HRT pros and cons

[Gonnagetgoing]

So I’m between peri and menopause I think. Have occasional insomnia etc. One friend swears by HRT which is good for her. My mother bypassed menopause or had a very easy one due to removal of area around womb/Fallopian tubes etc - unsure what exactly. I’ve also heard horror stories from a close older friend and another friend about starting HRT, it being great but then when they wanted to come off HRT symptoms of menopause were much worse and they were on and off HRT.

So do I suffer or not with menopause and treat as I do now naturally or do the HRT route?

How has weight gain been for everyone? I've piled on nearly two stone in the past 18 months - I really can't put any more on if I start taking HRT!

@Absoluteweapon

How has weight gain been for everyone? I've piled on nearly two stone in the past 18 months - I really can't put any more on if I start taking HRT!

I can honestly say I have had no weight gain at all through taking hrt but, in fairness, I do eat healthily based upon the 16:8 programme and exercise twice daily - around 15 minutes each tome - 7 days per week. I'm a size 10-12 which is just a shade bigger than pre menopause.

I also have an underactive thyroid so take Levothyroxine daily too.

I am mid 60's now and have been taking hrt since 2013. I had a 3 month break about 4 years ago and a 6 month break earlier this year. NEVER AGAIN!
During both breaks the night sweats and hot flushes were unbearable and I felt myself gradually turning into a flabby old woman.

For me it's about quality of life so I am happy to take minimal risks associated with my age and taking hrt. I only take half a dose anyway - 1 x 2mg tablet every other day - and plan to reduce this even further once my system is steady again following the latest break. To say it is a life changer for me is an understatement but of course everyone is different and I really envy those who sail through the menopause without medical assistance.

each time 🙄

I haven’t had any weight gain due to HRT. I have gained about a stone last year due to swimming pools and Pilates classes being shut down, and me eating too much. I’ve actually lost weight during the last few months, just by eating less and exercising more.

@Absoluteweapon

How has weight gain been for everyone? I've piled on nearly two stone in the past 18 months - I really can't put any more on if I start taking HRT!

No weight gain for me after more than 10 years but I am very careful over my diet. I certainly can't eat what I did in my 30s and 40s.

I was putting on weight before hrt due to poor sleep and feeling rough. It’s ok now. But can’t drink like I used to which prob helps with calories

@LizzieSiddal.. can I ask what regime you are on please. It sounds like a miracle cure! Thanks

@Gonnagetgoing

thanks! interesting! just out of interest, how long can you take HRT for? indefinitely?!

I started using it when I had an early menopause due to a total hysterectomy, when I was 35. Now 63 and still use it, feel great, body working well. I get regular breast screens and have a bone scan every few years, all good. I can highly recommend it.

I viewed the start of menopausal symptoms as a rite of passage, here is my body signifying the end of fertility and the movement into the next stage of life, which for many is viewed as a decline.

So it really depends on your outlook. Do you want to decline?!

If yes, then you can move into the next stage being at peace with your decision.

If no, then it is a good time to take stock of your health mentally and physically.

Is there room for improvement?

I actually got quite scared looking around me and seeing the pain and suffering of older women I knew in ill health and knew preventative measures now would pay dividends later.

I overhauled my diet, what I did for exercise and started HRT in patch form

The combination of this overhaul was a huge boost to my mental health. It also gave me the courage to change my job!

I knew it was important to maintain bone density so I have taken up resistance training with youtube videos plus a few Pilates and yoga poses before I go to bed and when I wake up ( less than 10 mins).

I have taken up swimming, cycling and running but only have time for half an hour once or twice a week but I think it's still better to do a little than not at all).

I got a dog and go walking every day.

Then as I am naturally greedy but I wanted to be healthy and slim I stopped dieting completely and looked at the daily nutritional requirements for a menopausal woman instead and have kept to that ( so emphasis on calcium, protein and more fruit/ veg/ choices) and eliminating factory processed foods.

I have now changed to HRT in tablet form and recently halved the dose with no ill effects.

I am back to the weight I was in my early 20s and I am fitter than I was then.

Someone I really admire said do things you used to do when in primary school for a laugh so we have started doing handstands and forward rolls again. She can do a cartwheel but I haven't mastered it yet

Look at YouTube videos for inspiration for 100 year olds doing marathon runs and gymnastics for inspiration.

So what I am saying is you can let HRT be part of a package of measures to go into the next stage in life.

Some of us may live to be 100 so it makes sense to be as fit and healthy as possible. HRT is only a great aid to that in conjunction with other measures.

@Butterflywing - well said.
I’m just realising this. I’m unfit 12kg overweight . I came through the mood swings of peri ok and feel a lot more emotionally calm now, so don’t want to upset the balance with hrt.
My plan is overhaul diet and exercise, and when I’m 55 I’ll have a bone scan and take it from there.

Brilliant @Yarnandneedles!

I think when we stop and take stock of our trajectories we realise there is a lot of room for improvement and that's exciting!

Being responsible for our own health and well being and not letting poor past choices define our future.

I am now looking forward to growing old disgracefully now that I have the energy levels of a primary school pupil again

@BooseysMom I’m on Everol conti patches.

@Butterflywing

I viewed the start of menopausal symptoms as a rite of passage, here is my body signifying the end of fertility and the movement into the next stage of life, which for many is viewed as a decline.

So it really depends on your outlook. Do you want to decline?!

If yes, then you can move into the next stage being at peace with your decision.

If no, then it is a good time to take stock of your health mentally and physically.

Is there room for improvement?

I actually got quite scared looking around me and seeing the pain and suffering of older women I knew in ill health and knew preventative measures now would pay dividends later.

I overhauled my diet, what I did for exercise and started HRT in patch form

The combination of this overhaul was a huge boost to my mental health. It also gave me the courage to change my job!

I knew it was important to maintain bone density so I have taken up resistance training with youtube videos plus a few Pilates and yoga poses before I go to bed and when I wake up ( less than 10 mins).

I have taken up swimming, cycling and running but only have time for half an hour once or twice a week but I think it's still better to do a little than not at all).

I got a dog and go walking every day.

Then as I am naturally greedy but I wanted to be healthy and slim I stopped dieting completely and looked at the daily nutritional requirements for a menopausal woman instead and have kept to that ( so emphasis on calcium, protein and more fruit/ veg/ choices) and eliminating factory processed foods.

I have now changed to HRT in tablet form and recently halved the dose with no ill effects.

I am back to the weight I was in my early 20s and I am fitter than I was then.

Someone I really admire said do things you used to do when in primary school for a laugh so we have started doing handstands and forward rolls again. She can do a cartwheel but I haven't mastered it yet

Look at YouTube videos for inspiration for 100 year olds doing marathon runs and gymnastics for inspiration.

So what I am saying is you can let HRT be part of a package of measures to go into the next stage in life.

Some of us may live to be 100 so it makes sense to be as fit and healthy as possible. HRT is only a great aid to that in conjunction with other measures.

Brilliant post

The women in my family had heart problems, osteo and low confidence. For years… its so worth looking after yourself

@Butterflywing

I viewed the start of menopausal symptoms as a rite of passage, here is my body signifying the end of fertility and the movement into the next stage of life, which for many is viewed as a decline.

So it really depends on your outlook. Do you want to decline?!

If yes, then you can move into the next stage being at peace with your decision.

If no, then it is a good time to take stock of your health mentally and physically.

Is there room for improvement?

I actually got quite scared looking around me and seeing the pain and suffering of older women I knew in ill health and knew preventative measures now would pay dividends later.

I overhauled my diet, what I did for exercise and started HRT in patch form

The combination of this overhaul was a huge boost to my mental health. It also gave me the courage to change my job!

I knew it was important to maintain bone density so I have taken up resistance training with youtube videos plus a few Pilates and yoga poses before I go to bed and when I wake up ( less than 10 mins).

I have taken up swimming, cycling and running but only have time for half an hour once or twice a week but I think it's still better to do a little than not at all).

I got a dog and go walking every day.

Then as I am naturally greedy but I wanted to be healthy and slim I stopped dieting completely and looked at the daily nutritional requirements for a menopausal woman instead and have kept to that ( so emphasis on calcium, protein and more fruit/ veg/ choices) and eliminating factory processed foods.

I have now changed to HRT in tablet form and recently halved the dose with no ill effects.

I am back to the weight I was in my early 20s and I am fitter than I was then.

Someone I really admire said do things you used to do when in primary school for a laugh so we have started doing handstands and forward rolls again. She can do a cartwheel but I haven't mastered it yet

Look at YouTube videos for inspiration for 100 year olds doing marathon runs and gymnastics for inspiration.

So what I am saying is you can let HRT be part of a package of measures to go into the next stage in life.

Some of us may live to be 100 so it makes sense to be as fit and healthy as possible. HRT is only a great aid to that in conjunction with other measures.

This is really inspiring and what really resonates is seeing older women in such ill health and not wanting to be like that when I'm their age. I'm early on in my HRT journey but am similarly now overhauling what I eat and how I keep fit (I also gave up dieting a few years ago when I realised what an exercise in futility it is) and I'm slowly losing weight.

@LizzieSiddal.. thank you. I was on Evorel Conti ?and Sequi patches and had to stop due to sharp stabbing pain in both breasts. Then went on to try Oestrogel and Utrogesten regime and found it wasn't stopping the symptoms I had before my periods even when increasing the gel so stopped that too. I feel completely at a loss now. Currently in bed with a debilitating period. Nothing helps.

That’s horrible Booesys. Have you had a look at Dr Louise Newsons website? She has a huge amount of information on there with all sorts of suggestions. Maybe worth a look?

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause

@LizzieSiddal.. Thank you. Just starting to feel human again today after 2 days in bed! Very heavy bleeding and clotting (sorry for tmi). I dread the periods now. I wonder if they would do a hysterectomy! I will check out the website thanks

You don't go through the menopause. It's not something that you should suffer or tolerate. As we age our bodies stops producing oestrogen progesterone and testerone. That can have dehibilitating symptoms no amount of healthy eating or vitamins will help.