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[donnacrichton]

After 5 years of trying many hrts and having my ovaries shut down my consultant thinks it might be a good idea to stop everything. No hrt no ovary shut down and no coil. I can see the sense that my body is 5 years older and maybe changed. The thought terrifies me as had a breakdown at the beginning of this and fluctuations have always been my biggest problem. Has anyone found stopping everything helpful to get a starting point?

[Annie0710]

Would you taper the dose or stop abruptly ?

I'd think it would be a better way to taper so you can feel changes slowly if there are any

[donnacrichton]

I would stop everything together pretty scary!

[donnacrichton]

I have an appointment next week with consultant and endocrinology want to make sure I have my questions ready x

[sweettooth]

Hi Donna, I feel for you as fluctuations were my problem too as I was so sensitive! My symptoms broke through hrt although it helped with mood as I know I would have been much worse without it.  Regarding your ovary removal dilemma, you must not go by what other women's experiences have been - this can vary greatly. X

[dazned]

Sometimes it does help I think to take a complete break to review just what symptoms,if any,you are left with. At least then you would have a clean starting point so to speak,in 5 years your body will have changed,in which/what way you won't know if you don't have a break . You can always re evaluate with your consultant later when you would both hopefully have a clearer picture.

[Hurdity]

I can't remember how old you are donnacrichton - and how far you were into menopause when you started treatment? Presumably the consultant feels you may be post-menopause and will no longer be having wild hormonal fluctuations?

I still think it would be quite sudden to stop everything - since you may well get almost immediate rebound flushes and sweats - but these would not be due to fluctuations but reduced oestrogen.

I wonder why s/he feels you need to stop everything rather than say transferring to a standard HRT with low dose oestrogen? I can see though stopping will tell you where you are but how long after withdrawing the drug is it normal for periods to resume if they are going to? If this is much longer than the time it takes for your body to respond to lack of oestrogen it might be hard going. As Hasty says - perhaps a review sooner rather than later in case you feel symptoms have recurred?

Hurdity x

[donnacrichton]

I am 44 and was diagnosed peri at 38 the fluctuations have broken through every hrt. I have had some good periods through shutdown but doesn't last long. I would be scared for my mental health but they won't remove the ovaries until have a permanent good spell on shut down x

[Elizabethrose]

Donna, you and I have talked before by PMs and had similar experiences re break through. I can read that you are very concerned about the effect stopping all hormonal treatment could have on your mental health. Could your docs give you some 'emergency' meds to safe guard if necessary? Sorry, I have no experience of this so can't be specific.

When I had to stop the HRT it was a sudden stop and it took some while to leave my system. The chaos with the migs never really fully corrected itself. I would imagine any effect from the cessation would happen gradually and not overnight. If you are still having break throughs, it could well be that your peri isn't over, though the hormonal upheaval after meno can go on for a few years after the last menstrual period.

As I said before, it's far better that your specialist is being cautious, too many rush in gung-ho without proper investigation. Write everything down before your meeting, it's far too easy to get side tracked. Pull out your notebook and ask all your questions and voice your concerns and worry about your mental health. If they have a plan to stop the HRT then they should also have a plan to manage your mental health should it need it.

I really wish you well x

[donnacrichton]

Thank you I feel still peri as wouldn't still have fluctuations. I'm going to write things down before going in and forgetting questions x