Are you 50 and on HRT?

[BloggersNetwork]

I am 50 but not on HRT yet. Going to GP today and I think I'll ask for skin patch. My main concern is my weight but also nightsweats, aches and pains, brain fog, tiredness...

Did you put on weight with HRT?

Hi, I am in my 50s and have an HRT patch. I bloated up a bit at first, but that settled. I found I started to put on weight when I hit my 50s, regardless, so I have to eat a bit less and make sure I exercise regularly to maintain a slim figure. The menopause is a bitch!

Thanks Navigator. I started putting on weight a couple of years ago and I am now one and a half stone overweight. I feel miserable and nothing I've tried has helped shed any of it. I barely eat anything these days. I stopped eating pasta, bread, potatoes and rice quite some time ago to help with the bloating (it has). I drink once or twice monthly, just the one glass. I am worried that HRT will make things worse.

I’ve been on HRT patches for a couple of years. Sweats and brain fog sent me running to my GP. I wouldn’t be without them. I’ve been ok with regard to weight gain but I am a healthy eater anyway and I train regularly.
Menopause is horrible so anything that helps is fine by me. Good luck.

Have been using HRT since I was 50, 13 years ago. Started on tablets, but now use patches as I do frequent long haul flights (NZ - UK). The only reason I have gained weight over the last 13 years is because I have eaten too much. I drink wine, probably too much and have carbs with every meal. I have stopped trying to be perfect diet wise and just make better choices. I have no intention of stopping HRT, it has changed my life. Good Luck whatever you decide

Thank you for your replies so far. It sounds like hrt patches are well worth trying.

I think they are worth trying - they helped my night sweats and take the edge of mood swings. For weight, I was reasonably active anyway, but I downloaded the BBC coach to 5k app & make sure I run for 30mins 3 times a week on top of my usual activity and that has helped.

I lost a lot of weight on HRT, before I went on it I was getting fatter and fatter (and madder).
Everyone says I look much younger than same age colleagues who are not on it too. It definitely keeps you looking younger and keeps your skin nice.

Just back from GP, she's requested blood tests but she didn't seem convinced about hrt because I am still having periods

My GP was a bit wary about putting me on HRT patches, as I was borderline obese!
I have taken her worries seriously and lost 20 pounds since the summer, (and another 15 - 20 to go), so it is possible to lose weight on HRT.
The patches have made me feel fabulous - no more symptoms.
I am currently having to buy them as they are not in stock. They are expensive, but definitely worth it in my opinion...
Good luck!

I use Evorel Conti patches after quite a few years of trying to find the right HRT for me. I've managed to lose a fair bit of weight while using them so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Staving off Osteoporosis and not having those awful sweats make HRT more than worth taking for me.

Hrt patch has slowed the advance of the middle aged spread for.

Just back from GP, she's requested blood tests but she didn't seem convinced about hrt because I am still having periods

I was still having periods when I started HRT (and still do). I didn't have blood tests, GP went by my symptoms & said to try HRT and give it 3 months - if it didn't help we could try a different HRT or up the dose. It helped straight away - I think you need a more sympathetic GP.

@BloggersNetwork Your GP is being dim.

There are 2 sorts of HRT

1 For women still with periods

2 For women post meno and no periods.

It's not her choice really. Unless you have one of rare risk factors, she cannot refuse. Go back and ask and say you want to try it.

Also, NICE has made is 100% clear in their menopause guidance (2015) that GPs are NOT to do blood tests on women over 45 as blood tests are unreliable, and to prescribe on symptoms alone.

See another GP or / and print off these guidelines and take to show her.

Honestly it annoys me like anything to hear of these stupid GPs who are paid a fortune and can't even keep up with the basics of HRT when 50% of their patients are women.

I have used HRT for 12 years and put on no weight. But I do take a lot of care to keep carbs to a minimum and exercise as much as I can.

I'm 44 and on HRT (although I see someone on Harley Street as the HRT my GP prescribed didn't work for me and ramped up all my symptoms and made everything a hundred times worse).

Of course you can have HRT when you're still having periods. You GP is being ignorant at best. It's worth asking if there's a GP in your practise who specialises or is interested in women's health/menopause. There's two types anyway, one for those who are still menstruating, and another for those who aren't/no longer have a womb/ovaries.

FYI - blood tests don't really tell you anything, they'll just give a snapshot of what's going on when the blood is taken, and as hormones fluctuate, it's not accurate. A GP should listen to your symptoms and prescribe accordingly. Look at the NICE guidelines and don't be fobbed off with anti-depressants. Also look at the Menopause Matters websites and get familiar with everything.

Lastly, the right kind of HRT won't make you put on weight. Be sure to ask for gels and patches - do your research), stay away from pills or anything with synthetic hormones esp. premarin. You want things as close as possible to what your body already makes.

No weight gain for me four months into HRT. I had a little bloating but it seems to have gone.

Stella I wonder if we see the same person on Harley street. They are amazing and my life is just sooo much better now

Thank you everyone.The GP did mention something about cyclic hrt so perhaps she is intending to prescribe it after blood tests? The blood tests are on Friday so I'll wait until then and take it from there. It is really useful to have your advice. I don't know why we reach this age knowing so little about this really.

During peri, your hormones change daily or even hourly.
So one blood test can show you are fertile and nowhere near meno, another could even show you are post meno! They are no use at all and certainly not to be used as a guide to prescribe HRT or not.

Also, they are supposed to be done at the right time of a cycle (if at all- and only in women under 45.) That is from days 2-5 of your cycle. Outside those days they are less accurate.

Women who are still having periods have a cyclic type of HRT- called sequential. But women who are post meno can also use that type. I do- even though it's 11 years since my past period- because statistically it has a lower rate of breast cancer (my consultant told me this years ago.)

I’m 55 and not on HRT
I had a hysterectomy in my late 30s but left ovaries
I have mood changes, vaginal dryness, struggle with my weight and have many flushes....
Still trying to get through it without help though

@JaceLancs I 100% respect your choice but would it be okay to ask why?

Wearing Evorel skin patches has reduced my menopausal symptoms and has not affected my weight though I try to eat less carbs now because it helps me to control my weight. I was starting to gain more weight before HRT.
Incidentally for anybody who suffers with Trichotillamania, this has dramatically reduced since the menopause. I am convinced this condition is mostly hormone related.

No I didn’t gain weight on HRT .

I'm 57 and only recently menopausal. I started HRT during perimenopause because of insomnia, mood swings and dreadful night sweats. I'm on a very low dose and haven't noticed any weight gain but I eat much less than I used to.

I take 100 mg of Prometrium (progesterone) and one pump of transdermal Estrogel (oestrogen). What do the patches contain?

HRT patches are life changing. Wouldnt be without them. I have gained weight (I'm 55) over the last few years, but I dont get much exercise and drink too much so cant blame it all on menopause