Had to stop HRT to get blood pressure under control

[beigeisthenewblack]

My blood pressure has been poorly controlled over the last 4-5 months and adding a new drug to my existing one in the summer hasn’t helped. My BP was so high earlier this week I felt unwell - constant headache, hissing in my ears and vision affected. It wasn’t a full on hypertensive emergency but I was headed that way. My GP told me to stop my HRT immediately and has switched one of the drugs in my usual BP routine to a next line drug. My BP is gradually improving though it is early days. It will take a while to sort out, I think.

I’m now dreading the HRT oestrogen snd progesterone leaving my body. Before starting HRT my sleep was appalling, I had low mood, my joints were painful and stiff and I had horrendous vaginal dryness and urinary urgency. I exercise several times a week - weights, walking, swimming and yoga. I’m worried how returning joint pain will affect these activities as well as poor sleep and low mood affecting my work performance. 😔

The GP has given me additional localised oestrogen for vaginal use, but that’s it for now. If I can get my BP under control with the new drug, weight loss and lifestyle changes.

Do any wise MNers have tips to help me get by without HRT?

Vitamin B complex for energy.
Vitamin D3 and K2 for your bones.
A good quality omega 3 for joints ( much better than cod liver oil IMO)
And magnesium glycinate for sleep, along with a good bed time routine.

Thank you @PersephoneParlormaid . I take vit D3 daily already and magnesium glycinate for sleep, intermittently because it triggers my IBS. I’ve stocked up on omega oil capsules but had not considered B12 for energy. 👍

Transdermal estrogen can actually LOWER blood pressure. Were you taking it orally? https://www.bloodpressureuk.org/news/news/blood-pressure-the-menopause-and-hrt-.html#:~:text=There%20has%20been%20a%20lot,where%20needed%2C%20it%20did%20not.

Thanks. I wasn’t taking orally. I had the gel. I am assuming the issue was how high my BP was. It was getting dangerously high and I had other symptoms.

This link says HRT should be stopped temporarily if there is hypertensive urgency: https://gpnotebook.com/pages/gynaecology/hypertension-and-hrt

• HRT should be stopped (pending investigation and treatment) if blood pressure above systolic 160 mmHg or diastolic 95 mmHg (4)

My systolic BP hit 178 so I’m well over that threshold. I also have relevant family history which increases the risk of a potentially catastrophic event. I’m not looking to challenge this. I am happy to follow my GP’s lead. My focus is managing my meno symptoms while I’m off HRT. It’s possible I will be off it for some time. 😕