HRT and the menopause

[Onlymeandyou]

Can anyone advise please. I had a full hysterectomy 10 years ago and have been on HRT since with no issues. I assumed that because of this I would bypass the menopause? However I think I am suffering the symptoms, hot flushes, aches and pains, lethargy, weight gain. Am I going through the menopause? If so should I come off the HRT? I can’t get an answer on any of this from my unhelpful (male) doctor. How is it, a reasonably intelligent woman, can come away from an appointment being totally fobbed off I ask myself time and again!

[HayleySanna]

So by full presumable you have had your ovaries removed? (just double checking) couple of issues- need to know your age to give full advice- as HRT not only serves to help with symptoms of menopause it’s also protective for bone health and cardiovascular health depending on what age you are- so don’t be too quick to consider stopping. Secondly another reason why you shouldn’t be too quick to stop is lethargy, weight gain, aches and pains and flushes can also be due to other problems so I’d ask your GP for full set of bloods to rule out other causes for your symptoms first (eg thyroid function test).

Lastly if all bloods are ok, then I would consider actually increasing HRT dose or changing your HRT (depending on a number of factors again your age, route HRT is taken eg patch or pill etc) maybe see if you could discuss this with a female GP as I hate to generalise but in this situation female GPs do tend to have more knowledge in this area. Hope that helps.

[Onlymeandyou in reply to HayleySanna]

Thanks, HayleySanna, following your advice I did talk to a lady gp, her initial suggestion was to increase my HRT, 2 weeks in, the only difference I feel is sore and tender boobs with hard nipples, I am so uncomfortable, do you think this will pass or should I revert to my original dose? I’ve also noticed an increase in body odour, so far, not so good 🙁

[Onlymeandyou]

Thanks for this, yes ovaries removed, I’m 57 now, I have had recent bloods, to which the response is ‘all came back as normal’ grrrr whose definition of normal? I do have added complications of having no Thyroid (removed due to cancer 25 years ago) and I suffer from fibromyalgia, both conditions I believe(d) to be under relative control, these recent symptoms though feel quite different to previous downturns in my health, oh and did I mention the insomnia? I am really not in a good place at the moment !