You are so right. I have also found this - they don't want to know and cannot help you. I tried to come off HRT after 10 years and I have tried this before..... I feel I take a great dip and I feel very low and I cannot sleep and feel so awful. I came off Tibolone - had to go back on them and just feel now the tablets are not kicking in as I am get the sweats at night,
tingling in fingers and numbness....GP advised maybe a stronger HRT which I felt upset my stomach. So back on Tibolone- it's just not working the way it used to...... My GP must be in her 50's and could not understand why I was not sleeping and achy joints...... I just want advice on how to manage this horrible episode of life I have to life with......I wish they would take this seriously and try to help me manage this..... They have no idea how it affects your quality of life...... X
I have been on HRT Evorel Conti patches for 12 years.At the beginning I had some doubts and cut the dose by cutting patch by half.Since then stayed on patches and have been fit and well.Because it states on the leaflet your risks go up of stroke ,breast cancer,blood clots and heart disease although only slightly (egof women in their 60s 11 in a1000 women would have a stroke not on HRT or 15 in 1000 on HRT)I have tried to come off several times.The main problem when I stop is waking in the night and not being able to go back to sleep.Also seem to feel low and indecisive.However whenever I read Hooray for HRT by Teresa Gorman I think oh well I will take my chances and stay on for another good year with sleep and confidence !
I am 61. Stopped Hrt 1 yr ago. Until recently was just getting by with the sweats, now worse last two weeks so much I cannot sleep. Bed is soaked, I am soaked. I am sure I would lose my job if I were working as I cannot attend church or any daily activities anymore. How long before it starts to go away? I can't go on like this as were raising our twin 16 month old Grandchildren.......my Gyn stopped me cause I was having to much break through bleeding. Now what?? Can't seem to get answers from anyone?
thanks
So how long before your body came back to a normal??
thanks
Hello, I am 61.
been on hrt since age 38 early menopause. Gyn stopped me one yr. Ago due to my break through bleeding. I cannot function my daily activities anymore due to the severe sweating, dripping all day now worse at night I get no sleep.
wondering what happened to you? Is it possible to find help? Can I ask for patches??
thanks
I know! And honestly, what I read here is not making me feel any more determined to stop. Not a lot of "came through the other side and finally am feeling fine without HRT." Just resignation and acknowledgment that we must go on with some symptoms, helped a bit by natural remedies. I think we do need to push medical field to test and assist women more through menopause. We are living far longer than our ancestors and of course want to still feel productive and joyful. Look at the money and research behind viagra and cialis - it was so that men, faced with aging symptoms, could still enjoy a healthy sex life. Right now I feel that the medical field is only telling us, "Oh, you must stop HRT but we have no idea what else to tell you to do for those pesky menopause/post-menopause symptoms; check back in a few!"
I asked for patches from the beginning because I had read not going through digestive system was better but think they are more expensive than tablets so will depend on your GP.
I go for HRT checks every time my GP asks or see the nurse and they just seem to take my blood pressure.Ive not had any bleeding apart from right at the beginning 12 years ago and that was caused by small fibroid which was removed easily ( didn't have op).
Every time I've tried to come off I can't sleep and feel as if my skin is on fire and feel anxious and tearful probably partly due to lack of sleep but I feel it's better to take the HRT and sleep well . My GP said come off slowly and I shall eventually but not in a hurry as have been fit and well on them for 12 years .... My husband said I'm the healthiest person he knows !
My GP said it's up to the individual and though they do recommend 10 years maximum everyone is different .
If I have any doubts about staying on it I read Hooray for HRT by Teresa Gorman.She has been on it for 30+years and sings it praises.
Thanks, I been putting off writing my Gyn as " Nothing I can do anyway"...
so found this thought I could educate myself before going in. I know she is worried about my bleeding coming back or cancer. My mom had breast Cancer at age 75. Lived another 6 years.
there is a point where you get desperate. My husband is very understanding but this has changed the sweet, fun, girl he married into a rage of a witch only to break down and cry later. Great for my kids and Grandkids to see.
ugh~
I am 57 and have stopped HRT a few times - though not for as long as you. Each time, the lack of hormones drove me bonkers and I simply could not get out of bed from the depression - plus I lost my sex drive and any energy! So I chose to go back on, but with lowest dose estradiol patch (twice weekly) plus quarterly progesterone. I did have breakthrough bleeding with original Premarin tabs, and that was first time I tried to stop all HRT and used various recommended natural alternatives. Nothing helped. I was miserable and yet terrified to try HRT again. I remembered my mother going through all the worst post-menopausal symptoms and they did not have HRT and frankly, she got through it on anti-depressants and alcohol! Not for me. I worked with my doctor, discussed less harmful but still serious HRT options, and have check-ups every 6 months. Tell your gyn that you need options NOW, including starting with specific natural remedies, so that you can start getting decent sleep, get on with raising your grandchildren, and living a happy daily life again.
This is a quote from " Hooray for HRT " All life is a gamble and if you like to have a flutter then the odds of dying of a heart attack are2:1, osteoporosis is 10:1 and breast cancer a very long shot at 40:1.If you regularly use HRT you would be wasting your money on the bet because the chances are the bookie will die before you "
I think as long as you eat sensibly and take exercise and have check ups then taking HRT is worth the gamble for the quality of life it brings unless your high risk of any of the above or it doesn't agree with you.
I went on synthetic HRT in late 40s bc of early menopause (only one ovary). I stayed on it for about 6 years then switched to bioidentical. I'm now 57. About three weeks ago I went on an unplanned trip and didn't have them with me. Nothing changed and so I didn't start taking them again. No hot flashes, nothing. Is it just too early for the symptoms to kick in or am I lucky? I have noticed a weight gain and I'm naturally worried about the skin becoming wrinkled but will cope with that if the rest don't come back. How long did it take you to see the symptoms return?
Do you take progesterone as well? I am on the patch and have been told to cut it in half and go off it slowly since I am 60 and have been on HRT for over 10 years. I just didn't know if progesterone was necessary.
Thanks!
Thank you for this great advice. I'll reach out to a naturopath to help me get off my chemical HRT.
What dose of progesterone are you on? I'm 62 and my doctor wants me to cut my patches in half to try and go off of them but I wasn't sure what to do about the progesterone pills I take. I am very nervous about going off HRT due to depression. I already am on an anti depressant.
Is your patch a combination of estrogen and progesterone? Or do you take a pill for progesterone? I am 62 and take a progesterone pill along with wearing my patch. I am curious about reducing the progesterone dosage as I try and cut my patch in half to reduce my HRT. I am also of the mind to continue HRT if I can't keep my quality of life without it.
The patch I'm on is combination of progesterone and oestrogen.I think you have to have progesterone if you still have a womb.Im coming off very slowly to let my body adjust until the doctor finds some reason that I need to come off .so have been on half patch twice a week for years I'm just cutting off a slither more and shall try and get it down to quarter eventually but find it's hard to keep a smaller than half bit of patch to stay on!
Hello cmac, I am taking estraderm patches they are great apart from one side effect, because I suffered from endomitriosis they do seem to have activated that pain again . so every few weeks i get like an ovary pain in my side that lasts for about five days. However the benifits from the patches such as increased libido, no more night sweats, a positive outlook and increased happiness are all worth it. I call it the "happy patch".
I have tried unsuccssesfully to stop tking hrt patches but i get terrible fuzzy headaches, I suddenly start finding fault with my husband and turn so negative its unbelieveable!!
hi
did you go back on hrt or stick to being off them. i too was on them for 5 years. i came off around 2 month ago and am finding the hot flushes unbearable. i get out of bed and my hair feels horrible and i cant sleep. i am considering going back on them. could you tell me how you are now and did you go back on them or have you improved.
kind regards donna
Hi Jane
I'm 66 and have used Evoril patches for 14 years with 2 short breaks.
I use it to support my osteoporosis as i can't stomach oral medications for that. My specialist is happy for me to stay on it as I don't have history of cancer in the family (that I know of) - this is crucial in your decision on how and what to use. My scan showed deterioration while i was on the break so I am trying to perervere though lately i do seem to be having night sweats again!
All the best.