Weaning off HRT

[RatatouilleAndFeta]

Anyone want to do this together?

I've been on it for 1.5 years.
Have tried the spray, the patches, testogel, the vag oestrogen... I'm feeling anxious all the time and have put on weight. My boobs are like melons. I'm tired of thinking about it all the time!

Today I bought some fish oil. And I have the menopace tablets.
Going to try to swim every day and add in some yoga.

Majorly cutting down on carbs, sugar & alcohol.

Am a bit apprehensive about how much my joints ached pre-HRT, but
I feel like if I can lose the extra 3st I'm carrying, the joint aches might not require the HRT anyway.

Oh am going to stick with the vag cresm as it's very low and definitely has a positive effect.

Am weaning off, as I was on a 75 patch and had some 50's left over.

I'll post how it's going here every day.
Be lovely if anyone is thinking of quitting, and wants to join me?

😊

@TeeNoG yep same!
I just don't know what to do for the best right now. Patch on, patch off, gel, no HRT??

Crikey it's hell!!! 🙈🙈🙈

@Runaround50 I've made the executive decision to remove my patch. Will let you know how I get on!

I went cold turkey although it wasn’t by choice, FEMALE doctor I had never seen before decided I had been on patches long enough and refused my new prescription.
Awful
Jane Seymout on menopause, hrt, to successfully wean herself off patches, cut them in half.

@SOMumm that's a good idea. If I start to feel (even more) awful I will add half a patch back!

@TeeNoG good thinking re: cutting back on the patches. I've ripped off the 75 today as the damm thing was curling. Tomorrow will put a 50 on a and see how that feels.

@SOMumm that's shocking of a doctor to do that! God I'd be fuming!! What will you do?

I understand, I’ve been there myself and still have periods where sleep is very disrupted. I did find that the right type of exercise really helped though. It didn’t eliminate the problem completely, but there has been a significant improvement.

I felt like that last week.
That's why I thought gradually cutting down would be easier.
I'm in the part of my cycle before I take the progesterone so am feeling as good as I can at the moment.
Will cut down to 25 on Monday I think & see how I go.

Good luck! 🤞🤞🤞

I definitely notice that my sleep is horrendous if I have had even a tiny drop of alcohol. Anxiety shoots up at night. So that's why am currently cutting it out.

Have also managed to persuade a snoring DH to sleep in the spare room 🙈

Hello 👋
Can I join please? I am on Everol 100 and I think its far too high. About to change to Everol 50. Worried about joint pain and heavy periods returning (I am peri and still having regular periods). My weird symptom is that I am permanently exhausted and can sleep hours and hours night and day.

Need to do much better with diet and exercise I am huge and unfit. Lots of inspiration here to do better and stop hrt.

I tried to wean myself off HRT earlier this year and wasn't successful - started to feel really anxious. I'd like to stop taking it though as I don't feel myself. I've lost any motivation for anything. I've gone from an interested in all kinds of things type of person to a finish work and lie on sofa all evening type of person. Zero energy. My get up and go has totally gone.

Going through a really tough time with family bereavement so now is probably not a good time to stop HRT but will keep watching to see how you all get on. And will hopefully join you soon.

I'll join you too. I tried patches last year , but had to stop as it was causing bleeding. The GP switched me to gel and utrogesten tablets. It was fine at first, then I started bleeding again while I was in the US visiting my sick dad. So, I decided to chuck it altogether. A few weeks later and I'm starting to have hot flushes again, but not with disrupted sleep yet.

I am also focusing on lifestyle diet and exercise. Started cutting back on carbs and alcohol, processed food yesterday.

I would love to check in with women going through the same

To anyone considering stopping HRT, I would say please read up as much as you can about osteoporosis and heart disease, as HRT has very significant beneficial effects in preventing both of those conditions.

I was one of those "lucky" people who managed to get through the menopause without having to resort to taking HRT. Then 10 years after menopause, I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. Had I taken HRT at the time, my bones would very likely be in a much better condition now and my risk of heart disease would also be significantly lower.

After much deliberation, I finally started HRT for the first time at the age of 64, solely with the hope that it will help protect what's left of my bones. In terms of heart disease, I think starting the HRT this late (14 years after menopause and age 64) means it has no beneficial effect for me (and may in fact increase my risk of a cardiovascular event).

So, please think twice before stopping HRT. Its benefits are very far-reaching for your long-term health if you started taking it within less than 10 years after menopause and below the age of 60.

My FEMALE doctor (who I've never seen and can't get a appointment with anyway, because the surgery is on it's knees) refused my request for an alternative to Utrogestan last time it was in short supply. I can't fathom that logic either. I would have had to abruptly stop HRT altogether, except a friend posted me some spares. I then paid to go through BUPA to get my prescriptions without any hassle.

I've just been to several Chemists this morning and Utrogestan is not available, yet again. Chemists are shaking their head at me and saying "Maybe this month, we're not sure". TBH I spend so much time driving round chemists and stressing that I can't get my HRT, I'm starting to wonder if it's worth the trouble.

Good advice @80sMum

I'm not totally against trying HRT again in the future, but feel it is adding more problems than it is solving at this stage. You're right though, we should be aware of osteoporosis and heart disease and how best to defend ourselves against them.

Arg gave in and had a glass of wine tonight. Really hope it doesn't disturb my sleep 🙈🙈🙈

I went cold turkey about 7 months ago. No noticeable changes in the first few weeks, presumably because stuff is still in your system.

All the tedious lifestyle stuff does improve things. God so boring though. I've found I have to be really dedicated to sleep to get enough.

Can I join please.
accidentally gone cold turkey as I forgot to take it a few night ago -spray and utrogesten- and just kept on.
bit of a headache but otherwise fine.
I’ll go back on menopace as they worked well before for me, helped with sleep and night sweats.

I find the joint pains come back when I wake up if I have even one drink.

So tedious.

I'm a couple of days in with no patches. So far feel ok, very slightly dizzy a couple of times - but this might be related to how busy the last couple of days have been.

I certainly don't feel worse, and my mood has lifted a bit which is a relief.

Me too! I am on the same and this is the 5th month. This cycle of Utrogesten has really made me ill. I have had very little sleep the last few nights and my symptoms are thru the roof. I can't function at work and I'm supposed to be away this weekend. My bp and weight have gone up steadily and yesterday my bp was 145/100! I'm trying to cut out wine and carbs. It's horrific. I feel like i can't work like this but can't afford to retire like most of us can't. I have had suicidal thoughts but my DS is only 9 and i'd never leave him 😥

Sorry, I quoted the wrong post. I'm on Evorel 50 and Utrogesten

@BooseysMom I'm so sorry you feel so awful. It sounds like you need to talk to your GP or a menopause specialist?

Big hugs to you and I hope you manage to get away this weekend and have a good time

I weaned myself off the patches by cutting them in half for a few weeks then stopping although. I had only been on them about 5 months but although i felt great at first all my symptoms came back. I was advised to not increase dose, then increase dose...but i felt I'd increase dose, feel great at first then go back to normal, then increase again and have the same thing happening...

To be honest, hrt just gave me one more thing to feel anxious about.

I didn't feel any withdrawal symptoms at all