I’m admitting defeat and think I need HRT. Talk me through please.

[TartanTinselledTrollop]

47. Hysterectomy 3 years ago. 1 ovary left. Couple of years of on/off flushes and vague symptoms. Thought it would be manageable And wasn’t keen on the idea of taking yet more hormones but it’s getting worse and I’ve had enough.

Symptoms

Flushes. A lot. All night but not so much during the day. When the flush comes it feels all panicky and weird. I don’t like it.
Got a wool duvet, cotton sheets, cold flannel.

Anxiety. Low mood. Is it menopause or pandemic/work? Not awful but definitely worse some days.

Fat. Again, could be pandemic/work/laziness

Itching. Could be related to food intolerances.

Sleep. Insomnia. Awake every hour with the flushes. Can’t drop off. Can’t nap. Wide awake at 1 and again at 3. I’m knackered.

Restless legs. Thrashing around with the flushes. But also noticed I’ve taken to jiggling my legs in the day too.

Painful joints - taking it in turns. Carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, Achilles tendinitis, ,knackered knee not healing for months.

Irritable bowels are horribly worse and have been for months.

Sex. What’s that?

Drink too much caffeine and alcohol. Have cut back on the booze with zero effect on any of the above.

Fat. BMI 38!! Trying. - see above pandemic/work/anxiety.

Exercise - knackered joints, work, willpower.

History of migraine. Not often. Some weird atypical ones.

Will be attempting to get a GP appointment at some point. What do I ask for?

Get the Balance app and track your symptoms. You can then download this and show GP.

Educate yourself before you go because some GPs think migraine = no HRT. This is not true.

All your symptoms could be menopause.

Read the NICE guidelines linked in the menopause threads (it’s pinned to the top)

Just ask your Gp for HRT.

You need to change your mindset from seeing it as taking more hormones to replacing the ones you’ve lost. If you had a thyroid deficiency (hypothyroidism) you would want to replace the thyroxine wouldn’t you? It’s no different.

Loads of information out there about various types of HRT - Newson Health clinic website and their balance website is good for free fact based information.

I’m 41 and been on HRT since 37 due to autoimmune issues - I don’t produce any oestrogen at all. I have oestrogel, utrogestan 100mg every night and I take the mini pill - the mini pill means I don’t have any bleeding, ever which I like.

If possible, a GP with experience/specialising in menopause. At our GP I’d put that info on their online appointment request system - they’re pretty good at sending non-urgent patients to the gp with more experience/interest in whatever your problem is.

I'm 50 and had no menopausal symptoms apart from really achy joints (neck, shoulders) at night which could've been anything. I didnt even accredit it to the menopause.

But I had some polyps removed and was told by the gynaecologist to get myself on HRT; he recommended it to all his patients of a certain age. I said I didn't have symptoms; he said make some up when you see the GP!

I hate lying so said to my GP that Dr so and so had told me to get HRT and I was given patches no further questions.

My achy joints disappeared overnight. It was amazing. On the odd occasion I forget to change the patch or run out, they come back!

Don't think of it as 'admitting defeat'. Why?
No medals for soldiering on and not using what's out there to help.
You say' yet more hormones' but you are actually just replacing what you'd normally have until age 51-52. (average menopause age in UK.)

It's a fact that ovaries often fail within 2 years of a hysterectomy.
So your one has probably packed up.

Talk to your GP about HRT. You would be advised to have patches, or estrogen gel with micronised progesterone, as your BMI could be a little bit of an issue re. high blood pressure , and transdermal HRT doesn't add to your risk of blood clots.

Good luck.

Hi @TartanTinselledTrollop - your story and mine are very similar. I am 49, had a hysterectomy 5 years ago, kept my ovaries. Having all the same symptoms to you. Especially the flushes and anxiety.

I have been on a bit of a battle with the GPs at my practice, one was very reluctant to prescribe anything, finally spoke to the other one last week and asked for a prescription for HRT which he readily agreed to. Start on the weakest dose, review after 3 months.

I would encourage you to do the same and good luck!

Oh and because you no longer have your uterus, you just need the oestrogen, not the progesterone.

@TartanTinselledTrollop. You have a whole host of symptoms there and should definitely get a GP appointment. Read up on everything to do with menopause before you go in case you get an unenlightened GP.
I made a list of all my symptoms and handed it to the GP thinking this would be better than her asking me lots of questions. She seemed pleased I’d done this and ordered a whole load of blood tests. You absolutely don’t need blood tests to be given HRT but it’s good to use this opportunity to get a good check up. A few weeks later, after two lots of tests, I’ve been put on combined HRT patches and am waiting on them kicking in. I feel very glad I’ve taken action, got a treatment and my mind is somewhat more at rest knowing I don’t have thyroid problems/diabetes/ high blood pressure or cholesterol etc. I know it’s not easy, but I found cutting out alcohol completely helped a good bit with sleep and night sweats. Good luck. Let us know how you get on.