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Menopause

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Original poster

What made you pull the HRT parachute?

113 replies

carameansbeloved · 17/07/2023 19:21

I’m sure this has been asked but I’ve read three pages of threads and haven’t seen it.

I’ve had a range of symptoms over the last 18 months, all mostly manageable, but one new symptom (bouts of crying at things I would normally take in my stride) is making me consider seeking extra support. But I don’t know if it is “bad enough” to ask for HRT.

What made you pull the HRT parachute?

Or, if you had bouts of crying, did anything other than HRT help?

OP posts:
FoamyBanana · 17/07/2023 19:38

I just decided I deserved to feel great and not to 'just manage'. I feel 100% better on HRT. I think it helps to reframe HRT so it's doesn't feel like giving in. I see it as a gift to myself rather than a parachute. I could manage without, but I don't think I should have to. It has changed my life (and probably saved my marriage!)

Nutterjacks · 17/07/2023 19:39

Well I started perimenopause aged 52. Quite welcomed the hot flushes as it was winter time and I've always been a chilly mortal. Wasn't aware of the many other symptoms that can come with menopause.
Fast forward a few months, realised that I started having trouble sleeping, had unexplainable aches and pains, awful moods and like you, got very emotional and would cry for silly or no reasons at all.
That's when I went to see my GP and started HRT.
It's been a bit hit and miss trying to find the right treatment, but I wouldn't be without it now.

Pamspeople · 17/07/2023 19:57

My lovely gp said "there's no need for anyone to feel this rotten" and suggested I try hormones. So glad I did, game changer. It's just rebalancing your hormones, it doesn't need to feel like a big deal or something drastic. But I resisted for ages, thinking I should battle on by myself. Seems crazy now, I feel tons better and will take them forever if it helps.

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 17/07/2023 19:59

UTIs (I’d probably be dead by now if I was a Victorian), but it was the hot flushes that suggested to me it was menopause.

emmy4 · 17/07/2023 20:00

It was the hip pain for me, also the occasional night sweats and crying. HRT was a game changer.

LakeFlyPie · 17/07/2023 20:06

I read a bone scan report which said "10-15% bone density loss commensurate with menopausal changes" 😳

Mylefttoe · 17/07/2023 20:07

I left it too late. Horrendous mood swings, ended in marriage breakdown because I was so awful.
Trying to put it back together at the moment, but may well be too late. Don't be me.

Perimoody · 17/07/2023 20:07

It was my mood, it declined. I was anxious and sad more often than usual - for about two weeks of the month I felt nervous (literally - nerves jangling) and sad and angry.

Since starting on HRT, the edge has been taken off my moodiness and anger. Only the edge though - but it’s better than nothing! I am slightly more rational when my period is due now than I was before HRT. And the nervousness over nothing has gone.

But I’ve suffered from anxiety since I was a teenager and I was sort of hoping the GAD would go when I took HRT, but sadly that didn’t! That part isn’t hormonal!

TheNameIsDickDarlington · 17/07/2023 20:10

I was just prescribed it from my GP, I didn't really think about it at all... although I've hit menopause early (32) so maybe it's a different kettle of fish at my age.

Isn't it supposed to be good for keeping your bones healthy? Also if you're feeling rough why not have something to help?

KPops22 · 17/07/2023 20:10

Moods and the sweating - not hot flashes, just being warm/ hot all the time with sweat running down the nape of my neck. Hips pains and being unable to sleep due to having to change sides all the time.

Aquamarine1029 · 17/07/2023 20:11

HRT was a lifesaver for me. I was on it by 41 and still on it at 50 with no plans to stop. Why suffer needlessly?

cleowasmycat · 17/07/2023 20:11

Cleared brain fog, protects brain health and bone density

bert3400 · 17/07/2023 20:12

I e been on it for 6 years definitely a game changer . Restored my relationship with my adult son ( he was a teenager when I was at rock bottom) saved my marriage and probably saved my life . 8 weeks ago I decided to stop, thought I would see what the non hrt me was like . Well I'm not sleeping, I'm anxious as hell, I've argued with numerous close family members and I ache so much even when I just get up - I'm now back on it ...thank god 😂

teachername · 17/07/2023 20:13

Recurrent UTIs
Hot flushes

I could live with hot flushes but not the UTIs.

Original poster
carameansbeloved · 17/07/2023 20:15

Thank you for sharing your experiences. I want as easy a menopause as possible as my periods have been horrendous, though weirdly I feel like asking for HRT is giving in - as @Pamspeople said, I feel like I should be battling on! (I have a strong martyr streak.) I have a gp appt tomorrow so I’ll ask if I can try it.

OP posts:
MrsPoliportsGoose · 17/07/2023 20:20

@emmy4 you mentioned hip pain, can you give me an idea of what you mean? I've been having unexplained hip pain for about a year, never considered it could be one of my menopausal symptoms!

MrsPoliportsGoose · 17/07/2023 20:21

To answer your question OP, it was the crying that made me jump. Prolonged sobbing in the car on my own triggered by the least likely thing. I thought I was going mad. I love my HRT.

cptartapp · 17/07/2023 20:23

I was admitted with cardiac issues they couldn't explain, and bloods found my oestrogen levels were pretty low. GP started me on a trial of HRT to see if it helped as she's a big believer.
It hasn't actually done anything for the palpitations side of things, I ended up having a cardiac ablation, and not sure I feel any different on it although do sleep well on the utrogestan but have decided to continue anyway.

Aquamarine1029 · 17/07/2023 20:25

MrsPoliportsGoose · 17/07/2023 20:20

@emmy4 you mentioned hip pain, can you give me an idea of what you mean? I've been having unexplained hip pain for about a year, never considered it could be one of my menopausal symptoms!

Joint pain is a very common issue during peri-menopause and menopause.

Perimoody · 17/07/2023 20:32

Yes I forgot about the hot flashes! I had that too. That and almost constant nervousness for two weeks of the month were my main symptoms. Both now gone.

lissie123 · 17/07/2023 20:36

Lack of sleep, weight loss ( I know!) significant hot flushes. Exhaustion. Simply could not go on.

ginsparkles · 17/07/2023 20:38

I had a holiday which was a nightmare for everyone. My mood was unpredictable, my whole family were treading on eggshells. I realised how unreasonable I was. So I knew I had to make a change.

Elphame · 17/07/2023 20:42

5 or 6 hot flushes an hour at times and such joint and muscle pain I couldn't get up from a chair without help. Couldn't even drive my car some days as changing gear was so painful.

It was totally disabling. I was checked for RA it was so bad. As soon as the blood tests came back the GP was reaching for his prescription pad and offering me HRT. That was nearly 10 years ago and every attempt to come off has failed. I'll be on it for life I hope.

dressedforcomfort · 17/07/2023 20:42

Migraines were the final straw for me. Approximately every 10 days and lasting for 2-3 days. I couldn't work, couldn't care for my son. Only thing that made any difference was the migraine medication with codeine in and that made me groggy and sleepy.

I'd never had a migraine in my life before menopause....

Have been on HRT almost 2 years now and only had 1 migraine since - and that was during a bout of Covid...

Original poster
carameansbeloved · 17/07/2023 20:51

@MrsPoliportsGoose thats reassuring - I’m not the only one then!

OP posts: