Back on HRT

Sorry you are having to endure these horrid symptoms cornergran - it is such a pain isn't it. Sorry too that your GP is not as accommodating as my new one seems to be.

When I saw the GP this morning he was very matter of fact - I explained what the problems were and when I said that I still get hot flushes he straight away suggested HRT. He was quite surprised that I had previously been in such a tiny dose. He took my BP and asked if I had ever had breast lumps (I had a cyst drained at one point) and that was that. I was flabbergasted to be honest. I mentioned my cholesterol and he said it was not relevant and anyway he did not consider it to be very high (5.8). So he clearly does not think he is in danger of being sued!

I cannot do the because of my migraines; but I will lift a glass of juice to you and hope that you will have respite from all these horrid things.

Oh how I wish my GP would agree to prescribe for me. Since HRT was stopped 5 years ago 90% of the time I mirror your symptons, Lucky, fortunately I do get short respites. Years ago I had a diagnosis of CFS and then fibromyalgia so symptoms are invariably said to be linked to those conditions. I just don't think its that simple, though. I know I felt so much better while taking HRT and little else has changed, in fact I have much less pressure to manage now than I did back then, so logically should be feeling more energised and certainly not so constantly unwell. Hey, ho, just get on with it I guess and summon the energy to re-visit the GP. Isn't if fun being female? Thank goodness for the .

One of the reasons that I have gone for it is that the alternative is higher dose anti-depressant or two in combination. I get so many side effects from these darn things that I want to try and avoid this route. They too carry their own risks of course, so if the HRT does work it may be a marginally less risky option.

What would be great would be to just darn well feel well and not have to make these decisions! It does not seem that this is to be, so difficult choices have to be made.

I first started taking HRT after my hysterectomy at 40. I'm now 61 and still taking it! About 8 years ago, when there were a lot of scares about HRT, all my friends stopped taking it and they all seemed to age about 10 years both physically and appearance wise. I decided I didn't want to join them. I've never had a check up and my doctors just issue me with a new prescription every couple of months. I just feel that if I'm still OK after 20 years it can't be doing me much harm.

I have been on low dose oestrogen for years and am 69. Came off when had hysterectomy few years ago but suffered frequent cystitis, vaginal dryness, tiredness etc. Discussed at length with gp and after researching risks and side effects made an informed choice to stay on it. It's not a wonder pill tho and hasn't eternal youth giving properties, sadly .

Thanks for the good wishes - I feel so grim so much of the time that the benefit/risk analysis is definitely on the side of giving it a try.

Jane10 - they have been trying to get to the bottom of why I feel so bad for a long time without success - so this is worth a go I think. The GP was totally cool about it and could not see a problem at all with it.

I think that one of the big difficulties with these decisions is that GPs and others seem to be clearly in one camp or another - my previous one was not prepared to prescribe it for me; whereas this one could not see why I might have any reason to worry about it.

I was told I had to come off it about two years ago (I was 65 then) although the final choice was down to me. I was told HRT wasn't sufficient protection against osteopenia anyway. I had slight intermittent bleeds and didn't want to end up having a hysterectomy.

I still get hot flushes and I'm pretty sure my depressive mode has a lot to do with lack of oestrogen now.

Good luck Luckygirl

That sounds awful Luckygirl. I hope the HRT helps. Did the GP look at other potential underlying reasons for why you might be experiencing those symptoms?

For anyone interested, here are the NICE guidelines from November last year:
www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/ifp/chapter/Benefits-and-risks-of-HRT

Thanks Coolgran - I have looked up all the risks and my 5 year increase in risk of blood clots/stroke/cancer due to the HRT at my age is about 1% or less, so it does seem worth a try - life is a real struggle feeling as bad as I do. If it does not help then I will go off it.

My previous GP insisted that I go off it, saying it is not appropriate over the age of about 58.

I had a hysterectomy at age 40, 26 years ago. My (male) GP felt that HRT was over rated and it was not prescribed.

About 10 years later during an appointment with a female GP she asked why I wasn't on HRT. Did a check and I was completely through the menopause. Only recalled one hot flush. However on reflection my low mood and feeling poorly that was put down to my unhappy domestic situation during that time could possibly have been helped with HRT.

I do hope this works for you and that the next few weeks show a difference in your well being.