? If going back on HRT will help me?

[JAE69]

After a Hysterectomy for fibroids & endometriosis 30 years ago (aged 40 years) I started on HRT because of menopausal symptoms kicking in after a couple of months. I felt good on it. After about 5 years I was said to have Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia (potential for abnormal breast cells) after having slight bleeding from one of my breast nipples and was taken off the HRT. A few years later, (?aged about 46 years) I was struggling without HRT and was prescribed Antidepressants. Over the years I’ve struggled to find a one without having unpleasant side effects and I have felt dreadful. Recently (at 69 years), I told my GP I’m fed up with trying so many different antidepressants and she now classes me as having Treatment Resistant Depression and has referred me to a Psychiatrist. I don’t really want to go down that route to be pumped with further medication. I would rather stay away from Psychs and thought maybe just asking to go back on HRT. I’m 69 years and have had no further breast nipple bleeding problems. With antidepressants I’ve suffered chronic constipation, very poor sleep etc …… etc. . Does trying HRT sound reasonable to anyone. Would appreciate thought/ideas on this.

Just a mention , in 2009 I started NDT because of regular erratic TFT’s while staying with my daughter in Australia and prescribed the NDT there. About 4 years ago I started Vagifem because of recurrent cystitis, urine infections, which has helped a lot.

All thoughts on my medical problems would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Hennerton]

Did you have your ovaries removed? If so, it is easy to have an oestrogen only patch. I had the op when I was 50 and have been on oestrogen only patch ever since. My GP told me to try to reduce it a few years ago but I had dreadful night sweats and refused to do it any more. GP then suggested I should see a doctor at the menopause clinic and the doctor agreed with me for “ the sake of your bones and the risk of osteoporosis”. So I am now 73 and still taking it, albeit in a low dose- just enough to stop night sweats.I definitely recommend it. I seem to remember reading a recent study that confirmed a low dose to protect bones does not increase the risk of breast cancer. You can probably Google it and find the study that was done and talk to your GP about it. PS. I have never needed antidepressants.

[JAE69 in reply to Hennerton]

Thanks Hennerton for your reply. Don’t know whether I have ovaries or not ?????Gynae surgeon wasn’t meant to remove ovaries!! However when my bladder was damaged (during hysterectomy surgery) my Urology surgeon who did the bladder repair 6 weeks later, informed me he wasn’t able to locate any ovaries!!

[Hennerton in reply to JAE69]

Is there a way of finding out from your medical records? The name of the procedure when taking out womb and ovaries is not hysterectomy but something like oopharectomy. It means you have no oestrogen supply and it needs immediate supplementation in someone young. I was under 50 at the time and had huge fibroids and was haemorrhaging to death so I did not spend much time enquiring about his quick decision to remove ovaries too. All I recall is him saying it would mean I would never get ovarian cancer and even in my desperate state I do remember thinking it wasn’t a very good reason for whipping them out but did not have the strength to argue. Certainly the mood is changing on HRT and people without ovaries are considered for oestrogen only without any hassle. I hasten too add I loathe all forms of unnecessary medication but this is one I cheerfully take, because it enhances my life so much.

[JAE69 in reply to Hennerton]

Thanks for that Hennerton. I agree with keeping medication to the minimum. I react to lots of antibiotics, pain relief and avoid anything I can. I will see how I go without jumping into HRT if I feel I can manage well without.

[Batty1 in reply to JAE69]

I had a complete hysterectomy and use HRT and I can tell you its not a miracle drug by any stretch I still have hot flashes and all the other bull crap that comes with surgical menopause but because I produce NO female hormones my risk of breast cancer are low (no family history) when using HRT but if you still have ovaries then you had a (partial hysterectomy) which that’s probably what you had since you were diagnosed with fibroids (I had cancer) and then YES HRT could still be a problem for you and breast cancer (ovaries still produce estrogen) although probably very very small amount … Antidepressants are a lazy doctors way out of dealing with female issues.

Do you have a thyroid problem? If so this could explain a lot of your issues.

[JAE69 in reply to Batty1]

In view of there being room for increasing my ERFA thyroxine as advised on the forum , I am slowly in the process of doing so, starting at a increase x3 a week. Hopefully this will be successful. Thanks Batty1

[Tranquilwaters in reply to Hennerton]

Hi! I'm 52 and had a full hysterectomy including ovaries at 46, I am now 52 and am about to go back on estrogen only HRT. I'll be trialling the new Lenzetto spray this time but I'm not sure if even the highest dose of this will be enough as it's a low dose preparation. When you say you're on a low dose of the patch, would you mind sharing which dose you're using please? Thank you.💜

[Hennerton in reply to Tranquilwaters]

I am on Evorel 25 patch and I cut it into two pieces and take half for four days and the other half for three days, so effectively take 25 per week. A spray sounds interesting. The patch leaves sticky marks on the skin. I am used to scraping them off but I t is a bit of a nuisance. I shall be interested to hear how you get on with a spray. Please let me know, thank you.

[Tranquilwaters in reply to Hennerton]

I'll certainly keep in touch and let you know! From the product info. I have, one spray per day would probably suit you well. You just apply the clever little cup applicator to your lower inner arm and press. You can dress after 2 minutes as it's completely dry and you can even bathe or swim after an hour as the HRT has been completely absorbed by then, and washing or wetting the area after this time won't affect absorption at all.

[Hennerton in reply to Tranquilwaters]

Thank you. I look forward to your feedback. Hope it goes well.

[Starfish123 in reply to Hennerton]

Re sticky patches, I was advised by the pharmacist to use baby oil on cotton wool to remove. It does work, takes a bit of rubbing but does the job. Just don’t use near the current patch it will peel away.

[Hennerton in reply to Starfish123]

Sound like a good idea. Thank you for passing it on.

[humanbean]

I would suggest that you optimise thyroid treatment and nutrients before trying hormonal solutions.

I had a hysterectomy in my 30s. I've found in recent years that my severe depression has been improved by optimising vitamins and minerals and improving thyroid hormone levels.

Regarding depression, you may find this thread of interest :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[JAE69 in reply to humanbean]

Thanks for your reply humanbean. Had Medichecks Advanced Thyroid Function Blood tests 17 May and posted my results on H Unlocked Forum. They were in range other than there could be room for an small increase in NDT if I felt I would benefit from it.

[JAE69 in reply to JAE69]

Morning humanbean, regarding vitamin & mineral supplementation, if my B12, Ferritin, Folate, & vit D results were all within range, which supplements would you recommend as you suggested previously for optimum health. I know it’s early days but I increased my ERFA thyroxine taking (120 mgs daily) x2 at night & x2 early morning and I already feel an improvement in myself. Previously I was on 90 mgs & taking them all in one go after breakfast. Hopefully this new regime continues. Now to tackle reading your suggested article on depression. Can’t thank you enough for your help. 👍

[humanbean in reply to JAE69]

if my B12, Ferritin, Folate, & vit D results were all within range, which supplements would you recommend

Being within range is not the same as optimal. If you were to measure ferritin, for example, and the reference range was 13 - 150 (a common reference range in the UK), there is a huge difference in well-being with a result of 15, 85, and 148.

There has been a fairly recent change in the NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries in regard to ferritin. Doctors have previously thought that anything in range - or even close to the range - was good enough or "close enough". So people with levels from, say, 7 or 8 upwards have been told their ferritin was fine. But usually, anything from 13 upwards has been declared to be "fine".

But now the NICE CKS says the following :

In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.

Source : cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

So we now have the absurd situation for many people that the reference range for ferritin starts at a point of iron deficiency.

If you have results for anything iron related, and a Full Blood Count, and results for Vitamin B12, folate and vitamin D you should post them and ask for feedback.

[JAE69 in reply to humanbean]

Thanks for the thread you posted humanbean regarding depression. Will definitely have a read.

[CoeliacMum1]

Please take a look at Menopause Dr (Dr Louise Newson) her Instagram/fb for latest information and her website for even more evidence based information.Hope you find some help there.

[JAE69 in reply to CoeliacMum1]

Thanks Coeliac Mum 1. I’ll follow the link up you sent me.

[Starfish123]

Re your bladder issues, I had lots of bladder issues for 10 years, UTI’s all the time, lots of problems with leaking etc. I had a mirena coil to stop bleeding and my bladder issues started to go away. I started using the evorel patch a few months later and the issues have all but vanished, coughing can be an issue but otherwise everything is fine. I believe now I was suffering menopausal symptoms.

[JAE69 in reply to Starfish123]

Thanks Starfsh123, I’m continuing to research/looking into HRT therapy following long term problems with antidepressants. I was prescribed Vagifem 10 mcg pessaries (Estradiol) about 5 years ago for my urinary symptoms and yes they helped my bladder problem tremendously. If my ovaries Do exist despite my Urologist saying he ‘couldn’t find them’ when repairing my bladder following a ‘botched up’ hysterectomy in 1992, then would something like Everol patches be prescribed to me or are they just for people who definitely have no ovaries? I signed consent for partial hysterectomy and not Ovary removal pre operatively at the time of surgery. However I’m not sure if there would be any means of me finding out if my ovaries may have been removed ‘accidentally’. I only have word of mouth from my now retired Urologist consultant. I’m slowly trying to get my head on track getting myself sorted and couldn’t possibly cope doing so without this wonderful support from the forum. Thanks again.