I'm still fighting to stay on HRT got another palaver next week trying to get me off HRT, sick of it. I'm well I'm not over weight, I walk every day, I eat health and never smoked, only take 1mg of eastrogen a day what is her problem. I agree with someone else on here that said if it not broken don't fix it. I have been on HRT for about 25 years why should I suffer at my age coming off it I want to be enjoying my life.
I might have to start buying on line, GP said it's not safe. Does anyone on here buy on line? And are well taking it?
Couldn't agree more Lilliepop. I've been on HRT since 1991 following removal of my uterus and ovaries. I'm now 61. I don't agree that it's not safe. If you are well and no untoward family history I can't see what the problem is. I am however finding my GP is more reluctant to prescribe it and the one in the practice who does is retiring in November! I've tried stopping but I just get the horrible menopausal symptoms. I thought GP's were to keep us feeling well?
I have never bought online and to be honest I never would. Too risky and as a retired nurse I've seen the problems it brings.
Lilliepop, I do sympathise! I think it was me who said if it ain't broke etc. Meanwhile, I have investigated what the stats are for risk of stroke in HRT women over 60. We are told it's doubled - sounds dreadful, doesn't it? Yes, well until you find out that it's increased from only 1.1% to only 2.4%. Now, as we are told that exercising regularly reduces your risk by 43%, how does that affect the maths?! I've got my annual argument coming up very soon and I am going to point out to my doctor that against that small increased risk (minimal for someone who, as you say, exercises and eats well) are the increased odds, if come off it, of:
insomnia
no energy
sweats
headaches
memory loss
low libido
weght gain
hair loss
skin dryness
painful joints
muscle pain
Well, for me, that's a no-brainer. I'm looking forward to my doctor telling me how she can square that circle! One think I will ask is if this is an overarching, indiscriminate policy, or do they take lifestyle etc. into account. She's going to have to go a long way to convince me to come off. If she persists, I shall offer to sign a waiver.
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Seems like we're all in the same boat. I've been on it 20 years now. I think in America they're much more discerning. I know an American friend of my mum's was one of the first on HRT and remained on it until she died at 95. I think the attitude here is far more to do with doctors covering their arse than about our well-being. Frankly, a lot of the research is so skewed - and often discredited, e.g. the breast cancer scare research - I think you just have to use your common sense. Interesting you said the one GP who will give it to you is about to retire - is that a man, by any chance, because I've been advised that the older male GPs are the most understanding because they know what their wives go through! The least sympathetic, in my view, are pre-menopausal females! Ironic, isn't it?
Well said groovygranny. It's not as if HRT is expensive to prescribe but I suspect NICE guidelines may have something to do with it all. I am going to research this.
Yes he's male. Your reasoning makes a lot of sense
The Royal College of Gynaecologist recommended that where women over 60 wish to remain on HRT they should be prescribed a lower dose. They DO NOT recommend GP's do not prescribe!
Hurrah! Thanks for the info! More to put in my armoury for the fight!
By the way, I think one of the probs is that GPs haven't caught up with what women in their 60s are like now. We don't sit in high-backed chairs all day watching daytime TV and sipping cocoa. A lot of us are still working (how can I afford therefore to have broken sleep?) and/or we're run ragged looking after grandchildren for our busy offspring. We go to the gym, keep slim and fit, share our clothes with our daughters (would I ever have done that with my mother??) eat bloody well (in the old days, didn't older people ate less - not any more!), keep up with the latest trends in music, fashion and (up to a point!) gadgets. I think this is half the problem - the perceived image of older people. We are the product of the 60s, let us not forget - the decade, not the age - and we wanna keep on trucking, well, for as long as we can!
You are so right. I remember my grandmother and mother come to that at 60. If we are feeling well surely that saves NHS spending. HRT keeps me well and I intend to stay that way with the help of my little pink tablets for as long as possible!
Hear, hear! Ironically, I get the impression doctors are very uncomfortable with anyone our age who isn't on drugs, apart from HRT. Considering the NHS is buckling, I consider it my civil duty to stay away from medication as long as possible by taking responsibility for my own health, but I do feel my doctor wants to foist drugs on me - statins have been mentioned, for God's sake! - yet she is unhappy to let me stay on HRT. Doesn't make sense, economically or medically.
From what I've read and living with a husband taking statins they have far more side effects than HRT. I wouldn't touch them with as barge pole! I do think when you research HRT and the over 60's there is not one good reason not to take it when you are fit and well. I know I will have a battle on my hands like you groovygranny in October. I intend to print off all my research and take it to my appointment.
It does seem to be a risk versus benefits and I have been on HRT 12 years and am now 62 and fit and sleep well .when I've tried to come off because I thought I should and doctor said it was a good idea I didn't sleep and felt depressed and my hair started to fall out !
I think when you have been on it for a number of years your body is so use to it that it is harmful to come off unless doctor can give something to help which they can't so I think if you want to stay on it it should be your choice and doctor should prescribe for you.Why should your age suddenly make it bad for you?
Hello Jane. That's what groovygranny and probably a lot of other over 60's would say. Why does age make it bass for you? The Royal College of Gynaecologists say just give a_lower dose. I would like to think they are the experts!
This is a question that is a mystery to me - why does oestrogen, which we have all had all our lives, suddenly become bad? Frankly, I don't think they really know what they're doing. We're all one big experiment, anyway, being the first generation really that has been on HRT for years and I think, as I said, the bottom line is, because they don't know what they're doing, this is all arse-covering in case they get it wrong! I just wish they would be a little more discerning in their judgements - i.e. look at people's basic health and lifestyle factors, any familial risks, weight, diet etc. I just can't believe you can have a one size fits all policy - and, as I said to my doctor during the breast cancer scare, whatever disease you think HRT is likely to cause (at the moment, it's stroke), if I got that disease tomorrow, how would I know whether it was caused by HRT or I would have got it without HRT?
Why shouldn't women in their 80's or even 90's be prescribed HRT? Why should a doctor be allowed to stop prescribing something that makes us feel well? I've said in previous posts that they are supposed to make us feel better yet want to control our bodies.
They'll happily prescribe stations because NICE guidelines tell them to and yet they are riddled with side effects. If it's not broke for goodness sake leave it alone. I know this has turned into a complete rant but I feel so strongly about this and I'm so glad I'm not the only one.
The worst thing about it is we can't do anything about it. If your GP want to stop giving HRT they can. They can dish out much worst drugs and know one says a thing about it. My GP wanted to put me on tranculizers to help with the hot flushes, how bad is that.
Wish we could get up some sort of patition or something.
Yes, I have the same problem, been purchasing the estrogen only type (hysterectomy) which apparently is the safer version too. I have been purchasing from ______ for many years without any problems whatsoever. Usually arrives 7-14 days no import tax. They also have the combined pill but cannot remember which, you would need to search Hormones but also call their London number if you are unsure if they sell what you are looking for. They no longer sell zopiclone due to compliance with UK legislation 16.6.2014. If I run out of HRT then I'm back are the hot flushes etc. I purchase Estrofem 2mg. GP refuses to give them to me age 66 but stopped when I reached 60. However I was told by a private endocrinologist in London that there is no reason why I should not take it for life but NHS doctors are too afraid to perscribe as against the ruling of NICE (their perscribing body). He also used to give me implants in my top thigh but I got fed up paying train fares/private fees down to London. Nick Nicolas was my gynocologist and I am fairly certain he worked at St Thomas' Hospital in London.
I agree Lilliepop. It's in their hands unfortunately. Eleanor I take the oestrogen only following a hysterectomy and oophorectomy. Interesting you buy it online. Can I ask for how much?
I'm not sure you're right, Lillipop, in saying they can stop prescribing if they want to. I've heard different opinions on this, but certainly some say they are obliged to continue if the patient insists. I believe they work on an 80:20 basis - 80% of women roll over and do as they're told and the other 20% fight until the doctors give in! Well, let's hope that's true, anyway. We should create a FB page for this debate! On Gransnet there are masses of threads on this theme - some amusing, like the 80 year old who was outraged at coming off it and stuffed her cupboards with pills she bought online and shared with any friends in the same predicament!