Has anyone here not taken HRT l? What else did you take?

[kissmelittleass]

I'm 52 never been on HRT but a consultant I seen in gynaecology back in February told me to speak to my doctor about going on it for heart and bone health.
With lockdown happening shortly after I still haven't got round to seeing the doctor to discuss.!! I am post menopause as my last monthly period was in October 2016 but I last had a small bleed for a few days in august 2018!
I would be interested to hear from anyone with their experience or advice!

Hi,
I didn't want to go on HRT so I did a bit of research and came up with these....not cheap, but totally worth it for me. They've helped a lot with my menopause symptoms and what they discuss makes a lot of sense.

happyhealthyyou.com.au/

These make a huge difference to me

@comebacksun Thanks for link I'll have a look!
@notapizzaeater Hi in what way did these improve things for you? Are they safe to take with other medication like thyroid medication?

@kissmelittleass How did the conversation go with the consultant? Assume there was a medical reason for discussion (about something?) and at 48 you did have what is thought of now as a 'bit of an early menopause' ( average age now in UK is 51-52.) This does mean your bones and heart are a little more at risk that women who have meno later.

Isoflavins etc ( the box linked to) are for hot flushes if you have them- no real proof they work and can still have side effects.

They won't help your bones or heart.

I am 56 and had my last period at 51. I haven't been to the doctor so haven't taken anything. I was pretty symptom free though, just a few very heavy periods and hot flushes for a few months.

They help? I do have hrt but a really small dose (got bones : heart etc)

I can tell when I don’t take it (also take thyroxine)

Didn't bother taking HRT. But had the flushes, however they went after a few months.

Then sleep became elusive. So I took magnesium, calcium and VitD. Zzzzz. Not every night but most nights.

I walk a few miles every second day and hope that might keep the osteoporosis at bay, due a Dexa scan soon so we shall see.

@kissmelittleass the stats show that around 10-15% women use HRT.
Many other women would benefit - either taking it short or longer term- but some are unaware of the benefits/ v risk, and others don't want to bother their GP.

I guess it would b good to know why your consultant suggested it because there must be some risk factors for you if you choose not to go down that route?

@JinglingHellsBells The consultant only popped in for a few minutes to discuss results at a follow up appointment as I had uterine thickening looked at during a GA and a d&c. Turns out they couldn't take a biopsy as atrophy? atypical? They seemed happy anyway there was nothing sinister there thank god!
Do basically I wasn't there to discuss menopausal symptoms or anything it was just the consultant asked my age 51 at the time and asked if I was on HRT, I said no and he just said go and discuss it with your doctor as everyone should be on it for heart and bone health!
Nothing further discussed and away I went, I actually saw a dietitian nearly two years ago now and she measured me on one of those scales that told her I had low bone density.
My doctor wasn't interested basically so I started doing daily cardio workouts ever since and walk when I can.

That's interesting @kissmelittleass and pleased you came back to clarify.

If you lining was atrophied, it couldn't be thick- that's a contradiction (not by you but maybe what someone said?).

Atrophied means really thin so can't get cells during a biopsy.

Atypical would be a diagnosis of hyperplasia- thick- and needing treatment.

Whatever your dietician did was not 'scientific'. (I think maybe you posted this before and I made a comment?) The ratio of fat/ muscle/ bone on scales like that is very inaccurate.

The only way to tell is with a DEXA scan.

Based on what she did say though, you ought to push your GP for a DEXA scan. Not good enough to say they weren't interested! They are being paid to care for you! Go back and insist.

@JinglingHellsBells thanks! I had a scan last summer which showed the uterine lining was thickened and after trying and failing very painfully to obtain a sample for biopsy I was referred for a GA to have it done!
The results I was told straight after and also at follow up clinic was that they actually couldn't get a sample as it was atrophy , they appeared happy with that!
I had to look up what atrophy meant haha and saw it meant thinned so I don't really understand but I believe the lining must of thinned out naturally?
The word atypical was on my notes the doctor/ consultant was reading from so that's all I know

Me! 59, no period for over 10 years. I never took anything. I just rode out the flushes and the sweats, and they stop in the end. Nothing would convince me HRT and periods are a better option.

and they stop in the end

for you , yes , but not for all women.

My mum has them in her late 80s.

Several meno specialists have said many women never get rid of them.

No, never took anything but I had a very easy menopause- one hot flush, no other symptoms... periods stopped when I was early 50s, never discussed it with a doctor. Recognise I was very fortunate.

I do still get the occasional flush or night sweat. I don't think they ever really go away.
But I much prefer that to the thought of having periods again.

@JaJaDingDong
I'm delighted actually to hear from women who rode it out as you say! Did you take any supplements at all or extra vitamins? What do you do for bone and heart health? I tbh didn't think at all how menopause affects the heart until the consultant mentioned HRT should be taken for heart and bone health.

Watching this with interest. I'm 52, so obviously peri, but have had no issues except slightly disturbed sleep, night leg cramps and intermittent slight breast pain. I started taking an evening primrose oil with vitamin B6 supplement which stopped the breast pain, and occasional magnesium for the leg cramps. I have never seen my gp for anything meno related and had not considered asking for HRT, not least because of the increased cancer risk. I'm hoping that's the right approach, but I'm now wondering about the heart health issue.

Watching with interest.
I'm 46 still having periods, although heavy they only last for 3 days now.
I can live with the hot flushes and physical symptoms, I suffer more with the crippling anxiety, which seems hormone related as it follows the same pattern each month and it peaks around when I ovulate.
I already take vit b, epo, magnesium and d3.

@JaJaDingDong

I do still get the occasional flush or night sweat. I don't think they ever really go away. But I much prefer that to the thought of having periods again.

That's my position, except that fortunately I don't get night sweats. Hot flushes have been my only symptom and they show no sign of stopping (I'm 59 now). My mum has apparently never stopped getting them altogether and she's 87, but they reduced a lot in time. I had endometriosis and my periods were a nightmare except for a blissful few years when I was on the pill. Possibly this makes a difference to my attitude to menopause. I am so ecstatic not to have to deal with periods any more that the hot flushes are a walk in the park. It helps immensely that I work part-time in a low stress role, don't have to do lots of presentations, lots of colleagues are women, many older, and I don't wear makeup so don't have to deal with melting mascara etc.

Also, my family has a bad history of breast cancer. Obviously I would like to reduce my risk of heart disease, but not if I push up my already slightly enhanced risk of getting breast cancer.

I tried 3 types of her during the peri stage and each time I felt even worse.

The peri was much more worse for me than the actual menopause. I believe it's the hike in oestrogen that caused me dreadful not as typical menopausal symptoms.

I tried many recommended remedy but none of them really help and it was mentally easier to stop it all then to always have hope to end up disappointed.

The main symptom that remain is poor sleep although it gets slightly better each year.

I'm really glad I didn't stick to hrt. My heart and bones are very healthy due to always been very active physically.

I didn't take hrt - I managed to cope with the hot flushes and luckily didn't really suffer from mood swings, anxiety etc. I did struggle with sleep though and after a week of only having a couple of hours sleep a night, very nearly asked for it!

At the time I took menopace and something else I can't remember-my memory is now shocking!

Everyone has slightly different symptoms - apart from the flushes, mine were constant headaches, poor sleep, itching and joint pain which I still have and now dx as osteoarthritis.

I spent a lot of time lurking on this board and found it extremely helpful - some very knowledgeable posters.

I should add I had an early menopause. Had the bone density scan recently and am fine for now (osteoporosis runs in my family) and take high dose vitamin d as recommended by my gp for the joints.

I went through the menopause at 46. I tried HRT, but every one that I tried made me bleed constantly. This went on for months, trying various HRT. Doctors seem to have no idea of the cause, and to me didn't show any interest either in finding out. In the end I gave up, no bleeds since then.

Now I my 60's and I don't take anything, I do still get occasional flushes, but nothing I can't handle. But my sleep is dreadful. Until I saw this thread I hadn't realised that the menopause can disrupt sleep too, so that helps me understand a bit more.

Hi I've just started with hot flushes. I wake in the night and have an awful time getting back to sleep. I've also started getting headaches. I want to see my GP for advice but the practice isn't running as usual.

@emilybrontescorsett Your GP should be offering phone or video consultations. Many GPs practices are not going to 'go back to normal' for months, if ever. There has been stuff in the news saying that many GPs will carry on working by phone or video as it's more efficient.