HRT when history of PE

[Greengrassclover]

Can anybody tell me how likely I am to be hit with resistance asking the GP for HRT when I have a history of unprovoked pulmonary embolism? Im 54 and this was 5 years ago, and was put down to the possibility of it being caused by systemic inflammation caused by a rare autoimmune disease that I had been diagnosed with the year before. I’m now stable but take Apaxiban for life, and also on a small dose of Prednisone having tapered over 4 years from much higher doses.

I learnt that I have a copy of the Apoe4 gene a couple of years ago, and with the latest research on how positive HRT is looking to offer some protection against dementia, I would really like to consider it, plus obviously being on prednisone for 4 years hasn’t done my bones any favours, although I’ve always lifted weights and run for the last 30 years.

I just think I’m going to get a ‘computer says no’ 😄 when asking the GP because of my history, so if I can go in there armed with info, I might be able to fight my corner, or I can but try!

I’ve got antiphospholipid syndrome. No clot history. No dr will prescribe me HRT. It’s possible but not guaranteed that patches will be considered, but I’ll have to see a specialist.

Hopefully got a few years before i need it but I’m managing my expectations.

Start with the Balance Menopause website, there's lots of information on there & you could always make an appointment with a Newson Clinic specialist.

Were you tested to see if you had any underlying clotting disorders etc?

From a purely observational / scientific point of view the transdermal HRT is body identical - exactly the same as the hormones your body has been making itself up until now. So no risk of clotting like the previous synthetic and oral ones (this is why there is a clotting risk with oral contraceptives still - they are oral, synthetic and about 10 x the doses of hrt).

Also Oestrogen itself is anti-inflammatory, which is why everything starts going wrong for us when peri / menopausal. This includes a quite significant increase in auto immune diseases in women at this point in life.

Were you tested to see if you had any underlying clotting disorders etc?

This is the key question.

I’ve had a PE a decade+ ago. No thrombophilia detected so put down to an acute episode. I’m on transdermal oestrogen following a BSO total hysterectomy, a low/medium dose.

I’ve had PEs, no clotting disorder, and cancer. Dr did his research, said I couldn’t have tablets due to the PEs, but could try patches. Unfortunately they caused bleeding which forgot to stop, so I’m now waiting on a gynae referral. Haven’t given up hope of HRT.

Thank you so much for your detailed answers everyone. I was tested when I was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease for any clotting disorders and all was negative.

If I could afford to go private I would, and bypass the GP, however, you’ve confirmed to me what I had read online and I now feel more confident about approaching my GP and having a conversation about it.

Thanks again!