I am 57 and have just stopped taking HRT after 7 years a...

Hi Julia23547, I just wanted to warn you that if you do go back on HRT again then be prepared to still suffer when you eventually come off it as you will probably have to.  I was on it for 22 years and came off it twice before stopping it because of risk of uterine cancer.  Each time I stopped it the symptoms started up a few weeks later.  If I was you I would wait and see what happens and if you can put up with it then persevere.  I am 67 now and should not be going through menopause symptoms yet again at my age.  I loved being on it as it made me feel fine, I was on Tibolone which is a sort of substitute HRT.  You could look it up, as you have had a hysterectomy, you would not be at risk of uterine cancer like I was.  It is also a low risk of breast cancer with Tibolone.  At present I am taking Red Clover 500mgs, that helps as the hot flushes are reduced in number and not too severe.  Just thought I would share my experience with you.  Hope all goes well whatever you decide.  Elsie. 

Thank you Elsie. It's helpful reading about someone's experience. I am still without but feeling low. I suffer with depression as well, and wonder if it's connected. I guess it is in some way. At what age is the menopause over? 

Oh dear, that is a good question, I started mine around 42 and actually stopped having periods when I was 52 but that was me.  I know of some who just stopped in their forties, no symptoms or anything.  Everyone is different.  Once the periods have stopped the body takes whatever time it needs to adjust to the lack of oestrogen.  The trouble with taking HRT is you are just delaying the body's adjustment.  I know what you mean about the depression, that was one of the main reasons I went on HRT, as I also suffered from it, definitely a symptom.  I should have stopped HRT years ago but I felt so good on it I just carried on.  I knew the risks but was willing to take them.  I feel ok mentally now, It's just the hotties, I hope they will eventually go but know it is going to take time.  I hope you will feel better soon.  One more thing I will say, if you are in a position to do so, exercise as much as possible, walking, whatever you can do.  I find getting out in the country lanes where I live and in the woods does me a power of good mentally.  I am lucky to live in rural Cornwall so it is easy for me, don't know where you are so can't say if you can do that or not.  I hope so as it does help.  All the best, Elsie.

PS, I am happy to chat with you whenever you want.  

Hi elsie....I've had an awful day today...kept crying all day...miserable . Is this because of not having HRT. I went to GP today and can not get an appointment until next Monday .?? I was really cross. And then cried. Could it really kick in this quick, it's been a week or so. I've just come to bed (with all my doggies) I have 4 King Charles and they've had to put up with the tears all day. I hope you are well. Julia 

Hi Julia, sorry to hear that you have been so down.  I hope you will have a better day today.  I remember being very up and down too.  I have been taking Red Clover but now will have to stop that as it has caused a bit of spotting.  The reason I had to stop the HRT in the first place was because of that and the risk of cancer of the uterus.  Now I find that my plant alternative remedy is doing the same thing by increasing the lining of my uterus.  Bah, I just cannot win.  I will have to just grin and bare it now.  

I think you will have to get back on it by the sound of it.  I too was very down all those years ago.  I am not like that now thank goodness, so maybe that will be your best bet, as the years go by you will hopefully change mentally and be better, when you eventually have to stop your HRT.

It has just occurred to me, maybe you could discuss anti-depressants with your GP as some help with menopause symptoms as well as depression?   I am going to see how things go with me but if I just cannot stand it I may also see about going on anti-depressants on a short term basis to stop these horrible symptoms.  Let me know what you think won't you?  Elsie.  

Hi Elsie. Today I've been better but I've got an appt with GP for Thursday. Not feeling so smug now. I like in Swindon and I have some lovely areas for dog walking which I love. It's been a beautiful day here today, sun shining and I've been out in the garden. You are very lucky where you live. I would love to be in a coastal area, and Cornwall is one of the best I know. I've been to many areas across Cornwall, my favourite being Polperro. Yes I will be talking to my GP about antidepressants as I have been on Bupropion and Venlafaxine....I feel neither are working any more and the loss of the HRT only exasabates. So, I'm looking forward to seeing my GP for a good talk...and probably cry. I feel so wound up, as if I'm about to burst in tears...horrible feeling. Thank you for talking to me, it's so comforting when i hear from you and others on this site. There are so many different forums to talk about different things and it helps not to feel so alone. People have been amazing and I'm very grateful.

take care Elsie, I will speak soon ...Julia 

Hello Everyone,

I feel glad I am not alone with the problem of HRT withdrawal.

I am 80 years old and started the menopause at 34 years.  Two years later,  after much battling with night sweats that soaked myself, my husband and the sheets, and continuous hot flushes, and all the rest of it, I persuaded my GP to put me on HRT tabs. He said it was justified as I was dealing with clients in my job.

I started with tablets, and I wanted to stop after three years, but a hospital nurse stressed the importance of HRT protecting my bones from osteoporosis.   I am still taking HRT but have switched to evorel conti patches.

To prove a point, I had a bad fall last month after tripping over a raised threshold and I DID NOT break anything thanks to strong bones (and of course HRT)

I have tried three times over the years, to come off HRT very slowly over four months, and always the symptons come back stronger than before. Alternative therapy just does not have any effect.

I have decided to continue with the patches, and I have always cut them in half, so I get a very low dose. (On the GP's advice).

HRT is a wonder drug.  It keeps my hair fine and shiny, it stabilises my weight, my skin is smooth and un-wrinkled and all the rest is functioning normally.  

My heartfelt good wishes go out to all of you, in dealing with this issue.

Eveline (West Midlands, UK)

Hi Elsie, I'm just back from Gp. She put me straight back on them today. I've just taken the first tablet. I think it's more in my mind but I'm feeling better already. She did ask me to consider cutting my dose in half as I'm on the highest dose, so I'm going to speak to another Gp and get their thoughts. I know I don't want to go through that again. Hope you are well. Julia 

Hi Julia, good luck then.  I hope you will feel better soon and hopefully cutting them in half will be ok.  

I am not feeling too bad myself despite taking nothing now.  I had a long bike ride yesterday with my husband, that does me good.  

It is much cooler here now so I think that helps keep the hot flushes at bay.  

All the best, Elsie. 

 I have been  on hormone therapy since I first started becoming premenopausal around age 45.  My main purpose of doing this  had to do with my being a singer and I had read  The time a health article in one of the opera  magazines, written by a physician, that menopause could possibly lower my range and as a sopranos  I did not want to lower my range.

     I have been taking Premphase which is a sequential form of therapy. I have been on it for about 24 years. I had no problems with it. Three years ago  at age 66, I needed to have a D and C  because  I  had a couple polyps.  Of course my  hormone induced periods stopped after the surgery.  I stayed on The hormone therapy afterwards with no problems until last summer. Then I started getting monthly very painful cramps at the end of every month.    At first  my doctors did not know what was the cause,  although at my age they felt I  should be coming off it. I had two  ultrasound  exams  over  last six months which was basically negative but I do have some residual fluid which doesn't seem to be a big issue for the physicians. I figured because  after the initial month of cramping, pain occurred so regularly every month, it was probably the hormones so I suggested to myself and to gynecologist  I would try to come off the HRT, and of course he agreed. My gynecologist did not say anything to me about tapering off.  I quit about eight weeks ago  cold turkey.  Since then I have been unable to sleep with hot flashes and feeling freezing cold  in between  specially at night, and I have been taking over-the-counter  supplements that perhaps help  somewhat.Because I started HRT early I never really went through the hot flashes that I'm going through now.   I did not realize how miserable They could make me feel. I am not also feeling vocally my best.   Decreasing hormonal influence could be part of the reason.  

     I spoke with my gynecologist at my appointment last week and told him I'd like to try to go back on it  to see if it makes a difference in how I was singing especially since I have some programs coming up. He said if I did that I had to just make sure that I let him know in writing that I know what the risks are and were willing to take this risks.  I don't  know that I have a great risk.  I'm not overweight although since I stopped taking the HRT I feel like I'm holding more water and my weight has gone up a few pounds even though I keep my diet pretty much the same. I feel hungrier however and I have  after many years of keeping my sweet Tooth down to a minimum,  I have a desire to want to eat sweets more but I've been very careful not to do that. I don't have high blood pressure. There's no history in my family for breast cancer. I do not have siblings however. I have been in pretty good health otherwise , Although I use to the exercise for a number years when my children were growing up, I admit I have not been doing it for quite sometime. So it occurred to me today that maybe I could take the pills every other day instead of every day which would give me an opportunity to see if my singing felt better and maybe help ease the hot flashes more for now.  However if the painful cramps return it will be an indication and I really do need to stop.    Any thoughts? 

Hi, I did that for a while with my Tibalone and felt ok but still had to come off them because of the post menopausal bleeds.  I don't feel too bad in myself but am feeling the effects down below now so have gone to my GP and am now have pessaries of Vagifem.  Am going to see how it goes but should be no problem as only 10 micrograms of oestrogen.  

I would try it if I was you and see how you go.  I did discuss taking them every other day with my doctor a long time ago and she agreed it was a good idea and shouldn't make me feel any different.  I just never got round to it, wish I had now as I could maybe have carried on with them with no bleeds.  Good luck, Elsie.  

Thanks! I'll see how it goes. 

 My understanding has been from my gynecologist that if you take  progesterone with the estrogen, either in combination or sequentially,  The chances of getting endometrial cancer are none.  I asked that question when I first got started at age 45 something because my mother died of the result of endometrial cancer but she took Premarin early on in its conception when those findings were unknown and she did not combine it with  progesterone.  I have asked I don't number occasions if it still safe in that regard and was told yes. I have since in the past three years had a D&C so I have supposedly nine but I don't believe it any endometrial tissue left  which is for some reason why all of a sudden I started getting cramps at the end of the month. So as I have mentioned here a couple times I came off it and repair been suffering post menopausal hot flashes at age 69 1/2. I went back on it a couple weeks ago only every other day to see what happens because I was not happy  being off it. I am just "playing it by ear" to see what happens at the end of this month. If the pain comes back I guess the decision will be made to stop it and probably will do a lot less singing which I will definitely miss.

Hi Elsie, how does it feel being off the HRT in comparison to being on HRT ?