What prompted you to go on HRT?

[CremeDeSudo]

Hi all I had a hysterectomy but kept my ovaries 3 yrs ago, aged 37. I'm expecting to start menopause early and have started to have mild perimenopause symptoms and am wondering about starting HRT.

My main complaints are fuzzy headedness/brain fog/feeling stressed (am already on sertraline for stress) but I also experience varying levels of night sweats and have started to get mild hot flushes I think. I also regularly wake up with tingling/numb fingers when this has never been an issue before. I've also now got dry skin, get breast pain occasionally, and sometimes get sore knuckles.

I know these are all perimenopause symptoms but many can also be explained away by 'life' generally.

I don't know whether to wait until things get more unmanageable? But then I also wonder why I should wait!

As I don't have a womb I believe I only need oestrogen and as I understand it there aren't any risks so should I just try it and see if it helps? Hoping someone might be able to share some thoughts/experiences..

@CookPassBabtridge Medical evidence shows that a hysterectomy at any age usually kicks off ovarian failure. They aren't sure why- possibly loss of blood supply to them - but it's well known by drs who usually tell women of the risk when they have a hysterectomy at a young age (ie before the age of menopause which is 51-52.)

Even without a hysterectomy, 1 in 100 women have a premature menopause, under age 40.

I got put into menopause when I was 41. So went straight onto HRT they said to protect my bones.

It stopped my hot flushes straight away almost. I still have my womb but my ovaries are no longer working.

So the fact that my feelings have been 'validated' by some unknown ladies on mumsnet has just made me well up a bit!

The brain fog is absolutely making me feel I can't cope at work-I can't retain information, I can't learn new things like I used to. But yes, I've had two young children home over the summer - could it just be 'normal stress'? I've been deliberating over this too. But I do feel I lose my shit a lot quicker than I used or should!

I will call my Drs in the morning and make an appointment. Thank you everyone, I'm so glad I posted 💐

I'm 51, just had full hysterectomy, am on HRT and STILL have hideous brain fog, no memory, and now my hair is thinning out.

I'm on 4 pumps oestrogen a day. I have every again, and am less panicky, but my brain is buggered. Why?!

I gave *energy again, that should say.

But no motivation and zero sex drive.

Started HRT at 44 due to anxiety, palpitations, brain fog, night sweats, insomnia and aching hands! The worst symptom was the brain fog, it really affected work.

GP was brilliant started me on patches and after about 4 weeks I felt amazing. It has been the best thing I have done. I have improved my diet, lost weight, sleep amazingly and now I can function at work.

The validation and support of women on here is invaluable. I really thought I was losing my mind and myself until I discovered these threads. Good luck @CremeDeSudo ❤️✊

I have literally been prescribed HRT this afternoon.

Awful sleep, hit flushes, aching feet in the morning and cotton wool for brains!
GP was very supportive, talked me through all the options.
Need my BP checked first but otherwise really straightforward

Trouble sleeping
Feeling anxious and overwhelmed
Pain in legs in the bed whichever side I was laying on I would have horrible pain in top of leg
Painful knees

When I turned 40 I got a bad viral illness that left me with post viral fatigue for about three years which distracted me. After I recovered from that I still felt something was a bit off, just feeling low and uninspired, so I did a female hormone home blood test which showed I had low testosterone. This started me off on a year of research and seeking medical advice. (Maybe I wouldn’t even have done the test if I’d done the research first as blood tests don’t diagnose menopausal issues generally, but in my case I was glad I did). As we know testosterone is not the easiest thing to get hold of. All this brought to my attention the preventative benefits of oestrogen. So now I take all three hormones. My symptoms were never too disruptive but I feel so much better now. I used to mainline B12 and iron, which did help, but nowadays they don’t feel so necessary. I’ve always been someone who will go with whatever medical support is out there and at my age HRT is safer than the pill (which I also took for years for hormonal issues).

I went on it at 43. I was sleeping very little, had total brain fog and was starting to struggle to do my job. I was in a bad mood; I felt like I was becoming unpredictable with my temper and moods. My body ached to the point I questioned if my physical body would last until I was 50. Acne - I got terrible terrible acne (wrinkles and acne is just not fair). I had low level anxiety but who wouldn't with this list of issues building up! And my hair went like straw. Overall I felt like I was going a bit mad.
I was lucky that this was over a 3-6 month period and my Dr was quick to suggest HRT. My bloods didn't show anything but Dr said try it, no harm in trying it, let's see if it alleviates some of these issues. Totally did. Making women suffer these symptoms is totally unnecessary. Hallelujah to a greater level of understanding around menopause.

The rage, aches and pains, fatigue, sore gums, anxiety, heart palpitations...

Reading this with interest. I have sore hands and feet, terrible memory and am really irritable and anxious. Periods are super heavy to the extent that I haven't left the house on some days. Stupid question but can you get HRT if you are still having periods? I need to do something but don't know what.

The menopause

With two older sisters I’d seen the benefits of HRT so I was always pro the idea. Most notably it fixed my UTIs (topical oestrogen), removed my flatness (patches) and gave me back my libido (testosterone).

@LondonSouth28

I have all your symptoms and I'm on HRT! The hair dryness in particular is really getting to me. As well as the awful brain fog.

I'm on HRT (gel) and I'm still getting these symptoms. Which type of HRT did you go on, and how long did it take to work?

Hello @theunwashed . I’m 45 and still having periods every 26 days, lasting 10 days with horrible flooding/pain stopping me leaving the house on day 4-5. I finally started HRT after a mental health crisis and 1 week in am already feeling calmer. Good luck with whatever you decide.

@DoingJustFine - so I'm on the HRT gel and progesterone combined. The gel is the one that impact the most - I think after a week I was better.

Great if you find the right thing. I have apt next week. I have coil my 3rd so see what they say. Flushes and lack sleep the worst.

I had a hysterectomy in 2015 aged 49, same as OP with ovaries intact. I've not had hot flushes, but definitely have poor memory, especially for names and faces, which is embarrassing as I keep having to ask neighbours and new colleagues to tell me their name.

Last year (a year tomorrow....strange I remember the date!) i fell from my bike, badly breaking my shoulder. I asked for a bone density scan, and while I havent discussed the results with my GP as I only had the test Monday. However I've deciphered the report given and I've got osteopenia, which means my bone density is thinning, but not enough to reach a diagnosis for osteoporosis but I'm an increased risk. I started taking calcium and vitD supplements after my accident, but I'm wondering if HRT might be worth considering?

ha! I would have started HRT at age 7 years then, by that logic.
I do agree with "No need to suffer." though.
EVERYONE reports miracle improvements when they take HRT. It never fails anyone, and it cures all ills.
So maybe I should have started at age 7 years. Who knows.
I'm not on it now (mid 50s). I don't actually have / never had most of these symptoms.

EVERYONE reports miracle improvements when they take HRT. It never fails anyone, and it cures all ills.
So maybe I should have started at age 7 years. Who knows.
I'm not on it now (mid 50s). I don't actually have / never had most of these symptoms.

Rage and irritability is a menopause symptom. 😉

…. and he said No.

Until I’ve seen a gynaecologist. New computer system apparently knows I’ve been actively avoiding smear tests for a while. (bad experience with doctor in 1987, don’t like medical people near my fluffy bits)

I’m now armed with the prices from the local blood test clinic, and the nearest Highly Recommended gynae. If everything goes well, and she thinks it medically appropriate, she’ll give me a private prescription that my GP said he’d turn into a normal prescription for me.

But first…. time to dig out the weed whacker. I’ve haven’t shaved any part of me since Covid hit our town on 27th of Feb 2020. I’ve only just moved out of constant pyjamas. I have the hump and my vagina is trying to shrink herself higher inside of me cos she’s having “horrible big metal things” flashbacks from 2003.

@AlienatedChildGrown I’m so sorry you had an awful smear experience. As someone whose job also involves ‘down there’, please be assured that any pubic hairstyle is absolutely fine! Also smears are v different these days - the speculum is plastic and the sample collected gently with a small brush. You can even ask to insert the speculum yourself if that makes you more comfortable. I hope you have a better experience this time around, and well done for looking after your health ❤️❤️❤️

ha! I'm a very glass-half full person. Increasingly so since I turned 40. I feel :( at people who Can't.Stop.Moaning. Who suck the positivity out of every situation. MN has a lot of people like this, too. I feel exhausted just thinking about avoiding them. Why in the world can't they see the positives? I think this constantly every time I hear someone moan about something.

"Getting old sucks" But you don't want to be dead instead, right?
"I'm so fat!" But you could be fatter & can still improve your health now
"Our company is terrible to work for" There are so many great jobs being advertised, great you have alternatives
"Everything is wrong!" But so much is still right
"I'm so ashamed about my divorce" Thank goodness you're rid of that git

etc.