Has anyone gone through menopause without hrt

[Jakc]

I’m due to get radical hysterectomy but for medical reasons won’t be able to take HRT afterwards and due to the op will obviously be thrown straight in to menopause. Really scared to be honest about how I’ll cope with that

I’m a breast cancer survivor and am very slim, have never drunk alcohol and am very fit. There is no breast cancer, or any cancer, in my family. I wasn’t allowed to take hrt. I’m interested in keeping my bones healthy too and what can be done about that.

'More women in their 40s and 50s should be offered Dexa scans to see what their bone density is like in order to make that choice. We live much longer now'

I absolutely agree with this. There needs to be definitive screening for osteoporosis and yes if indicated then take hrt for those very specific cases. Not for 'brain fog' or disturbed sleep.

Each to their own I wouldn't judge anyone but it annoys me seeing people constantly on this board say things like it 'is likely to protect against dementia'. No, we don't know that! there are so many conflicting studies one from Finland (a small study granted) found a 9 - 17% increase in risk. Also, lots of studies find an increase in all risks the longer it is taken so again some on here who declare there is no limit to how long it is taken shouldn't say that imo.

@lemonsyellow

I’m a breast cancer survivor and am very slim, have never drunk alcohol and am very fit. There is no breast cancer, or any cancer, in my family. I wasn’t allowed to take hrt. I’m interested in keeping my bones healthy too and what can be done about that.

I believe that exercise, in particular using weights, is good for your bones.

'It's somewhat ironic that some posters accuse drs working privately of being it it for the money'

Apologies if that is how it came across. I didn't mean in it for the money. I meant to have experts on a documentary who have private practices would seem rather biased. For Davina's documentary to have been balanced she should have had other experts who disagree with the medicalisation of the menopause. Specifially by celebs who as I said also have fillers, botox etc so their interest in 'treatment' may be questionable.

This thread is refreshing the amount of people who managed and may be helpful for others who are expecting a nightmare after some of the high profile people raising 'awareness'.

@JaniieJones I assume you're not there yet or have been lucky to have very mild symptoms. I had never experienced anxiety or heart palpitations before in my life and ended up in A&E twice! Hot flushes ALL Day and night every day, and the rest.... I'm a survivor of a chronic disease and have been through the mill since my teens with operations etc so I'm tough and can handle A LOT but living like that wasn't feasible. Within 3 days on hrt my hot flushes stopped completely and my anxiety is under control without the need for medication.

I agree dementia link isn't absolute and as it turns out dementia research has been fairly patchy to-date, so hopefully that improves, but osteoporosis and heart disease links are verified.

I didn’t use HRT either. My doctor told me that when you come off HRT you get all the symptoms anyway, so I didn’t see the point in kicking the can down the road. It was as expected - hot flushes, night sweats, emotional. But it was bearable as I (and my family) knew why it was happening. It certainly didn’t adversely affect my life - I carried on as normal. Good luck OP.

A friend of mine went vegan to reduce her chance of dementia, as her mother has it.

@Jakc Having a radical hysterectomy negates the need for progesterone supplements, which are sometimes considered the more problematic part to hrt. Oestrogen itself is naturally occurring and replacing it with a natural hormone should be safe for all.

While it's great that hrt has worked for some, the op has stated that she will be unable to take it, so saying how people can't possibly cope without it isn't exactly helpful, plenty of us have and are managing without hrt, whether through choice or necessity. I do feel that those who choose not to take it come under fire from those who insist it is the only way to keep healthy. We need to respect others choices and consider those who can't take hrt, even if they wanted it.

@FortVictoria

I didn’t use HRT either. My doctor told me that when you come off HRT you get all the symptoms anyway, so I didn’t see the point in kicking the can down the road. It was as expected - hot flushes, night sweats, emotional. But it was bearable as I (and my family) knew why it was happening. It certainly didn’t adversely affect my life - I carried on as normal. Good luck OP.

Your dr is wrong. Like most GPs who aren't trained in menopause. HRT doesn't delay symptoms, it treats symptoms you would have anyway and would have anyway when you stop.

' but osteoporosis and heart disease links are verified'

I believe only for as long as you take it and it is recommended no more than 5 years. Those that say it can be taken for life shouldn't say that.

Like you I'm a survivor of a serious diagnosis years ago and wish to stay away from doctors as much as possible. The thought of appointments, prescriptions, reviews etc for something that is not an actual illness does not appeal. Imo when you've survived a challenging situation then in comparison overheating etc is completely doable.

Those who go down the route fine but I do wish more celebs would raise awareness of living with the menopause rather than talking about treatment making out it is an illness and advocating private clinics.

Anyway op, good luck with your surgery .

Apologies if that is how it came across. I didn't mean in it for the money. I meant to have experts on a documentary who have private practices would seem rather biased @JaniieJones

The drs chosen for the programme were there because they are experts. Nick Panay heads up the NHS meno clinic at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital and yes, he also runs a private clinic. He is also one of the foremost HRT/ meno researchers in the world. The idea that drs are profiting from giving women HRT is laughable because they work within a strict code of medical ethics- first rule of which is 'do no harm'.

@Stickytreacle it might help to understand why people are being told they can't take it. It's such a grey area and many gps can't get past the 2002 study which has been overwhelmingly debunked. OP
is having a radical hysterectomy so I'd like to know why oestrogen only supplementation is being denied people.

But the 5-year tile was largely plucked from thin air some years ago now. I've spoken to many private docs snd views on this are shifting. And when I say private docs I don't mean "bio identical hrt specialists" I mean gynaecologists with umpteen yeas experience in NHS and private sectors.

*5-year rule

@JaniieJones I hate to single you out, but a lot of what you are posting is incorrect advice/ info. Please stop.

Please look at the guidance of the British Menopause Society. It says clearly that HRT can be taken as long as it's beneficial - no time limit. I've posted the link to them a million times so won't again, but it's there if you want to look. It's under Consensus Statements / HRT

The 5 year 'rule' was ditched ages ago.

The point about HRT and bone health is that it may last longer than when it's taken, but in any case, all the time someone uses it, they are putting more density into their bones, so they are going to be better than they were without it.

Likewise, maybe listen to the interview with Nick Panay - I posted a new link to this under that heading a week or so back on this forum. It will really bring you up to date on what is now happening with HRT.

It's sad to see women arguing here over what other women ought to do. There is a complete lack of appreciation of some women's experiences of menopause - it's not just a few hot flushes. It can be chronic sleep deprivation that in time leads to weight gain, heart disease, diabetes, and mental health issues.

And a huge number of posts here from women who chose not to use hrt are based on misunderstandings and lack of up to date facts.

Just looked up the dexa scan stuff as I'd not heard of it and the NHS say

Osteoporosis can affect anyone at any age, although older postmenopausal women are particularly at risk.
This is because the level of oestrogen declines after the menopausee_, resulting in a decrease in bone density.
The more dense your bones, the stronger and less likely they are to break (fracture). Osteoporosis does not cause any symptoms until a bone is broken.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/dexa-scan/

Yes, me. Increased breast cancer risk so doctors advised against it.

Was tough at times but got through it, eventually. Now have vaginal pessaries but that's it.

I used soya products , yoga, exercise, linen bedding and a very understanding husband to get through it.

My advice would be to try and put it to the back of your mind. Deal with symptoms if and when they arise, rather than dwelling on them.

I hope your op goes well and that you make a speedy recovery. No more periods ! Yay!

Me. I'm well past menopause, and apart from one or two hot flushes have had no issues at all.

So many incorrect statements here.

9 out of 10 women choosing not to take HRT for a 'reason' (either their own or a GP's) are quoting out of date or downright incorrect info, that was blown out of the water years back.
Sadly, most GPs are still spouting it.

There has been so much in the media recently to try to correct the myths that exist around flawed data from research done 20 years ago. (The WHI in the US.)

The argument seems to revolve around breast cancer risks. NO ONE wants BC. But the risks are tiny using HRT compared to the very big risks of drinking 2 units a day or being overweight.

Menopause has 2 stages -

1 flushes, sweats, mood swings etc.
2 long term health issues- heart disease, osteoporosis, pelvic floor collapse.

1 in 2 women get osteoporosis. 100K a year die from complications of it.

1 in 2 women do NOT get cancer.

Heart disease is the biggest killer of women.
It rises to be the same risk as men's after menopause. I wonder why that is??? Estrogen reduces the plaque in arteries by 50%.

Dementia- one issue is loss of blood to the brain. If affects women more than men. See same comment about heart disease.

It's your choice. if you are lucky enough to waft through menopause with nothing but a bit of overheating, great. But don't assume all women are like that.

And don't assume you won't get other more serious long term diseases linked to loss of estrogen 10 or 20 years in the future.

Make an informed choice and read the up to date evidence to do this.

For the people saying only hot flushes and night sweats
What about mood swings?
I have looked into natural remedies but for some reason they cost double usually

'hate to single you out, but a lot of what you are posting is incorrect advice/ info. Please stop.'

With respect jingling I could say the same. Much of the evidence you state as fact has other studies disagreeing. That's the problem isn't it this grey area of 'risks v benefits' is all open to interpretation and should be more definitive.

I would like balanced information, documentaries featuring both experts pro and against 'treatment'.

This board frequently has posters saying just get hrt without even the most basic reassurance that issues (doesn't have to be symptoms all the time!) do pass and do improve. We don't need to be tying ourselves to prescriptions and reviews, particularly private ones at a few hundred quid just for a consult.

'My advice would be to try and put it to the back of your mind. Deal with symptoms if and when they arise, rather than dwelling on them.'

Exactly. Don't fixate and dwell on things I'm sure some are in self fulfilling prophecy of 'it's an illness I need treating'.

It’s all well and good people showing off the huge benefits of hrt. But it’s a bit upsetting to read all about it and how those who can’t take it are further damaging their health, mental and physical, when you’re not allowed to take it because you’ve already had cancer. I would love to take it.

'Dementia- one issue is loss of blood to the brain. If affects women more than men. See same comment about heart disease.'

www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20190307/hrt-linked-to-slight-rise-in-alzheimers-risk