I've been on HRT, very happily, since my menopause at 45 (I'm now 67). My doctor is really pressing me now to come off it. Personally, I believe in 'if it ain't broke, why fix it?'. I am (as far as I know!) in very good health: I walk for over an hour a day, work out, eat extremely well, don't smoke, am not overweight, I'm still working part-time, I don't have any cancer history in my family and feel full of energy and bonhomie! The risks relating to HRT and breast cancer are now proved to be unfounded and anyway there is no breast cancer in my family. The risk, apparently, that rises after 60 on HRT is stroke. However, doctors also say that you are 43% less likely to have a stroke if you exercise an hour every day, which I do. So, is it not reasonable to say that as long as I am low risk, and as long as I feel great on HRT, why come off it? My age group are all one big experiment anyway and in America I know women can be on it till they drop. The question is: can my doctor force me to give HRT up?
Hello groovygranny. I'm younger than you (61 next month) and have taken HRT since 1991 following a hysterectomy & oophorectomy. Over the last 2 years or so there was only 2 GP's in my GP practice out of 6 would prescribe my HRT and they were the most popular so getting an appointment was a nightmare!
Like you I had no family history of concern & I was as fit as a fiddle until my blood pressure was raised and I decided to stop it myself. Nightmare! I suffered all the symptoms of menopause so now my BP has settled I've started to take it again. I fortunately have a stockpile due to an error when I was transferred from 6 monthly to monthly prescriptions.
However your question is one I've been asking myself and friends who are nurses and doctors and they have all said you cannot force the GP to prescribe anything. Something I did sort of know being a retired nurse. They are so scared these days of litigation is if you or I did have a stroke they could be blamed. I have thought of asking my GP if I can sign a disclaimer. I think it should be patient choice & I want to keep taking these lifesavers until I drop.
I'm in the same boat as you two, I'm 68 and been on HRT for over twenty years and my Doctor keeps say I have to come off. She sent me to see a gynacolegest and she changed me from estrogen pills to paches. I was so ill with the change. I started having asthma haven't had that for years, burning mouth, over sinstive to every smell and crying all the time. She has put me back on pills now but not completly well yet.
I think I'm to old to come off it after all these years they should look at it that way. I don't want to go through the menapause at my age. It worries me a lot, I will try and get them on line pay private anything. NOT COMING OFF THEM.
are you both on eastrgen only?
Good for you, Matron, starting again! Go, girl! On Gransnet I have read nightmarish stories of coming off it. I'm just not prepared to go through that. I have a nurse friend who actually tells me the opposite to what you've been told: that doctors cannot force you to come off medication. I agree that it's all about litigation, which is absurd! I think you can ask your doctor if you can sign a disclaimer. In extremis, last resort is to buy it on the internet but that's expensive, especially when you're semi-retired. If push comes to shove, I might ask to see a specialist - especially John Studd, who is well known as a great supporter of HRT! The first port of call, though, might be an older, male doctor; I've heard they are more sympathetic because they know what their wives are going through - not to mention, no doubt, their own interests in maintaining a sex life that is not torture for their wives! As I have a husband who is only 47, that is also a consideration for me. Any which way, I'm not giving up!
Interestingly enough groovygranny one of the GP's who would prescribe the HRT is almost 65 and retiring this year. I'm interested in your comment that doctors can't force you to come off medication. It's worth some research
Hello Lilliepop. What a waste of a gynaecologists time seeing a patient that could so easily be managed in the community. Think your GP is passing the book and just doesn't want to take responsibility!
Oh yes that is exactly what she was doing.
I don't know if your doctor can force you to come off . Mine just advises me to try and come off very slowly.I am 62 and have been happily and healthy on HRT Evorel Conti patches for 12 years.
When I first when on it I had a fibroid removed and at that time reduced my dose by half and have stayed on that since with no problems.I have tried to come off twice before as it isn't recommended you stay on too long but I think sleep is very important to good health and well being and when ever I try to come off I wake up hot in the early hours and then feel tired all the next day.
I am still trying to work out whether the benefits out weigh the risks ?Also how long it will take my body to balance my hormones without the HRT.
I suppose the ball is in the GP's court. He can force you to come off HRT by refusing to prescribe any more.
I couldnt agree more. I left the UK having been on HRT for many years. I tried to come off the Tibolone before I left the UK but with terrible results to my health. I therefore continued to buy my own, but eventually the country I am in decided to stop selling them over the counter I have and still are sourcing SERM s called Evista from abroad as I cannot bear the thought of the consequences of coming off totally. I am now 70 and very fit and healthy and like you exercise a lot.
Hi. This is such a bad situation to be in. I have been warned by my Doctor not to buy on line. Have you had any problems or feel different with the ones you buy? My doctor come out with "if I get something wrong with me that was caused by taking HRT from her she could be suedby me" Can you believe it!
I know women that are younger than me who have lots of problems with there health not half as fit as me and look older. They have never taken HRT. If it's good enough for joan Collins and the queen mother it's good enough for me. Look how great joan looks in her eighties and the queen mum lived to a great age.
These doctors are quick to put you on them. I never wanted to go on them in the first place.
Here we go again having trouble getting my HRT. Have to make an appointment before she will give it to me. I'm fit and healthy strong bones, don't smoke don't dring never eat process foods and walk every day. I only take 1ml aday of easrogen only. I'm 68 and been on HRT for 20 years+ what can I do? I'm not going to go through the menopause at my age. I'm going to have to buy them on line. Does anyone recommend a good on line chemist I can buy them. Has anyone ever bought their HRT on line? I have tried to come off felt so ill and that could go on for years if she refuses to give them to me. She worried I might sue her if I get something wrong with
Hi Lilliepop, so sorry to hear you're battling again. I've got my annual MOT coming up and dreading it. Basically, I am going to say 'look, my risk of stroke is minimal. I'm far more concerned about the risks of insomnia, amnesia, depression, lack of energy etc.' if I come off. I'm still working or looking after my 4 yr old grandson, and another one due in January, so literally and metaphorically running continuously; my husband's 20 years younger than me; I can't afford to lose sleep or any of the above symptoms, and worse! We 68 year olds aren't sitting around watching daytime TV any more. In addition, practically every bit of 'scary' research turns out to be discredited - think, the HRT/breast cancer scare, fats being bad for you (thank God I never gave up butter and cream and ate those dreadful low fat things), the truth about Statins and how they can affect you (give you diabetes, for God's sake!), also the alcohol unit debacle (one of the committee that designate the units admitted they hadn't really got a clue and plucked figures out of the air). So, all in all, Mrs Doctor, I think we patients actually have to plough our own furrow through all this misinformation and, as I read that most women who are taken off HRT are soon put back on because they are suffering so much (only to find, sometimes, that even going back on it doesn't solve the symptoms which arise from coming OFF it), I'm just not going to give in and I will sign a waiver letter if necessary promising not to sue if I die of a stroke! I suggest you change your doctor - or practice - and see if you can get an older, male one. There are doctors out there who can actually weight the benefits and risks and if the latter outweigh the former, I reckon you have a case.
Thanks for reply. I'm really thinking of buying on line it's such a struggle every three months. Been looking for the best place to buy them looking at UK phamacy they have the ones I want but a Drew back. Looking at the reviews on line and some people say they are very good and some say that they had card froud and lost money so don't know what to do now. Would like to tell my Dr to stick her prescriptions where the sun don't shine. I feel you just can't argue with them about it they give you this look like IM THE DR I know best some of them don't know daff all about HRT. You have a very good argument and you put it so eloquent. I also have a good argument. I have a kidney transplant and it's very bad for me to loose so much fluid and also bad for me to have high blood presser and I get both when I try to come off. So that's my next argument. Will let you know how I get on.
Hello everyone. I just wish GP's would just listen to us the patient. Every woman is different and while I accept HRT is unsuitable for a small minority of women GP's just seem to have made their minds up before we get through the door. If we are well on our HRT then I see no reason why we shouldn't continue. If I have no luck and can't get a repeat prescription in November I will hassle them with every little ailment associated with the menopause!
I had a hysterectomy last year. I have been put on estradiol but the doctors are caustious because I had a heart attack at 42. I am now 45 so they are worried about how long I will have to take hrt. I have read research recently discrediting the connection between hrt and strokes or heart attacks and mentioned this to my gp. He has agreed that as my blood pressure is so low I have postular hypotension there is no need for concern. Also as I am so young quality of life is more important than what ifs. My daughter is a midwife so he is happy that I have my blood pressure taken regularly at home and as long as it doesnt go up I can take the hrt. The heart attack was never explained as I don't drink, smoke, have caffiene.I walk dogs and own horses so have an active lifestyle. I do worry that I may have to be on hrt for longer because of my age but the alternative is unthinkable.
Hi I'm in the same situation as you. I'm 60 I had a complete hysterectomy when I was 40 and went straight onto Evorel 100 patches. I've been perfectly fine and healthy all the time I've been on them. Unfortunately my doctor who I have been with for many years who incidently told me I could stay on it indefinately, has retired. The new doctor as soon as I saw him said I have to stop taking it and it is no longer precribed for me. I have felt totally abandoned and have been searching on line for the right thing to do. Unlike women who have not had hysterectomies I will not produce any hormones at all. I am taking vitamins, calcium, glucosamine and probiotics as well as a good diet of fruit, veg, and fish. I exercise daily and am not over weight in fact for my age I look good. I have been off HRT now for two months and have noticed my energy levels have dropped, my skin is very dry, I now have low back pain which I've never suffered with, my eyes are very dry and my focus is wavering, I'm feeling stiff and although we do get forgetful with age I'm experiencing brain fog and to top it all I'm getting belly fat and my weight seems to be increasing. The more I've read up on estrogen the more it seems that in the long run it's better to stay on it. All the trials they started were all stopped so they can't ascertain whether it is safe or not. Why don't they test women like us that have been on it for a long time. Sooooo... yesterday I'd had enough and I started back on it again, I have to admit I'm very teary today so I'm not sure if it's the estrogen going back in or what but I'm going to stick with it. You can buy it on line at EuroClinix and don't be put off by the questionaire, they will say that they check it out with their doctor but it usually goes through ok. I'm so glad I found this today I just wish we could do more about it as I'm sure there are many distressed women out there. All I can say is go with your feelings, you know your body.
Hello HappyChic. When I talked to my GP about stopping HRT at some time in the future he told me on no account stop it completely but to reduce it VERY gradually. He did stress that. So by stopping it suddenly will cause side effects. I suppose it's like any drug someone has been taking for a long time.
I did come off it gradually. I cut the patches in half so I stuck with that for a month then I cut it to a quarter and did that for a month and then I put the quarter on only once a week instead of two. I have had mild hot flashes but I was handling it. It's what is happening to me now I don't like and believe me I have been very positive about the whole thing. I just don't feel like me any more.
I went on Evorel Conti patches 12 years ago and have been great on them and felt like myself .I have tried twice before to come off by cutting patches and now I am undecided whether to come off or not ?
I have half a patch twice a week so it's quite a low dose but when I tried to come off before I couldn't sleep and seemed full of aches and pains and skin became very dry.i also found when reducing to a 1/4 patch it come off so hard to reduce gradually.