Not sure if should start HRT

[dyzzie]

I am 47, no other conditions/medications. I have been having frequent and prolonged heart palpitations as well as more noticeable anxiety (could be connected?). Also sleep disturbed a bit, aching joint's although I am active (run regularly) and not overweight.

Periods just starting to be less regular (2 months out of last 12) and so I am wondering if it's sensible to start HRT.

Note that GP has ruled out any other heart issues. Also blood test revealed slight iron deficiency so taking a supplement since March which did not eliminate heart palpitations. Also the GP said that 'palpitations are not usually a symptom of the menopause' although I read various online sites where it says they are a symptom.

Just wondering if I should just ask for HRT now. Or if I should have some sort of blood test first to confirm?

Thanks in advance for any advice

They don't do blood tests now for perimeno in women over age45- it's diagnosed on symptoms and you have a lot.
Palpitations are a common peri symptoms. See these 2 medical sites.

.https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/women/menopause-and-your-heart

https://www.balance-menopause.com/menopause-library/heart-disease-perimenopause-and-menopause-factsheet/

If you feel your quality of life is suffering, then it's worth giving HRT a try.
If you start it within 10 years of your final period, it gives protection against heart disease. Taken after this, it doesn't, as any damage to the arteries caused by loss of estrogen can't be reversed with HRT.

Thanks so much for the information. I will have a look

Looking at these articles they are clearly saying that heart palpitations are a known symptom of menopause. Yet my GP said the opposite. What is going on?!

What's going on is your GP knows very little about menopause.
Those articles are written by experts.

Hrt stopped my heart palpitations and joint pain.

Hi there. I am also 47 and I began to suffer from increased low moods and anxiety where I had never had this before. I had absolutely no idea this could be symptoms of peri-menopause. I don't really have many physical symptoms other than very irregular but sometimes very heavy periods. I also did have the itchy skin for a while. I would honestly just ask for HRT and give it a try. That's what I did and am 4 weeks in now. No drastic changes for me yet but I'll give it a few months.

I did have blood tests after I questioned being peri but my GP was clear she wouldn’t rely on those results but it did show I was very low in vit d and B12. Lots of your symptoms could also be down to either of those.

As it is I will prob give HRT a try as well as I haven’t seen vast improvements yet after treatment for the B12 and vit D.

Thanks all for your replies. I think I will ask for HRT. I think gel oestrogen and utogestan is a good combination I've read. Does anyone know if good for anxiety symptoms in particular

Putting in a request for HRT with GP but wanted to check with you guys; is Utrogestan good to help with low mood do you think.. or another form of progesterone. Thanks

So I have been taking HRT for almost 3 months now: Oestrogel and Utrogestan 14/28 days only). I have found the Oestrogel has just made my anxiety greater actually to the point that I am going to stop this soon as finding it unbearable. The Utrogestan seems to be fine actually has helped with sleep issues. Thinking to ask for a different form of oestrogen next if possible. Anyone got any advice here? Many thanks

Hi. I have just seen your thread and am in a very similar boat. Did you have any success with any other oestrogen? Many thanks. Hope you are feeling great now!