Age 61 and no more HRT

[Wowarentyoutall]

Been on Femoston Conti for 5 years with no problems at all (patches before that but I didn't like them ) now been told that age over 60 the cons outweigh the pro's of HRT as theirs an high riskof breast cancer so doctor has taken me off them.
Stopped taking them 6 weeks ago and the hot flushes/mood swings/insomnia have returned with avengeance.
Was recommended Black Cohosh and Sage neither of which seem to be doing anything at all, can anyone recommend anything that has helped them.

I don’t think that is correct, do more research.

HRT protects against heart disease / Alzheimer’s /
osteoporosis etc. I don’t plan to ever stop taking.

Without sounding conspiratorial, do you think the medical profession is reluctant to prescribe HRT more widely due to cost constraints or a lack of up-to-date knowledge? My nurse mentioned that many if not most wealthy women go to private menopause clinics, where they can access more personalised hormone treatments far beyond the standard, one-size-fits-all options typically offered through the NHS.

I'll have been on Femoston (sequential and now conti) for 5 years come July next year plus 60 the same month. 2 hrt 'benchmarks'...
I will try and see same gp. He said cheerfully 'I've just been on a course about this' when saw him last time and got big book out to check bits and bobs as unsure of something. I liked his transparency...

Is it hard to get? There are some GPs who are behind the times, for sure, based on posts here.

HRT is not expensive, as a product. The RRP (for gel, for example) is about £14 for a month- that's the price of a private prescription so not what the NHS pay.

You won't get any different type of HRT privately, just maybe a slightly more finely-tuned regime of the same products and that's because the consultant takes personal responsibility for whatever they prescribe.

I'm 70 and been on Evorel patches for 20 years with no problems - I'm in fine fettle and only recently gave up work.

Just to add, for the past 20 years I've been at an all-female GP practice and had a female gynaecologist throughout.

Thanks everyone I've had a check up tonight (weight, height n BP) with the nurse, got to make an apt with the doctor now & hopefully go on patches.
I did say if men went thru' menopause they might be a bit more sympathetic about the symptoms

I'm over 60 and told my gynae consultant that 'they will prize my HRT out of my cold dead hands '. 😬😂 He didn't disagree. I also have raised BC risk and no one seems worried at all.

Please read the right research before accepting this decision, especially as you are feeling rotten. . Many doctors are way behind latest research and risks.

I'm also on testosterone and it makes a huge positive difference to how I feel.

Get a second opinion

I've been prescribed it for the first time today (NHS), and I'm a post-menopausal 66. I've been prescribed a combined patch (waiting for it to arrive, so haven't tried it yet) and the GP is happy that I should be able to take it for the foreseeable future. She asked about family history of breast and ovarian cancer, osteoporosis and blood clots, and decided that the benefits would outweigh any risks, which she thinks are minimal.

Your symptoms are due to the sudden loss of estrogen in your system.

Anyone going through menopause or coming off HRT or having surgically/chemically induced menopause is going to have those symptoms until their body adapts (which can be years and years as a pp mentioned)

I don’t think doctors explain this well enough that there is no possible way to avoid menopause symptoms unless you take HRT for the rest of your life.

They really should do a taper for women who are ok with stopping HRT, being slammed into menopause is really really shit.

My GP suggested I went on HRT, asked me what type I wanted, amended the prescription every two months until I settled on what worked, added Testosterone when I asked for it.

The only thing that I have that's slightly different and from a private Gynae, is a prescription for 4 x tubes of vaginal oestrogen cream a month, which I use almost daily. This is due to severe atrophy, prolapse and significant gynae surgery.

I'm pretty sure that my gyane prescribes the same thing when he talks to NHS patients too. My NHS GP put it onto my repeat prescription.

There's no magic HRT that exists which is kept for private patients.

WHAT UTTER BS !!
I have had Breast Cancer and can assure you like any medication there are risks.
This GP ‘s mind set is very old school and absolutely NOT TRUE !
I have done so much research on HRT due to having BC and yes of course certain types of BC diagnoses will not be able to take HRT .
Under the NICE guide lines you have a right to get the correct and proper treatment and health care professionals are by law required to get you the correct treatment .
I would ask to see another GP and request you want to go back on HRT and even if the previous HRT is no longer effective there are so many different combinations of hormones which can be prescribed for you .
Please check out the Balance App by dr Louise Newson everything and I mean everything you need to know about menopause is in the App .

I for one will be taking HRT until the day I die.
do take no for an answer, if you had a thyroid issues, would alternate medication work? Black Cosh indeed !!

check out the Balance App. You’ll be glad you did.

To be fair, the top half a dozen meno gynaecologists in the UK at the moment are all men and incredibly supportive of women.

They are the ones behind the NICE guidance, moving treatment forward, carrying out research etc etc.

I think some women cling to HRT long after they should like it’s some serum of eternal youth. I stopped mine at 58. No issues.

Well I'm only 52 but they will be prying it from my cold dead wizened hand.

What do you mean by 'should', please? As I said upthread, I have just gone on it at 66, and was told that the risks are minimal, but all going well the benefits will be good. I would be interested to know why you (presumably) think that I shouldn't be taking it, other than because you had no issues, which is hardly a representative sample.

And this is the attitude as to why women get the brush off!
How fortunate you had HRT and now no longer require this medication.
For some of us it’s life or death and in my case it would have been death without it .

My sister-in-law who had a hysterectomy in her late 40s and drinks too much and is overweight won't give it up - she's 66. She said to her GP if you refuse it then she would kill herself or more likley her husband and it would be on them !

It’s not a competition if that approach works for you, great. Others clearly feel differently, and that it can make a real difference.

Wouldn't it be a good idea to accept that not everyone is you, and they have good reason for doing so which doesn't include chasing a fountain of eternal youth?

Wow! Talk about uninformed.
I don't think anyone here is chasing eternal youth. What we do want is lasting relief from some of the unpleasant symptoms of menopause. Many of these symptoms don't ever go away and various respected sources have confirmed the safety of HRT for long term, often life long, symptom management.

I thought these comments about HRT being some kind of 'vanity drug' had stopped years ago.

A good proportion of women- BMS reckons about 10%- have symptoms for life.
My mum who had a 'perfect lifestyle' in terms of being healthy, had flushes in her late 80s and insomnia from her 50s. Unfortunately, when she was 60 ( a very long time ago) she was told she was 'too old' to start HRT so had to put up with the symptoms for decades.

I doubt any women using HRT do so without weighing up all the pros and cons.

You sound nice 🙄

Just because you had no issues, doesn't mean millions of other women should stop taking HRT.

For the majority of women on HRT, I'd hazard a guess that vanity is of zero consequence.

I don't use HRT as a youth serum , I want it because I can't cope with hot flushes, insomnia,mood swings & headaches.
Your post screams ' look at me aren't I wonderful' you're trying to make the rest of us who do need it feel inadequate! Well done

Could you please define ‘should’ in your response?

The hot flushes are part of the perimenopausal phase, they stop.