What age did you start HRT and what symptoms made you try it?

[ForLoveNotMoney]

And did it help?

I have a Drs appointment next Friday as part of me feels its time whilst another part is scared to start.

Currently have crippling anxiety and poor sleep that I just cant relieve with lifestyle or supplements. Definitely don't want to get fobbed off with antidepressants!

Did you have side effects? Did it help? I just want so sleep and to not feel in an adrenaline rush 24/7.

Couldn't stop crying. I was about 45, but several years post partial hysterectomy, and ovaries tend to stop working a couple of years after the op.

It helps if you can report hot flushes as a symptom because they are so definitive. However, I think things have improved and I hope you get a good response.

I started at 51. Every joint in my body seemed to hurt. Particularly my arms. Putting on my seat belt was actively painful. I didn't realise it was a symptom of menopause at first. The effect of HRT was almost magical. 2 weeks and the pain went away. That was 5 years ago.On the vanity side, hair and skin massively improved too. Sleep is another matter but Magnesium Glycinate helps. Really hope it works for you too OP.

52, I thought I was lucky and had got away with it! Crippling anxiety was the worst, to the point where I was getting scared to leave the house. I also had extremely dry eyes, stomach problems, headaches, fatigue and brain fog. Never had a single hot flush.

HRT has been so helpful even though I had issues with the first patch prescribed going out of stock. For me HRT hasn't removed every symptom completely, but my life is 100 times better, and the only side effect I have had is sore breasts.

It can take time, and for the first week or two I think I felt a bit fluey and generally rubbish but then I started to notice a difference. The first nurse I spoke to said HRT won't make much difference to the anxiety and she was very wrong!

Good luck, you can come off it if you get side effects but I think most people do find it really helpful and you probably have symptoms you aren't even aware of.

I was about 45, had awful anxiety and rubbish sleep. Sleep through the night within 48hrs and started to feel like myself again soon afterwards. After about a year I had two nights of night sweats and doubles my dose to 50 and haven't had another one. Best thing I ever did.

I turned 39 three days ago and yesterday picked up my prescription for HRT.title nervous to start, I won’t lie, but I can’t not try it either.

My main symptom that interferes with my life is insane fatigue and brain fog for three days during my period. Like, not normal tiredness, but unable to function fatigued. I feel better if I have a chance to just stay horizontal but if I have to get on with shit it’s miserable. I also have some mild hot flashes, worse hayfever than ever, my metabolism gets very sluggish in the luteal phase, and my ADHD meds stop working.

I did have to get very pushy with the GP because I’m younger than they like, and they tried to just push birth control on me which I was very clear from the start that I don’t want. My symptoms started while I was on the progesterone only mini pill, so I’m not sure why they think going back on it would suddenly solve it 🙄

I'd had three phone appt with them about it. First time to discuss coming off the mini pill to see what would happen when my body was doing its thing naturally, second a few months later to say that I feel better on the whole but my symptoms around my period are getting worse. And the third call was with the women’s health lead at the surgery, who I hoped would be a little bit more understanding, but it still involved having to just demand she let me try it, and she said she can do 3 months but doesn’t recommend it and doesn’t think it will help.

I was 50. I couldn't sleep at night and was a husk of a woman. Plus the 'night' sweats. Night sweats my arse, they were constant and debilitating.

I still struggle to sleep, but the sweats disappeared almost immediately with HRT

Just before my 53rd birthday.
I'd been waking in the night and not able to get back to sleep, which was unheard of for me.
Hot flushes in the night, but not sweats.
And general body achiness.
Probably for around 2 months beforehand.

I'd had a mirena coil fitted a couple of years earlier for bleeding issues and so just have patches.

Within 2 weeks all of the above symptoms had disappeared.

Anxiety, crying for no reason, waking in the night with waves of fear running though me, joint aches.

45, felt wretched went to gp and asked about bloods for menopause, he dismissed me as too young and gave me antidepressants🙄
Bought herbal crap for a year then back to gp, seen a locum, he was wonderful and listened to me, got bloods done and guess what.
Hrt is a game changer, no more tiredness, weepiness, murderous thoughts and omg, the flushes were gone.
Still got brain fogginess though
Magnesium will also be your friend

Started HRT at 54-55. No major symptoms, just seemed like a good idea.

Magnesium will help with sleep and vit b for fatigue. Takes about 6 weeks to start working but persevere, its the only thing that worked for me.

42, I'd been seeking help since i was 33 for weight gain, fatigue, vaginal dryness, lots of libido, but fobbed off as "too young", "period too regular", "work on your marriage"!!

Eventually paid for home blood test and oestrogen was very very low and testosterone below minimum measurement threshold. By this point i was broken, insomnia, anxiety, hot flushes, night sweats, 6 stone weight gain compared to my late 20s, itchy skin, poor recovery from exercise (week long DOMS).

2 years later i'm now on 200mcg oestrogen and 13.5mg per day testosterone and feeling much better.

i was 48. Tiredness, anxiety, all the rage, generally feeling crap , hot hands, itchy skin. It made and makes a huge difference.

sleep can still be an issue at times and I use phenergen or sominex both available over the counter

Aged about 50. I started because I was having hot flushes at night and not sleeping well.

48 - hot flushes gave me migraines, itchy vag, no sleep.
Hadn't considered the aching joints which I'd already had for a few years, or the bizarre hot feet - both resolved almost immediately.

First HRT was at 50 , I’m still on it at 56. I didn’t want to go on it but after sitting in my car in Tescos car park just sobbing, I had to do something.

For me it was the mental health side that floored me and my fear of osteoarthritis etc that had crippled my mum and robbed her of an active retirement. I’d say I’m ok but it’s not been the game changer I’d hoped for.

I forgot to add "itchy dry ears" to my list of symptoms, sounds so insignificant on the scheme of things but OMG, it was like torture!!

55 with horrible anxiety and awful night sweats. Very bad insomnia. Should have gone on HRT sooner. Within the first month felt sooooo much better, less anxious and slept like a baby.

I was 46 but looking back I’d had symptoms for years. What made me ask for it was joint pain, brain fog and not being able to find words. I went to my GP who was lovely and seemed to take me seriously but suggested ‘menopause cake’ and other supplements. I left it another six months, tried the supplements, but I started to get warm flushes, not the boiling heat that some women describe, just weirdly warm cheeks/face. I went to a private GP, just to be able to spend 45mins talking to a doctor, rather than 5, and she prescribed estradiol and a Mirena for local progesterone.
I still have joint problems, but the brain fog and word loss basically disappeared overnight, along with the flushes.

The grand old age of 58 when I discovered my bones weren't as strong as they should be.

HRT has massively helped with my anxiety - particularly crippling health anxiety - as well though and I really wish I'd started earlier.

I didn't really have many side effects apart from very tender boobs and some light spotting at the beginning.

I was scared to start and didn't take it for weeks but finally plucked up the courage - and I'm so glad I did.

Thank you all so much for your replies.

I am 41, 42 end of the year. I have been having symptoms for about 3 years. Was originally prescribed fluoxetine for the anxiety at that time. It did help a bit but gave me severe sexual disfunction so I stopped. Have managed the anxiety with supplements, exercise and losing weight but the last 3 months it is becoming debilitating. I cant sleep either which is not me at all! Wake up with hot flushes, joints are sore, heady foggy, vaginal dryness, periods are very light for 3 months than have a very heavy one and cycle has changed in length too.

I am seeing a female Dr so I am hopeful if I go well prepared she will let me try.

Do you needs bloods before or is it prescribed on symptoms alone?

Thank you all again. I feel better for talking about this.

I was 54. I'd put up with anxiety, panic attacks, itchy ears, rage but when I started to not enjoy anything at all and just feel empty I went on it. My biggest wish is that I'd started earlier, at age 47 when the hell started.

'Do you needs bloods before or is it prescribed on symptoms alone?'

They should do blood tests for things like thyroid, iron levels, vit D etc but not for hormone levels. Peri should be diagnosed based on symptoms, and you have a long list. Take that long list with you and tell the GP the impact the symptoms are having on your life

I started HRT at 44 and it has been a total game changer. Took a good 8 weeks to kick in for me but feeling so much better now, no negative side effects at all. Good luck, and don't be fobbed off with antidepressants

45 and one week 2. I had gone a year earlier and told I was too young and other things may be happening. Told I had anxiety, lose weight and have a better sleep schedule. Was told too young and they can’t do anything till I was 45.

my symptoms were achy joints, especially shoulders. I struggle to reach behind and put my bra on. I hadn’t realised it was a symptom.

anxiety and overthinking. Crying at sad adverts or anything - which is not me. Angry over little things. Insomnia and brain fog.

spoke to a really understanding male doctor on my birthday. He prescribed HRT in tablets. Been 2 weeks. Felt hungover first week, but changing to taking tablets in the evening had helped. My sleep is improving. Hot flushes gone.

hormones and emotions are a bit all over the place. But told it can take quite a few months to settle. I am hopeful.

Following, 44 and been having a lot of the symptoms described on here. Plucking up courage to speak to dr as don’t want to be fobbed off with antidepressants either