HRT - 65 plus

[JadeSeahorse]

Can I please ask, is anyone here 65 or over and still taking HRT?

I took it until 6 months ago - half dose daily of Kliofem - when I allowed myself to be talked into coming off it by another GP in our practice who strongly stated I had been taking it for too long and that there were risks in taking it over a prolonged period of time and especially when over 60. 🙄🤔

I gradually stopped taking it and for the first few weeks I felt fine. However, the hot flushes and night sweats suddenly came roaring back with a vengeance. I also feel depressed, teary, can't sleep, my joints ache etc. I just feel I'm turning into a little old lady which is so not me.
I am slim, follow a healthy diet and exercise rigidly twice per day plus am very active anyway. I have spent a King's ransom trying alternative supplements but nothing helps at all. I now want to start retaking the hrt. I had the menopause from hell and suffered for 10 years before a locum GP, with a speciality in gynaecology, convinced me to try it. It was like a wonder drug and I am so upset now that I was talked into ceasing with it and am now suffering terribly again.

I am thinking of speaking to my usual GP - who is nearing retirement and only works 2 days per week - next week to ask if I can be prescribed it again.

Has anyone else been in this situation and/or what do you think my chances are? I can afford private treatment but our local clinic is very expensive and of course it would mean paying through the nose for prescriptions plus the medication as well as the consultations which I strongly feel I shouldn't need to do as I really feel I have been misled by one GP's prejudice.

Sorry for the lengthy post but any advice really welcome.

That sounds awful. Did you have your old prescription on repeat? If that's the case then presumably you could just contact reception at your GPs office, or go online and order a repeat of it?

Have you looked at the nice guidelines that is a pinned post on the menopause board? Does that have anything that might help you?

my beloved sainted GP said she sees no reason for me to ever stop my HRT given it works so well for me

Yep, I've been taking HRT for many years and see no reason to ever stop. I'm 72.

You need to show them/ discuss medical guidance of the British Menopause Society (on their website under consensus statements) where it says there are to be no limits (age) on use of HRT as long as for the individual, the benefits outweigh the risks.

There are interviews on line with menopause consultants who say they have women in their 80s and 90s still using it.
If you want to listen to one such interview, google Nick Panay, Liz Earle, HRT, interview.
He discusses the length of time on HRT.

ps

At 65 you ought to be using transdermal- patches or gel- not tablets as they do have an increased of blood clots for the over-60s. So you will need another type anyway.

Tablet form is not so popular now as first choice amongst meno experts.

@JadeSeahorse
Listen to this very long interview, and then go back to your GP and have a very good discussion about how HRT is beneficial for long term women's health

peterattiamd.com/caroltavris-avrumbluming/

So sorry I am only just responding but can't thank all you ladies enough.

I am definitely going to view everything recommended and then hopefully speak to usual GP next week.

My only concern is the possibility of gel patches as I once tried these for something else and developed a horrible allergic reaction. ☹️

Could I Please ask @Purplewithred and @shippingnews have you had to switch to patches?

I have a Mirena coil + Evorel 25 transdermal patches and have had since I started. Ovestin 1mg cream added about a year in.

Ooh thanks @ Purplewithred!

The Ovestin 1mg cream sounds interesting! I was previously taking Elleste Duet Conti initially which was switched to Kliofem due to supply issues. Both of these were 2mg which I found was too high for me. I actually decided to bite the pills in half so was really only taking 1mg per day which suited me MUCH better and my usual GP thought this was a great idea. I know I could manage with an even lesser dose so will suggest this too.

Just so peed off that I agreed to doing away with it altogether! 👺 (Wouldn't normally see this GP but had no choice at the time due to lockdown and my own GP being away ill). When I phoned this GP advising her of how I was suffering, she suggested Black Cohosh which gave me dreadful headaches and was useless. Since then I think I have tried everything known to man. ☹️ Have already made plans to speak to my usual GP on Monday so fingers crossed I may be successful. 🙏

Mega thanks to everyone for your great help and have read loads of your posts @JinglingHellsBells which I found really informative and useful.

It's funny how some drs are quick to suggest herbs like Black Cohosh which may help but can also cause liver problems long term.

(And won't protect you against osteoporosis or heart disease.)

@JadeSeahorse I forgot- I was listening to an interview with Dr Louise Newson recently where she says one of her new patients has started HRT at 91, having had it refused at 90.

My own consultant has a patient who uses it at that age too.

JinglingHellsBells wow, you are spot on there!

The black cohosh made me feel absolutely dreadful and when I read about side effects I immediately spotted that it can cause liver damage.🤔

I must admit I am also concerned about the lack of protection with regards to osteoporosis too when not taking hrt.

Starting hrt at 91 😱! OMG, how long has that lady suffered without help?

Will update once I have spoken to my GP. Wish me luck! 🤞🤞🤞

Quick update!

Spoke with my usual GP this morning and she was happy for me to start taking the reduced dosage of Kliofem again!

She totally agreed that different doctors have differing opinions but she personally feels there can definitely be benefits for certain women. So long as I feel comfortable with any small risks associated with taking same then she has no issue with this.

So relived! 😊 Many thanks to you all here for giving me the confidence to go for it.

Brilliant!

Novofem is only 1mg of oestrogen also a tablet just fyi

Ooh thanks for that @Brionyschymony!

Not heard of that one.

Previous post should read Relieved of course.

Autocue strikes again! 🤣