Thanks, it's nice to know it's not just me!! I have a book called 'Eat To Beat HRT'. Maybe I should start taking notice of what's in it & try a few recipes.
K x
That's good....I'm a great believer in good nutrition and I use herbs also.
Dr M Glenville is a medic and also nutritional therapist - i have her bk on Osteoporosis but she has one on alternatives to HRT aswell.
Good luck and keep in touch xx
I am 66 yrs. old, and I had a complete hysterectomy in 2001...My doctor stuck a Vivil Dot estrogen patch on me the minute I came to out of surgery...I've been on them for 13 yrs. I have been feeling fine. The other day, I got a notice from my insurance company that they will no longer be paying for my estrogen, which is around 250.00 a month...Knowing this, I started weaning myself off of the patch. I have now been off for a little over a week. During that time, I have become somewhat depressed, just kind of an I don't care attitude, gained 5 lbs, probably water retention, and severe stomach disorder...I want very much to go back on the patch, but I am a retired paramedic and can not afford to pay that much for them...is there any chance that if I stay off of them and try to just grin and bare it, symptoms will go away, and I can be myself again...Otherwise, I may have to find a lake to go jump off of soon....lol
Hello Lilliepop,
How are you now that it has been 7 months? I have cut one pill out every 3 months, down to 5 pills a week, so far I am ok. Please let me know. I take both estrogen and progestin combo pill. Thank you.
Hi Carole,
I recommend a very slow weaning if you have to come off to avoid too many side effects. I had a break of a year and started by cutting an 1/8 off - do for 2 weeks, then a 1/4 - do for 2 weeks then 1/2 for 2 weeks and so on - takes10 weeks! I only went back on becuse i can't tolerate meds for osteoporosis(thin bones). I also took care of diet took supplements and tried walking alot.
Good luck
Hi, I've just noticed this thread and your posts about stopping HRT. I'm on a low dose HRT and have been for 3 yrs. I had a HRT review with the doctor yesterday and she suggested I come off them gradually. Wean myself off over 6mths. I can't say the HRT has helped my sweats at all but it did help my mood swings and I actually came off anti-depressants when i started the HRT.
What I would like to know is how did you feel after reducing the HRT? Have you noticed your symptoms get worse, better or are the same?
I'd love to know how you are doing.
Elaine.
Hello Elaine I haven't noticed any change thus far with the exception of an occasional start of a hot flash during the night not enough to wake me completely or break out into any sweat. Lasted a few minutes and passed. I am only down to 5 pills a week Monday through Friday. Taking one pill away every 3 months. 2 months more and I will skip Wednesday midweek and see how I feel will keep you posted mid January. I am taking it very slow. I will adjust as necessary if I begin getting symptomatic such as anxiety or depression which was very severe for me prior to the Hrt I will cut pills in half if taking a full pill away is too much. My concern is what happens to some women who wean off well and months later after stopping have problems ? That is a real fear I have. When are we able to breathe a sigh of relief? Anyone ?
I like how your doc has it weaning so slowly. Mine was much quicker and I was a nut. When I get ready to wean off, I'll follow your schedule
Hi, Thanks for your advice. I'm wondering if I reduce by one pill a week like my doctor suggested, will it bet too fast do you reckon? She said I may experience a bit of bleeding when I miss a pill. You have certainly reduced very slowly!! To be honest I don't feel the HRT does me much good anyway. Is yours a high or low dose loretta?
Elaine x
GM Elaine, I am on the higher dose. Originally on the low dose, but continued with symptoms, so my OBGYN increased the dose. His advise is to just stop taking them and see what happens, if you have symptoms you need to continue to take them. I have done much reading as I am sure all of us women have on this and I think it makes more sense to reduce slowly as we don't loose our estrogen abruptly unless you have a hysterectomy where your ovaries are removed. So going slow and hopefully steady makes more sense. Keep in touch let me know how you are doing. Best to you.
Hello, I am 67 years old and have been on HRT for about 15 years. I tried to stop a few times but all symptoms came back. The hot flushes were terrible. I am still working and I can't efford to stay there with much younger people when I look as if I just got out of the shower. My sleepless night returned, my skin and hair looked bad and I was a miserable person. My doctor told me that if I stop taking the hormones the bleeding could start again. Did anyone had a problem with bleeding after stoping HRT? I could not deal with this again.
Good luck to all is us women.
Hi Ner
I think it very unlikely that you would get bleeding at aged over 60.....did you try to come off very slowly. I had a break of 6 mnths after 12 yrs and cut the patch - weaning off took 10 weeks. At 66 yrs i'm on it for my bones as have osteoporosis and cant take the meds for that.
Do talk to a gynaecologist if no satisfaction from GP or even a Womens clinic. Good luck.
Hi there please tell me how your getting on I'm trying to come off premerum after taking it for 24 years and I feel awful I'm 56 and my doctor says I should come off help I don't know what to do jenny
I am so sorry to hear this, I know exactly how you are feeling, I am starting a weaning process anticipating my doc telling me it is time to come off as it has been 7 years.... idk I am at half my original dose and I am have the hot flashes, not bad though, scared to death of the depression should it return, hope you are ok and keep in touch, wishing you a speedy bounce back to your happy go lucky self xo
I am curious is your friend still on a BCP or transitioned to HRT? I too was on a BCP throughout my 40's perimemopause, then transitioned to HRT age 58 now, felt great in my 40's, HRT made me feel better as well, now I am trying to wean off as I am afraid the doctor will soon say "no more " and I don't want to go cold turkey. I am in the USA, where do you and your friend live?
Who is this wonderful doctor? I am in the USA
started ith menopause at age 42
i was told i couldnt take HRT a s i had fibriods.
then i discovered synthetic version and thrived on them for many years.
i had a polypectomy and after that, the surgeon told me to stop taking my ' elixir of life'.i stopped taking them cold turkey,, wrong...i found i got another mini menopause. now 6 years later i,ve got painful fibroids and another polyps.ihave pain always in left lower side,a dragging sensation and sometimes just like period pain.also indigestion and heartburn always w orse after eating and sitting watching tv.
my gynnos only found prblems on right side but i tell then my pain is left side.
has anyone experience of referred pain for this condition?
i as aiting at a red light hilst driving a bus.one miute i as sat in the seat and next ninute all of me as jammed in the pedals.i picked myself up and off i went.i looked in my driving mirror at my passenger s w ho w ere all looking back at me with very scared looks on their faces. i should think they w ere thinking w hat happened then. so was i.
thats hrt for you but hey i rue the day my surgeon took me off it.
for me it was the ilixir of life.and randy for the first time also.
expect thats the bit of testosterone in it.
Hi Marianne. Just wondering now that you have made it to the other side would you say you feel better now than you did when you first started HRT. (symptom wise) Did you ever have any anxiety/depression during this time.
I enjoyed reading your post.
I'm hanging on very tight at the moment.
Cheers xxxx
Update Elaine, I have changed my weaning process per another ladies suggestion on here, I have cut my pills in half, taking half every day since December 16th, have been ok up until a few days ago, I have a bit of anxiety kicking in, and some night sweats....I planned on cutting my pil to 1/4 every other day, keeping it at half days in between, BUT,NOPE, I am nervous to do so, so I am waiting awhile to see how my body adjusts to the levels I am at now, usually will show symptoms 3 weeks after reducing from what I understand. I will assess and try reducing it in another month, I think if we reduce slowly our symptoms should be bearable. I also started taking One A Day Womens 50+ multivitamin hoping this helps, so many single vitamins I am confused as to what to take, thought this was better than nothing! Hope so! How are you doing?