Hello,
I am thinking of speaking to my doctor about trying HRT. I am currently taking benepali weekly injections and I'm wondering if anyone else on benepali has tried hrt successfully and which type of hrt you are using please.
Thankyou in advance 🙂
I have been on HRT and use a biologic. There aren’t any contra-indications as far as I’m aware - my rheumy knows. There are so many brands that best to get your doctor to select for you.
I've been on HRT for years and told my rheumy consultant when she asked what medication I was on at my first appointment but she didn't react. I'm only on Dmards on the moment but wouldn't think that there'd be any problems.
Finding the right HRT tricky to advise on as it's different for everyone; it's often a case of trying a few to find the best one for you - sound familiar?! 🙄🤣
I have been on Benepali for few years now and started HRT about 4 months ago. You will be very lucky if you have a GP that focuses on menopause symptoms. Most are so uneducated, unfortunately, as they have very basic training. I would recommend you look at Menopause doctor Instagram and website and get yourself well informed before you speak to your GP. I did this and broadly told my GP what I knew I needed. This worked for me. If I had the money I would definitely of gone private to the Menopause Doctor but this is not an option for me, unfortunately. Hope it works well for you!
Another good resource is Menopause Matters
I have been on hrt for 10 yrs now I am on patches lower dosage useless for 2 yrs I have night sweats every night waking every 2 hrs for 10 min ?? I have been on mxt for 2 yrs benepali for 8 months I am 65 thought menopause would of been over now but nooo apparently it can last till I am 80 I no a lady who is 85 and still on hrt happy days 🥴
I’ve been on HRT for 8 years and I’m on entanercept I was thinking about stopping it but my RA consultant talked me out of it as he is much in favour of it . Good for the bones. He was much more informative about it than my gp who refused to give it to me for 9 years even though I had had a hysterectomy I kept my ovaries but it still speeds up the menopause. Try if it doesn’t suit you can always stop.
Now that is really interesting.... I had a conversation with my GP recently about stopping my HRT (ultra low dose tablet) as I'm 60 (eek!) I asked whether there might not be some benefits staying on it now that I've got RA (bones, heart etc) and she wasn't sure so emailed my rheumy consultant. Her reply was categorical - no advantage to staying on HRT so better to come off it.... As with so many things there seems to be so many different opinions rather than facts - very frustrating.
🤷🏽♀️
It’s amazing how doctors have different views on HRT. I recently had a gynae consult by phone and told the consultant that I’d taken HRT patches for 24 years starting in my mid forties. She said that she was a great believer in it as it improved the lives of older women and had very few risks.
Yes, it's really tricky. It also seems that women are quite polarised in their views and inevitably everyone seems to be able to find medics and research which supports their own opinion. As in many medical issues, there seems to be very little definite research on women over 60 and it seems to be an arbitrary cut-off age for various things - a hangover from the old retirement age maybe? Those were the days! The cynic in me says that they weren't interested in women over 60 as they weren't part of the workforce; maybe they'll finally start doing more research now that they want us to work longer!
Thankyou everyone for your replies. I think I would like to try it, sounds like I'm going to have to do a bit of research before going to the docs to back up my case! Thankyou again, really helpful!
I’m on a biologic, Baricitinib now but Remicade for years before that with Leflunomide for good luck and I’m also on HRT. I had an early menopause in my early 40s and my GP advised me to do it the natural way! I wouldn’t recommend it as I’ve ended up with vaginal atrophy and the memory loss was awful. Post menopause I saw a different GP who agreed to give me HRT as my mum had RA and osteoporosis and I was worried about the osteoporosis. I also spoke to my Rheumatologist who said HRT is a good idea to help our bones.
I’m on Evorel Conti patches, if you Google you will see there has been a shortage of HRT patches and they are just getting back to regular stock levels now. I’ve done great with these patches but tried a couple of different ones on the way, the first one I had gave me migraine for the first time in my life and when Evorel Conti was out of stock I used a patch and tablets. So like arthritis drugs it’s very trial and error. Btw if it’s a topical non HRT solution your looking for then Balance Activ moisture gel is fab.
Yes I had the Evorel patches oestrogen only and they were brilliant for years. Came off them 6 months ago due to another health concern unfortunately and after a few months of hot flushes I’m ok now but I certainly don’t feel as good as I used to and as the other problem is more or less resolved I’m thinking I might go back on them!
Not on Benepali but I had a hysterectomy aged 35, by the time I was 40 the menopause hit me hard even though I was left with my ovaries. I’ve always used evorel patches I was swapped to pills once but within a few days I was clinically depressed so they went in the bin and I went back on patches. Got to say if I don’t use hrt my joints are much worse and touch wood so far no osteoporosis worries. I’m now 56 but there’s no way in hell I will ever stop using HRT although obviously mine are only oestrogen and not progesterone as well which if you haven’t had a hysterectomy you will need. Good luck like others have said it can be trial and error and sometimes supplies can be difficult to get but a few phone calls are worth it if you ask me. By the way roughly the same time as the menopause hit me R.A. did too I don’t know if that’s relevant 🤷♀️
Benepali and dizziness 
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Benepali miracle!
