Coming off HRT.

[downundergirl]

Hi,
I had surgery two weeks ago for a DCIS. I will have to have radiation too.
In the lead up to the surgery I was asked to document all the medication I take which I did. I take HRT called Angeliq 1/2 and thyroid medication.
I spoke with the breast care nurse today and asked her if I still should be taking the HRT. She didn't know but found out for me and when she rang me back, she said that, yes, I needed to stop taking the HRT and to see my GP for an alternative. I can't see my GP until next week. I've been taking the HRT for eleven years now I'm almost 61.
I'm wondering if anyone has come off HRT cold turkey and how it affected you. Any advice would be so appreciated.
Thank you all in advance

<<Hugs>> . I haven't any answers for you, or experience, but I hope this bump solicits some good advice. It's probably so individual that you don't know until you try it, how you will be affected. I once came off of anti-depressants suddenly, against advice, and had zero symptoms for it, despite dire warnings not to do that. Good luck.

I'm sorry you are going through this. I very recently came of HRT age 60 due to and endometrial cancer diagnosis and subsequent total hysterectomy and it hasn't been too bad. I now take magnesium and calcium on top of my usual vit D, Perfectil supplements and probiotics. I think the magnesium really helps with the sleep and I have had the odd hot flush, nothing unbearable. Good luck with your treatment OP.

I stopped taking mine 2 months ago for issues relating to severe bleeding. I may have got off lightly but I’ve had no problems at all, stopped it cold Turkey (oestrogel, utrogestan). It takes 6 weeks ish to completely get out of your system so if you do suffer symptoms they shouldn’t suddenly all pile on at once.

I had to come off it as it was making it difficult to read breast scans. That was 3 months ago, I was really resistant and didn't want to, I'm 54 and been on some form of HRT or other for 10 years or so. Most recently Mirena and Oestrogel and Testosterone.

I'm missing the Testosterone, but honestly apart from that it's not been too bad. I was dreading going back to the mood swings and anger. But I seem to, touch wood, be OK. I get the occasional hot flush, night sweats but not as bad as they used to be, some headaches...

But mostly it's been OK.

I'm trying to avoid alcohol as that makes it worse, I want to lose some weight anyway so that's OK. I'm trying to eat well and do some weight bearing exercise. I've kept on with the oestrogen pessaries and the Mirena is still in but I don't think that's doing much.

I am the generation that was told I had to go cold turkey because I had been on HRT for ten years and I’m sorry to report that it was a horrendous experience. To add insult to injury, the research was incorrect and I could have stayed on it. I hope you will be ok.

@BarrelOfOtters Though I've stopped with the Oestrogel and was allowed to resume Testosterone and I have started Ovestin, so we will see how that goes. I'm so sorry @Rocknrollstar that sounds terrible.

Thank you so much everyone.

I don't know how you are now, but found your message here. I too turned out to have dcis, in March this year. Also on thyroid medication (not yet in balance, as I was recently diagnosed) and hrt. I had to stop hrt cold turkey and did so. Because my thyroid was't in balance yet, I had my 6-weeks bloodtest and they saw that I had to up the thyroid medication. Sleeping went better after coming of hrt, surprisingly. Hot flushes are back, but I'm muddling on with sage "tea" and banning spiced food, etc. I'm sure you know to not take magnesium shortly after the thyroid medication. It needs to be at least four hours apart. Hugs!

Hi, some advice needed. 51 on everol conti 6 plus months. On/off bleeding. Referred under 2 week pathway to gynae, showed thickened womb lining, so having biopsy next week. Have just removed patch and instead of changing to new, left it off! Wondering if this is good idea or will side effects be awful. Fed up of gp trying to push me onto mirena (had 2 in past for contraception and didn't get on with it) . Only on hrt for joint pain and migraine. Migraine worse for sure. Almost daily. Am fit, bmi 21, don't smoke, vegan so eat tons of soy rich foods etc plus good supplements. Think I feel anxious on hrt and less balanced. But still thinking do I stick a new patch on or just go cold turkey. Thoughts?

OP I will just add that you might need to adjust your thyroid med dose after coming off HRT. For some people that could mean an increase, for others a decrease. Just something to bear in mind and be sure to keep an eye on your labs. I don't take HRT myself but have seen others mention it on thyroid forums.

Yes I've definitely had to adjust thyroid medication when coming off hrt - it was actually the utrogestan and testosterone that led to me needing less thyroxine. Utro reduced sbgh and testosterone helps conversion to t3.

(Which is why I think I've always felt better when building / maintaining strength. After a lifetime on the stuff I'd advise anyone to work on resistance training who is on thyroxine, get as strong as you can! - obviously when levels are right. And I'm actually better around 0.8- 1.2 tsh, not the complete suppression that some seem to need.)

Tamoxifen has meant I need more thyroxine I have been feeling like a yo-yo.