Menopause supplement for prevention of bone and heart problems

[folly115]

I am post menopausal and I haven't had a period now for 14 months. I have sailed through it completely symptom free. I took ellesse duet for 5 years as I started perimenopause at 40. I know the current advice is to stay on HRT until you are at least 50 for prevention purposes, but each time I try it I end up feeling so much worse than when not taking it. I do alot of running and swimming but HRT just zaps all energy from me and my boobs are literally on fire so I have decided HRT is not for me.

I had a DEXA scan in January and it was fine so I know I have no problems with my bones but I would like to take a supplement to protect my bones and heart - I don't need anything that relieves menopause symptoms just something that will protect for the future if there is such a thing.

Is there anyone on here without symptoms that takes a supplement for prevention purposes who can reccommend one. There is so many on the market it is hard to know which one is best. Thank you

Are you the same poster who said a week or so back that the type of HRT you did use Elleste (and worked well for you then) was unavailable now? And I left a post saying it is available and your dr (or whoever) was mistaken?

You have added some benefit by using HRT for 5 years, but stopping at 45 is still considered 'young'. I have 2 friends with bone loss whose periods stopped around that time (no HRT) and they have had fractures.

There was also news in the media this week about research showing that women with early menopause are 33% more likely to experience heart problems.

There are no supplements that can provide estrogen in terms of bone and heart health.

Calcium supplements are now not advised (although GPs have not caught up yet with this advice) as more and more research shows they can cause arterial sclerosis (heart issues). Exercise like weight bearing/ weights, specifically loading the hips and spine can help.
A diet that is highly alkaline can help and avoiding fizzy drinks (that contain phosphoric acid) can help.

Heart health is all about exercise and eating the right foods.

Have a listen to the video here- last question asked on the video - bottom left- Prof Stevenson. thebms.org.uk/publications/bms-tv/

Maybe see a meno consultant (privately if necessary) and get your HRT sorted to 50 at least (and the risks don't apply to women under 50.)

Yes it was me who posted before. There is a shortage of Ellesse where I live hence the GP prescribing Novofem for me previously. This suited me for a while but when I started getting sore boobs they said I needed to move onto a continuous form of HRT and now my periods have definitely stopped the GP will not put me back on a sequential form. Stupidly I told the GP I have always been symptom free and I wonder if this why he won't put me back on sequential.

Thanks for the link to the video. Very informative. It makes me feel guilty that maybe I do need to protect myself more but if it makes me feel ill I just don't see the point.

I just feel so well when not on HRT I am finding it really hard convincing myself I need HRT. I run and swim alot but the 2 types of continuous I have tried just zap me of all energy meaning I can't keep up my exercise regime and my boobs are literally on fire. I have a friend who has severe hot flushes , she is suffering with low mood and her brain fog means she forgets so much - she has been on Evorel conti now for 2 months and she said it has changed her life and she gets headaches and the occasional boob ache but she says this is nothing compared to how she felt before. I think maybe if it was helping ease symptoms for me I could live with the side effects.

I just wondered if I take a supplement can I get a level of protection my body needs. Sometimes I wish I did have symptoms then maybe I would cope better with the side effects!!

Are you in the UK @folly115 ? It's odd your area can't supply Elleste as it's showing as available on the lists of what is available.

Maybe your GP could refer you to a menopause specialist?
I'd not worry TOO much as you are now 48 and have had 5 years of HRT.

I didn't take any HRT because like OP didn't have any meno symtoms. Back then even though HRT was available, if you didn't have severe symptoms you weren't getting any HRT!

Anyway, at 60+ now I had dexa, fine
I have Atrial Fibrillation (Afib), a very common heart arrythmia, not life threatening but it can lead to stroke in some. As part of the workup to diagnose the flutters they did a cardiac MRI and my calcium score was Nil. That means I have zero plaque in my arteries. I have no heart disease. Another box ticked

I just take a multivitamin every day + iron because I have low haemoglobin. Vitamin D during the Winter and that's that.

As the cardiac consultant said to me recently, your ticker is in great nick, so something else will get you!