Hi again babyjane
In you position - ie having had a hysterectomy - I would not hesitate to take HRT ie oestrogen! Most of the risks and problems associated with HRT concern the progesterone aspects, and especially the synthetic ones and you don't need it!!
So if your sweats and flushes started somewhere in peri-menopause then you have probably been post-menopausal for say 4 years possibly? Even if you were post-menopausal when they started - you are well within the "Window of Opportunity" ie less than 10 years since menopause, and under 60.
I can understand your concern re thyroid function and treatment, but there are plenty of women who have an underactive thyroid, take thyroid medication as well as HRT. The good news is that because your sex hormones are no longer fluctuating if there is some adjustment needed then this should be fairly straightforward I imagine ( though not an expert!). From what I've read some interction may be more likely to occur with oral oestrogen. At your age and stage transdermal oestrogen would be better anyway.
If you don't mind my saying you have mentioned other issues and anxiety etc on other threads - and decreased oestrogen is well known to lead to low mood in some women, so increasing your oestrogen could have beneficial effects both on your bone health and mood generally - and perhaps better able to cope with some of life's problems?
In the paper produced in 2013 by Panay et al (British Menopause Socaity/Women's Health Concern) they had this to say about osteoporosis, taking into account the latest research at the time:
Long term effects of HRT
Osteoporosis:
HRT is effective in preserving bone density and preventing osteoporosis in both spine and hip, as well as reducing the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures.
HRT is the first-line therapeutic intervention for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in women with POI and menopausal women below 60 years, particularly those with menopausal symptoms.
Initiating HRT after the age of 60 years for the sole purpose of the prevention of osteoporotic fractures is not recommended.
The bone-protective effect of oestrogen is dose-related. Recent studies have shown a bone-preserving effect even with relatively low doses.
The bone preserving effect of HRT on bone mineral density declines after discontinuation of treatment.
Some studies have shown that the use of HRT for a few years around the menopause may provide a long-term protective effect many years after stopping HRT.
Bisphosphonates and other pharmacological agents can be used as an alternative to HRT to preserve bone density, but there can be side effects. Recent reports suggest that long-term therapy with alendronate can predispose to femoral shaft fragility fractures due to prolonged suppression of bone turnover. http://min.sagepub.com/content/19/2/59If you decide you want to give it a go and there is no medical reason why you shouldn't, then you could mention some of this to your doc, and also if you are still getting night sweats and flushes - this could be very persuasive in your request for oestrogen from your doc. You might expect a few initial side effects but these should settle and you should feel much better while knowing you were protecting your bone health as well by preventing further bone loss.
There is information on osteoporosis on this site which I expect you've seen here:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/benefit.phpand here ( and also some other pages):
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/osteoporosis.phphttp://www.menopausematters.co.uk/osteoporosistreatment.phpThe licensed dose (patch) for osteoporosis prevention is 50 mcg patch but if you decide to go for it I would start lower ( eg 25 mcg) and gradually acclimatise as your body has been without it for some time.
Hope this helps
Hurdity x
