Coming off HRT at 63

[GoingOffScript]

I’m 63 and have taken various HRT over the past 13/14 years. Finally, I was on progesterone and Lanzetto oestrogen spray. I’ve now tailed off it which took 5 months in total.

But… I ache like never before. Hips and shoulders, spine, wrists. Wakes me up at night. I’ve also in the past 6 weeks started with night sweats/chills AGAIN!! At 63. Is this usual?

I don’t want to take HRT for ever due to health risks but it’s like my hormones have gone back olin time!

This is not mainstream advice @qwertasdfg
There are many research papers on HRT and there is conflicting evidence.

The link is to a tiny study of 43 women on HRT and 43 not.
No observational study of that tiny number proves anything.

If it was such a high risk after 70, top meno consultants would not be prescribing it to older women and some have patients on it in their 80s and 90s. (A couple have online interviews discussing the age of women on HRT.)

Everyone has to balance risks and benefits of any treatment and for most of the population, dementia is linked to lifestyle factors that are more relevant (smoking, diet, lack of exercise, etc.)

I've always said that they'll prize my HRT from my cold dead hands 😂😂😂😂

I have no intention of ever coming off HRT. I would far rather have 10 more years of good function, good life, than 20 more years of misery. I said that when I started HRT 15y ago, and I stand by it.

@JinglingSpringbellsbut the paper shows there were actually brain changes in those on HRT.

I've not read the whole paper but if it's the same one that someone linked to a few weeks back, there was an in depth discussion on it from a poster who said she was a neurologist and she said it was 'overblown'.

The upshot of that was that the changes that were found were only an indication (in a very limited way) of what might happen. And that those changes were not a 'definite sign' of dementia developing.

It's also worth noting that the women not on HRT were all overweight (BMI almost 28) and heading towards obese (BMI 30+).

It's like all treatment - some benefits, possibly some risks. HRT prevents osteoporosis and heart disease, lowers the risk of colon cancer, and so far a link with dementia isn't proven.

I’m never coming off HRT. To me the “risks” are far outweighed by the protection it gives me and the quality of life on an ongoing basis.
When you’re through the menopause, you’re forever deficient in these hormones, you don’t suddenly stop needing them no matter what your age.
My GP still prescribes for women in their 80s

The conclusion shows that there are many issues (weaknesses) with the results.

• Future studies that offer a rigorous reporting of age at menopause, age of HT initiation, duration of use, and formulation are warranted.

• It is also important to note that there were approximately 14 years between the initiation of HT use and PET neuroimaging, and therefore, many intervening events may have occurred (53). [VERY IMPORTANT POINT]

• To mitigate potential confounders, we controlled for various clinical factors including cardiovascular risk and WM lesions.

• Generalizability is also limited as our sample largely consisted of non-Hispanic white and highly educated adults, so these findings will need to be replicated in more racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse samples (54).

• Finally, an important caveat of our observational study design precludes the ability to draw causal links between menopausal HT and AD pathological progression. [THEY CANNOT SAY IF HRT CAUSES ALZHEIMER'S]

Totally agree. I've tried coming off and my quality of life was awful, I'm happy to accept a risk to live a good quality life now.

It’s not something I expected to be as bad or worse at 63, certainly. I mistakenly assumed that HRT got you through the menopause. That out the other side, the hormones were all settled down. Now, I’m right back at the beginning. I’ve started back on the Lanzetto oestrogen spray, progesterone capsules and sage supplements. I’m hoping for relief.

Last night, I was timing my flashes. They typically last 4-5mins. My heads banging and I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus this morning. When they happen in the day, I get very flustered and just can’t concentrate on what I’m doing. At work, they’ve started lightheartedly joking as in “are you with us, Going?” I really hope the HRT kicks in quickly.

I tried coming off it. All the symptoms returned, insomnia, flushes, aching joints, anxiety etc so I went back on it after four months and the symptoms went again. HRT can work miracles. It’s an amazing drug.

It’s brutal, isn’t it?

In terms of the hair loss, @GoingOffScript, it might be worth having some routine bloods done - specifically a full blood count to look at your iron levels and iron reserves plus thyroid function. I take marine collagen with hyaluronic acid and that seems to have helped a lot with my hair.

I wish there was a bit more knowledge/education about coming off HRT. If you stop taking the hormonal supplement of course all the symptoms of deficiency return. Women are really sold short in this regard

Not necessarily.

Some women find they are okay just like many women find they have symptoms for a few years and then they go away.

I've been cutting back to half a dose, as a trial to stopping, and found my sleep went to pot and boiling hot in bed.

@JinglingSpringbells i know it’s not as simplistic as how I’ve put it, but there’s been so much misinformation about HRT, and the rush to stop taking it when (for the majority of women) re are so many protective factors offered by HRTt

I started HRT when I was 64... changed my life.... Life was hellish, aching from top to toe, full blown rage, no energy, no interest in anything.
I am never coming off it.

Same here. For me it's the sleeping and anxiety foremost. I saw Dr Louise Newson on TV - she totally believes in HRT - she's says think of it as a supplement rather than medication.
If you can sail through menopause unscathed, that's marvellous. But for the rest of us, HRT is life changing.

May I ask what type of HRT. The best results for me were tablets but then I was changed to patches (hopeless-kept dropping off) and then gel (not as effective. Now I’m on spray.

I understand.
There are still women here who are being 'told' by GPs or nurses to consider coming off it after a couple of years, 5 years, etc.

Me too! I’m taking every other measure I can to prevent Alzheimer’s by maintaining a healthy BMI, blood pressure, insulin levels and exercising, including lifting heavy weights. Current research suggests the increased risk of Alzheimer’s from metabolic disease far outweighs the risk from taking HRT and my HRT is what enables me to sleep well and exercise.
Every older female relative I have (and my younger sister) has osteoporosis or osteopenia and the majority have pelvic organ prolapse too. I want strong bones and a bladder that stays where it belongs thank you.

@JinglingSpringbellswhy are you coming off (or trying to)

Me too. I’m late 50’s and no intention of going back to that hell. HRT affords me the ability to keep fit and weight train which is good for my bones, heart and muscles. The risks of coming off aren’t high enough to mitigate the benefits.