RA and menopause

[ragurl]

I have RA and trying to decide if HRT is the route to go..I am on many meds for the RA and not sure if HRT is safe. I have had RA for 35 years and currently I am 55 years old. I have not had a period in 5 months. My symptoms are heart palpitations, anxiety, brain fog, and, hot flashes. Will it get easier without HRT?

[virtualreality]

Hello,

If you have concerns about the safety of HRT, this best thing probably would be to discuss this with your doctor as they can advise based on your individual medical situation and the medications you take. Personally, I've been told that there are no contraindications regarding HRT (I also have RA and am prescribed medications for it), but there may be medically significant differences between my situation and yours. One source of information I've found helpful is Dr Louise Newson, who's a GP in the UK who specialises in menopause care. She has a website and lots of videos freely available on YouTube which may potentially offer helpful information as you consider this.

Website: drlouisenewson.co.uk

YouTube channel: youtube.com/@menopause_doctor

[AgedCrone]

It,s an individual thing….but for what it,s worth I stayed on HRT all through the menopause …& carried on with my job & I don’t have anything but good to say for it

I hope you have a similar experience…don’t overthink it….just convince yourself it will help.

[Madmusiclover]

in a word yes! It is very safe especially with gel, a patch or a spray. I’ve been on HRT for nearly 20 years. I’m 65.

[Amnesiac3637]

Lifesaver - mainly for the general populace as I was homicidal without HRT! I can thoroughly recommend it and it’s probably at least Mark 10 since I was on it some twenty years ago.

Without it I had hot flushes, irritability off the scale, brain fog and a definite desire to want to kill my fellow citizens. I was only allowed it for five years as that was what was recommended at the time but actually stayed on it for nearly ten. I also had RA (have had for 34 years) and other nasties but the HRT didn’t interfere with any of the medications I was taking (ain’t science wonderful) so it was successful for my particular circumstances.

One size doesn't fit all as with all drugs so you may have to experiment with different HRT patches or pills until you find one that suits, much like with RA drugs and talk to your doctor about your concerns anyway before you make up your mind. Most friends have benefitted greatly from HRT, it doesn’t hurt to try it and you can always stop it. Best of luck and hope you get sorted out soon.

[Boxerlady]

Another vote for HRT - I took it from 48 - 60; diagnosed with RA and started DMARDS at 59. I only stopped it at 60 because my GP was keen for me to try without and thankfully most of the really horrible symptoms I had before didn't resurface. I still get occasional hot flushes and at times I wish that I was still on HRT but at 64, I feel that it's a bit late to restart it. I'd say give it a go 🍀

[JenniferW]

When I checked with rheumatology about three years ago they said the advice had changed in recent years and that they are now fine with us taking HRT. However, as other people have said, talk to them to check that they are happy with you specifically taking it.

I can whole heartedly recommend it, my anxiety was crippling and the palpitations were getting frequent. HRT fixed the palpitations and also slight depression that I hadn't realised was caused by the menopause. It helped with the anxiety and magnesium helped with that too.

It's been three years since I started HRT and I think I have now reached the last stage of the menopause process.

[Downtime]

I’ve stopped now but I started HRT patches when I was 45 as I was perimenopausal and struggling after the death of my husband. I took it for 20 years. It made such a difference. I was talking to our hospital gynaecologist ( female) and she said she encouraged women to have it now as the risks have been shown to be minimal. I thought it helped my RA at the time too.

[ruth_p]

mymenopausecentre.com This website has some great information on menopause.

[Hollybob1001]

All the above comments have given me such hope. I've struggled with RA for 4 years and am definitely perimenopausal and was dreading the next steps to try to contain another load of symptoms that my body seemed determined to inflict upon me. You ladies have made me feel far more positive. THANK YOU.

[moon10008]

This has been so helpful to me too! I have RA (3.5yrs, MTX & Benepali injections), been taking Citalopram low dose for anxiety, as was worried about starting HRT....but the perimenopause symptoms are getting much worse and may cause jail time 😉....so am going to book in at GP today....thank you ladies, really appreciated!

[grumpygirl]

Well, with the usual proviso of speaking to your doctor so that you have all the information to make an informed decision I would just give you my story. I was diagnosed with both RA and osteoporosis in 2014. I was told that RA sufferers often have osteoporosis. I was prescribed Risedronate and told this would prevent my osteoporosis from deteriorating. After about eight years concerned that no one seemed to be monitoring things I asked for a bone scan which showed things had got worse. I then had a blood test which showed the medication did not work for me. I was offered an infusion in hospital twice a year. However the side effects included possible spontaneous fractures. I had lengthy conversations with a menopause clinic who told me that HRT protected bone strength and it was a shame I hadn’t gone on it ten years before. I am now on HRT and blood tests show it is a the level that is protecting my bones. I only intend to be on it for a few years to minimise the risks of cancer but I wish I had known all this in my fifties!

[Memaw21]

Hi, I could not do without my HRT. Struggled for a couple of years without it then bit the bullet.

What a relief. It even helped my RA.

Been on it around 8 years now and have no intension of stopping. It would take something bad to happen for me to give it up

[WillowsMother]

As everyone else is saying, you'll need to chat with your doctor about your personal medical history. However, be mindful that not all GPs are completely knowledgeable or in favour of HRT. My own GP put me off starting it for over 2 years, saying I needed to get my joints sorted first... I finally got the help I needed through a private specialist nurse prescriber, and was horrified to hear that I could possibly have avoided the osteoporosis I ended up with. Plus 2 years of really awful symptoms, which are now non-existent! The other thing is, my joint pain is so much better now I'm on HRT - even though I'm now off all RA meds while I'm on other strong medication for something else. Who knows whether it's the HRT helping with joint pain, but it certainly isn't doing me any harm. So my advice is, don't be fobbed off unless and until you get a definitive no from a specialist who really knows what they're talking about. Also, you don't have to commit to HRT forever - you can give it a go for a few months initially to see how effective it is for you.

[Lester23]

My GP has told me I can't take HRT due to family history but I have made an appointment to see a private clinic to get their advice. I am not on HRT and so far my symptoms seem to be getting worse! The general census seems to be that HRT is the way forward. Good luck!

[Retirednhs]

Hello, I can empathise with you because l had surgery for a full hysterectomy including removal 0f ovaries aged 46 l was experiencing similar problems until at the 8 week check up with the surgeon l mentioned it and l was pot on HRT by him and it made all the difference to me and my family so do try them there are always others to try if they don't suit you it took me three tries but worth doing .

[Stills]

been on HRT patches for 10 years and it’s helped enormously but I’m not taking RA meds as the moment just pain relief

[Amazingworld05 in reply to Stills]

Can you manage your RA without medication? I was told you had no choice but to be on medication for RA.

[Tkat10]

tried without for a couple of years, periods stopped thought I was over it. Wrong then it started again, painful unexpected bleeds and sleeping at night due to hot flushes became impossible. So off I went to the gps and said I give in give me hrt before I kill myself or someone else on my commute to work due to sleep deprivation. Now over 10 years and it was the best thing I ever did. I was 40 when all this started and 55 now so very concerned about bone density. Explore your options, we have a great gp who spent ages checking out alternatives to the gel when I had to switch (due to my over sensitive skin) and found me a spray that works without reaction.

Also this article is a must read for women, I discussed it with my gp(and her two young female med students who I agreed to have sit on my consultation) theguardian.com/society/202...

[Deeb1764]

I started a trial of 12 weeks after a great chat with the menopause GP and she said nothing ventured nothing gained.

She went thro benefits and side effects if any etc.

I am finding not any major differences as were were trying to treat heat/itchy/etc. However she knows if I find no huge difference I will come off.