HRT revisited

[Buckntilly]

I have recently had a short stay in hospital as my Dr thought I could have had a heart attack?? It turned out to be an angina attack, butI had had one 20mg tablet of Isosorbide which had given me such a dreadful headache, I thought I was going to die!! The hospital specialist( for the elderly!I’m 75) was brilliant!! Took me off my blood pressure tablet(amlodopine) and put me on 10mg of Isosorbide twice daily and it worked!! I also have atrial fibrulation and a 50 percent blocked artery but am taking Bisoprolol10mg and Edoxoban 60mg as well as 80mg atorvastatin. He doubled my Furosemide to 40mg daily and I feel like a new person!! I saw 3 male Doctors and all,seperately, advised me to go back on my HRT patches that I had been on for 30 years!!

[jeelpie]

hi, I'm 52 and have just had a heart attack, the first thing my doctor did was take me off my hrt, so not only am I coming to terms with my heart condition I am also dealing with menopause symptoms, wish I had your doctors x

[Buckntilly in reply to jeelpie]

Just this minute had my own Dr on the phone, and he’s NOT willing to take the chance on HRT!! So I’ve got get on with the change of tablets and hope the hot sweats diminish!! My bad!! I had no arguement even tho I quoted all the hospital Drs to no avail. Am so glad to be out of pain, I’ll go with that.

[TMeditation]

I startedHRT 20 years ago and after my hysterectomy reduced it to oestrogen patches only which, as I understand it, is very beneficial to the arteries. In my case this is definitely true. Last week someone posted a BHF download about this - try and find that, it was good reading. There are huge benefits to women after the menopause, personally I couldn’t be without it. Good luck in your journey and I know each person is different but over the years I have found some doctors to be very badly informed as to the benefits of HRT. Sue X 🙏

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to TMeditation]

There has been an interesting discussion about HRT on this thread.healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

For women who have had a heart attack or are over 60 there is some evidence that HRT may not be beneficial.

Quality of life and quantifying risk is also important.

It is unfortunately not always a straightforward decision for many women whether to take HRT.

[Cruise1]

Lucky you still being prescribed HRT. My wife is 74 and still suffers from hot flushes day and night but doctors refused to prescribe HRT beyond 65. I have heart issues and feel the cold but she can’t stand having the heating on for too long. I am in thermals whilst she is in T shirts! We sleep separately as she can’t tolerate a duvet in winter beyond 4.5 tog.

[Ghost-233]

I am 72 and have been on HRT since having a hysterectomy at age 40.At one point about 5 years ago my GP wanted me off HRT,I tried but felt awful so she referred me to a Well woman clinic at hospital. The Consultant there was very good and took time to listen to me. We weighed up all the benefits and negatives. Apparently the biggest risk is breast cancer but given that I have 3 older sisters and there is no history of breast cancer in the family she allowed me to stay on HRT. The female Cardiologist agreed with the decision saying it would help protect my bones and heart.

I intend taking HRT until the day I die!

I wish you well and hope if you decide you want to stay on HRT you are able to.

[Annemarietheknitter]

I had a hysterectomy at the age of 27 couldn’t tolerate HRT of any kind been suffering hot flushes since then. I had a HA last year at 58 and the medications are making my hot flushes worse but I know things could be a lot worse !

[VelvetSky]

Hi, I’ve been on HRT for 30 years, despite a HA, I’m 74, there are a great deal of opinions for and against. I trained as a journalist and researched HRT before taking it. I will take quality of life over quantity, I’ve several co-morbidities so something’s going to get me in the end.

I would never take just one doctor’s opinion, read, research, get other specialist’s opinion. Don’t always believe the trial results, some years ago there was a HRT trial and it later turned out that there was actually only six women on it.

What a lot of women don’t understand is that you can get HRT from a private consultation where you can discuss it at length with a Gynaecologist for about £150, do your research and find one who supports HRT. You can buy most sorts of HRT over the counter abroad and you can buy it online without an NHS prescription in this country, to be fair it’s far easier if you have already been on it for some time. It’s not terribly expensive.

It’s your body and your quality of life, listen to opinions but make you own decisions.