I have hughes and lupus and devilish menapausal symtoms. On warfarin following a stroke 16 years ago consultant suggesting HRT.

[Hdevon]

I wondered if anyone else has experienced this?

[Lesley_D]

Ok, not sure if you have had DVT Or not, but personally (and the is just my personal view ) I wouldn't and didn't touch HRT not that my docs would f given t me anyway. However it is known that eastern people rarely suffer from menopausal problems and that's because of thier soya intake and lack of dairy. So maybe it is worth you trying soya milk, my doctor said it helps .... Anyhow good luck, I am pretty much out the other side f an early menopause now.

Lesley

[tassie]

As Lesley said best to avoid HRT as it is known to increase the risk of clots.

Just be aware that soy can affect warfarin so you will need to monitor your INR if you increase the amount of soy in your diet and keep the amount you eat and drink fairly constant

[Hidden]

I had a hysterectomy in 2008 and was given the opportunity to either keep or get rid of my ovaries. If I agreed to them removing the ovaries it was suggested that I start HRT but that i would have to be on Warfarin for the rest of my life. In the end, I decided that I didn't want either and kept my ovaries and I am glad that I did.

[Elaine77c]

Topical HRT is not such a risk re clotting as it doesn't go through the liver so Ovestin, Vagifem etc not too much of an issue but oral ones can be. HRT tablets combined with undiagnosed Hughes are the suspected causes of my stroke. Have you tried herbal menopause tablets. I take Menoserene by Healthspan which is a mix of vitamins and plant estrogens etc and is quite good. Stroke consultant assures me there is no research linking these sort of tablets to increased risk of stroke.

[missymelargo]

hi....I have APS and had 3 PE's before diagnosed. My immunologist and gyn prescribed HRT because they both agreed that being on Coumadin, which prevents clots....HRT can be Safely Taken and regular closely monitor INR. I have been on for 3 yrs. Menopausal symptare under control. good lick!

[GinaD]

Yes. Your symptoms certainly resonate with me! I had ( in menopause now) a body which over-reacted to estrogen. And in hind sight, this is why usual HRT did not help me. Naprosyn,( which we are not supposed to take if on warfarin, ) is the NSAID which most efficiently counters the inflammatory effects of estrogens. and I had great success with a compounded progesterone cream, which is a hormone which naturally counters estrogens.

Don't know if any of this helps but you might float the estrogen dominance theory by your docs. And if that's what you have then No,the soy will not help. A lot of women whose hormones are out of whack do indeed profit from standard HRT and the estrogen like compounds in soy. But not me! Of definately not me!

Gina

[teadonna]

I have had 2 strokes, have been diagnosed with lupus/APS and also have sneddon's syndrome. I started going through menopause when i was in my thirtiies. My doctor would not put me on HRT because of the strokes etc, i saw a menopause team at chelsea and westminster hosp and they put my on clonidine which helps with the hot flushes, the other symptons just had to put up with them.

[Welshexile]

Hiya, I have Lupus, Hughes (2 xDVT, TIA, stroke in early '90s), Addisons and did have really bad endometriosis. yep I too joined the early menopause club at aged 34 following a total hysterectomy (ovaries included) and the combination of hideous symptoms and my gynae's strong recommendation (same reasons as APsnotFab) I have been on Evorel HRT patches ever since (9yrs now). Because they are topical and I am on warfarin the stroke issue is minimised and in my situation I agreed with medical team that benefits outweighed the risks.They certainly control the menopausal symptoms and my bone densiometry scans show that my bones are still in fairly good nick considering! But you need to decide, armed with as much info as possible, what is right for you and your body hun

[sharonap]

After having a hysterectomy ten years ago I was put on solo HRT. Consultant agreed to it as i have weekly INR so they said I would be closly monitored. Following stroke last year I was took of it, they did say had nothing to do with HRT. I have no symptoms of menopause now so not a problem.

[InSpain]

You don't say what type of Lupus you have? If you have SLE you shouldn't take any products with oestrogen in them as you run the risk of having a very serious flare. Also I was advised that HRT wasn't suitable for anyone who had had more than one DVT. Think carefully about taking anything that may not be suitable for you. I too had a dreadful menopause and sympathise, but the menopause doesn't last forever I just gritted my teeth and got on with it.

[MaryF Administrator]

I hope you get some advise and balance on all this. I take a variety of natural things, including topical natural progesterone, rather than the synthetic, but I do it all on my own advise and I am on aspirin and have apart from what I believe was one TIA a very long time ago before the aspirin and multiple dvt's in first pregnancy.. I think I get off fairly lightly Hughes wise, although I do have four other things. My monthly hormones are hell.. and I would not dare take anything else as i seem to have the most terrible problems with medication, but we are all so different. Mary F x

[Jade]

I too have been debating this issue with myself for a long time. I am disappearing into menopause right now at 51 and am uncertain what I should do.

I assumed I could never have HRT and old prefer not to but now I believe the Professor himself advocates patches.

I plan to ask him in April when I go.

Right now all I take is evening primrose which I am swapping for starflower oil and B complex to get vitamin B6. I don't really know what else natural I can take.

[kathyD64]

hi jade do you take warfarin? i believe evening primrose and starflower oil interacts with it? just thought i would mention it but i also do feel pharmacist do air on the side of caution with most medications when you are on warfarin. I asked in boots and was told not to take. I do use a natural progesterone cream and have the mirena coil insitu. kathyx