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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

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  • Internet-Doctor
    Internet-Doctor groovygranny

    Posted

    Hi, I am a doctor and I prescribe HRT in my NHS and my private practice. It should be an informed decision between you and your doctor. Many doctors are scared of HRT unnecessarily. I often have women coming to me for help because their doctor won't prescribe!
    • groovygranny
      groovygranny Internet-Doctor

      Posted

      Great to have info from the horse's mouth!  Can a doctor actually force you off HRT?   I know in America and France they are pretty easy going about how long you stay on it and indeed women often take HRT for the rest of their life. As long as you are healthy and wish to stay on HRT, why should you come off it?   I get the impression these days that a lot of doctors issue overarching diktats, because they are more engaged in arse-covering than actually treating people intelligently as individuals.
    • Jan999
      Jan999 groovygranny

      Posted

      I've been forced off HRT though groovygranny. I'm perfectly happy taking it and feel awful now I'm having to reduce it because none of my GPs will prescribe it.
    • loretta63638
      loretta63638 Internet-Doctor

      Posted

      Hello Internet Doctor, Are you able to share where you are located?  As I am certain many of us would hope to recieve your care!  
    • groovygranny
      groovygranny Jan999

      Posted

      OMG, that's wicked!   You know, in extremis, you can buy it online.  I've researched where you can get it - from reputable sources - and that is going to be my fallback position if my doctor won't prescribe any more. Obviously if there was a sensible medical reason that convinced me to stop, I would, but I haven't heard one yet and so often, anyway,  what is an 'irrefutable medical truth' today becomes discredited tomorrow. You have to plough your own furrow using common sense.For instance, thank God I've always eaten butter and whole milk and not those poisonous low-fat things - and look how I've now been vindicated!
    • Jan999
      Jan999 groovygranny

      Posted

      I take Hormonin tablets. Just one hormone as I've had a hysterectomy. I've looked online and can't find it to buy unfortunately.
  • loretta63638
    loretta63638 groovygranny

    Posted

    I received a message on my email that the Internet Doctor sent me, it looks like it was removed?  I was told to PM her and there is no way to do that?  Any help here?
    • Jan999
      Jan999 loretta63638

      Posted

      Think it was because she was promoting herself via her website x
    • loretta63638
      loretta63638 Jan999

      Posted

      Probably, hope she reads this and PM's those who would like to hear from her!!!!  I would!!!  
  • Lilliepop
    Lilliepop groovygranny

    Posted

    Well I went for my six month check up and was ready for another battle. I couldn't believe it when my Dr said I will just take your BP and will give you a six months supply of HRT if it's okay couldn't believe it. She didn't put up a argument at all.

    As you can imagine I couldn't get out of the surgery quick enough in case she changed her mind. I was more than pleased.

    I have been worrying my self sick for a week. So can relax now. Let's hope the Doctors are maybe changing their minds at last.

    • groovygranny
      groovygranny Lilliepop

      Posted

      Hi Lilliepop, well, what good news!  I did laugh at you 'running away' asap! I've actually haven't bothered to have a checkup, which I last had in August.  I think maybe they've missed that I'm due, as I refuse to join the new website for my repeat scrips (it's far too complicated to log in and I ended up with my login, password and patient and surgery numbers on post-its all round the computer, so I thought it's quicker to drop in the repeat slip!). Anyway, I suppose I'd better go some time - perhaps when I've got something else to discuss, but I haven't required a doctor and don't know when I will.  When I do eventually get 'the call', I'll let you all know what transpires, but meanwhile well done, and thanks for the encouragement!  I can't remember, had you had a problem re your HRT during previous checkups and, if so, any explanation why your GP's done a volte-face?
  • deelaine
    deelaine groovygranny

    Posted

    Interesting discussion.

    I am 68 and I have been on Evoril Sequi for twenty years.   My surgery changed hands and recently I was called in for a review by a new doctor. She was about 21 and quite patronising.  She laughingly said I should not be on HRT and my age .  I politley informed her that my previous doctor thought different and so did an NHS doctor of seventy who was on it herself and who was giving a talk about it at an NHS conference I had attended.  She looked wonderful. 

    The new lady doctor just smiled when I told her. She suggested I change to Evoril 25 the ones that have no progesterone.  I reluctantly agreed.  A week after taking them I felt tired and listless. Currently I have been taking them for a month and I am experiencing night sweats, occasional sweating during the day, I feel irritable and weepy.   I rang the surgery today to speak to the doctor and I was informed that she is a locum and they have no idea when she will be in again.   

    I have just started a new business up and was so excited about it.  I now feel to tired to continue with it.

    I tried to obtain Evorel Sequi from Lloyds on line pharmacy but I was declined for no reason.  Probably because of my age. They did however, say that they have a narrow opening for those they prescribe HRT to and I fell outside of it.

    Not sure what to do now.

    I feel for all of you that have been taken off it. 

  • hazel_64842
    hazel_64842 groovygranny

    Posted

    I would go back to the surgery and ask to see a diferent GP who is more experienced. I have been on Evorel 75 for the past 21 years, I had a full hysterectomy at 39. I was fortunate in that I saw a gyaenocolgist a couple of years back. I have a prolapsed bladder. He asked about the HRT and said on balance the benefits far out weighed the negatives for me. If any GP ever mentions stopping my patch, I wll ask to see a consultant! GP is for General Practitioner, with the knowledge available on line, quite often a GP will know no more and sometimes less than some patients!  If the GP says no, ask for a ref. to a consultant - let them know you mean business and will not be fobbed off. We know our own bodies, if I don't change my patch on the right day I get all the symptoms you describe - hit by a double decker bus syndrome! Hope you win the day, and get your HRT,

     

    • deelaine
      deelaine hazel_64842

      Posted

      Thanks so much Hazel.

      I have managed to get an appointment with another doctor tomorrow.

      You're right about GP's of course they only look online themselves half the time.  They have a little knowledge about each condition unless they choose to specialise in a particular condition such as ENT.

      I used to be on full HRT but I then went over to half dose about ten years ago and felt fine on both.  However, this 25 dosage of Oestrogen alone is hopeless.

      Thank goodness you had the good mind to contact a consultant.   I will remember that when I see this new GP tomorrow.   My old GP was my age and he agreed when I told him that many people that had breast cancer had never taken HRT.

      I'm glad you are back on it and I will let you know the outcome of my GP visit tomorrow.

       

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