Please give me (more) advice on HRT

[NooNooHead]

Hi 👋

I posted a thread on here about possibly getting through perimenopause and beyond without using HRT, as I've got a neurological involuntary movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia that was caused by some prescribed off label antipsychotic, and I'm now very sensitive to medication side effects.

I got some brilliant ideas and advice on the last thread, but I'm now getting more perimenopause symptoms and am going through a quandary about HRT again.

Currently, my joints are aching more, I have horrible waves of extreme tiredness and fatigue to the point of being totally depleted of energy as though it's the flu, dry eyes in the morning, horrible episodes of anxiety and panic attacks, gingivitis around my period, tinnitus, dry skin, and I am certain I'm becoming more susceptible to things like fungal infections (I have never had athlete's foot before peri but can't seem to get rid of it now!)

My symptoms aren't really bad but I think that if they start to worsen, I'm going to need to try something.

As per my previous thread, I'm so anxious about using anything that might exacerbate my movement disorder symptoms, and i know I am now stuck between a rock and a hard place: what's going to be the lesser of two evils, perimenopause symptoms or potentially making my lovely (!) movement disorder worse?

My body is just shite lol 😆

I think, considering that you have a complicated medical condition, you really need to discuss this with a neurologist and a hormone specialist. I don't think any of us are qualified to give you advice. Or I know I'm not, anyway!

I hope you find some answers and things don't get worse for you @NooNooHead

I can't comment on your existing condition BUT HRT now is the same hormone(s) as your own. It's called body-identical.

Unless there is a direct link between the drugs you use now and replacing your hormones, it may not be a problem. In fact using HRT may well help the issues you have now.

HRT now is not the dated, synthetic types that were around decades ago.
It's really a supplement for your own falling hormones.

And there are so many ways of adding estrogen, from a tiny amount with gel, to a low dose patch, that it can be individualised.

You could try HRT for 3 months to see if it helps.
If you can afford it (and if your GP isn't up to speed) it's probably worth seeing a gynaecologist privately who is experienced in menopause. (Not all are.)

Thank you @JinglingSpringbells .

I don't use any drugs now, and generally try to avoid conventional medicine if at all possible. I'm sure that sounds pretty paranoid but I have had bad reactions to seemingly innocuous substances such as antifungal creams which affect the endocrine system (and therefore dopamine, as they are endocrine system disruptors like things such as BPA plastic etc).

But, as you say, hopefully if things are body identical, they would be less of a problem. Hopefully lol 😆