Menopause- hot flushes and night sweats

[charli126]

Hi,
I’m 63 and came off HRT combined patches in October last year after gradually weaning myself off them for a few months. I had gone through the same process 18 months earlier but could stand the HRT symptoms. In 2018 I was told I had a cyst on my right ovary but this has been monitored and not grown and the doctor says it’s a common problem. In December last year I had a lump in my left armpit but had it investigated and told it was fatty tissue. I am struggling with hot flushes and horrendous night sweats that keep me awake all night, the reason I went back on the HRT patches 18 months ago. My doctor says because of my age I need to stop HRT and try antidepressants or blood pressure medication but reading various comments these may not work. I was in HRT for about 5/6 years as I didn’t stop periods til I was 57. Anyone any advice please? Thankyou

Wrong, wrong wrong- your dr.

Menopause guidance from NICE and the British Menopause Society came out 5 years ago. There is NO limit on how long you can use HRT.

consensus statement on HRT See point 5.

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/032-taking-hrt-forever-ann-newson-dr-louise-newson

I am older than you and see a top UK meno consultant (who trains other drs) . I have been told by them and other consultants that they have patients in their 90s on HRT still.

Maybe you can find a more helpful GP? Maybe start with your current one by showing them the BMS statement above?

That link to the BMS statement didn't work- trying again.

thebms.org.uk/publications/consensus-statements/hormone-replacement-therapy/

As per the post from @JinglingHellsBells, your GP is wrong.

You don't have to come off HRT just because you've reached a certain age. Post menopause, we no longer produce the hormones being replaced by HRT so it stands to reason that once you've stopped HRT, the symptoms of your body not producing those hormones or having them via HRT will come back.

I have no intention of ever coming off HRT.

Is there another GP you can speak to? Hot flushes and night sweats can be absolutely horrendous and AD's will not help those symptoms

There are many Youtube interviews with the UK's top meno drs discussing this @charli126 where they say very clearly that there is no time limit and ultimately it's patient's choice- they discuss the risks and the woman makes the ultimate decision.

What really annoys me is out of date/ uneducated GPs making these wrong decisions when the very best UK menopause gynaes are saying something completely different!

Obviously if you draw a blank you can go to one of them privately and most are working remotely. Happy to give details if you need them.

Awww thankyou so much for your advice. I feel so much better now! I shall visit my Gp armed with the guidance. x

It’s great to hear and makes me feel so much better. Thankyou. I am going to visit my Gp and ask again or indeed change my Gp if not resolved! x