I'd spent just over two years feeling absolutely wretched and I had totally had enough. Symptoms started in earnest when I was about 48 but I struggled on thinking that it was just me doing too much - I have an extremely stressful fulltime job and work silly hours, a very elderly parent and a home to look after, although my children are adults and live their own lives.
I'd had two periods in a year, literally six months apart but it was the physical symptoms that sent me in search of my Doctor. I had basically everything apart from the hot flushes during the day - but I couldn't sleep longer than about an hour and a half each night before waking up wringing wet, I was constantly exhausted, irritable, short-tempered and snappy and with my poor DH suffered meltdown rages where I completely lost control of my temper. These frightened me in their intensity. I also had the WORST brain fog and it was impacting upon my job. I itched. My eyes were dry. I had scabs up my nose that never healed... the list just went on and on and on.
I had bloods done and a full well-woman check at my GP practice before being prescribed Elleste Duet Conti. However, after three months and a routine scan, I was told that I had developed endometrial hyperplasia and had to go for a hysteroscopy. It turns out that I should have been prescribed Elleste Duet, not Conti, as this was for women who had not had a period for over a year and this was not me. I've had to have the dosage tweaked, but I have been on them now for 18 months and I cannot tell you the difference they've made to my life. Okay - yes, there is an increased risk of breast cancer and strokes, but I weight 8.5 stone, I don't smoke or drink and I live a healthy lifestyle, so hopefully the risks are small. To be honest, though, I was prepared to take them. I could not go on any more like I was. I wasn't living - I was dragging myself through every day's miserable existence and I had totally had enough.
Don't be fooled however - HRT is not some wonder drug that you start taking and two weeks later wake up feeling like Mary Poppins. It's not. I would say that it took the best part of 9 months for me to feel significantly better, it's not an overnight cure and it can take time to find the correct prescription and dosage that makes a difference. But now - my hair is thick and lustrous again, it was like straggly straw, my skin is clearer and less baggy, my eyes are bright and compared to how I did feel, I do feel great.
Can't advocate the stuff enough.