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Menopause

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Original poster

HRT and early 40s… would love to hear your stories!

40 replies

Periodlate · 18/01/2023 09:13

I have spoken to my GP and she thinks I am perimenopausal and we discussed HRT. She didn’t make it sound daunting or anything, but she’s left me to have a think and book back in.

I would love to hear anyone’s experiences?

OP posts:
jtaeapa · 18/01/2023 09:18

I’d ask for a bone density scan. I am fully through menopause (I’m only 44). I didn’t take HRT as I don’t like the effects of hormones. I had a bone density scan and my bones were slightly denser than average for a person my age, despite the fact that others my age are likely not lost meno.

look at family history - do women have heart problems for example - if so you may be better off with oestrogen.

do women in your family get breast cancer? My mum has it so that further reinforced the decision not to take hormones.

look at everything that applies to you and IME it’s better to first treat symptoms with diet and exercise to be sure you really need hormones.

I am pretty against hormones, but others are completely pro

TwoMagnificentLabradors · 18/01/2023 14:37

I started HRT seven months ago at 44. Peri symptoms (especially anxiety, fatigue, loss of libido, rage, brain fog) started at 40 and gradually got worse. I have a demanding job and young family but follow a healthy lifestyle. First GP suggested progesterone only pill, which did nothing. Specialist meno GP put me on antidepressants 14 days a month ( unsurprisingly useless). When I discussed symptoms with my breast specialist (I have yearly check ups due to family history, but don’t have the BRCA genes) he suggested seeking a third opinion on HRT, and was not concerned about BC risk. Third GP very happy to prescribe HRT ( oestrogen patch and vaginally, and progesterone). It’s really made such a huge difference to me. I am coping such better with life, my moods have improved, I have more energy, sleep well and, alongside a reasonably healthy lifestyle, I feel great. I know it’s not the answer for everyone, but friends who’ve started it have all noticed a positive change.

Original poster
Periodlate · 18/01/2023 15:57

Anxiety, fatigue, rage, and brain fog are all the things I’m struggling hard with!

I am better with a great diet / sunshine / exercise, but i’m not managing it enough with lifestyle changes alone.

It’s so good to hear your positive experience!

OP posts:
Original poster
Periodlate · 18/01/2023 19:54

I’d ask for a bone density scan that’s interesting - I’m achier than I was a few years ago that’s for sure!

OP posts:
Offredismysister · 18/01/2023 20:10

I’m 44 & started with anxiety & aching joints about a year ago. My cycle also went from 28 days to anywhere between 19 & 21, I often had 2 periods a month & although they were light, the PMS was not fun. I rode it out for a year with supplements, diet & exercise. Then I started with constant itching to my head, neck, hands & feet, an irritable bladder & pure rage. I also got tearful on occasion which is not like me at all. I had a full range of bloods, all were normal so started on an evorel 50 patch & continuous utrogestan about 10 weeks ago. I also take cerelle. Its early days but I feel much better, the itching, anxiety & rage has gone. The bladder issue is still there, but has improved. I also sleep better.

Nephilim77 · 18/01/2023 20:23

Watching with interest.. I’ve just this evening been to my GP and she has prescribed the progesterone tablet and oestrogen gel. I’m 45 and really should have gone ages ago..I tick practically every symptom of menopause, but the mental symptoms have been affecting me more than the physical ones. Severe brain fog to the point where I can barely string a sentence together sometimes! I’ve been gradually getting snappier with people, and I’m really not a snappy person. Completely irrational thoughts about people just to have an excuse to pick an argument with them.. Decided it’s not fair on those around me so I’m taking my first doses tonight and hoping and praying I’ll start to feel like me again soon…. Hoping it will help with my motivation to lose some weight that has been gradually piling on the last few years too.

NoodleDoodleDo · 18/01/2023 21:21

I'm watching this thread with interest. I'm thinking of speaking to the GP as I'm 43, my periods are all over the place - anything from 21 to 29 days, sometimes very heavy and sometimes light, bleed for 2 days stop for 2 days and then start again.
Also finding bladder issues, weight gain, fatigue, difficulties sleeping, aching legs

Burnamer · 18/01/2023 21:25

Read Davina McCalls book, Menopausing. It has a LOT of information.
I started HRT at 43 and it gave me back to me (if that makes sense).

Original poster
Periodlate · 19/01/2023 08:15

Thank you for sharing these! I am feeling quite motivated to giving it a go.

I will check out that book too!

How long did it take people to notice a difference?

Did anyone wake up feeling nervous in perimenopause? It’s the weirdest feeling. I wake up feeling like this for no reason most days!

OP posts:
Original poster
Periodlate · 19/01/2023 08:20

Oh - I’d love to know how quickly the HRT worked too!

i’d love my anxiety, fog, rage, etc to be gone asap! Haha!

OP posts:
TwoMagnificentLabradors · 19/01/2023 10:41

Oh yes, I remember I used to wake with a knot in my tummy. That’s gone now.

I saw the difference within the first month. As in, I didn’t have a rage filled meltdown at my husband in the week before my period that month.

emmathedilemma · 19/01/2023 14:31

I've been prescribed the patches but yet to start them.....got them before Xmas but didn't start using them as it would have been over Christmas and I had things on and a lot of driving to do so didn't want to feel rubbish, now I'm on day 34 of my cycle (WTAF??) so waiting for my period to start before I use them. I'm really struggling with the brain fog at work and definitely have peri-rage over really minor things.

WarriorN · 19/01/2023 19:29

I was at cfs levels so had to try. I'm still not 100 % but can do so much more than I could.

Testosterone is the next step. (Private test showed far too low, Gp wants to check and has said would consider prescribing.)

Original poster
Periodlate · 19/01/2023 21:32

It’s good to hear how it got better quickly, twomagnificentlabradors!

I don’t know much about testosterone, I will look into that. I hope it works well for you, warrior!

emmathedilemma I am similar to you! My period is so late this month I’m starting to wonder if it’s coming at all! My mood on the other hand… wow, so low! Like every day is another bad PMS day!

OP posts:
Chesneyhawkes1 · 19/01/2023 21:35

I've been on HRT since I was 41. It stopped the hot flushes literally within 48 hours.

I got some of my energy back and sleep improved a little.

I'm on testosterone gel as well now and that's improved my energy even more.

Sleep still some help, so I take melatonin every night for that.

I do get achey hips/pelvis now. But that could be a side effect of the radiation therapy I had. Not sure.

renonovice · 19/01/2023 21:38

@Chesneyhawkes1 can i ask where you get the melatonin?

AnnaMagnani · 19/01/2023 21:39

Would be kidding myself to say early 40s, even mid 40s is generous.

However I started 2 months ago and the transformation is huge. Missed a patch change once and all the symptoms were back in 2 days.

It's a total miracle.

For me the pros, not just in terms of my symptoms, but for reducing heart disease, dementia, bone disease all massively outweighed the disadvantages - small increase in risk of breast cancer (the most treatable form of it so not even an increase in deaths)

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 19/01/2023 21:40

I'm 41 and I've been on patches for about a year.
Like Chesney, I found it sorted the hot flushes out v quickly.
I sleep a bit better.
I'm less anxious.
Dp didn't start hrt until a lot later, after menopause and I think so far I prefer my approach.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 19/01/2023 21:42

@renonovice my GP gave me some to start with but now I get it from a chemist in France.

I buy 4 boxes at a time and it arrives in about 5 days.

Cocooncentre it's called. I get the 1900 flash tablets.

renonovice · 19/01/2023 21:43

thanks @Chesneyhawkes1, my sleep is crap

Chesneyhawkes1 · 19/01/2023 21:46

@renonovice I feel your pain. I went for months and months on 3-4 hours. Was awful.

I had a week on Zopiclone which was heaven and then started melatonin.

I can't take Zopiclone and do my job unfortunately.

I wear a sleep tracker and it's definitely made a big difference to me. I hope they work for you!

Aquamarine1029 · 19/01/2023 21:49

I started HRT right before I turned 41, I'm 49 and still on it. It literally saved me. I was having absolutely crushing anxiety, which I had never had before. HRT took it all away, almost immediately. No more hot flushes or night sweats, either.

I highly recommend you start as soon as you can.

WarriorN · 20/01/2023 06:45

I don’t know much about testosterone, I will look into that. I hope it works well for you, warrior!

You should get the oestrogen right before trying testosterone to minimise side effects. Many women don't need it; some don't like it and some it does nothing for. But for the rest it's the missing jigsaw piece.

I've also found the Utrogestan to be magical after initially not getting on with it.

WarriorN · 20/01/2023 06:46

It's only licensed for libido in the U.K.. but private practice may prescribe

Mumskisail · 20/01/2023 08:07

I was prescribed testosterone by my NHS GP, I went in with a Dragons Den style pitch about my symptoms (very severe, I had to give up a big career) and why I wanted to try testosterone, she had never prescribed it before but she went away and did her own research and agreed with the pharmacist to give me 1/10th of the dose that men have which is the female dose I believe