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[catfreak]

Good evening.  Havent been on here for a while.  Ive been on HRT for about 4 years now.  Im 47.  So had/having early menopause.  I initially went on HRT to help with drastic mood swings.  I had horrendous physical side effects with my first HRT medication.  Im now on Femoston 1/10mg which are 2 sets of tablets 14 oestrogen & 14 progesteron - I was put on these because I was still having some spotting and for about the first year I was still having very slight spotting in between the oestrogen and progesteron tabs.  I went for an HRT review today and the nurse said she would advise I come off HRT altogether now as HRT isnt meant to be long term and I need to see the doctor to discuss.  I asked about my side effects coming back - in particular my evil moods and anxiety  & she said I will still get side effects of meno but as my body will now be "used" to going through the menopause they shouldnt be as bad.  I was thinking about coming off HRT in any event to give my body "a rest".  I understand I'll have to be weaned off them.  I'm just wondering if anyone else has had any similar experiences?
Thanks
xx

[CLKD]

Change your surgery!!!  she is way out of date and this is probably her personal feelings rather than what is the new guidelines!

Don't stop until you have discussed with someone in your Surgery who is knowledgable.  HRT can be prescribed for ever if necessary and if there are no contraindications. 

Why need to give your body a rest unless you need to know where you 'are' in this journey?  Are you prepared to go through what may still be awful symptoms?  Then you may have to fight your corner again.

[Mary G]

Sounds like complete and utter nonsense to me not to mention out of date information.  As others have said, seek advice elsewhere, I would not trust anything these people say.

The guidelines have changed and there is no longer a time limit on HRT and many of us, myself included, intend to take it for life.

You are way too young to be oestrogen deficient for years on end which could lead to all sorts of long term health problems like heart/bone/bladder issues.   

If you don't have any joy with the NHS or they put you on a long waiting list, why not consider seeking the advice of a private hormone/menopause specialist?

[catfreak]

Oh! Thank you so much for your replies.  I wasnt expecting them to say that.  But I think deep down I had a feeling I wanted to check it out as, I dont profess to know much about HRT (silly I know as Im on it so maybe I should) but I did think you could take it for an indefinite period - otherwise whats the point in it.  I did mention I can sometimes  feel a small moveable lump in my breast which I will see the doc about and she said even more reason to come off.  I have a telephone appointment with GP on Monday to discuss but Im stressed now in case they wont prescribe it to me.  But surely at the end of the day its only their advice/opinion and down to me if I want to continue?  I thought I had seen posts previously about specialist menopause nurses - does anyone know anything about them? Im getting all het up now about it! Sorry xx 

[wombat62]

Hi there

I had to see a specialist gynae after what turned out to be a proper period after I'd been told I was post. Anyway, he was an older doc and I was really surprised when he said he had no issue with ladies on hrt forever as long as they have all the check ups and are aware of potential risks.

When I was in hospital there was an old lady in the bed next to me, very frail and a little dotty but she was sprouting on about being on hrt and there was no way she was giving it up!

I can't see the issue with a low dose long term if if prevents bone, bladder and other issues. Yes, there is a risk of breast cancer but then they say drinking alcohol is just as much of a risk.

You should probably still have hrt for a few years to prevent health issues in the future. Some GP's are outdated and what surprises me is comments from meno age ones, unless they are the lucky ones with no symptoms!!!! Surely you'd get some empathy from them?!

Try a break, see what happens. I know when I came off it for a few weeks whilst under investigation it didn't take long for the flushes and other issues to return. Good luck!

[Dana]

I agree with the others. Let's see if that nurse wants to "get used" to menopause symptoms when it's her turn.

Honestly, as much as I hate that I keep saying it, sometimes women are a woman's worst enemy, and nurses aren't always the "angels" they think they are. Find another surgery that actually knows something about menopause and HRT.

[Lizab]

I can't imagine going off of it now, and I do worry because when I started my doctor seemed to stress that it was a short term thing. But to give a positive experience, I have a friend who had a hysterectomy and went on hrt. I don't know the details, if she kept ovaries, but she dropped the hrt cold turkey. She said it was hell for a week or two and then everything was fine. She must have been in her 30s at the time and she's still healthy 15 years later. I guess everybody is different and there's no way to know without trying.

[ancient runner]

I think that you are meant to be on HRT until 50 anyway to protect your bones. Before that it is classed as an early menopause. I think. Dancing Girl writes about this rather eloquently.

[CLKD]

I would ask during the telephone consult for referral to a menopause specialist and not discuss my needs with the GP/Nurse.

This is your Life. I work on the premise that the large lorry might be along way before any adverse health effects from HRT [I don't' require it yet by the way] - even if there is a history of breast disease in the family, recent guidelines are to discuss ins and outs with the patient so that everyone is aware of what treatments are possible.

Instead of your GP saying that you should stop HRT because of a breast lump, has she not referred you to a breast surgeon  this is something else that you should request if you haven't been referred in the last 4-6 months.

Let us know how you get on!

[zelda]

I think I will be on it for the rest of my life if I can as there is no way I am coming off it again if I can help it. I am 57 been on it for 5 years then came off for 3 months and nearly lost my mind.... now back on it.

[CLKD]

Let's see if that nurse wants to "get used" to menopause symptoms when it's her turn.


  - her turn will come 

[Dorothy]

The nurse is talking rubbish.  You should be on HRT until 50 because you are simply replacing what your body would be producing by itself if you hadn't had early meno.  So you are at no greater risk than any other women your age - the only reason for stopping HRT would be if you had another health condition that would be adversely affected by it.

I started at 35 and my GP has advised me staying on the birth control pill until 50, at which point she advises coming off to see what stage I am at and whether, after weighing up symptoms & risks, I want to go onto another form of HRT. 

I'd see what your GP says - I've twice had nurses saying that I need to come off the pill & I must see my doctor, and when I've seen the doc, she's been happy to keep writing the prescriptions.  So it may just be you have a nurse who is being ultra-cautious or unaware of latest advice.

As for the lump, it needs proper checking out, not just 'oh, you'd better stop HRT'.  If it's something that is going to be affected by HRT then it needs dealing with, and if it isn't, you don't need to stop anyway.

[CLKD]

Well Said Dorothy, far more eloquently than I could put it! 

[catfreak]

Thanks again everyone.  More I think about it and read your replies the more it makes sense for me to stay on it.  Im just concerned as Im on Femoston 1/10mg and I dont now have the "bleed" in between the 2 different tablets.  Its pointless asking my GP about that as she was the one who put me on the original HRT tabs - Elleste something I think and I had really bad side effects - I was basically turning into a man!! I had to do my own research with help of this site and tell her what they were doing to me & thats why I went on to Femoston as at that time I was still having  very very light sporadic periods.  Im definitely going to say I want to stay on and them and insist she continues to give me prescriptions and I  will see about the lump which has done a disappearing act now! Ive just gone through the worse 14 months of my life, my darling daddy passed away in May last year and my father-in-law passed away this May so I dread to think how I would have got through it without the HRT  - I probably wouldnt have if Im honest  xxx

[Dorothy]

Well Said Dorothy, far more eloquently than I could put it! 

I have a LOT of practice saying this.  And I'm probably going to be saying it  a lot more in the future, bearing in mind I have another 9 years to go before I get to 50...I practice thinking calming thoughts before walking into the surgery now, so I can deal with the 'you need to come off HRT' types without actually braining them 

Catfreak, I'm so sorry you have had to deal with this on top of two such major bereavements.  You may find as you adjust to your grief that the physical symptoms ease.  Mine went through the roof when my Dad died in 2013, and my GP told me major stress such as bereavement often triggers or 'speeds up' an early menopause.  I've certainly found things easier to deal with this year.  Don't be afraid to push for what you need - a lot of GPs are clueless.  Mine admits she doesn't know much, but she recommended MM to me and uses the site herself to keep informed too!