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Hrt for life?

Posted , 9 users are following.

vicky77852
vicky77852

Hi Ladies!

The more I read about meno and the long term consequences for our health due to the lack of estrogen the more I believe that we cannot survive without our hormones.

I am on hrt and recently I was told that it’s up to me for how long I will use them. I am convinced that there is no an easy way to stop taking them.

My body will deteriorate faster without hrt and I don’t find that it is a good idea.  I feel that if you start hrt it is forever, you cannot just stop, your body depends on it! Any ideas? 

3 likes, 34 replies

34 Replies

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  • Guest
    Guest vicky77852

    Posted

    Hrt for life o would never come off been on 18 years since 37 early menopause , I have change type brand and combination now 55 but I need oestrogen the risks are there as is with alcohol and bad diet lack excercise ...o do all those don’t drink try eat healthy although love dark choc ice cream we all have vices ...we have to be in control of our own body hrt not for everyone but it is for me xx
    • vicky77852
      vicky77852 Guest

      Posted

      THanks for replying Joanne! I totally agree with you! I feel such a relief on hrt and I cannot imagine stopping it! smile 
  • lyn82834
    lyn82834 vicky77852

    Posted

    Hi All

    I totally agree with your comments.  It's a personal decision and we need doctors to support us in our choices.  There are risks with everything.  Quality of life is very important to me.  I can see the differences with women not on it.  In fact I used to have a gynaecologist who said that he could tell the women on it when he went to the supermarket.  He was so supportive but retired.  All the best, stay strong. 

     

    • vicky77852
      vicky77852 lyn82834

      Posted

      Thank you Lyn! For me quality of life is a priority and I feel that the risks not taking it are greater! smile
  • Mars777
    Mars777 vicky77852

    Posted

    Hi Vicky, Yes I believe you are right ! I been on HRT over 7 years now, had to stop them twice. Symptoms back with a vengeance ugh! No quality of life without them so yes I will be on them like you. My GP said to me last week I can stay on them for as long as I want, so I am with you!
  • gailannie
    gailannie vicky77852

    Posted

    Vicky, when you say HRT are you taking both estrogen and progesterone?  And if you don't mind my asking, what type are you using?  

    I'm trying to find something that is comfortable.  I wish I was one of those women who loved it from the start.  

    • vicky77852
      vicky77852 gailannie

      Posted

      Hi gailannie, I am on seq type, on Femoston 2/10. I feel that if you find that suits you don’t change, stick with it. 
    • gailannie
      gailannie vicky77852

      Posted

      Thanks Vicky, I looked that one up.  I can't help but be curious, do you, or did you, have any bleeding with that pill? It sure seems like the sequenced hormones would cause bleeding to resume.  

    • vicky77852
      vicky77852 gailannie

      Posted

      Yes, I am on cyclical type and a had a very light bleed monthly. I find dydrogesterone in Femoston very mild with almost no side effects! Hope to continue like this! smile
  • price6209
    price6209 vicky77852

    Posted

    Vicky, I'm with you! I was doing just fine until a previous Obgyn decided it was time to either get off hormones or cut back to almost no hormones, 4 years ago. I did as he said and started weaning myself off - bad mistake. From age 48 (after a complete hysterectomy) to age 65 I never felt bad one single day because of hormones. Mammograms were always good, then the bottom dropped out. 6 months after cutting down to almost no hormones at all I started having terrible panic attacks, hot flashes, twitching facial nerves, bleeding gums, dry skin,  no energy, terrible aching joints to the point I could barely get out of bed, my personality changed so much that my youngest daughter wouldn't even introduce her new boyfriend to me and told him, "this is not my sweet mother, this is a person I don't know." I found a new Obgyn, told him what was happening to me, he did blood work and my estrogen level was almost -0-. He then upped my dosage way up, then it was too much, brought it back down, back up, etc. 8 dosage changes in 1-1/2 years. When it was at a high dosage my face started flushing, I had a white discharge and one of my mammograms showed a very tiny cyst (which quickly dissolved) I started cutting back again the next mammogram was fine but yesterday they found a few cluster of hormone cysts. I asked the radiologist could this be the hormones (I told him what all I've been through), he said most likely so, but for this next year don't do anymore changing of hormone dosages until next years mammogram and then we will know whether to come down a little more. I feel wonderful again and pray if I need to come down it will only be slightly, the radiologist agreed that since I'm feeling good again hopefully this is just a result of all the changes and would hate to change again until he knows for sure - I'm going to talk to my new Obgyn soon about it. When I first started going to the new Obgyn he told me some women do just fine with hrt, some do not - I'm a do not. He also told me he has patients in their 80's doing great on hrt. I take estrogen only. I know this is probably more information than you wanted to know, but felt I had to tell you, sorry.

    • vicky77852
      vicky77852 price6209

      Posted

      Nice to hear your experience Price!

      I am convinced that we absolutely need our estrogen.

      My first gyn said that we can use hrt for only 5 years, I really cannot find from where this statement come. And after 5 years what? We have to struggle daily, we have to quit our jobs and to try to survive with the awful symptoms? 

  • price6209
    price6209 vicky77852

    Posted

    Dang! Five years???? I'd be in the looney bin. I take Estradiol and don't intend to stop, I just turned 70!! My skin is smooth, I have lots of energy and can keep up with the young people very easily. I say if you feel good, don't stop. Your body will tell you if you will need more, or less - I learned that hard way.

    • Guest
      Guest price6209

      Posted

      Great you feel great at 70 you be a great role model for people starting on hrt you only putting back that has deminished I intend to be on till the end , for me just finding the balance started my new hrt Monday have been on 5 lots since age 37 but only changed at52 as they wanted me on a conti I need progesterone , do you not take progesterone price ? X
    • price6209
      price6209 Guest

      Posted

      No, I had a full hysterectomy at age 48 and take only Estradiol estrogen. I take 2 mg one day, 1 mg the next day, 2 mg the third day ---- etc. and keep doing this for the whole week (I cut some of the 2 mg in half).  By the end of the week I've taken a total of 11 mg, but I have a feeling the magic number for me will be 10 or 10-1/2 mg for the week because I feel the 11 mg. per week total may be a little too much - which I've been doing for 11 months now.

    • Guest
      Guest price6209

      Posted

      That good to play with dosage to suit you I did that on patch’s but wait see how I get on with these new tab and then go back on patch’s 
    • price6209
      price6209 Guest

      Posted

      Joanne, that's a good plan! I've learned to ease up slowly, bit by bit, or ease down, bit by bit. The doctors' seem to jump you up 3-4 mg at a time or down that same amount, and it can really mess you up, and keep you messed up for months and months - which I really feel is why I've had a couple mammograms that had a few cysts, too much estrogen at one time.

    • Guest
      Guest price6209

      Posted

      Yes oestrogen can make breasts lumpy sore I think great you taking control of you body and dosage , you read so much negative things these days but hrt as do many positives just like you said finding the right dosage x
    • vicky77852
      vicky77852 price6209

      Posted

      I am only 43! Price your hrt is the safest one! I read that estrogen alone actually doesn’t increase breast cancer risk at all! So I guess that your decision is perfect for you!!! smile
    • price6209
      price6209 vicky77852

      Posted

      Whew! I'm SO glad you came back with a comment. That's also what I've been hearing from others. What I just need to do is find the right dosage for me. The doctors sure didn't dose me correctly. My current doctor said I'm the one who can really judge correctly - he's right.

      "Thank you, Vicky"

    • lyn82834
      lyn82834 price6209

      Posted

      Hi

      Do you have a regular blood test to check your oestradiol level?

      Cheers

      Lyn

    • price6209
      price6209 lyn82834

      Posted

      The first time I did, a couple years ago when I was crying my eyes out in his office and shaking so bad from low estrogen. The last couple times that I asked my doctor that I would like one he said these blood tests are not very accurate, they usually come back low and doesn't give him a clear picture of the actual estrogen level. I go in and see him this coming August for my annual and I'm going to ask him again. I don't see why this could be possible (them being inaccurate). My internist told me the same thing a couple years ago, very misleading results come back.

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