Hi jefner
from me too!
Good news stories - YES to HRT
(how did you guess?!). I started it when I was about your age but I was not post-meno ( at least I don't think so - was late peri) and have been on it for almost 10 years now in my 60's. I would highly recommend it! What more can I say? There are plenty of devotees on here!!
As you are post-menopausal then it should be fairly straight-forward as your hormones will no longer be fluctuating, although with Hashimoto's it might make it slightly more complicated initially. I am not sure why you had the hormone blood tests done but I imagine they will just confirm that you have very low levels of estradiol and normal (very low levels) of progesterone as your ovaries have packed up?
When you say you have Hashimotos and weight loss, I presume the latter is because your underactive thyroid has been stabilised by appropriate medication - I mean are you pleased with the weight loss or is it not explained by your thyroid treatment? Does your medication need adjustment maybe?
As you have hashimotos I would suggest transdermal HRT (patch or gel
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/treatafter.php) because oral HRT may interact with thryoid meds although the latter can be adjusted provided it is monitored by the doctor especially during the first few months - from what I've read. You would need to take separate progestogen and this can be either utrogestan ( micronised progesterone) or Provera (
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/to_progestogens.php).
You might not like this idea but I would suggest you start with a cyclical HRT which brings about a withdrawal bleed every month - this is so that you can find a progestogen that suits you and don't end up feeling worse than when you started because you are sensitive to progestogens given exogenously (from outside the body). There are patches that do the combined job - Evorel sequi or Femseven sequi containing different progestogens so you might want to start on one of these.
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/perimeno.php ( scroll down).
Some women who start HRT post-menopause find that it is better to start with a very low dose eg half a patch (25 mcg) and then build up until the body acclimatises once more.
Hope this helps and do ask any more questions!
Hurdity x