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

Should I come off HRT?

Posted , 4 users are following.

jane98094
jane98094

 I have been on Evorel Conti combined patch low dose for 12 years without any problems.

The leaflet states risks of stroke,breast cancer etc increase the longer you stay on it .

Last year I tried to come off but had problems sleeping and also had two patches of hair loss.I am not sure if this was related to coming off HRT or just stress or something else ?

I am not sure whether it is better to stay on HRT or try again to come off?

I would be interested in other peoples experiences .

I am 62 and generally happy and healthy .

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • jayneejay
    jayneejay jane98094

    Posted

    Hi Jane 

    oh bless you hun, you shouldnt be feeling like this at 62, I am the wrong one to ask really as against HRT big time... you will need to ask your doc hun, and you need to wean off it...  never just stop... 

    this is the problem, it suits and then POW when its time to come off the peri and meno kicks in big time for some ladies, as the body has been given what it wants to naturally reduce .. so it still has to be reduced and then peri/meno back again while the body adjusts to the state it wants to be in, its a vicious circle.. 

    first..  i would talk to the doctor see what they suggest, weaning is the only way, or you will feel terrible... 

    I was lucky although I had 10 years of natural peri ... started at 40 ( my mum was 42 and done by 44 no HRT) infact my mother now aged 83 never took anything but iron and sanatogan wine bless her.. but me I have been 10 years, I have felt every step, and now I am reaching menopause proper, been 11 months since last period..

    long old journey, I promised my mother I would never take HRT and she didnt due to what happened to her sisters back in the day relating to HRT ... so I had no choice anyway, but still wouldnt have taken it ..... its good your happy and healthy, are you okay staying on it as some doctors say no after 60 dont they... did you wean off last time jane or just stop ... if you just stopped it may explain the symptoms,  talk to your doctor ... good luck Jay xx

     

    • jane98094
      jane98094 jayneejay

      Posted

      Thanks for advice doctor did say come off very slowly which I tried before.There isn't really any help to come off.My mum is 92 and had HRT for a very short time as her doctor said it wasn't safe then it was oestrogen only in those days though she remembered feeling wonderful on it !

      I don't think they really know if it's good or bad .... Very confusing but I think your right ... I have just delayed the symptonpms and have had 12 wonderful years while taking it so hard to give it up!Keep delaying it as feel couldn't cope with coming off while I was still working now it's so hot well always an excuse !My younger brother says no don't come off ! he says you don't see all those mad women around these days and it's thanks to HRT .Lol He is a character  so just hoping to get some more info and other women's experience as it is still a relatively new medicine .

    • jayneejay
      jayneejay jane98094

      Posted

      Jane 

      Haha made me laugh ... Mad women ... 

      Good luck Jane hope some ladies post their experiences for you its good to share experiences, take care Jay xx

  • Retired2011
    Retired2011 jane98094

    Posted

    I am 58 and have been on estrogen (estrodial for 5 years and bi-est for 2 years) for a total of almost seven years.  I have tried to taper down but had debilitating migraines , hot flashes, night sweats, digestive issues, joint aches,  tired, etc,  I finally tapered down to nothing last December for six months.  For the first two months I was fine and then All the symptons came back including one very bad sympton--horrible vaginal issues and dry mouth!!  I went back on bi-est in June and while it has eliminated most of the symptons the vaginal and dry mouth I am still working on. I plan to get my sex hormones tested, along with a thyroid panel.

    i have no intention of ever going off after the six month that I was off it---my quality of life was not good. A great book to read is Screaming to be Heard by Elizabth Vliet'. Whether you decide to continue it or taper off, I have CVascular disease in my family along with Osteoporisis and all the study's whether in the US or Europe state that it protective of both.  Good luck!!

    • jane98094
      jane98094 Retired2011

      Posted

      Thank you.i am not sure what bi-est is?Is it a combination of estrogen and progesterone ? My patch is 3.2estradiol and 11.2 norethisterone and I have been on half a patch for 10 years.I have to change my patch twice a week.

      it is hard to know what to do for the best health but I can see that stopping and starting it is probably confusing for ones body and there doesn't really seem to be clear guide lines.

      The advice from my practice nurse was that it was up to the individual but it is a tough call.My friend who had migraines was told to stop and another friends doctor also made her go cold turkey and she is fine .I will see if I get any more information and then decide what is the best way to go!

    • Retired2011
      Retired2011 jane98094

      Posted

      Jane,

      I totally agree with Sheryl.  There are many studies that show estrodial helping with bone health and cardio preventive.  The WHI study in the US where all the warnings came out of was done with Premarin and progestin, which are conjugated estrogen and not a bio identical progesterone.  Also, the average age of the womenwhen started was in their mid 60's which was not ideal since hormones should be started earlier.  So newer studies are postulating that many of the women had underlying heart disease along with other diseases, coupled with advance age.  Suzanne Sommers (who had breat cancer) Oprah Winfrey and Joan Collins all take them, so if it good enough for them then good enough for me.  This whole taper off when your x age is totally baseless since no one really knows and are guessing.  What really is interesting is that men are now taking testosterone and it is a billion dollar industry (at least in the US). Doctors are handing out T gels, creams like it is going out of style.  No Dx every talks to the "men" about hormone related cancer with T, like they pummel the women with it.  

      While you need to make up your own mind on your hormone journey, it is so important to have a good quality of life.

      Sandycheesygrin

    • Retired2011
      Retired2011 jane98094

      Posted

      Oh, sorry, I was rambling on and forgot to answer your question, LOL!!

      Bi-Est is compounded estrodial and estriol, which is a weaker estrogen to offset some of the estrodial.   A compounding pharmacy can make up any combination---I take a 50-50 2 ml which is 50% estrodial and 50% vaginally since for me the absorption is better.  I have to tweak it since my body in in deep menopause is continually changing.  At 58, I think I may need to increase the combination since I may need more.  What is good about a compounded dose you can take a cream, troche, gel, patch and it is individualized to you.  I have friends who have straight estrodial compounded or estrodial, bi est compounded with T and progesterone, but if you go that route I would start out with Estrodial or bi est first.

      hope that helped ,

      sandy

    • jane98094
      jane98094 Retired2011

      Posted

      Thanks Sandy. I agree quality of life is so important and I started HRT at 50 and think my body is happy with it  and is use to it .

      I will continue with my research but it is good to get some positive feed back on HRT.As my mother says it's not much fun getting old (she is 92 but didn't have HRT )and has broken her right arm twice !It is so painful she told me 7 times a day ! so as HRT is good for bone health maybe a good reason to stick with it?

    • sheryl37154
      sheryl37154 Retired2011

      Posted

      Retired, I am so happy to find someone else who knows about the flawed hrt studies.  It is a pity that so many doctors have not heard of it.  I get so tired of hearing about people/doctors believing in all the hrt myths.
    • Retired2011
      Retired2011 sheryl37154

      Posted

      I know, it is really a shame that most DX are clueless when it comes to hormones.  However, at least in the US it is getting better.   I also agree with you that there has been no scientific Study's (or at least I am aware of) that indicates women have to come off estrogen by age 60 to what another poster have heard from Dx.  I think as the boomer generation/gen x generation women age, I think women not only need to feel good, but want to feel good as they cannot stay home as most of our parent generation did and suffered in silence.  It is much more spoken about in the 21st century.  

       

  • sheryl37154
    sheryl37154 jane98094

    Posted

    Jane, I have been on oestrodiol implants and MX patches for 25 years and I am not ever going to stop.  For every negative study re hrt there are positive studies.  If I get breast cancer it will be because of old age and my body unable to fight it anymore same as it is said that every man gets prostate cancer if they live long enough.  Even 20 year olds can get breast cancer - got nothing to do with hrt.  In the meantime, my heart health and many other issues of health are being protected by hrt.

    Google Teresa Gorman and her wonderful experience with hrt, educate yourself properly and read books written by specialists in menopause e.g. "The Wisdom of Menopause" by Dr Christiana Northrup, "Don't Let Hormones Ruin your Life" by Dr Sandra Cabot plus her other menopause books, don't just google - there is a lot of junk and myths perpetuated on internet, as well as personal opinions (like mine!).

    There is no 'age' that we have to stop hrt, there is no proof.  If dr insists, ask for proof, not just her opinion.  Be prepared to have written back up to prove that what you wish to do is ok, e.g. excerpts from the above books.

    Good luck!

    • jane98094
      jane98094 sheryl37154

      Posted

      Thanks  Sheryl

      Good to hear from someone who has been on HRT for 25 years and I think the benefits probably do out weigh the risks and shall read some more books .I have got Teresa Gorman's book and it does re-assure me it's just all my friends seem to have come off it now!

      I agree about the breast cancer scare/risk as my friend who had to have a breast removed hadn't had HRT and I think HRT has protective effects against some cancers I believe research showed ovarian cancer risk was reduced.Many thanks for your experience and the book titles.

Back to top

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.