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Coming off HRT

Posted , 12 users are following.

Jules_60
Jules_60

Hi ?? I am 60. Have been on HRT since I was 50. Have tried to wean myself off a few times but with no success due to symptoms returning full on. Had a few bleeds in the last year so after the last one decided to go off it for good. Six weeks in and I'm going mad. Massive joint pains, fatigue, anxiety and dizziness and neuralgia and of course the endless hot flushes. I am going back on it despite the warnings of doctors. I think quality is better than quantity at this stage if my life as I am working as a hairdresser and will have to until age 67. (Insert massive groan and sigh) I've tried sage tablets, natural hormone powders but nothing works like the synthetic hormones. I wish doctors were more honest when prescribing HRT that the menopause is literally on a pause button until you come off it and it starts afresh. I would have tried to go without it from the start if I had known. Would love to hear your stories ladies. 😊

4 likes, 30 replies

30 Replies

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  • Guest
    Guest Jules_60

    Posted

    Hi Jules I am 55 Ben on hrt since 37 early menopause and seen top hrt consultants who specialise and like you I wanted to come off they said WHY I can be on for life why suffer I have friends in 70 on it and look feel amazing so please don’t struggle as long as you keep healthy drink in moderation eat healthy excercise it fine to be on x
    • laine321
      laine321 Guest

      Posted

      Hi Jules.

      When you say you had a few bleeds, would you mind me asking how long they lasted please?  I'm just wondering if it is more healthy to have the monthly bleed or not when past menopausal age.

      Joanne, do you have any idea which brands of HRT your 70 year old friends are on?  Do they have monthly bleeds.    TIA  

       

  • alison84179
    alison84179 Jules_60

    Posted

    I think that this is going to be me too.  Trying to wean off Tibolone and don’t feel good at all. Is it wrong to say “better the devil you know”?

    Wishing you feeling well again very soon. Xx

  • wendy12420
    wendy12420 Jules_60

    Posted

    Hi I recently went to a really interesting evening with Liz Earl who has written a book and  has done a lot of research on menopause and Hrt she is adamant you can stay on it for life. I personally don’t intend to come off of it, all we are doing is replacing the hormones we no longer produce.
    • Guest
      Guest wendy12420

      Posted

      Hi we,do yes I am a follower and fan of liz Earle she amazing and great advice for women our age .

      Alison tibolene one the best hrt wanted to stay on that but wasn’t strong enough even my consultants wife on it . I have just started another new one trouble is with me is finding the right progesterone on one called Angelia starting Monday has progesterone drosprenone supposed to be great on mood . I have been on patch with utrogestan nightmare and other progesterone levonorgestrel and northindrone didn’t agree with me also on testogel that is amazing along with oestrogen just finding right balance for me at the moment with the spotting all other tests fine xx

    • wendy12420
      wendy12420 Guest

      Posted

      Hi Joanne you are right about finding the right balance it took me sometime but now I’m using the Mirena coil for progesterone and Everol patches which seem to work fine apart from the odd break through bleed.
    • Guest
      Guest wendy12420

      Posted

      Hi Wendy 

      ‘yes I chose not to go,on coil he mentioned to me Friday my consultant but wary at this stage as want to find right progesterone and then go from there I heard coil a brilliantnoption but if I get in and same thing goes on hard to get removed straight away ...

  • Mars777
    Mars777 Jules_60

    Posted

    Hi jules, i have been on HRT for over 7 years now ! I HAD TO COME OFF THEM TWICE ... I went straight back to having all my symptoms Anxiety hit sweats ... soaking thru te night .. lack of confidence .. no energy ugh .. Qaulity is so important to me .. my Dr told me this week i can stay on them for as long as i want to ... & I will as im so awful when not on them.

    • Jules_60
      Jules_60 Mars777

      Posted

      Thanks for reply. Definitely going back on it Mars777! I can't live like this and won't. I would rather take the risk of getting breast cancer etc than live in hell every day. 😐

    • Mars777
      Mars777 Jules_60

      Posted

      Hi again Jules 60 ... yes I've just had mammogram all clear ... No it was hell I just can't believe the symptoms we get! HRT for me. lol

  • karen07486
    karen07486 Jules_60

    Posted

    Hi I am only 49 and been on HRT  9 months and I'm thinking of coming off it as all it has really done is stop the hot flushes my mood swings and insomnia are really bad and that's what worry's me your only pausing all the symptoms I think I would rather do it without HRT now and get through the best I can. 

    I hope you can settle back on it after coming off it. 

    Karen

    • mauiblue
      mauiblue karen07486

      Posted

      Hi Karen\

      I am also very uncertain about hrt vs no hrt. I have been making attempts at getting it right for about the same time..since last august, and its really not helping. I am only needing it for moods because i dont really have hot flushes..so they say that hrt is only good for the physical symptoms not the mental ones..

      I cant help but think that having zero estrogen can be good for you..because i have bad dark moods and anxiety, and it only clears up for short bursts of time (hours)

      And it also makes sense that we may be prolonging what nature intended, but quality of life is so important.

      I really dont care as long as i feel good. Im 53 and post menopausal about 15 months now.

      I still am very confused about what is best, as i hear mixed input..good, bad..etc.

      hope you are well

      xoxo

  • laine321
    laine321 Jules_60

    Posted

    Hi Jules.

    When you say you had a few bleeds, would you mind me asking how long they lasted please?  I'm just wondering if it is more healthy to have the monthly bleed or not when past menopausal age.  

     

    • Jules_60
      Jules_60 laine321

      Posted

      My periods stopped at 50. No spotting, nothing for 9 years. Then I tried to wean myself off HRT and I started having breakthrough bleeds. Wish I had never started the HRT to be honest. Doctors need to be more transparent when prescribing drugs.
  • pat11500
    pat11500 Jules_60

    Posted

    Hi Jules, I am 67 and started taking Evorel Conti when I was 53. I was fine on it (I used to cut my patch in half, so on the lowesr dose and it suited me..until I got to 60 and my GP started giving me a hard time (uninformed GP hadn't read the NICE report(Nov 2015) and wanted me to come off it. Eventually he persuaded me to stop (2015) and within a few days ALL my symptoms came back with a vengeance. I was so desperate I slapped on afull patch (which then proved too much for my body) so I cut it back to half again. Ihad breakthrough bleeding for almost 2 years (mess with your hormones at your peril) and was so sick of it all. I went cold turkey. After a few months of hell, I booked an appointment with a GP I hadn't seen before he was so understanding and sympathetic and said I need oestrogen and the benefits would outweigh the risks. I was so happy he understood.He also gave me another HRT called Femoston which I have been taking for the last couple of months. Tiny amount of breakthrough spotting, It's a kinder HRT, nothing compared to Evorel which is notorious for causing spotting/bleeding. My flushes have gone, my aches and pains lessened and at last I've found a GP who acknowledges what some of us women go through. Go back to your GP and try Femoston also Premique I hear is very good too. All the best smile 

    • Jules_60
      Jules_60 pat11500

      Posted

      Hi Pat thanks for your message. I was on Kliogest for 7 years then went to Femoston 2mg due to cost. Both worked fine for me. Doctor then dropped me to 1mg but it was not enough. I was on the lower dose for 3 months then went cold turkey after another bleed. I will definitely be going back on the 2mg.

      All the best to you too.😊 xx

    • Guest
      Guest pat11500

      Posted

      Hi pat great hearing your story I was awful on Evorel great of femseven but patch won’t stick so start a new tab today to se if progesterkne work then see consultant again to work out patch  gels if this progesterone ok I like you will be on for life xx
    • Guest
      Guest pat11500

      Posted

      Hi pat great hearing your story I was awful on Evorel great of femseven but patch won’t stick so start a new tab today to se if progesterkne work then see consultant again to work out patch  gels if this progesterone ok I like you will be on for life xx
    • laine321
      laine321 pat11500

      Posted

      Hi Pat.  I am a little confused as to why you needed to cut your patch in half as the Conti prescription is supposed to be two patches weekly.  Does that mean you are taking a quarter dose twice weekly to reach the half dose you're happy with?   Also, isn't it better to have a period than not have one? 

    • pat11500
      pat11500 laine321

      Posted

      Hi Laine, When I turned 60 my GP asked me to stop. We arrived at a compromise which was that I cut my 2 patches a week in half. It did work for me up until he asked to me stop (which I should have stood my ground and said no) and then problems for 2 years.. if it aint broke don't fix it ... *sigh* some of these GP's are dinosaurs.

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