Experiences of HRT?

[goingpearshaped]

Hello!

Am struggling with menopausal symptoms (night sweats, awful sleep, anxiety, depression, weight gain). Have been feeling so low for ages and considering antids but I truly think it is menopause related having looked at key symptoms.

Going to chat to GP if possible. Does anyone take HRT? How do you find it? Have symptoms improved? Worried about increased cancer risk and also more weight gain. Def heaviest ever but cannot shift as mental health seems to stop me in my tracks. Still in self loathing phase which sounds like a huge excuse.

Cheers

I started estrogen and progesterone last summer. I'm very happy with how it has gone tbh.

Positives: sleeping better, no more sweats, no more vertigo, allergies better, killer migraines MUCH better, have more energy in general.

Negatives: hasn't really done anything about the brain fog. Still feel really fuzzy.

In terms of weight - I'm still fat and I still gain weight a lot easier than I used to. it's going to have come off the hard way.

Thanks @RestingStitchFace, glad you are feeling that it was helpful. Annoying at the brain fog. I ironically forgot to mention that

Cheekily, was weight gain got worse post HRT? I cannot put on any more and it's getting me down. Trying to do small wins to get myself moving in the right direction.

Starting HRT was one of the best things I've done.

I sleep properly again and have more energy and much better mood. The realisation that this is what 'normal' feels like is still a happy revelation.

I put on weight over the lockdowns but I have the energy and positive mood needed to do something about it.

My GP referred me straight away to the practice menopause specialist and she has been brilliant.

I would say go for it.

My understanding is HRT should be first line of treatment and only on to ADs if HRT doesn't work.

HRT gave me my life back - literally only took about a week to start feeling me again.

Oh wow @wantmorenow, that is exactly how I want to feel. I have not felt me in years. It's horrible. I have put so much of it down to situation but it's more than that as I don't feel any different now. I am calling Monday morning.......

So glad you have had such positive experiences @MagpiePi too. I need the kick to try and feel able to lose the weight, i am just drowning atm. And energy back, that's just fab. I have none and see no joy in life at all.

@goingpearshaped

The ballooning weight definitely stabilised a little once I was in HRT. But I still can't get away with eating what I used to eat in my 20's and 30's. Have put more weight on recently just because I over-eat at Christmas and New Year... my fault.

I've been on HRT for 12y. They will prise it away from me over my dead body.

Whenever I have a medication review the first thing I say is "I'm not coming off HRT". The nurse or GP's response is always along the lines of "That's OK if it's working for you. Let's just check that it is."

It's not just that it prevents the hot flushes, broken sleep, irritable bladder and forgetfulness. Without HRT I have such dreadful mood swings and anxiety attacks that I feel like I am going mad.

Thank God for science!

THanks @RestingStitchFace, that's helpful to know (and sounds like me too). @Dilbertian, thank you also, the mood and anxiety is off the scale here (and anger!). So glad yours is working for you and not prised from you! Let's hope my GP is going to listen.

Zillions of conversations on this @goingpearshaped on the Menopause part of MNet.

I've been on it for coming up to 14 years. I see a meno consultant privately and it's worth every penny.

No weight gain at all.

Read up on it all and educate yourself on the types and know how to approach your GP.

Many Gps are woefully lacking in knowledge on it.

@JinglingHellsBells, thank you! I did not know there was a menopause section of MN embarassingly.

Testosterone can also be an important part of HRT if the brain fog, low mood and lethargy etc doesn't clear with estrogen and progesterone. I have all on the NHS.

[quote goingpearshaped]@JinglingHellsBells, thank you! I did not know there was a menopause section of MN embarassingly.[/quote]
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/menopause @goingpearshaped

Hey

How did you get them to prescribe you testosterone on the NHS, what exactly are you taking ? I have such bad brain fog and I don’t think that the oestrogen/progesterone are going to work?

I’d be interested to know what your symptoms were?

Thanks Carmen

I have Testogel prescribed by my GP. I just kept asking and got it eventually. I probably wore her down.

The only symptom GP's tend to prescribe for is loss of libido so I really played on that one and said my marriage was failing because of it which isn't true.

Other symptoms include brain fog as you mention, memory impairment, inability to concentrate, low mood, loss of interest in things that once were enjoyable, loss of muscle mass and fatigue.

Hey

Has it helped your memory ? And thanks for the advice on the libido, odd they would be happy to prescribe for lack of sex drive but not memory

Thanks Carmen

Yes they have a long way to go to understand the benefits of testosterone for women. Quite shocking really. My friends have also told the libido story to get it.

I have only just started testosterone really so too soon to tell if it's working

Hi there
Did the testogel help with the brain fog, also what hrt tablets are you on.

I started on femoston 1/10 this was good but no help with the brain fog, so I changed to the gel and progesterone tablet, I was suicidal, so I'm thinking of going back on femoston and asking for testosterone gel for the brain fog.