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Menopause

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Original poster

Weaning off HRT

253 replies

RatatouilleAndFeta · 07/05/2023 13:06

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?

😊

OP posts:
Twoshoesnewshoes · 30/06/2023 16:00

I’ve stayed off, all good so far.
weight slowly coming off now.
I wonder if my previous brain fog, which was debilitating at times, was actually from Covid, which I had four times 🙄because it hasn’t come back…yet…

Original poster
RatatouilleAndFeta · 30/06/2023 20:54

Ended up reducing mine.
It's the aches and pains that just come straight back if I stop all together. But I look fucking 6 months pregnant! 😢

OP posts:
Runaround50 · 02/07/2023 14:12

How's it going everyone?

I'm still in a fix. I've got a bulky uterus apparently and at least one fibroid. I'm
suspecting the HRT is aggravating the womb. Currently waiting on an ultrasound to see what's going on, then I will be pushing for total hysterectomy I think.

So, now going to reduce patch to see what I can get away with pain wise.

13.5 days until the end of term! I can't see me making it at this rate! 😬

Runaround50 · 02/07/2023 14:14

@JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn what strength patch are you on please? I've been on 100, going to try 75 again I think. Like you, the night time weeing is brutal for me!

Mary46 · 03/07/2023 19:24

I gave up. 6 mths on patch. Weight up a bit. Didnt feel amazing. For some its super not for me. Feel weight gain is disheartening.

rockingbird · 03/07/2023 22:33

I'm back on femoston and starting to feel a little better, the night sweats were a killer for me, I spent half the night tossing and turning, covers off covers on.. fan on 🫠 melting! I'm nearly three weeks in so tailing off a little. Doing intermittent fasting to try and combat the weight gain with some strength training at home.

Original poster
RatatouilleAndFeta · 06/07/2023 07:36

Runaround50 · 02/07/2023 14:12

How's it going everyone?

I'm still in a fix. I've got a bulky uterus apparently and at least one fibroid. I'm
suspecting the HRT is aggravating the womb. Currently waiting on an ultrasound to see what's going on, then I will be pushing for total hysterectomy I think.

So, now going to reduce patch to see what I can get away with pain wise.

13.5 days until the end of term! I can't see me making it at this rate! 😬

How did you know you have a bulky uterus?

OP posts:
ssd · 06/07/2023 08:56

I had the patches but felt they were making me bloated and all hormonal.
I stopped them and feel ok. My bladder isn't great, but the patches didn't sort that out. My gp gave me oxybutynin, which does help when i remember to take them regularly.

I dont think hrt is the wonder drug we're all looking for. For everyone it really helps, there seems to be others either taking it half heartedly or trying to get off it altogether.

Runaround50 · 06/07/2023 10:20

@RatatouilleAndFeta a Ct scan picked it up.

Mary46 · 06/07/2023 17:27

I think u know after 6 mths if suits or not ssd. I didnt find patches amazing. But hrt is not suited to everyone. My weight was up too on it.

ssd · 06/07/2023 18:51

Yes, it must just depend on your initial symptoms and if you feel the hrt helped. I'm overweight anyway and whilst i really really dont need the extra weight on me, if the hrt had really made a difference to my anxiety and bladder issues then I'd definitely still be on it. I found the first month or so on it i felt great, really laid back and feeling much more balanced emotionally. But after 3 months i felt back to the beginning. And i didn't want to up and up my patches to 100 as i felt my body would just get used to them eventually and I'd be on full strength hrt without many benefits.
So i gave it up altogether and I'm trying to take the approach of different bladder medication and working on my anxiety in other ways.

BooseysMom · 07/07/2023 16:19

I want to get off HRT too! I have had my dose increased and been on Evorel 75 and Utrogesten pills. I feel horrible most of the time. It has done nothing to help with the constant muscle aching. I have gained weight and have tender swollen breasts. I also have a non stop increase in sexual desire which ought to be good but I feel so angry and depressed and I hate my DH so much I just wish he would bugger off!!!
So should I just stop everything now?
Thanks x

Mary46 · 07/07/2023 16:59

I take vitaminD3 that has helped my joints. Bit more energy too.

Tiggerhere123 · 07/07/2023 17:16

Hi
I gradually reduced my oestrogen patches by taking menobliss capsules from menobliss.com as my friend recommended them so I was taking them together (menobliss and HRT patches)
and it worked for me. I'm still taking the menobliss I've no interest in stopping as I feel so good and I no longer use HRT. I still have the marina coil in place which I've has for past 8 or so years (obviously had it changed) I'm 53. When its due to come out I'll have it out but at present I still need contraception (I think! lol)

Runaround50 · 07/07/2023 19:37

@Tiggerhere123 I'm interested in these meno bliss capsules. How big are they please? How soon did they work for you?

Tiggerhere123 · 07/07/2023 20:28

@Runaround50 I noticed a difference within 72 hours I felt alert and full of energy, I would recommend taking them in a morning, ( i once took them at night and was awake) They are capsules but as they have no bulking agents in them so they are quite squidgy so easy to swallow, normal capsule size, I do struggle with some tablets when swallowing them but these go down easy, I take 3 with my morning cup of tea. Hope this helps x

Runaround50 · 07/07/2023 20:30

@Tiggerhere123 thanks so much. I really appreciate it. I'm tempted to give them a go. I was worried they were going to be huge bulky capsules that make you choke! X

GCWorkNightmare · 07/07/2023 20:49

I want off my HRT.

been on it since Feb. Gel and utrogestan along with usual mini-pill. GP suggested it because I was really struggling with sleep and mood swings - but that could also be down to my job/lifestyle. My belly is huge and I don’t feel it’s dealing with any of the issues so I want to stop. Not convinced I’ve hit peri-meno yet. 😬

how do you wean off gel and utrogestan? I take one tablet per night and 2 pumps of gel per day. Move to 1 pump of gel per day and every other day with tablets?

PoseyFlump · 08/07/2023 16:16

I've got symptoms of peri but as I have breast cancer in my family would really like to avoid hrt so this thread is fascinating.

I've been reading about natural remedies and some swear by soya milk for hot flushes. Strangely I don't do dairy and do drink soya and hot flushes is the one symptom I don't have. Might be worth a try for any of you suffering with those.

BooseysMom · 09/07/2023 14:20

Just bumping this one as had no response...
I want to get off HRT too! I have had my dose increased and been on Evorel 75 and Utrogesten pills. I feel horrible most of the time. It has done nothing to help with the constant muscle aching. I have gained weight and have tender swollen breasts. I also have a non stop increase in sexual desire which ought to be good but I feel so angry and depressed and I hate my DH so much I just wish he would bugger off!!!
So should I just stop everything now?
Thanks x

TeeNoG · 09/07/2023 18:52

I was on Evorel 50 patches and just stopped them, no tapering. I definitely feel better without them for now, though staying open minded about the future.

I definitely still have a 'bad week' every month, but I'm trying to manage it with good nutrition and exercise etc. I think HRT topped up my oestrogen too much, which left me feeling awful. If I go back to HRT, I think I will do it via a specialist rather than a GP, I appreciate not every one can do this.

Original poster
RatatouilleAndFeta · 09/07/2023 19:16

BooseysMom · 09/07/2023 14:20

Just bumping this one as had no response...
I want to get off HRT too! I have had my dose increased and been on Evorel 75 and Utrogesten pills. I feel horrible most of the time. It has done nothing to help with the constant muscle aching. I have gained weight and have tender swollen breasts. I also have a non stop increase in sexual desire which ought to be good but I feel so angry and depressed and I hate my DH so much I just wish he would bugger off!!!
So should I just stop everything now?
Thanks x

I've stopped mine this week. I feel huge. And reading about oestrogen dominance. Makes me think maybe i have this and it's the reason I bloat up on HRT. When my friends don't.
Going ti give diet, exercise and supplements a go.

OP posts:
BooseysMom · 10/07/2023 06:24

TeeNoG · 09/07/2023 18:52

I was on Evorel 50 patches and just stopped them, no tapering. I definitely feel better without them for now, though staying open minded about the future.

I definitely still have a 'bad week' every month, but I'm trying to manage it with good nutrition and exercise etc. I think HRT topped up my oestrogen too much, which left me feeling awful. If I go back to HRT, I think I will do it via a specialist rather than a GP, I appreciate not every one can do this.

Thanks so much for this. I'm the same with a bad week running up to the period every month and that's what had me running to the gp who advised HRT. Really I think I would have been better off with the coil and stay clear of HRT. It has definitely overloaded my oestrogen. They should never have prescribed a higher patch but they did it in response to the 50 not doing anything.

BooseysMom · 10/07/2023 06:29

RatatouilleAndFeta · 09/07/2023 19:16

I've stopped mine this week. I feel huge. And reading about oestrogen dominance. Makes me think maybe i have this and it's the reason I bloat up on HRT. When my friends don't.
Going ti give diet, exercise and supplements a go.

Show quote history

Really?! You stopped? Did you just rip the bloody thing off there and then! or time it so that you stopped it at a certain point? Just thinking as I'm half way thru the Utrogesten so should I stop those too?
I feel huge too! I can't get in any of my clothes since this fuckin crap!! I think you're right...diet & exercise are the answer. I really can't see any point in going back to the gp. They're useless.
Thanks so much for helping me see things more clearly 😊

TeeNoG · 10/07/2023 06:35

@BooseysMom whatever you decide to do, I hope you feel significantly better soon!