Hi suki15
Sorry to hear about your symptoms.
However don't let coldethyl's GPs put you off HRT. The argument that you will have to go through menopausal symptoms when you eventually stop HRT is both wrong and misleading.
Wrong - because you only actually go through menopause once ie cessation of ovarian function. The hormonal fluctuations that happen during the peri-menopausal transition will only happen in this extreme way until menopause. If you go on HRT and then come off it eg 6 years down the line - then what will happen then is that oestrogen levels will decline - they won't rage up and down and you won't ovulate so progesterone will be stable at its post-meno low level (and like it is in the first half of the menstrual cycle). What will happen when you eventually come off it - is that symptoms due to oestrogen deficiency may become apparent eg vaginal atrophy, osteoporosis, possible cardio-vascular problems etc as well as permanent low mood/anxiety. You may or may not suffer hot flushes for ever after stopping - some women just get them for a few months and then they disappear.
Misleading - because what about the years that you were taking it? Say you started taking it at 50 and took it for 7 years - and then experienced some symptoms when you came off it? Well at least you've had 7 more years of the protective benefit of oestrogen on your health, and the quality of life that it enables you to have just at the time when you want to keep happy and active.
Worrying about what happens when you come off oestrogen/HRT is NEVER a reason not to start it in the first place for the reasons given above. It is a spurious reason!!!!
I have been on HRT for 9 years now and I'm almost 63 - OK I may have to come off it at some point - depending how long I can put up with having progesterone - but whatever happens I will never ever regret the 10 + years of taking it as I have been able to be flush free, fit and active - don't have to moan about feeling down, headachey (well sometimes!), anxious, sleepless, lethargic etc etc!
Fortunately when you are post-meno anyway the panic should ease as your hormones won't be raging but great to use mental and psychological strategies to deal with it as has been suggested, in the meantime - and at the appropriate time - HRT will work wonders!
Hurdity x
PS Edit - oops pressed wrong button before I'd finished the post!