Rheumatoid, Peri-Menopause, HRT

[ragurl]

I am 54 and have had RA for 34 years. I am at the end stage of perimenopause, and close to transitioning to Menopause. The RA feels worse. My joints are so achy even my muscles hurt at times. Anyone suggestions from experienced ladies. Does HRT help? My current medication list is Humira 40 by weekly Leflunonide 10mg daily Prednisone 6 mg daily Celebrex 200mg daily Open to your experience. Was menopause hard for you? Hot flashes, headaches, achy joints. How did you deal with it?

[AnnieJ123]

Sorry to hear you are suffereing but for some of us RA improves after the menopause and the menopause causes only very minor symptoms.I have had RA for 40 plus years and had very bad PMT when I had my periods, which ended when I was 55. All I experienced at the menopause was a few minor hot flushes. However the PMT stopped which was wonderful. My RA became so much better after the menopause which was wonderful.I felt better in every respect. I did not want or take HRT as a reduction in hormones was better for my RA. We are all different. It would also be interesting to know if others saw a reduction in RA symptoms like me.

[AnnieJ123 in reply to AnnieJ123]

Suffering sorry, typo error.

[ragurl in reply to AnnieJ123]

I am hopeful once I hit menopause it gets better. 🙏 Thank you for your experience. It gives me hope

[Boxerlady]

I had a dreadful peri-menopause with lots of horrible symptoms but I didn't have RA at that stage. HRT was a life-saver for me and allowed to function again. I was still on it when I developed RA at 59. Once I was settled on my DMARDS, I came off the HRT and the only symptom I got was hot flushes which are manageable. I did query with my GP whether I should stay on HRT for the joint protection but when she asked my RA consultant, she said that there wouldn't be any advantage from HRT although I know from others on here that they have had the opposite advice and remained on it - hopefully some of those will respond to you.

For me, HRT was brilliant and I would recommend it to anyone struggling with peri-menopause or menopause symptoms.

[NanaFifi]

Hi ragurl, I’m 64, RA & Lupus since I was 20. Went into menopause at 50 - horrendous night and day sweats, concentration span of a gnat, exhausted and a lot more muscle pain. Started HRT and it made a massive difference to my concentration, still had some day sweats but about half of what I had before. Then I had a cancer scare and came off the HRT - back came the sweats and the poor concentration so I’m now back on it and doing so much better.

Hope this helps xx

[ragurl in reply to NanaFifi]

I relate to you. Especially, the attention span of a gnat lol. Quality of life matters to me for sure. I forgot to mention anxiety too. I have horrible anxiety. Thank you for your experience. I don’t feel so alone and you give me hope.

[NanaFifi in reply to ragurl]

Sometimes it helps to know that you’re not losing it! That there are others out there feeling and experiencing the same as you.

I’m just delighted that I can actually hold a conversation again without forgetting what I’m talking about 😂

Please don’t hesitate to reach out x

[ragurl in reply to NanaFifi]

Thank you

[Madmusiclover]

Menopause at 47yo was awful and still is if I stop HRT (for operations etc). I wouldn’t be without it for so many reasons. I take the view that there is so much I can’t stop hurting with OA and RA at least hot flushes, brain fog from low orstrogen is something I can eliminate. A GP once told me it helps with joint pain etc but unable to distinguish if that is true myself.

[Boxerlady in reply to Madmusiclover]

Can I ask which HRT you are on now please? The majority of my awful peri-menopause symptoms haven't returned since stopping HRT but have hot flushes and brain fog; not sure if those are actually due to menopause, though, or RA/medications. Bit of a minefield isn't it?

[Madmusiclover in reply to Boxerlady]

I’m on Premarin. Took me a long time to find one that works and had hysterectomy so I could stay on it. I’ve four friends all of whom swore they’d never go on it. All have and now say ‘I see what you mean’. Transformed. Nothing to lose. You can stop it any time.

[Boxerlady in reply to Madmusiclover]

I did ask a GP about it last year and she wasn't confident about prescribing so consulted a hospital consultant; I had a message from my surgery saying that they had had a response with a recommendation and to get in touch if I wanted to discuss it further. Maybe I'll do that, try it and see if things really improve; harder to make the decision at 63 than it was at 49, especially as I have a womb so would need combined HRT.

[ragurl in reply to Madmusiclover]

Yes, quality of life is important. I am seriously considering HRT. Thank you for your experience..

[Mybirthday1975 in reply to Madmusiclover]

Hi I have just been reading your post, I have RA had it a couple of years I’m currently taking methotrexate and and sulphurzine.I’m 48 I’m having night sweats and day sweats not sleeping properly a lot of the usual peri symptoms,but I have always had my period on time every 28 days from been 11 years old,but I started getting a couple a month then missing one and now I haven’t had a period for over 60 days !!!im definitely not pregnant.Any advice on what going on ??

Thanks

[Belle76]

HRT is great it has many benefits to you if you go transdermal type there less risks and is made from yams and is more like the hormones our body produces.

I can recommend the website menopausal not mad

[Evie3]

Hi. I was lucky, my then Dr let me have HRT to help my bone density as I had been on and off steroids in the early years. So had no hot flushes luckily.

[Sammie48]

I didnt have hot flushes in the day but had night hot flushes starting at 41. I also have hypothyroidism so was unsure it was peri. I was bleeding constantly so went on the pop and hrt. I stopped the pop recently after 4 yrs. Unfortunately i have cerebral small vessel disease in my brain so still suffer with memory loss, balance issues and eyesight problems but i think the hrt has helped

[smilelines]

My only tip for hot flashes is to take an ice pack to bed with you. Even just touching it with your hand will feel cooling. Sometimes I lay it on my chest. For me both menopause and and inflammatory arthritis brought on hot flashes. I never took any hormones as my doctor didn't agree with this. Just last asked him if a low dose of estrogen might help with bone density but he said it wasn't worth the risk and that was that. It was a hard no from him.