Hormone Replacement

[KincaidPete]

Anyone in there 70's using HRT for osteoporosis? I have been reading a lot of information concerning this.

[TabooBlue]

I am 59 and my orthopedic surgeon wants me to go on BHRT to keep my Osteopenia from turning into Osteoporosis!

[SusanitaPlus]

I would love to hear responses! I just asked my health care provider about this option yesterday and she said it probably wouldn’t work since I have been off HRT for 20 years. But I wonder … I’d much rather go on estrogen than osteo meds.

[Shika1945]

I am on estradiol patch. Osteopenia in hips is gone and osteopenia in spine has not improved but has not gotten worse. No other medications but eat calcium rich foods and exercise daily including weights 3xweek. I will be 79 soon.

[mskathyny in reply to Shika1945]

Shika1945, I wonder how long you've been on the patch? And how old were you when you began? Also, did your gynecologist prescribe it for you? I've been really interested in trying a patch - which I used for a few years during menopause. I'm 75 now and have been diagnosed with osteoporosis but am reluctant to take any of the recommended drugs. Thanks for any info you can share.

[Shika1945 in reply to mskathyny]

It is a saga! I had a hysterectomy at age 32 for medical reasons. During menopause I took a small dose of HRT and continued for many years because I felt better on it and had no history of breast cancer in the family. When the Womens Initiative came out about 8 years ago, my doctor said it would be a good idea for me to stop HRT. Two years later I had osteoporosis in my spine and osteopenia in my hips. I firmly believe that it was due to discontinuing the HRT. I found a wonderful gynecologist who thought the research on HRT was faulty which ended up being accurate. Initially, he prescribed oral estradiol but a year later he switched me to the patch. I no longer have osteopenia in my hips and my spine has not gotten worse. I plan to stay on the HRT. I am very active physically and try to eat calcium rich foods. Hope that response helps you!

[MikEmm7 in reply to Shika1945]

Which patch do you have?

[Watercolorlover in reply to MikEmm7]

I would also be interested in which patch, I am in the US, tks

[Watercolorlover in reply to Watercolorlover]

Following

[WreckemTech]

I was told that you cannot start on HRT unless it was done right at menopause. I am 67 years old, and at least 12 -15 years past menopause. I have osteoporosis. Can I now start on HRT or not?

[Lizflow1]

I’ve been on estrogen only HRT for 24 years, as soon as I was diagnosed with menopause. Diagnosed with secondary osteoporosis (due to thyroidectomy & thyroid medication dosage 26 years ago). The last 8 years being the estrogen only patch, previous years, oral estrogen. Switched over because patch doesn’t process through liver. It keeps my osteoporosis stable. Have no plans to change anything. Am 69 years old

[dw98611]

I was able to find a doctor to put me on estrodiol patch last year at the age of 64. According to her, the recommended time limit is to be under 65 or no more than 10 years after menopause. I just fell under the limit. I am going to schedule a DEXA scan next week (they are actually hard to get in my area) and see if it has helped me.

In the 2+ years since I've been diagnosed with osteoporosis, I've researched and researched drug-free remedies (supplements, diet, etc.) and after all my research I'm convinced HRT is the only one that is likely to help keep BMD stable or increase it. Then I had to search for a doctor who would prescribe it (most of them won't unless you've just had menopause). The doctor who did prescribe it to me has had special menopause training, and she just happened to join the practice I've been going to around the time I started looking for a doctor to prescribe it.

Based on my research, you should only do the estrodiol patch. Oral estrogen is dangerous (causes blood clots and likely has a greater chance of causing breast cancer). The Women's Health Initiative study was flawed, and it uses oral estrogen, and it overestimated the risk of breast cancer. If you still have your uterus, you also need to go on bioidentical progesterone (either a nightly pill or you can get an IUD). I find the progesterone pill also helps me sleep better at night (or it could be the estrogen treatment).

I listen to a podcast called The Drive with Dr. Peter Attia and he puts all his female patients on HRT with an estrogen patch at menopause. He's a primary care physician who is interested in health and longevity and his information is research based and doesn't just follow the latest fads. (Another tip from him: he puts all his patients on 350 mg/day of magnesium, which, in addition to being good for the bones, prevents some other health conditions). Listening to his podcast made me sure I needed to go on HRT.

Here's a good website for menopause information that my doctor recommended: balance-menopause.com/menop...

Diane

[DinahM]

I am 70 and have been on some form of HRT since an early menopause at 42. I had a DEXA at that time and was diagnosed with Osteopenia. A couple of years ago my score slipped to Osteoporosis with a low score of -2.5 right femoral neck. Also at that time I switched from oral HRT to the Combipatch. This change resulted in an improvement in both my triglycerides and the AST liver enzyme, both of which had been creeping up over the years. There is no breast cancer in my family, although plenty of heart disease. To satisfy my Endocrinologist I had a cardiac CT that indicated zero calcium. I plan to stay on HRT for the rest of my life.

[GDCM]

I am 68, and unable to take any of the Fosamax type of drugs used for Osteoporosis, because in my 40’s (for Osteopenia)it caused Jaw Osteocronosis. (I did take Forteo injections which helped). Unable to do any other type of meds following Forteo, my Endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic agreed that I should stay on HRT as it is helpful. I have been on HRT for many years following my total hysterectomy at age 50; I was told to stay on it. (Vivelle Dot Estrodiol patch 0.05%).

[MidwestMama58 in reply to GDCM]

Do you go to the Mayo in Rochester? I'm looking for a dr. recommendation.

[GDCM]

I go to Mayo Clinic in AZ (all of my doctors are located there). Any Mayo location (AZ, MN, FL) would get top recommendations…and in my opinion, any Mayo doctor would be among the best of the best. Call and ask if any Cardiologist (or other specialist) is accepting new patients. 14 years ago, this is what I did…I needed non-urgent GI surgery and called every week for a few months until I was told “Yes, we are accepting new patients”. After that I did the same for my PCP; once your primary physician is there you can be referred to other Mayo specialists as needed. Good luck!

[KMR2]

yes. Talk to a gynecologist who prescribes HRT.