61… have the Evorel Conti patches but scared to start

I have used the patches for 2 months now,but I have experienced a brown discharge does anyone know if this happens please

Hi been on the patches for a month now ,does anyone know how long for the flushes to subside

I'm over 75 nd still use Vagifem, really improved vaginal atrophy, go for it.

I’ve been using the Evorel Conti for years and I’m 75. They are brilliant.

I've just started on those patches, fir about two weeks. How long do they take to work? I feel no different, in fact if anything, I'm more lethargic and a bit low in mood. I would be grateful for some advice

I used the patches for a while and they did help. Then I had a lot of bleeding like a heavy period which lasted for a week. The GP told me not to worry and to replace the patch less frequently. The whole thing upset me and I stopped using them. I would advise you to give them a try as you don’t have to continue if you don’t want to. Mine was a rare side effect and most people get on well with them. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

It is not unusual for women to try different types of HRT before finding the best match. Good luck with this one. Any idea how long before you can expect to feel the benefits?

Well I have started the patches, will c how it goes

Well it was over the phone ,can't c our doctors ,?but she was fine talked me through the pros and cons ,not started them yet until after my hols incase of bleeding or spotting which I believe can happen

I am the same age as you Fleur20 and likewise have always plodded on through the horrible sweats etc. Inside I feel about 40 but my joints feel 90. I have been referred to Osteo Consultant with a view to poss hip replacement but the physio says my X-ray does not look too bad. It would be a shame to get a new hip if HRT would improve things.

Sorry to hijack your thread CBT.

Alypoole and Fleur20. The current thinking on best practice is that although ideally it should be started at perimenopause up to 10 years after is considered routine. If you have past the 10 year mark you may still be prescribed HRT, more usually by a specialist so if you are refused by your GP without a good reason you can ask to be referred to a menopause clinic.

I have never had any HRT... just struggled on... the list of complaints is endless... I just feel I am falling apart....at 65 I am trying to find the courage to make a gp appointment.... what sort of reception did you get Polin when you saw the gp?

Alypoole ,wont your doctor put u back on the patches, is it your age ,I have just been given the patches I'm 69

I'm almost 70 and would love to go on HRT again. There is heart disease in the family and I believe it could prevent an attack in the future. After an ECG last week the nurse was really concerned that my pulse was so slow at 47. It could account for my recent fatigue and shakiness however the doctor was not at all concerned and felt no further readings were necessary.

I've been in them for a year and a half now, I'm 56. I had suffered with symptoms from my late 40s, the hot flushes made me go blood red, everyone knew I was having one and it was embarrassing. The night sweats were really horrible and I lost a lot of sleep, plus joint pain was hateful.
My male doctor told me to ride the menopause out...so I made an appointment with the practice nurse. She explained it all to me, printed out everything I needed to know about Evorel conti patches so I decided to try them even though I have varicose veins too.
The sweats have stopped and no more flushes. The patches are better than the tablets are for you liver too. My friend had to stop her tablets and go on the patches because her liver count went up so high, though not necessarily because of her tablets, they were just being cautious.
My yearly check is due in a couple of weeks, it helps settle your mind that they are keeping an eye on you too. Good luck.

I've looked at the NICE guidelines for prescribing HRT and this says that transdermal HRT i.e patches, gels or spray does not increase your risk of clots beyond that of the baseline population risk. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/chapter/Recommendations#long-term-benefits-and-risks-of-hormone-replacement-therapy. The section the risks are explained is in 1.5

I am confused. On one hand I sometimes read HRT/oestrogen can cause clots and on the other hand I read it is good for your heart. My mother’s early heart attack was a coronary thrombosis which I believe is a caused by a clot. Any advice would be appreciated.

I've just moved from the tablets to patches and micronised progesterone plus vaginal oestrogen. I'm feeling so much better and am looking forward to being on it for many years to come. The vaginal oestrogen has already reduced my leakage when coughing/sneezing and the soreness/itching and I'm hoping will reduce my likelihood of developing UTI's in the future.

Been on them for ages , they have revolutionised my life, and no side effects either

Silvergirl oestrogen protects the heart. What a pity you were not aware of this.
JASS by taking oestrogen you not only protect yourself from the annoying early effects of menopause such as hot flushes but much more importantly it protects you from the extremely debilitating long term effects of oestrogen deprivation. Osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, prolapse, incontinence, vaginal atrophy, Alzheimers, loss of libido.....and many more conditions which can ruin the latter third of your life. Count yourself lucky you have been prescribed oestrogen. It can change your life.

Thank you. I think I will do that as my joints are starting to restrict my lifestyle. I did not know there was any way to check for plaques.

You know you could get a cardiologist appointment and an ultrasound to see if you have arterial plaques @silvergirl.
I think you’ve been given the brush off.
Make an appointment with your gp and try again, especially for the protective effects of hrt on cardiovascular disease.

Interesting thread. My mum died young of a heart attack so I decided when I started meno at 50 that I would never go on hrt. Hot flushes/sweats and joint pain was bad but I coped by going part time at work etc. However, by the time I reached 60 and was still getting symptoms, I was referred to a meno clinic with a view to trying hrt. The consultant advised me not too, as she felt I had missed the ‘time slot’. She would have gladly prescribed it to me at 50 but by now I probably had ‘plaques’ which could be dislodged and cause clots. I reluctantly decided not to proceed but I often wonder if my quality of life, especially my joints, would be much better if on hrt.
Good Luck with your treatment CBT61.

Yes same here just got my first pathes last week, im 69 not sure if I should go down this route!! haven't used them yet due to reading about fibroids ,which I have had ,and still might have ?who knows waiting for doc to get intouch

I spoke to my GP today and changed to patches. She told me that with HRT delivered through the skin your risk of blood clots is the same as it would have been if you had never taken HRT. I'm very happy with that risk as there is nothing I can do to change it.