves. My mother is 83 and has never taken HRT, had any broken bones or heart disease. I think it’s a natural event that we need to accept. Keep well and healthy through good diet and exercise and supplements.

There is a lot online about the Lancet article which you refer to and BC. It is not highly regarded as research by other experts and the BMS has written letters about it, expressing concern at how the press reported the findings, which may well be inaccurate.

Sorry I'm going out now but do some research and you might find the facts you want.

thebms.org.uk/2019/08/bms-response-to-lancet-paper-on-the-link-between-different-forms-of-hrt-and-breast-cancer-incidence/

Really, the fact your mother is fine is neither here nor there, Stats look at millions of women. You can't use the same argument about smokers can you? Oh my uncle smoked 40 a day and lived to 100. It's the same argument!

My mother didn't sue HRT either and is in her 90s. But many of her friends who also didn't use HRT have died, are ill and some are disabled by osteoporosis.

If HRT's not for you that's fine. But at least be aware of the facts not myths is all I'd say.

@eveharknessrose what get gel please ? I’m worried about weight gain but have no energy to exercise
Re my menopause symptoms I had 3 sessions acupuncture and no more hot flushes atall

jingling
Thanks for the reports. The fact is though that elderly people do die and become ill and HRT is not going to change that. It’s a fact of life.

I wont take HRT because of cancer in family and a general avoidance of most medications. What seems to help is good diet... Sugar and alcohol seem to trigger bad nights. I do feel better when i get a walk or some yoga into the day. Sage complex is helpful too. I was using the Victoria Health one but stopped to save some money.

@SunsetBoulevard3 I find it very frustrating trying to discuss this here with you.

I'm not sure if you came to the thread for advice or to offer advice, but you don't seem to want to accept science over your own opinions. I am a health writer who's studied menopause for a decade, talking to experts including all the best menopause specialists in the UK. I could quote you lots of stats about deaths from osteoporosis and heart disease and how HRT helps prevent this, but there isn't any point as you are biased.

If you have been very lucky and not had any serious meno symptoms that's great for you. Not all women are so lucky.

No one takes HRT if they don't need it for either short term symptoms or prevention of longer tern risks and diseases like osteoporosis.

I find your posts quite offensive because you seem to imply women who use HRT are not already eating healthily or exercising and if only they did, their symptoms would not exist. Do you think they aren't doing that stuff already?

All the best with your own meno journey.

To be fair @JinglingHellsBells, the OP asked for other solutions, I'm glad HRT works for you, but it is not necessarily a done thing for everybody.

Well that went off on a a tangent.

I did indeed say I am, at present, not going down the HRT route. I have many reasons for this. I was keen to explore alternatives, some of which have been suggested - so thanks.

Jingle I agree with everything you’ve said, but playing devils advocate I can also see why some women find it really frustrating that hrt is espoused as a youth giving wonder drug that will protect against all sorts and hence implying women not on it will shrivel up and be unhealthy. For what it’s worth I’m 39 and on hrt due to a radical hysterectomy so both my ovaries had to go. I literally can not image life without the hrt I’m on, the few days post op before I stated on it were quite literally hell. No one has any right to judge other symptoms or choices and all we can do is weigh up the pros and cons for ourselves based on evidence based research.

This no doubt is a daft question but now I’m approaching 47 and are starting to feel some effects of peri menopause I’m interested in HRT.
If it can be taken for life does that mean that periods continue? So I could be 90 and still having periods? 😱

While I'm here, may I please ask a question too?

I am 53, perimenopausal for about 4 years, with my only real symptom being hot flushes at night. I've had two periods last year and two the year before and none since May last year. Would HRT be of any benefit to me at all?

@madambee To be fair in her OP @DarkMother asked for advice and, given that experts agree that up to the age of 60, HRT has benefits that outweigh all the risks, don't you think it's worth posting that? No other treatments either herbs or supplements work as well, otherwise every women with symptoms would be using them!!!!
I don't know what @DarkMother has against HRT but many women do not understand it and are prejudiced .

The NICE guidance on menopause says that women should be informed of risks and benefits of all treatments. I don't see how it's wrong to talk about the benefits of HRT.

There are so many posts on this thread alone which show how little women understand about modern HRT (ie they think it's still made from house pee etc etc etc)

I can also see why some women find it really frustrating that hrt is espoused as a youth giving wonder drug that will protect against all sorts and hence implying women not on it will shrivel up and be unhealthy.

I couldn't agree with you more @Hellbentwellwent

And surely it 's okay to state the benefits especially when some posters don't believe the science and say it's all 'nonsense'?

And going back to your point, yes, women will and do shrivel up when they lose estrogen. Everything shrivels- vagina, bone density , arteries fur up, dementia is now seen as a risk, collagen in between verterbra shrinks so women lose height....

No woman takes HRT for vanity reasons if that's the suggestion. They take it for symptoms or to prevent osteoporosis.

The trouble is doctors often don't have the time or knowledge to explain the pros and cons. My doctor put a lot of pressure on me to take it but couldn't say why, other than that it had made a huge difference to her. She also said it had made her put on weight.

@Twenty2 yes! That video on busting myths around HRT will answer your question more fully, so I recommend you watch it, but HRT is appropriate for the vast majority of women and the risks associated with taking it are very low vs. the benefits (particularly for trans-dermal i.e. through the skin varieties like patches and gel).

Link to video, which is excellent and very informative: www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/busting-myths-around-hrt#

Thank you @zafferana I'll take a look