1. Community
  2. Women's health
  3. Menopause

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

Posted , 164 users are following.

Guest
Guest

I am 57 and have just stopped taking HRT after 7 years and am plagued with hot flushes and pins and needles in the fingers. I can find plenty of guidance on the menopause and why to/ not to use HRT, but nothing offering information on what happens when you stop HRT! Help!

[i:3f4831d826]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:3f4831d826]

8 likes, 336 replies

336 Replies

Prev Next
  • flipflop
    flipflop

    Posted

    hi,I am 52 and came off HRT about 6 months ago after 13 years,I too am having awfull day and night sweats so I was happy to hear from marianne.you have to come off it eventually so let me get it over with.thanks marianne. :oops:
    • Pattiecakes
      Pattiecakes flipflop

      Posted

      So how long before your body came back to a normal??

      thanks

  • linda407
    linda407

    Posted

    I have been on Femseven hrt for the past 9 years now my GP insists that I come off it. I have tried myself on several ocassions but have terrible side effect, hot sweats, bad dreams and not sleeping feeling unsteady and very stressed.

    Does anyone know if your GP can force you to come off HRT if you wish to stay on it .

  • sue73
    sue73

    Posted

    I guess your GP will simply not issue a prescription for you if he/she feels strongly about it, and your only option then is to try another GP. I do sympathise. I was in the same position but decided to trust my GP's decision and, like you, suffered terribly. I am now 67 and still get the odd hot flush, and other symptoms such as creepy-crawly skin that drives me mad, but what can you do? Menopause is just awful for some women.
  • Abracadeborah
    Abracadeborah

    Posted

    I have been on HRT for 12 years. I went into an early menopause at 33 years of age after ovarian failure. I have tried many times to come off of my medication. but after a week I am getting over bearing hot flushes that last a minute every few minutes. It is driving me crazy I just cant take it anymore. Any remedies advice welcomed PLEASE :-(
  • cindy24
    cindy24

    Posted

    Hi I'm 53 and have been going through the menopause since my mid 40s. I started with chronic hot flushes day and night a few years later, when I was 49 but did not want to go down the HRT route as I understood all the symptons return once you come off it (as confirmed by those earlier postings), plus the added health risks. I have tried just about every natural remedy on the market and have found (for me anyway) that ground linseed (flaxseed to our American friends) helps enormously with the flushes, providing you take it regularly. I sprinkle a table spoon on my breakfast cereal and another either in or on my dinner, however dosage can be increased or decreased until you find what suits you. It has the added benefit of fibre and omega. I also take sunflower/star flower oil capsules. I don't know if I'm allowed to advertise (sorry if I'm not!) but I purchase my linseed from xxx who give lots of advice for us women of a certain age.

    Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the link but if anyone does want the details please use the message service

  • christine75424
    christine75424

    Posted

    I'm 52 and have been on HRT for just over 5 years. I am going to see my doctor about coming off as I'm aware of the health risks, but I must admit I'm nervous. I've felt healthy and happy taking HRT, no more hot flushes or night sweats. I've also had a healthy libido and I really don't want to lose it. Do others think there is a risk it will go? I'm in a new, positive stage of my life and worry that coming off HRT will derail me.
  • cmac
    cmac

    Posted

    I am 57 and have gone off HRT three times and switched type of HRT twice (from oral to patch and bioidentical). Bottom line: when I stop HRT, I immediately sink into deep depression and lose interest in and physical enjoyment of sex. I also suffer mild flushes/sweats, hair loss, skin dryness when off HRT - but those are bearable. It is the crushing depression and libido loss that send me back to HRT. I am on the lowest dosage for the patch, and quarterly I take progesterone for a week (because I still have uterus). Every 6 months, I reexamine risks and options with my doctor, but for me - quality of life is so much better on HRT that I am willing to continue. My husband wants me off it, and I will continue to try periods of time without to see if I still get suicidal, but for now, HRT is very much contributing to my desire for sex and just getting out of bed every day!
    • jane98094
      jane98094 cmac

      Posted

      Hi I am 62 and have been on Evoril Conti patches for 12 years . Tried to come off last year and used nutrition fx menopause which helped ... I think but still had trouble being hot in the night and not sleeping and feeling a bit low so went back to patches and decided to wait till I retired .I have been on half a patch for a number of years and quite happy and no problems just advised by my doctor that due to length of time should try to wean myself off.Started to leave the half patch on for slightly longer but have started to feel tired and low mood .

      I think the problem is nobody really knows and I don't know either if the benefits outweigh the risks?

      i have a friend who has had breast cancer and had one breast removed but shie never took HRT.!It is a difficult choice and quality of life is important.

      It works for me but perhaps so would not taking it in time?Nice to know I'm not the only one with this problem!.

      The evidence is so inconclusive !What to believe? Some people swear by it and my friends mum took it into her 80s!

    • cmac
      cmac jane98094

      Posted

      I know! And honestly, what I read here is not making me feel any more determined to stop. Not a lot of "came through the other side and finally am feeling fine without HRT." Just resignation and acknowledgment that we must go on with some symptoms, helped a bit by natural remedies.  I think we do need to push medical field to test and assist women more through menopause. We are living far longer than our ancestors and of course want to still feel productive and joyful. Look at the money and research behind viagra and cialis - it was so that men, faced with aging symptoms, could still enjoy a healthy sex life. Right now I feel that the medical field is only telling us, "Oh, you must stop HRT but we have no idea what else to tell you to do for those pesky menopause/post-menopause symptoms; check back in a few!"
    • jane98094
      jane98094 cmac

      Posted

      This is a quote from " Hooray for HRT " All life is a gamble and if you like to have a flutter then the odds of dying of a heart attack are2:1, osteoporosis is 10:1 and breast cancer a very long shot at 40:1.If you regularly use HRT you  would be wasting your money on the bet because the chances are the bookie will die before you "

      I think as long as you eat sensibly and take exercise and have check ups then taking HRT is worth the gamble for the quality of life it brings unless your high risk of any of the above or it doesn't agree with you.

    • ClaudiaMc
      ClaudiaMc cmac

      Posted

      What dose of progesterone are you on?  I'm 62 and my doctor wants me to cut my patches in half to try and go off of them but I wasn't sure what to do about the progesterone pills I take.  I am very nervous about going off HRT due to depression.  I already am on an anti depressant. 
    • ClaudiaMc
      ClaudiaMc jane98094

      Posted

      Is your patch a combination of estrogen and progesterone?  Or do you take a pill for progesterone?  I am 62 and take a progesterone pill along with wearing my patch.   I am curious about reducing the progesterone dosage as I try and cut my patch in half to reduce my HRT.  I am also of the mind to continue HRT if I can't keep my quality of life without it.
    • RVF
      RVF jane98094

      Posted

      Hi Jane

      I'm 66 and have used Evoril patches for 14 years with 2 short breaks.

      I use it to support my osteoporosis as i can't stomach oral medications for that.   My specialist is happy for me to stay on it as I don't have history of cancer in the family (that I know of) - this is crucial in your decision on how and what to use.     My scan showed deterioration while i was on the break so I am trying to perervere though lately i do seem to be having night sweats again!

      All the best.

    • jane98094
      jane98094 ClaudiaMc

      Posted

      Hi Claudia

      i am on EvorelConti combined patch 3.2 estradiol 11.2 norethisterone .i have been on half a patch for 12 years and I am 62 .I originally went on it as I was having lots of UTI and read HRT could help.What I noticed that I felt like myself again and hot flushes etc went away.

      i have had 2 goes at coming off but each time I've had problems with low mood and not sleeping and loss of sexual desire but that might also be age related ?

      i am really not sure if one is better on HRT or not?Unlike smoking one really doesn't know how good or bad it is for you?I am just trimming a tiny bit of the patch because I would like to be drug free but if one has to take loads of supplements or other drugs maybe better to stick to HRT which after 12 years I think my body thinks is normal!

    • raelene_44389
      raelene_44389 cmac

      Posted

      Hi cmac. 

      How did you go when you were on the bioidentical HRT?  Also did you start your HRT after your periods finished or during perimenopause. I'm 50 and my periods have spaced out to about every 3 months at the moment.  I have had terrible dips of anxiety/depression for the past 10 years which I believe has been due to the fluctuating hormones. The dips are more frequent and staying longer at the moment.  I'm up to about day 40 of another dip and I can't handle it anymore.  I'm on an antidepressant but it does nothing during these times. I'm scared this is me forever.

      Raelene  xx

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.