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

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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]

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  • jennifer62378
    jennifer62378 Guest

    Posted

    Hi everyone I am 62 and have been on HRT since my hysterectomy aged 42. I am on Oestrogel which is an oestrogen only gel as I don't need to take progesterone due to the fact I have had a hysterectomy.  The HRT really suits me but a couple of times I felt I ought to try and cut down now being one of them.  I am getting horrednous migraines and headaches, all over aches, can't sleep due to hot flushes and feel generally ill almost like I have flu so I have decided quality of life for me is more important and I am going back to my original dose.  I am I know on quite a high dose (3 dollops every day) but no way can I go on feeling the way I do right now.  I also have fibromylagia so have enough pain anyway without this.  I have seen a Gynaecologist and talked through the risks and benefits and have decided I will continue with it much as I don't like being on any medication at all normally. 
  • Beckyboop
    Beckyboop Guest

    Posted

    Hello there, I am 56 and just started taking hrt a few days ago. I have been diagnosed with Osteopena which can lead to Osteoporosis which my mother had. I just wanted to share with you that before going on hrt, I had severe hot flushes and I controlled these by taking  Menopace night, they completely stopped, this item is now stocked by boots and they have started to deliver abroad, I live in Italy, you can buy on boots.  My worst problem is not sleeping, I have tried everything and the benefits of hrt outweighed the risks for short term use. I hope this helps you.
  • Jennyfir2
    Jennyfir2 Guest

    Posted

    Hi all,

    Wanted to send a message of hope. Aged 57.

    Have been taking HRT for 7 years - mainly due to hot flushes (which I could cope with) & heavy brain fog (which I couldn`t).

    Along with brain fog felt anxious & spaced.

    Took Kliofem 2mg for some yrs & after suffering breast pain reduced this to Kliovance 1mg - which was better.

    Found Primrose oil capsules very helpful for breast pain.

    Found 5HTP useful for improving mood.

    Picked bright spring months & less stressy year ahead to try & stop. Weaned off all HRT slowly over past 3 months - feel good & NO hot flushes returned at all. Brain fog is manageable too.I can certainly live & function ok like this. I feel quite positive.

    There is life after HRT! Hope this is encouraging.

  • christine75704
    christine75704 Guest

    Posted

    I am 62 and have been on low dose Premique HRT for over 25 years due to an early menopause.  Depending on which doctor I get an appointment with, a couple of them have suggested that  I now stop taking HRT, although none have actually been sure how I should do this.  One said to just go cold turkey which I tried.  This was absolutely horrendous and I cannot remember the initial symptons or hot flushes being anything like the ones I suffered when I came off the HRT.  All of the doctors I have seen have either been male (I'm certainly not a feminist) or females under 35, who couldn't, with the best will in the world, have any idea how bad these symptoms can be.  One young female doctor even suggested that these symptons could all be in my mind!!!!!  I have now gone back onto the HRT but am going to try and come off these in a very controlled way once I am in a better frame of mind.

    HRT has been a wonderful way of dealing with the menopause and it's symptons, but I really wish more research had gone into  and more information available onhow we ladies can come off this without feeling

    totally wretched.

    • Siggy
      Siggy christine75704

      Posted

      I am 63 have been on low dose Premique for 15 years until two weeks ago when my gaenacologist said I should stop taking it before some surgery. Due to having several months of light breakthrough bleeding, I had a small operation last week with a  biopsy taken under general anaesthetic.  I feel light headed, tingly in my hands, generally  exhausted and have hot flushes. I do not remember feeling like this before so assumed it was to do with the opertion until reading the comments on 'Patient' . I do not know whether to feel relieved or worried now! Yesterday I returned all of my spare packets of HRT to Boots for disposal. Perhaps I should see a GP bout it, but I doubt that she/he will put me back onto Premique until the results of the biopsy. 

      As you say, HRT was great until I had this problem and I just wish some medic had mentioned that there could be withdrawal problems.

  • Pattiecakes
    Pattiecakes Guest

    Posted

    I am 62 tried coming off my hrt last year slowly. It was a

    Nightmare. No one seems to understand what we go through. How did women do it in the old days??? I begged my Gun to start again on real low dose so I have for past several months. At least the hot flashes are gone but still get dizzy or off sensation. Panic

    Attacks, and I have Fibromyalgia on top of it. Wish I could say I am enjoying life but I am not. One day at a time and I do a lot of reading or research on subject.

    Good luck to you.

    • jennifer62378
      jennifer62378 Pattiecakes

      Posted

      Hi Pattiecakes

      I am so with you in all you say.  I am 62 too and also have Fibromyalgia.  I have been on Oestrogel )oestrogen only) HRT since I was 42 as I had my ovaries out then due to a very large ovarian cyst.  When I try to come off it I feel so ill I feel it is just not worth it.  Living with fibro is bad enough I just can;t cope with the withdrawal from HRT as well as the pain gets even worse on top of the other withdrawal symptoms.

  • Pattiecakes
    Pattiecakes Guest

    Posted

    That's funny. I meant GYN...NOT GUN. but there are times......lol
  • loretta63638
    loretta63638 Guest

    Posted

    Hello Ladies,

    Well I have just returned from my gyn and he told me that as you age your risks are the same as a male for heart disease at the age of 70.  The womens health initiative was based on giving women HRT after women had been prescribed HRT before any heart disease set in, therefore, it was not accurate for women who were prescribed HRT for women in their 40's and 50's.  The risk is more focused on Heart Disease which is the number one killer of women.  1 out of 2 women will develop heart problems, 1 out of 11 women who take HRT will develop breast cancer, vs 1 out of 13 who do not.  

    There is no scientific evidence that HRT will prevent heart disease, however, it is suggested that it does with proper diet and exercise.  Soooooo, I am all good with taking the HRT considering the WHI study is not supported by my doctor here in the USA.  I can continue to take the HRT as long as I am getting benefit from it, living a quality of life I choose to live.  As my doctor said, you will be dead longer than you are alive so enjoy your life as long as you have it!  

    Thankfully I have a doctor who gets it.  I have reduced my HRT to every other day and am feeling fine, I was told if I were to begin not feeling well to step it back up until a find the suitable dose for me.  So far I am staying at every other day..... will adjust as needed.

    Hope this helps anyone out there worrying about risks and benefits.

    xo Loretta

     

  • carrie3107
    carrie3107 Guest

    Posted

    Thank god I googled this question before making my next appointment for the Doctors.

    I have been taking HRT (premalin) for 30 years, due to a hysterectomy

    My doctors are now advising me that I will eventually have to stop taking this medication, but he is unsure what side effects this will give me.

    Reading the comments what am I letting myself in for?

  • pauline93338
    pauline93338 Guest

    Posted

    Hi ladies. I was put on HRT in my early 40s when I became premenopausal. I thought it was wonderful and felt great. Had a hysterectomy when I was 48 and carried on taking it until I was 58. That was 18 months ago and since then have suffered hot flushes and night sweats and problems sleeping. My GP advises 5-10 years is the recommended maximum time you should be taking it, so when I reached 15 years I felt as if I was on borrowed time and I took the plunge and weaned myself off over a period of a year.

    I have found a few things that help to reduce the symptoms, but nothing works like HRT does. But that's the choice you have. I now drink decaf tea & coffee and my sleep pattern has improved. I take sage extract in the morning and black cohosh in the evening and whilst I still have some flushes etc, overall they aren't as bad and I don't have as many. Alcohol definitely makes the flushes worse, so try to keep your consumption down when you can!

    My mother suffered with these symptoms well into her 70's so I don't hold out any hope that mine will ever stop. 

    However, life is for living and I'm trying to make the best of it. I had a hot flush yesterday afternoon and my step grandson 7 years old, said "oh, you're all sweaty" to which I replied " yes, sweat heart that's my central heating system kicking in"' to which he replied "wow!" So he at least seemed impressed!

  • ayar
    ayar Guest

    Posted

    Hi-

    I am 56 years old.  I had a full hysterectomy at the end of 2010.  I took HRT for a short time, less than six months, then came off of it due to such bad reviews. Then the bone and joint pain started and the hot flashes. I suffered through and have not taken HRT for five years. I will say, at this point, the hot flashes went away, but then the wrinkles started, dry skin issues, and the bone and joint pain is ever present.  My stomach also started hurting and having issues.  I feel I look at least five years older than I am, when I looked ten years younger before the hysterectomy.  I am going to get back on the HRT, in half doses, of all three - estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, even if I have to suffer through hot flashes again.  Your bones and joints, skin, hair, and internal organs need the estrogen.  You need testosterone to have a chance at a good sex life.  And you need the progesterone mixed with the other two to help you lose your weight.  If you can stay on HRT, do it!  I will post again to let you know how the half dose is working. 

  • WoodsyChrissy
    WoodsyChrissy Guest

    Posted

    Good Morning to All the Ladies out there

    My name is Christine and I am 53,  I had overian cancer in 2002,  had both overies taken out as the cancer had spread.  I have been taking HRT since then, also whent through 6 months of Chemo Therapy.

    I want to STOP taking the HRT ( for 5 days now without) , and am worried about other side affects,  what happens if you stop taking the HRT,  I experienced fatique, hair loss, brittle nails on the HRT so I want to stop) and cannot do exercised due to back operation, I urgently need help, 

    • wiese73050
      wiese73050 WoodsyChrissy

      Posted

      So sorry Christine - wow that's tough! Glad you beat the cancer! You can stop taking HRT - I stopped cold turkey but got joint aches and other syptoms. I'm dealing with them using alternative methods (see my post below) and go to a naturopathic Dr.  I take turmeric for the joint pain and it's also good for things like cancer and arthritis. There's a lot of science behind it.  I would focus on building up your immune system (Vit D3) and eating food like your grandparents ate - and meditation to train your mind to heal your body as much as you can.  You can either stop taking the HRT cold turkey or gradually. Try rosemary essential oil -a drop or two in 4oz of your shampoo for hair loss and go to a naturopathic Dr for brittle nails, fatigue etc.  Western medicine focuses on bandaids rather than getting to the root of the problem. I'm sending you all my best healing wishes for your well-being. Let us know how you're doing.

       

    • wiese73050
      wiese73050 WoodsyChrissy

      Posted

      Also Google what you can do to get rid of inflammation in your body - it's critical to our health to get rid of any inflammation.  And then research what you can do to improve your immune system and also your connection with mind, body and spirit. Caroline Myss is wonderful - one of my favorite books she wrote is "Why People Don't Heal". 
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