1. Community
  2. Women's health
  3. HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy

Forced off HRT at 60?

Posted , 117 users are following.

groovygranny
groovygranny

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?

26 likes, 445 replies

445 Replies

Prev Next
  • sandra11356
    sandra11356 groovygranny

    Posted

    I have just discovered this forum having 'googled' coming off HRT and I am delighted to have found it. I have been off and on HRT in varying forms from the age of 31, I am now 62. Having had a botched sterilisation and subsequent termination at 30, I spent 12 months or more on anti -depressants until the Doctor prescribed Progesterone replacement following the recommendation of a Nursing Sister at my place of work who suggested I had Oestrogen dominance, she was correct.  All a little irrelevent now but paints a picture of the issues we face. Started my MP at 52 ish and went onto Tibolone prescribed by my female GP but 'only for 5 years',  moved practice a few years later and the younger female GP  insisted I should stop taking it which I  did in 2010 just after losing my Mother. Two years of horrible symptoms. Again, changed doctor due to a house move, decided to ask for HRT again and took along some printed articles in support of HRT to an older male GP who was very supportive and prescribed Premique low dose which I still take. I have had some night sweats and a little bit of depression of late which is why I looked to come off them as I thought I may have Oestrogen dominance again but I have been somewhat inspired to continue following the fantastic discussion here! Like one of the other contributors, I have a husband 15 years younger and want to maintain what I have for as long as I can. I spend most of my time in Spain and I still have my prescription from the UK but if I can't I will go to a doctor here as they calibrate your hormone levels to give the right doses rather than give an HRT 'catch all'. That is not an option in the UK, sorry if I've babbled on but Oestrogen dominance is often overlooked in the UK and more women should be given Progesterone and then they wouldn't need anti-dperessants. 
  • Biker_Lady
    Biker_Lady groovygranny

    Posted

    Hi Groovygranny,

    I started taking HRT when I was 50.  Was told I could be on it for 10 years.  After 6 years I was force weaaned off it.  Like you and other women I felt good when taking it.  I was in very good health. I

    I decided to search the internet to see if I could buy it without a prescription and found that it was possible.  I was not best pleased that I now had to pay for it but it was the only option open to me.

    I now find that this method of getting my HRT has become extremely difficult as a lot of the sites have been blocked.

    Decided to go back to the doctors.  The only prescription my GP will supply me with is either the Estrodial cream or pessaries.  It's not quite the same and messy to say the least.  I'm told that HRT is now considered dangerous.  Maybe for a small percentage of women it is but in my opinion it is up to individual women to decide if they want to take the risk or not.

    But I too am interested in whether it is legally moral or correct for a GP to refuse to prescribe this medication to women who feel a lot fitter and healthier when taking it.

    Lady Biker   

     

    • jacqueline92057
      jacqueline92057 Biker_Lady

      Posted

      My doctor won't give me anything I met a woman on holidays in September and she seen how bad I was with the hot flushes she told me about the patches I went to my doctors and he was on holidays the stand in doctor gave me them and within a few days I was feeling like my old self my doctor is now back and won't give me them I have had a terrible Christmas once again I feel like ending it all I went back to him and told him this and he just said I have to learn to live with it (()

    • maria58274
      maria58274 jacqueline92057

      Posted

      I cannot belive how unsympathetic some GPs are.  Did he/she give you a reason for refusing it?  I'd be inclined to change doctors.  Are you in the UK - if so, read the current NICE guidelines and if necessary print out the relevant part.  If you want to challenge your current doctor, go back, armed with a print out of the relevant facts and stick to your guns.

      https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/ifp/chapter/Treating-menopausal-symptoms

      Unless there are very serious reasons in your medical history, no woman should need to go through this without help.  Good luck and let us know how you go on.

    • sarah99273
      sarah99273 maria58274

      Posted

      Hi Maria,

      Sorry to hear about your GP.  I too had this problem last year (2015). I am now 65 and was told about 6 years ago that I had to come off the HRT patches Fem-seven conti.  Had been on them for about 10 years and it was brilliant.  As soon as I came off (did this without cutting patches in half or anything like that) I went straight into menopause again - hot flushes, night sweats and many other problems started, too many to mention here.  Went to our new GP when we moved and he told me I was too old to go back on the patches.  When NICE guidelines were amended I went back two months later and demanded he re-instate the patches, being armed with all the necessary information.  He caved in immediately and have now been on the patches for about two and half months - what a different person I am.  I have a list as long as my arm of problems that resulted from the lack of HRT and can honestly say that with the exception of three or four items I am now cured!  Those that are left are mainly down to being overweight (which I am now addressing) and life is good again.  As everyone else says on this site, do not give up - they have no right to withhold these medicines any longer!  The best thing is that I now get a good nights sleep and can drink coffee and alcohol without breaking out into a sweat and going bright red!  Long live HRT - I am never coming off it!! 

    • price6209
      price6209 sarah99273

      Posted

      I've been reading all the comments and I think I've had them all. I had a complete hysterectomy in 1997. My then GP put me on Estradiol 2mg and felt wonderful. We moved here to Texas in 2001, The new GP said time to go off. I tried, had one bladder infection after another, went back up to 2 mg. but then they were too strong, so I tappered down myself a little and felt good again. But....started having bouts of a little anxiety, burning mouth, dry-itchy skin in 2013. I had no idea what was wrong with me. The same GP said, "as long as you're taking hormones you have to come see me," so he cut me down to .05 mg. I tried tapering down in Feb 2014. By August 2014 I was having full blown panic attacks, blood pressure went sky high, crying, extreme fatigue. One night I told my husband I should go to the emergency room as I was having a mental breakdown. Thank God for Xanax! I then went to my internist, he raised my hormone mg, to 1 mg. which helped a little for a couple weeks, but I still had major panic attacks. I found a new GP who worked with me until FINALLY he raised me BACK up to my original  2 mg Estradiol that I originally started with. In one year-eight months my dosage was changed 6 times. I'm entering my 8th month now and even though I'm not completely back.....I can see a light at the end of a long dark tunnel. I will NEVER go off hormones ever again. If it kills me, then it just kills me. At least I'll have a fun, happy life until then.
    • jo76133
      jo76133 price6209

      Posted

      I'm 59  when HRT for approximately five years.    I too said I would not come off of HRT.    Last week I was diagnosed with breast cancer due to estrogen receptors .   I have  ovarian cyst as well what is causing pain  due to estrogen levels.   I'm now faced with surgery and treatments to save my life.    Going forward I will be on anti-hormone medication that will put me in extreme hot flashes and major changes.    If I could do everything all over again I would never take HRT.  I would keep my weight at optimal level I would eat healthy foods no red meat, limit alcohol etc. exercise every day.   HRT it's not worth going through what I'm going through and I don't think there's enough studies on the risk.    The first doctor I went to did not want me to take HRT and I found a doctor that would give it to me big mistake.  

       

    • price6209
      price6209 jo76133

      Posted

      I'm so sorry Jo about your diagnosis last week. Yes, I too am scared about breast cancer, but what are we to do? When I wasn't taking enough hormone I literally wanted to die. My blood pressure shot to 203/103 and I thought I was going mad. Christmas before last our family went to the movies and I was having a panic attack so severe that I thought I was passing out. Damn if we do, damn if we don't.

    • jo76133
      jo76133 price6209

      Posted

      Seek  medications for panic attacks .    I'm afraid I may have metastases to bone  read up on bone cancer it's the most horrific painful experience .    I watched two girlfriends die of breast cancer that went to their bones and then to brain it was the most horrible experience I've witnessed so far in my life and now I'm going through it myself .   It may take a year or two to get past the Hormone balance after a while you'll get better with dealing with it.   There are meds to assist with anxiety.    If You get breast cancer and it goes to the bones you won't be able to walk to see a  movie.  

    • lyn82834
      lyn82834 jo76133

      Posted

      Hello Jo

      I am very sorry to hear about your diagnosis.  I too have a friend who was diagnosed this year after being on HRT for a long time.  However, I know many people who have breast cancer who have never been near HRT.

      You are right to look at other factors in health management that may possibly contribute to breast cancer:

      Overweight (too many women are overweight in the UK and New Zealand)

      Alcohol indulgence - older women are drinking at a higher rate than is wise

      Healthy eating - it's been long recognised that red meat is associated with cancers

      Exercise - it's just commonsense to exercise even if it's a walk every day.

      For others out there on HRT don't be scared off it.  Some doctors tend to be conservative.  It's all about good surveillance while on HRT and being proactive in managing other health factors.  I continue to enjoy high libido, great skin and fantastic wellbeing.  Look years younger than people not taking HRT.  Check out the evidence-based research that shows women gynaecologists and partners of male gynaecologists take HRT at a higher rate than the general population (Netherlands research).  Best of luck to all.  Lyn

    • sheryl37154
      sheryl37154 lyn82834

      Posted

      I agree with Lyn - there are other factors involved.  My maternal aunt had breast cancer (which she survived) and would not have known what HRT was, as it has been for many women for decades, if not forever.

      This has not stopped me from using HRT, in fact I could not survive without it.  Besides I live a very different lifestyle to what my aunt did - she has now passed away from other unhealthy factors.  Not that I mean you must live an unhealthy life - but other factors need to be taken into account - esp the breast cancer gene whose name has disappeared from my brain.  Have you been tested for that?

      I know of many young women, very pre menopause, who have had breast cancer too.

      I have been happily using it for 27 years now.

       

    • ykay
      ykay lyn82834

      Posted

      I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis to jo76133 and good luck with your treatment.

      ?However, I agree with you Lyn - look after your health, exercise, keep your weight down and keep your eyes wide open .......... but don't be scared off HRT without looking in to it for you as an individual, and do check out the many reports on the women who are taking it and will continue to.

      ?Ditto about the libido, skin and well-being Lyn and looking years younger than other women our age.  It is true!  Yvonne

    • maria58274
      maria58274 lyn82834

      Posted

      I too have to agree with Lyn - while there is a slight possibility that combined HRT could contribute to breast cancer in a small number of women, the majority of women who get it would have done so anyway.   It could be down to other lifestyle triggers - or simpy family genetics.  In addition to that, if you are on Estrogen alone ,the UK NICE guidelines indicate little or no extra risk.  

      Click here to view image

      "Oestrogen-only HRT causes little or no change in the risk of breast cancer."

      Good luck to Jo - I know that breast cancer is a devastating disease and it is totaly normal to as "why" and "what if".  Hope all goes well with your treatment.

    • maria58274
      maria58274

      Posted

      Apologies for the Smiley -I don't normally put those in but it interpretted my punctuation as one!

    • cindymarie50
      cindymarie50 Biker_Lady

      Posted

      IT causes cancer 8 of my family members did htr and 7 got cancer THEY WARN YOU!!! sweat it off for God sake.. Im 52 and the sweats are horrible and moods swings but better than cancer

       

Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.