Forced off HRT at 60?

Have stumbled over this forum while trying to find out if it was just me who wished HRT prescription could be continued after the age of 70 ( my age next year )

Due to the intransient position of my new G.P (new location , new surgery ) who does not agree with my ex G.P's prescribing , I have been told no more HRT will be prescribed within a few months .

So.. have been trying to reduce dailyfrequency of KLIOVANCE 1/0.5 HRT tablets . However , I have experienced reduced concentration , more joint aches ( already have arthritis in thumb joints ) fatigue, feeling spaced out and hair loss etc . This cuts no ice with the new G.P. who offers no advice .

I am principle carer for my 91 yr old mum ( who lives a distance away) I need to be on top form . My mum has osteoporosis/ arthritis , severe degeneration in spine/ hip , pain, very poor mobility etc , so I am also very concerned about protecting my bones from any genetic risk . I have weighed up the risks and benefits( long discussion with ex G.P. ) and conclude a shortened life would be preferable to chronic health problems exacerbated by reduced hormone levels . I know length of life is not guaranteed ( my husband died of pancreatic cancer ) and feel my own well-being will not be compromised by continuing to take HRT into elder age( preferable to a cocktail of medications for chronic age related conditions !) especially as I have been on a continuous contraceptive pill( since the 1960's except for 2 pregnancies ) then HRT in latter years. Feel fit and well , only other meds needed - pain relief gel for the arthritis .Plus making sure I have mammograms etc . I will be interested in the NICE recommendations on HRT due out this month . Lloyds- on- line - doctor would not prescribe for me , so I am at a loss how to go forward . Has anyone explored the efficacy of the non prescription hormone creams ?which are advertised on the internet. Any ideas gratefully received! Maggie

p.s. The Post Reproductive Health Conference for the medical profession is 17-18th Nov .   

I was lucky in that during my hysterectomy/oopherectomy at age 39, my gyne implanted the oestradio pellet immediately.  It was fabulous, except a 12 month one generally only lasted me 9 months.  I topped up with patches until a menopause dr said I could have the pellet implanted earlier.  Then they stopped making the pellets.  On to the patches fulltime.  My skin did not like them and 2 x 100 per week did not last the distance, so I topped up on the 7th day with the daily gel satchet.

As I live in a hot climate, I recently searched out a compound chemist to make the implant pellets for me.  (No dearer than when I could buy them over the counter with a script).  However the first one failed but it took a while for me to work it out as I also have haemochromatosis which causes the same symptoms as menopause (kind of a double whammy in that department).  3-4 months later I was almost screaming with unusual anger, full body night sweats, head sweats during day, loss of libido, hair failling out, belly getting bigger, etc. etc. and although I told my dr of these problems, had to work out myself that it was oestrogen deficiency and back on to the patches, overlapping them.  It took another 6 months to get rid of the symptoms, nightly head sweats the last to go.

I had experienced 6 years of sudden and constant head sweating during an earlier period.  But nobody could come up with anything other than thyroid (blood results normal) and menopause (but I was on HRT).  After 6 years of this nightmare, I sought out botox to stop the sweating and went to a botox dr who said she would like to find out the cause - Yippee! so would I.  She referred me to an endocrinologist.

I was found to have an adenoma on my pituitary gland which was causing excess prolactin.  I did not have the usual symptoms of it but with further research, I discovered that excess prolactin causes our oestrogen to be ineffective.  Therefore, pushing us into menopause.  Women with excess prolactin need extra oestrogen.  As soon as I started taking Carbergoline, the sweating eased.  Such sweet relief.  However, as soon as I try to reduce the medication, the symptoms come back again.  Endocrinologist has no problem with me continuing to take the Carbergoline, and he is all for oestrogen therapy.

But not all endocrinologists are like that.  One fill in, tried to ram all sorts of threats into me, getting into my face, that I was working hard on withholding from punching him in the nose.  He was of another enithicty, which might explain it.

My current gp was flipping out about my using hrt, until I reminded her that those studies were flawed.  She could not argue with that.  Why on earth does hrt medication have to refer to and quote the results of the WHI study?  She is much more understanding now after see what I go through with oestrogen deficiency.

Now I am coming up 65 (26 years happily on oestrogen therapy), and I do wonder at some time, perhaps when my current gp has moved on, if I will come to a road block.

I am also giving the compound chemist implant pellet another go but I just don't think it works as well as the original (although supposed to be exactly the same).  I am also trialling pregnenolone.  It is the grandmother of hormones.  I am also trying to increase my good cholesterol, which the precursor of our hormones - pregnenolone being the first step after good cholesterol.  Vit D also comes from good cholesterol.  So if your good cholesterol is low, no doubt your vit D is also low.

The author of the Wisdom of Menopause, a menopause specialist, believes there is no reason to prevent women from using hrt forever.  She advocates bio-identical oestradiol (it is not a 'natural' hormone that required is required to be made up by a compound chemist - but one that is most closely related to our normal oestrogen), and I have always stuck to that, whether it be implant pellets, patches, gels, vaginal pessaries, and oestriol cream.

So, one year later, how is everyone - did you find a solution?

I have been watching this site for a while now and had a lot to do with an earlier site on Tibolone/Livial.......Have been on this since 2004 and will not be going off it.  Tried all sorts of 'natural' remedies before that.   I take one tab (2.5mg) every second day and that keeps me just fine.  I am nearly 74 years old and as far as I am concerned it is what my body needs.  Like  you I keep well, exercise, and am not overweight.

In April 26 2016 under Women's eNews there was an article written by Mallory Locklear called: 'This Heart Doctor Wants to Clear Up Confussion About HRT'....Dr Howard N Hodis was quoted throughout.   It is very interesting and almost a complete turn around on what the doctors have been telling us over the last few years.

Your doctor should not force you to do anything...........take a look at this article and print it out and take it along to your doctor.   I believe a lot of doctors have not updated themselves on HRT.

Good luck.