Starting HRT 'early' - good idea?

[SilkieChick]

I think I'm about to take the plunge and ask my GP for HRT. Admittedly I don't feel awful (yet!) but I have a lovely GP who's fully prepared to prescribe based on the symptoms I'm already having - and was very supportive of taking HRT early for the various health benefits it provides.

There are so many examples of women who have transformative experiences because they've struggles for ages and suffered terrible symptoms before deciding to take HRT or managing to get a prescription - I certainly don't want to wait until I reach that stage, so I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has started HRT 'early' and found it beneficial?

For background, I've had various inconsistent symptoms for a year or more - irregular periods (but not always), headaches, bowel issues, irritability, mood swings, low libido (comes and goes). This weekend I've had really noticeable palpatations, and a pretty low mood. I'm finding it hard to motivate myself at the moment and have to really make an effort to find enjoyment in things. Nothing feels 'easy' if you know what I mean? I had a few days at the beginning of this month where I felt energised about life and was ready for anything, but that feeling has plunged off a cliff in the past week or so, which makes me wonder if some hormones would really help stabilise things.

I've hardly stopped thinking about it all weekend as well - I find my mind goes round and round in circles when I'm like this, I'm constantly analysing myself and my thoughts, and my possible symptoms - it's exhausting. Is this kind of overthinking a form of anxiety? Or am I in my own perimenopause echo chamber and magnifying issues which are not hormonal and just normal midlife feelings??

WWYD in my situation - I'm starting to think it's worth a try and if I feel no different, at least I'll know it's not the hormones...

I've just started HRT at 45 - been battling with insomnia and anxiety for around 2 years. I never really considered myself 'young' for HRT, just didn't put 2 and 2 together until recently that peri could be causing it, but a blood test confirmed. I had to endure a male GP who tried to fob me off first, wouldn't even give me a blood test, but then I managed to speak to a female GP who actually helped. I've literally just started it so can't confirm whether it's helped yet!

Oh my God this was me recently. Exactly the same advice given. But I complained to the practice (what I was told about HRT was incorrect too) and saw someone else who gave me a blood test and recommended HRT.

@Heatherbell1978 I've booked a private GP appointment.
Once I've spoken to someone who will hopefully actually listen to me- I'm planning to write to my GP and explain why I'm not taking antidepressants.

I know a gynaecologist who thinks that at 45 women should go on HRT as standard. Granted she is American, but I know a UK GP who thinks the same - he says same about statins.

@SilkieChickhi, I’m just checking in. I feel I could have written your words exactly. What did you end up doing? And how have you been feeling about it?

I started HRT not long afterwards, the GP was very happy to prescribe thank goodness. I'm glad I did, because it's taken the best part of the past couple of years to figure out the right balance of hormones (fingers crossed I'm almost there!) - I started on 50mg patches, went up to 75 and then to 100 over a few months. 100 felt too high and gave me headaches and breast pain. Also I felt I was still coping with fairly dramatic mood swings with oral progesterone. So at the beginning of this year I had a mirena coil fitted. This has evened out my moods I think and in the main I think I feel much calmer, less anxious. So now I'm on that plus 75mg patches. (Although I recently discovered that I was using some old 100mg patches without realising, so now I'm trying to figure out if I felt any better/worse while using these!)

All of that to say that HRT was not a quick fix. Nor has it resolved all of my symptoms - it's improved some and I believe it's evened out the dramatic ups and downs. I'm still trying to figure out ways to manage my mental wellbeing and improve my libido - and still wondering how much of how I feel day to day is connected to general midlife stress and how much is physical/mental. I've never had flushes or bad sleep, so can't 'measure' improvements in that way - it's more about assessing whether I generally feel better or not, and I believe I do.

I certainly would urge anyone considering it to give it a go - and I don't believe you can start 'too early' any more! I definitely think you shouldn't wait until you feel awful - why put yourself through that?

But I do believe a lot of how we feel at this age is connected to midlife: families, work, health, diet, stress - IMO it's a bit of a shitty life stage which seems to throw a lot at us when we're already really, really tired. So I'm also trying to also integrate more of the things which improve my wellbeing - exercise, being outside, good diet, and trying to do more meditation/yoga to switch my brain off from time to time.

That's a longer answer than I intended! But it's the past couple of years in a nutshell - no clear answers, but some improvements and a little bit of hope that things will get better.

@SilkieChick. Thank you SO much for replying. Are you me in a parallel universe? I’ve been trying the combined pill as HRT and but I’m going to have blood tests then try body-identical HRT (what you’re on). Progesterone does make me calmer which I don’t like but also makes me fatigued. Or is it life, stress, low iron or thyroid issues??? I guess I have to be prepared for the roller coaster of finding the right balance. I also do not believe in waiting until my body falls apart! Thanks for providing so much detail. xxx