Urbanchick, you don't have to stop HRT sooner or later, in actual fact, you don't have to stop it at all. There is no time limit so there is no need to struggle on as you are trying to reduce your dose only to have symptoms returning.
Instead of changing your life to suit the menopause, why not find the right type of HRT at the right dose to rid yourself of the symptoms?
Liz, I know you want to take a break from HRT to see where you are in the menopause but for future reference, if your are really struggling with the progesterone part (the most common problem with HRT) why don't you try taking less of it? What type/dose of progesterone were you taking? For example, Utrogestan used vaginally has fewer side effects and you can get away with taking less of it.
If you are one of the women who does not tolerate progesterone well, then the best way to deal with it is to take less of it and have regular scans. That has to be a better option than giving up altogether.
