HRT angst

I was never offered HRT - probably because I never went to GP either but have often wondered if taking HRT simply delays the effects of the menopause? I understand it's benefits especially if an early menopause but has anyone not taken it and regretted it? I mean people who don't have too bad a menopause stage. In my case I barely noticed any difference hence the reason I didn't see a GP but now am wondering if HRT protects against other things like heart attacks?

I will repeat the post I wrote on the other post on this subject.
The Times on Sept 4th had a very informative article on a 20 year study of women on HRT.
The title is - Hormone therapy: why everything you thought you knew aboutHRT is wrong.
Worth a read if you can find it.

www.gwh.nhs.uk/media/163808/wiltshire_hrt_guidance_2014.pdf

While browsing after someone brought up the subject in conversation the other day I came across the above link. I found it easy to follow advice and information.

I can vouch for the advantages!

Grankind I am the same age as you and have been on HRT now for 30 years. I see one of the top professors in the field twice a year for my implant and she is happy for me to continue for the rest of my life.
Unlike you I don't have a womb so I have only oestrogen which is implanted under my skin every six months. With this method I receive a very small dose because there is no "first pass through the liver" which you get with oral medication. If implants became unavailable I would use patches or gel as they are transdermal and therefore you need only a very small dose.
The thought of life without HRT is unthinkable to me. I have no wish to go through the menopause. I feel wonderful and am in excellent health. My bone density is that of a much younger woman and when I asked about my 70 year bone scan (I had one at 50 and 60) my GP read out the specialist's report which ended by stating that I will need another scan only if I stopped the HRT.
Taking HRT is about quality of life. I feel sorry for those who have never experienced the difference it makes.

Hi Bluegal I have never been on HRT and I am 62 and now regret it. I have struggled for several years with weight gain and hair loss and feeling more and more decrepit. As I sailed through the menopause (or so I thought) I really thought I didn't need HRT. I can see now that my lack of concentration, thinning hair, weight gain, aches, pains, exhaustion, sudden feelings of fright ..... could go on forever, actually are part menopausal. So I went to see my GP today and asked for HRT and she was happy for me to start it with no pleading or justification on my part. I had expected her at say I was too old but no I came away with a prescription for two months supply of Tibolen and she said I should feel the effects within two weeks. I skipped all the way to the chemist. Not really but within two weeks I should be skipping again.

I started the menopause at 45 and over the years, tried various methods such as creams and pills, the latter making me feel very heavy. I was given patches to try and they worked well.

After some time, I started cutting the patches in half, much to the surprise of my GP at the time, but he thought it was okay to do that and subsequent GP's (I have moved around a bit) felt the same. Half was still enough to stop the flushes.

I felt fine and came to the conclusion that in my 50's and 60's I didn't need the hormones of a 25 year old so a lesser dose seem to fit me well; until I saw a new GP, a woman, who said I had to stop. She wouldn't prescribe me any more.

I am now 68 and over the past few years I have had awful hair loss and arthritis. I'm sure my bone density has deteriorated too. As older women, we still need to be fit and healthy for our families and I do as much as I can to exercise, eat well and take supplements.

It would be helpful if there was a milder version of HRT for post-menopausal women to have if they felt they needed it, to help bones, brain fuzz, thinning hair and skin - not to mention excess facial hair!

I am tempted to go back onto half patches again. Has anyone resumed HRT after stopping it for a while?

Hi Ladies,

I just started on the HRT patch one month ago. My mood has improved dramatically and I've plenty of energy. BUT, I've started bleeding this past week. Its not much, but its concerning me because I 'm wondering if this is just my body adjusting to the hormones in the patch. Can anyone throw some light on this ? Has this happened to anyone else, and if so does it settle ? Thanks in advance

hello everyone, i am 68 yrs old and have been taking HRT since a full hysterectomy when i was 41, i have tried to wean myself off HRT for a couple of years but always go back to it as i feel head achy and generally not as well> today whilst at the GP she told me it was time to seriously think of coming off HRT as it would not be doing anything in the way of benefit for me>I told her i really wanted to stay on it but after getting me all hot and bothered the inevitable happened, she wanted to take my blood pressure i told her it would be up no doubt as it does when i go to the surgery! and i was a bit ruffled! it was 152 /95, its normally 130 ish 76 ish she then frightened me with the stroke heart attack risk at which point i said i would give up the HRT, sorry this is so long but any similar experiences ladies or advice i would be grateful of ,

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Although this is an old post Grandkind I’m just wondering what you did in the end ? Did you go back on HRT ? I’m 61 with a womb and had been on Hrt for 8 years . I went cold turkey as forced into it because recently as we know some brands were unavailable. I had been trying to get off it for years because that’s what everybody says you should do ....come off it . It’s been 2 months now and I feel half the women I was . I even now have a prescription sitting there that is there for me and my Docter will prescribe . But I’m hesitant as I’ve persevered for 2 months and I feel il be back to square one worrying I’m on HRT and will it kill me even though I feel fantastic!! This is so difficult for us ladies of a certain age ? x