HRT and blood pressure

[Choccymumma]

My BP is 140s ish over 90s ish which I know is high, I was led to believe that I cant have HRT until it is lower. I'm struggling with symptoms now and seeing my GP is so difficult at the moment.
Has anyone been in a similar situation regarding BP?

Yep I was - and my diastolic number was too high; I think at times I was around 130/100. I have really bad white coat syndrome so sometimes it went even higher.

They first put me on a 24 hour monitor which showed it was high. Then they asked me to buy a monitor and track it for a week, twice a day - it was better, but still high, so they asked me to go on blood pressure medication, which I did for six months. At the start of Covid I came off everything - work was really busy and I just couldn’t deal with the gaff of constant appointments for the HRT and blood pressure checks. Around this time I started doing a lot of walking to try and do 1000 miles in a year, and after a couple of months it dropped massively. My average now is around 127/88. Went back to the GP in April this year armed with my new average and asked to go back on HRT and they said yes. So far it’s working fine and my BP is staying at the same level.

Thanks for replying.
I love walking so need to make more time for it. Did they put you on HRT despite the high pressure? I have so many symptoms, I've got to the point where I need to do something. My arms are aching so badly now.

I was borderline so they put me on with the threat of blood pressure tablets (Ramipril) that I did have to go on for a while - I let those lapse along with everything else when it all got crazy at work. My HRT appointments and BP appointments never coincided due to GP and nurse availability (or lack of!) and it was a nightmare.

I started walking on the flat, got a bit fitter and started doing hills. Not made much difference to my weight yet but didn’t put any on over Covid, which is something. Noticed by blood pressure was going down especially after a very long walk. It’s good doing a week’s worth of readings and averaging it out as if you get lower ones they do help with the average. Mine told me to take it first thing in the morning, and before bed. Also said not to cross my legs as that can affect it.

Anxiety, brain fog and joint pain have been the worst symptoms for me - I’m now on patches and tablets. Still have some anxiety and rain fog but my joint pain has completely disappeared - I’m back to 25 miles over a Wainwrights weekend, and have even started couch to 5k.

@Choccymumma The 'rule' re HRT and high BP it his...

treat high BP with either meds or lifestyle measures to get it under control, then prescribe HRT.

Transdermal estrogen is unlikely to raise BP anyway.

Thanks all!

Hi sweaty Betty I take blood pressure meds and have been on HRT for 10 weeks Estrogel & progesterone. I was led to believe that I couldn’t have HRT but after seeing a menopause specialist she didn’t see any problem

Some GPs refuse HRT because of high BP because they put HRT and the Pill into the same category- which they aren't.

Modern HRT is totally different from the Pill, which is a high dose of synthetic hormones which carry a higher (yet still small) risk of stroke/ blood clots.

There is no additional risk of clots with some sorts of HRT (patches/ gel)

However, @Choccymumma

high BP is a health risk for anyone, and having high BP in your 40s or 50s isn't great because it will increase your risk of other illnesses (kidney damage, heart problems etc.)

The charity Blood Pressure UK has loads of tips on reducing your BP with lifestyle- including foods to eat and avoid, and exercise, and weight loss if that's an issue.