It's Started, Hasn't It? [confused]

[HCHQ]

I'm 53. Haven't had a period for over 12 months. Have had bouts of nights sweat (drenchings!) on/off for a good few years but that's all manageable, albeit unpleasant.

This problem now is that, along with being dog tired all the time, I am racked in aches & pains; getting out of bed is agony. Everything hurts, even fingers. I literally hobble to the bathroom.

I sleep on my side (either), and where my knees/shins/ankles rest on each other I have developed bruises! Now this isn't something I've read about in relation to menopause. I am trying to use a pillow between but that tends to disappear down the bed during the night.

I've never considered needing HRT as I'm not "emotional" but I guess my 20mg of fluoxetine a day probably takes care of that.

It's Started, Hasn't It? (posted too soon!)

Guess I'm looking for your thoughts on HRT for these symptoms ...

Why are you even asking

Of course you should try HRT. But it's 100% your choice.

You have a poor quality of life and it could last for years and years.
Only by trying hrt will you know if it's the answer. If not, you need to ask your GP for a referral to a rheumatologist in case it's a rheumatic condition that needs treating.

Is there a reason why you need long term ADs? Depending on how long you have used them and your symptoms, it could have been peri meno and low estrogen that was the cause.

That's me told!

I suppose I assumed that HRT was for emotional symptoms, rather than physical. The AD's are a very long term thing and not something I would look to stop.

I've never used HRT for emotional symptoms and been on it over 12 years.

For me it was hot flushes, night sweats and insomnia. And low bone density.

It's really worth looking at the AD situation once you are on HRT as there is a lot of research into the effects of hormone imbalance ( reproductive depression) when women are / were medicated with ADs and actually respond better with estrogen. Research was done by Prof John Studd (who died last year but was a pioneer in all of this.)

It's crucial that women understand that HRT is not only for relieving some symptoms, but that replacing oestrogen has a massive role in reducing risks of future osteoporosis, cognitive decline, cardiac problems, amongst others. Please Google Louise Newson's website to read more OP. Book an appointment to see a female doctor to start ASAP.

Yes, OP. HRT will definitely help with your symptoms related to menopause!

HRT is now considered to be gold standard preventative medicine @HCHQ. It helps protect the cardiovascular system, and therefore helps prevent strokes, heart attacks and vascular dementia, renal disease and potentially some forms of diabetes. It helps protect against osteoporosis and many types of cancers. It keeps your skin and hair vital and helps protect your eyesight. Research suggests that now that more women are replacing oestrogen, the onset of mental health conditions during this age group will decline also. Frankly, they don’t let men out of hospital if they have had testicular cancer and needed to be castreared, until they have balanced their hormones because the health risks are too great. Menopause is effectively female castration, and once that happens, our body systems go to shit in response.