HRT

Great news valeriej43 - it really gives hope to women in their 60's and beyond. Also Esspee - how wonderful to only have to take oestrogen - but probably not so good to have had to have that major op so young. We don't have to suffer nor be forced to take anti-depressants.

UpdateAfter my scan which was all clear, it was suggested i go on to Oestrogen , cream or pessaries
Saw my Dr this morning and hes given me vagifem and Livial again, on repeat,
I will have a blood test in 3 months initially,
I am hopi9ng they will help with sleep,i only manage 3-4 hours at night now, last night was awake until 4am, then dropped off,but woke again at 6-45,

I posted on this thread before going off on holiday so apologies to those who asked questions which I am only now getting round to responding to.
I had a hysterectomy and oopherectomy at 40 so only need to take oestrogen. I am now 68 and cannot imagine life without my implants. The menopause clinic I attend is in a major teaching hospital and I am fortunate that it is headed by one of the main contributors to the NICE guidelines.

Not sure where you read that. Actually transdermal HRT ie patches or gel, is generally preferred once you are over 60 especially if you start HRT for the first time at this age or restarting after a long break. However there will I am sure be exceptions. The main point is that it is for post-menopause rather than any specific age and not for women who have had natural periods within the last 12 months as this can lead to breakthrough bleeding or thickening of the womb lining. Also for women going through menopause when younger eg in their 40's the oestrogen dose is not very high so this may be why you've read about that? Younger women need more oestrogen if they are younger than average natural menopause age.

I am seeing my Dr on thursday, and going to ask about Livial,i have been advised anyway to have some Oestrogen from the Gyna i saw last week,
I read last night that Livial [Tibolone] is the best for over 60s
In fact it said only for over 60s, but i was in my 40s-50s when i took it

I am seeing my Dr on thursday, and going to ask about Livial,i have been advised anyway to have some Oestrogen from the Gyna i saw last week,
I read last night that Livial [Tibolone] is the best for over 60s
In fact it said only for over 60s, but i was in my 40s-50s when i took it

I think the key is finding something that suits you personally and you seem to have done that.
However, after years of not having a bleed I couldn't go back to that now. Have just made an appointment to see the lady GP who is very popular with female patients and will be going to see her in three weeks. In the meantime I am doing 3 exercise classes per week, suffering lots of muscle aches, but trying to stay positive. The work outs do help with that.

Grankind - Estrogen patches and progesterone capsules which I use as pessaries. I'm not too keen on the progesterone part but I take it on a long cycle and have a withdrawal bleed every 6-8 weeks. Other than that - no problems at all and certainly when on the oestrogen part I feel totally normal. Have been taking this for over 10 years now mid 60's. Lots of discussion on Menopause Matters forum but not so many older women posting on there who are taking HRT.

Sarahellenwhitney not quite unique I ve never had a single symptom since the age of 46 have never been offered HRT and I didn't want to take it anyway but I m sure it's a lifeline for many who do have severe symptoms

What exactly are you on Volvariella?
I'd love to know. And did/do you get any side effects at all?

I'm not sure what you mean about alternative forms of HRT? However the "natural" hormones ie oestrogen (estradiol) and progesterone are available on NHS. There is no need for anyone to take the horse oestrogens these days if they don't want to (although many women have been taking them quite happily for years). Bio-identical therapy - if you mean the private very expensive non-efficaceous unregulated treatment whereby compounded hormones are prescribed on the basis of saliva tests - is not recommended by any of the menopause organisations nor the medical profession. The hormones I use for my HRT are bio-identical ie identical in structure to those my body makes and I get them from NHS. Research shows that this type of HRT is associated with fewer risks (eg stroke, breast cancer) than the synthetic or horse oestrogen types, as you age. There is plenty of info out there on this.

Sorry - just re- read that last bit about research - and I meant to say that very little has been done on bio- identical hormones and their side effects.
I did look at Carol Vorderman's story which makes interesting reading, so might just ask my GP.......
The thing is, will I be offered bio- identical therapy on the NHS? I won't hold my breath!

Yes Jan T - it really is low dose and for me it completely restored my quality of life. Up until now I haven't thought of myself as old, and I don't want to live forever, but when I started out on this aged 52, the GP didn't say anything about having to come off it and how the menopause symptoms would return with a vengeance. There doesn't appear to be alot of information out there about the alternative forms of HRT, but homeopathic products don't work for me, and very little research has been done on synthetic forms and their side effects as far as I can see. I am going to see my doctor soon and I will be raising some of the more useful comments posted here.

Premique is made from pregnant mares urine. The industry is horrifically cruel. Any form of HRT with the prefix Prem is made in this way. I would urge anyone on HRT to ask their doctor about synthetic forms.

Yes, I agree, it is easier for women who don't have a womb. I have a friend like that who says she is never, ever coming off HRT. How old are you Espee and how do you manage to see a top specialist? It sounds like heaven to me!

I'm on Premique Low Dose Grankind. I'm 54 and I've been on it for two years. It has been great for getting rid of hot flushes but I suffer from aches and pains and fatigue, not to mention the dreaded loss of libido. It is still a nightmare to get hold of though, I'm off to the doctors next week for my prescription but don't know if I will be able to get any.

Very encouraging to read about other women still taking HRT into their 60's and 70's as I am ( mid 60's). Grankind as far as I know Premique low dose is still available although personally I would not want to be taking this type in my 60's or 70's - especially due to stroke risk although for women who haven't ever stopped taking it (oral HRT) and are otherwise healthy it seems to be less of a problem? I totally agree that some docs seem more comfortable with anti-depressants when HRT would be more beneficial overall. There are other types of HRT - for example patches or other tablets that are gentler. You can find them all on Menopause Matters website. Unfortunately not all docs seem to recognise NICE Guidelines but always good to have them to hand - I totally agree Esspee. 56th implant - amazing - so how old are you now and do you have to take a progestin? Always easier to take HRT long term if you no longer have a womb.

For those of you who have GPs who don't keep up with current best practice regarding handling the menopause I suggest you read the "NICE guidelines on the menopause". Just google that phrase.
Once you are familiar with the recommendations you are armed with the official recommendations on clinical excellence for NHS practitioners. If your doctor has different views then he/she is out of date. I have been told that just mentioning NICE guidelines (say nice as in nice wine) in conversation has an electrifying effect on medical staff. If you still find resistance to prescribing HRT ask to be referred to the nearest menopause clinic.
Last week I had my 56th oestrogen implant (I get them twice a year) without which life would not be worth living. I see one of the top specialists in the country and she sees no reason why I shouldn't be on HRT until I die.

I was put on HRT patches when I started menopausal symptoms at 48 after having had a hysterectomy at the age of 28. All went well until I had my first mammogram at the age of 52 and breast cancer was diagnosed. So off HRT immediately then. That was 21 years ago. Now my daughters in their early 50s are suffering with hot flushes etc but have been told by the doctors that they cannot take HRT due to my breast cancer which was hormonal.

I'm on Tibolone (at 58) and have been for about 6 years. I love it. I'd tried various others all with different problems and when the wonderful doc (who's now retired) decided I had finished the menopause he moved me to Tibolone and everything settled down wonderfully. Mood swings, hot flushes, general joint ache and general craziness all a thing of the past.

I'm now having a fight with his successor, who has decided in his out-dated, doctorly wisdom, completely ignoring the latest research that all his female patients should be off HRT by age 60.
Words. Fail. But I really hope the Karma fairy kicks him up his pompous ass educates him very soon.

I highly recommend Menopause Matters website too.

Have read all replies with interest, but the ladies who are round about my age, still on HRT and who have not had a hysterectomy interest me the most. I know that the risks associated with ageing apply to the combined pill more than to the oestrogen only ones. But I am sitting here feeling stiff and aching all over, whereas before I stopped I was full of energy, slept well and didn't have the ever present threat of bladder infections and even new trouble with, up to now, dormant piles. I gather the last two are to do with thinning of the tissue in those regions. I was taking Premique Low Dose 0.3mg/1.5mg modified release tablets for years and they suited me so well. The thought of stroke does frighten me more than anything, as my mother had transient aeschemic attacks in her 80's leading to vascular dementia. However, my blood pressure etc. has always been good for my age and I always go for health checks. I have come off the HRT for short periods twice before, but went back on quite soon. The other problem was that the pill sometimes went out of production, although I could never find out why. Sometimes I think doctors would rather dole out anti depressants for women than deal with this by taking a stand on HRT. I would like to know if anyone else is still on that particular pill. And thanks for your comments - it does help to know that others feel the same.

Am I unusual that I have never experienced a hot flush or been prescribed HRT? My periods dwindled to none existence between the age of 50/54 although between age 35 years and until my periods ceased I developed, on a regular basis, breast lumps which were fortunately benign.

I have been taking Livial since my mid 50s up until now, (I am 71) apart from a break of about a year when I was advised by my doctor that I shouldn't be taking HRT at my age. I was so miserable during the year's break with flushes, night sweats and lack of sleep that I begged to go back on it. At the moment I have to go back to the doctors every 3 months to check my blood pressure and weight and I have recently found a doctor that understands my symptoms and prescribes it to me without any bother.

i've been on hrt since 1995 when i was 48. i had a total hysterectomy because of ovarian cancer [thankfully no other treatment other than the hysterectomy.
i started with menopause symptoms two days after the op and was presribed patches. however i was allergic to them [ended up with a ring of rings around my middle] so i then went on to injections every six months.
these worked for several years but then i was advised that "they" were no longer making the injections so i had to go on to pills.
i'm on elleste solo 2mg tablets once a day and i've never felt better.
i'm now 70 and have no intention of coming off the pills unless i have to. i've consulted with my gp and she sees no reason why i can't stay on them.
i looked at the pros and cons and decided that i'd take a chance on developing breast cancer rather than suffer from osteoporosis like my mother did. i check myself regularly and always go for my scan every three years. i'm going to request one when i'm 73 as the nhs has said we can now request one ourselves.
i feel so much better in myself taking the tablets and know that i feel 100% better than my mother did in her day.

I am on Kliofem. I am 76, started at 52 with HRT on the advice of a gaenacological friend before my periods actually stopped. (So the body is never depleted completely of oestrogen.)
I tried patches, - they fell off so tried then various tablet forms. I have been on Kliofem for about 20 years now and have no intention of stopping. One GP I had about 6 years ago,refused to give it to me and I consequently started having horrendous symptoms. Fortunately I moved and the new GP gave it to me on a a repeat prescription. Incidentally there is no family history of breast cancer.
My brother is a surgeon and 2 years ago ok'd his wife to go on HRT. NEW American research is saying that HRT is OK into old age. I still have tons of energy, and feel great most of the time!