How did HRT help you?

[Totallybannanas]

I see alot of posts saying how it did nothing for them or how it changed their lives, but never how. I'm currently really struggling with my moods, weight bloated belly and boobs, body odour and change in vaginally smell. My bladder has also given up on me 😔 just wondering whether HRt will help with anything or any other supplements. Feeling pretty shit about myself right now 😭

Menopause / perimenopause is shite for most of us ! I had to fight for 2/3 years to get HRT i wanted to kill myself . GP’s advising it’s just depression and the changes to my body vagina, bloating, aches and pains, brain fog and just generally wanting to scream at anything and anyone .
I can definitely recommend the Balance App by Louise Newson , changed my life and also a book by Jill Lewis “Me and my menopausal vagina “ is the book you need to read it is funny and heart breaking however a real EDUCATION for understanding what happens to our Fannys!
balance app is free and has every thing you need to know about menopause and how get the correct help medically from your GP and other health professionals.
you can log your symptoms and posts from othe app users and can ask anything . There is nothing better than this app to sort what you need to know right now as to what is happening with your body and head .
I feel for you it is a terrible experience,
until you get treatment . I’m now on HRT took 10 weeks for me to feel the difference and I’ve had to tweak it since. You are hormone deficient and it can be a roller coaster. You have to keep trying to see what works for you . Check your symptoms on the balance app, I bet you have a list of them . Good luck and see your GP, As they are now becoming more aware of menopause and have started to change the old attitude of “well it’s just your age dear “ . Hope this help .

I got HRT about 3 years ago. Major game changer! My night sweats and insomnia stopped within a few days. It took a few weeks to feel fully okay again with an end to mood swings, fatigue and brain fog, but it’s been brilliant. Got localised oestrogen because atrophy led to terrible UTIs, that’s all
sorted now too.

For me, my biggest symptom was terrible anxiety, especially first thing in the mornings. I called it the morning dread- just waking up in a panic and feeling that I couldn’t face the day. I also had a lot of stiffness and weakness in my hands and fingers, so my grip strength went to shit. HRT has resolved both of those problems completely. What it hasn’t done is get rid of all of the ragey mood swings (though there is definitely some improvement).
Overall I’m happy to be on it.

Following as I’ve just started. I’m three days in and night sweats have improved so I’m hopeful. Really hoping it improves my fatigue and joint pain.

i am following, as I am in definite peri and have been wondering whether I need to try it for hot flushes, terrible sleep and mood swings.

Poor sleep- would take me hours to drop off compared with 10 seconds.
Night sweats- sweat running down my chest.
Hourly hot flushes- embarrassing at work, where I was 1:1 with clients.

All changed in days when on HRT.

I was also coincidentally diagnosed with severe osteopenia (had a private scan) and was close to osteoporosis.

@Totallybannanas At the very least you should be using vaginal estrogen (cream or a tiny pessary) to get rid of the smell- could be BV or another type of infection- get some swabs done- and it may help your bladder issues too.

Hrt has been transformational for me (and for my marriage and lovely husband).

Oestrogen fixed my very flat mood/depression as well as my hot flushes.
Testosterone has given me back my libido and energy.
Oestrogen cream fixed my UTIs.

Another big thumbs up for the Balance app

My symptoms took a good 8 weeks to settle down after starting HRT but now I feel about 90% better than I did before. Some symptoms have stopped - murderous rage, irritability, restless legs, crying fits, shoulder pain, feeling like I'm losing my mind, feeling like shit in general. I get a solid night's sleep almost all the time. I have decent energy levels most days

It's not a magic wand, and you absolutely need to look at your diet, hydration, stress levels, relationships, boundaries as well. It is the only thing though that will replace your depleting hormone levels and there are long term health benefits too