Menopause and hrt

Hello I know my post is nothing to do with my fibro but I can't find a menopause community for advice, has anyone who's gone thru the menopause gotten thru it without the help if hrt and if so has this had an impact on osteoporosis i.e. do u have osteo because of not taking hrt? Any advice would be much aprecaciated. ...Thank youuu

[Dizzytwo Moderator]

Hi Mel, I went through the menopause with out HTR. I am now 61 and was still having periods till I was 59. But I had medical reasons I could not be given HRT. Also my doctor at the time said he was trying to steer woman from the treatment. The reason he said was because tests proved long term use could in some woman cause cancer.

Also he said all it does is put off what some have to deal with later. But I have always understood as far as osteoporosis is concerned, the longer the woman can have a period the better for our bones. But I have no medical knowledge if this as caused my OA as most people get this as they age. OA is as I know it general ware and tare. I have this and never used HRT

So not having ever used HTR I may not be the best person to answer you xx

Momo

[Hidden in reply to Dizzytwo]

Hello thanks for replying, an yes I understand osteo can maybe be Brort on quicker thru menopause or so I'm informed, also with age as well, and I understand of the risks regarding cancer too, I think I'm ok to take hrt in that sense, an in had a hysterectomy at 39 an now I'm way into menopause and my doc suggested I needed to take the high dose due to my levels, but I honestly don't known I its helping, still have high anxiety at bedtime so still,not sleeping still get hot flushes an sweats, still have mood changes but she said I must take it due to protecting my bones from osteo at a young age so just wondered if its made a difference to anyone else or if they took hrt thru there menopause an yet still have osteo coz as u say it does come with age anyway doesn't it, maybe it's to prolong me getting it , I wishing could improve all the other symptoms, I've already asked ifmi could swap it but they seem to say its them only one they give out, I don't know if to give it up or keep going, well thanks for yr input every little helps xx

[Hidden]

My GP wanted me to have HRT, think I was 48/49 Tried it but it gave me migraines so used it for less than a year. Had last period just after my 50th birthday.

Had no problems with the menopause, and no reason to believe I have osteoporosis and I'm now 63.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

My mum had no problems you are the lucky ones i guess, yes I was getting migraines at the first 3 months of taking them not so much now tho,,, thanks for replying 😊

[Rachelle400]

Hi mel263

I had a hysterectomy at 33, I’m now 50 and have been having hot flushes, night sweats etc for a couple of years now. Been back to gp recently who gave me a lot of info on hrt and alternative treatments but it all seems so confusing. They did blood tests and found out my vitamin d level was extremely low and since taking high dosage supplements some of my pain has gone but I’m still left with menopausal symptoms. I’m not sure what to do for the best either?! X

[Hidden in reply to Rachelle400]

It's all so confusing on what to take not go take, i had bloods done again this afternoon, checking thyroid, liver, protein, bones, kidneys, got them done last yearan all a as normal so I'm guessing all be still be Normal this year, I'm ok during the day its the night time I seem to have surge of energy running thru my body an I can't sleep so then exhausted thru the day, as for the hot flushes mood swings sweats etc I cancope with just not the night energy I need that in the day time haha , thanks for replying

[Jenonnet]

Hi Mel, I had a total complete hysterectomy at 41tears of age and so needed HRT to give me the oestrogen I needed to offset osteoperosis. Originally I had ones that were a mixture of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. As these didn't agree with me much, even after trying lots of different ones, once I was older they changed me to one that contains oestrogen only. I only take half a tablet of these a day but that's enough to keep the the hot flushes and night sweats away. As I'm taking oestrogen only and such a low dose, it doesn't cause such a risk of cancer.

My partner can't take HRT because of health reasons, so she's going through the menopause without it. She gets all the symptoms and had to put up with them but she takes supplements to help her bones as she needs to offset the start of osteoperosis.

I have found that the oestrogen only HRT is the least risk one re: cancer and it still helps with the side effects of the menopause. It depends a lot on what kind of hysterectomy you had. If you still have your ovaries they will still be producing oestrogen, which is what protects you from osteoperosis. If you had a full complete hysterectomy, like both of us, you will need oestrogen to offset osteoperosis. So it makes a difference which HRT you will need.

My partner's son is a consultant and he told her that she really needed to take HRT to help prevent osteoperosis, but she couldn't take it, so had to do whatever she can with the supplements instead. Until you get older you need to take some kind of HRT to help prevent osteoperosis, as you're still young, getting it when you're older is a natural progression, so isn't so important then. Hope this helps.

[Hidden in reply to Jenonnet]

It's all a bit of a pickle this normone lark isn't it, my ovaries are still with me, my hrt is estrogeon only, I've to take of a morning then swapped it to night time in the hope I could reverse the energy surge I seem to get but neither helps and doctors can't find anything in my bloods its all so confusing, I was actually wondering if it was to do with progesterone or testosterone instead of estrogeon but the docs don't mention these or test for them which is confusing too, I've an appt next week to discuss what's next after blood result im gonna mention this to her thanks for your reply 😊 has your partner found any relief from her alternative supplements ? 😊

[Jenonnet in reply to Hidden]

Unlike you, I didn't get any energy surges, in fact quite the opposite, I was always so tired and drained. They gave me testosterone implants but I didn't like them, too invasive and uncomfortable, so I refused to have any more after the first two, they didn't do anything to help anyway.

No, my partner doesn't get any relief from the supplements, but she's taking them to help replace vitamins and minerals she will now be lacking due to not having her ovaries anymore, not to ease symptoms. She is still going through the menopause with all it's nasty effects.

Good luck with getting it sorted and finding a good outcome for you. Please let us know how you get on.

[Jenonnet in reply to Hidden]

Just found this, hope it helps about when to take your HRT......

(Please use private message facility to ask this member for this link Thank You) Edited by Admin

[Royalname]

Hello Mel, it is a difficult one, as everyone is different. I had hysterectomy aged 40, took HRT on & off for past 22 years. It did reverse osteoporosis for me which was good as I’ve had osteoarthritis since my 20’s. I took Livial (Tibolone), which is the safest as it hasn’t progesterone. I am 62 now, came off it last May, & had all the menopause symptoms since. Came off in order to have hip replacement. So, my advice, I would say, take it, there are fors and against, it’s all about quality of life. X

[Hidden in reply to Royalname]

That's a long time isn't it, I've only been on them 4 months I'm into my 5th month now, its the surge of energy I get of a night I don't know where its coming from I assumed it was the extra hormone in my hrt but it doesn't seem to help with the other symptoms so I'm sceptical about continuing it an wondering if the night owl that's appeared in me will go back to being the early bird I dont like being awake all night an exhausted the next day but I started reading up on the menopause and insomnia comes up as a menopause symptom somim wondering if this is it is then, oh the joys of womanhood, thanks for replying 😊

[MrsMouseSJ]

Hi Mel. Just started on HRT myself due to the increasing severity of my perimenopausal symptoms. If you are still at the stage of wondering about the pros and cons, then taking a look at the following may help your thinking:

NHS Choices nhs.uk/conditions/hormone-r...

NICE cks.nice.org.uk/menopause

Article by Dr Mark Porter re NICE guidelines drmarkporter.co.uk/new-nice...

[Hidden in reply to MrsMouseSJ]

Ar thank you I will defo be looking into these links, how long have you been takin yours ? Do you find any releif from your yours? Thanks for replying 😊

[MrsMouseSJ]

I've only just started - with transdermal patches. There is some evidence to suggest that these carry a lower risk in some areas. Although I think it's a case of 'more research is needed'. However the links I forwarded should give you further info re this. I had also meant to send a link to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Womens Health/Menopause page, which I see has just been re-done and which looks like it contains a lot of useful info too:

rcog.org.uk/en/patients/men...

[Hidden in reply to MrsMouseSJ]

Thank u all will be very use full 😊

[notmebutme]

Hi Mel, I too had hysterectomy about 20 years ago but ovaries were left in. Last year I started having proper hot flushes so went to doctors and they did a blood test. By the time I remembered to phone for results and got an appointment to go back in (about 6 weeks in total) the hot flushes had stopped.

Doctor said I had actually gone through the menopause and was out the other side! My ovaries were dead and not producing any hormone. I've just turned 47. She recommended I take HRT until I was 55 to guard against osteoporosis.

A few days into starting the HRT I started having palpitations, would wake in the night with my pulse booming in my head and would then spend several hours awake - even though I also take 50mg Amitryptiline to sleep. After a couple weeks of that I stopped taking them and went back to the doctors.

Palpitations stopped and my normal sleep (on Amitryptiline) resumed. I now take a calcium/Vit D supplement (prescribed) to help with the osteoporosis. Doctor said it should help although would not be as good as the HRT. She offered a different HRT to try but I declined. Felt it was a backwards move as I was already through menopause so was solely for the osteo.

Perhaps talk to your GP and see if you can try a different one. My sister tried 4 or 5 different ones before she found one to suit, so you may have a better experience on a different one (brand or delivery method).

Hope that helps, take care.

[Hidden in reply to notmebutme]

Hello , yes thats what i get my pulse races like mad in my head an then my tiinitus is extremely liud when this happens an i take propranalol but it doesnt stop it, it sounds like it is the hrt making me like this I thought as much, I've asked for a different one and they say they only give out estredial and its the chemist that give out the brand's so I'm still non of the wiser as to if its the brand or the estredial I'm so confused, I've got an appt in a few days discuss blood results an next steps I'm going 're speak about it an try again this be my third attempt of getting somethin different, thank you fornyr reply I now feel like its not just me 😊

[Evalee]

Had full hysterectomy due to Endometriosis...took Estrogen since then...one time Dr took me off estrogen....I was dripping sweat, confused and couldn't think straight and just wanted to die. Was off work for many wks...then back on estrogen....and went back to normal....Now its only Fibro I feel I'm dying from..