hrt

[chimaera123]

Does anyone have any advice about which HRT is best? I am considering buying it from overseas, as I am still unable to get it from my GP.

Just bumping this for you, OP. Hopefully someone who knows more will be around this morning to answer your question.

I've read a lot saying that oestrogen gel and utrogestan capsules are best, but personally I had a lot of side effects from the utrogestan. I prefer combined patches, but they are difficult to get hold of at the moment. However I'd suggest you talk to a (different) doctor, as I'm not sure taking hrt without a prescription is a good idea.

You really really don't want to buy it without having seen a doctor.

In Europe it is possible to buy it over the counter, but not in the UK for good reasons.

The risks of HRT are quite small, but it's not advisable to buy it yourself. You need to do it under the care of a doctor. The licensing laws in the UK for hrt are that you have to have a review/ medical check up at least once a year (my own consultant works on a 6 month-ish basis.)

More to the point is why your GP will not prescribe it?
What's going on there?
Either you need to ask for it in a more assertive way or change your GP.

Your GP cannot withhold treatment that may help any condition unless they have sound medical reasons for doing so.

Have they?

Ijustneed what side effects did you have from the utrogestan please?

I tried taking it orally at first as prescribed, but felt very dizzy and spaced out. I read about inserting it vaginally and tried that, but had extremely sensitive and painful breasts and eventually gave up.

Why cant you get it from your GP? Won’t they prescribe it to you? Why not?

Thank you for this advice. I wholly agree with you, but I am struggling so much I feel desperate measures are the only way for me now.

My GP prescribed me a tablet about 2 years ago, I can't remember the name. (If I saw a list of names, I would know which one it was), But by month 3, I had to be honest that I just felt awful, so I stopped. I wasn't me, I was just existing, it really with my head.

My GP is very helpful, not one of those who are reluctant to give it out at all. But I have underlying issues.

Very high BP, terrible LFTs, massive anxiety, with a suicide risk on my records, I see it on my notes. Heavy smoker and drinker. I agreed with her that we should address all that first. In the consultation room with her that's all great, but when I get home and back to reality it's a different matter.

I have all the right intentions, and I try hard, but after a while I just can't sustain doing it on my own, I am in such a dark place all the time. I just want to opt out of life. I can't live in my head.

It's self-perpetuating, I know. But to me it's chicken and egg...….if I didn't hate myself, and find being me so unbearable I wouldn't drink.

I just don't know what to do any more.

@chimaera123 I don't really know what to say. It sounds as if your GP ought to be addressing your mental health and addiction issues. Is she? Have you had a referral for counselling? Have you yourself thought of going to AA for support to stop drinking? Has your gp offered support on stopping smoking?

These as you know are all terrible for your health and I feel worried for you just reading your posts. You are on the path to heart disease and cancer unless you stop.

When you say LFT do you mean liver function tests? If not, what is it?

If your liver is diseased you need urgent help with your drinking because it sounds as if this is alcoholism. How much do you drink?

If you were to use hrt it would have to be transdermal - so applied to the skin as a patch or gel. Tablets are far too risky for you as they can increase blood clots. You are already at risk of strokes and heart attacks with your high BP, smoking and drinking.

I think you ought to get support for your addictions - what's your GP offering?

Do you actually have menopause symptoms- you didn't mention any?