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[Kacee]

 
Hi,
I was active on this site  many years ago whilst navigating the peri menopause in all its glorious chaos.
I am now 57 and well through the change.
I chose not to use HRT as I have always experienced terrible migraines and feared any effects fromHRT.
HOWEVER.... I find myself now experiencing chronic headaches joint pain and fatigue. At my last smear my cervix was AWAL, second agonising attempt and nurse thought she chould see it peaking round a corner...definitely no fun and can't believe the pain.
Question.... has anyone resorted to HRT 7years post menopause?
Was reading up on headaches and hormones and wondered if the low/ no eostrgen could be a trigger to this?
Also lack of sleep reaching murderous levels....regardless or lifestyle, stress levels etc. I am ,on a good night getting 6 broken hours, but usually  4 also broken hours.
My Gp is fantastic, but difficult to get enough time to explore all symptoms and discuss options. And I do get embarrassed when all I seem to do is whine about headaches that are now impacting on all areas of my life.
Any and all advice greatly received.
K

[CLKD]

Welcome back!  If you need quality of Life then browse round, make notes and decide which symptom you would like to ease first.  Take a list to your Prescribing Nurse or GP and discuss. 

As oestrogen levels drop the body may dry out: nostrils, vagina, skin etc.; and muscles can become lax = aches and pains.

[Hurdity]

Hi Kacee

Welcome back -  maybe some of us will remember you. Can you remember your name from when you were here before or perhaps you want to restart incognito?!!

Re starting HRT post-menopause. I am not one of those - however the latest thinking is that if you start HRT within 10 years of menopause and aged under 60 you are within the  so-called "window of opportunity" where, all other things being equal, you will likely benefit rather than increase risk re HRT. The main problems with starting late are thought to be related to the cardiovascular system and the effect of a prolonged period of low oestrogen on blood vessels - meaning there is increased risk of stroke if started for example at 65 or so after a menopause say, at 50.

Therefore for women starting at your age and if you experiencing symptoms - the benefits are thought to outweigh the risks and especially if you use transdermal HRT (patches) or gel + progestogen rather than oral HRT.

Take a look at the scales here - https://menopausematters.co.uk/balance.php . I expect there is a lot more information on the site from when you were here before?

Are you also getting flushes and sweats or did you and they have now disappeared - or maybe you are taking some form of medication which controls these? It might be difficult getting your GP to prescribe HRT in the absence of these classic symptoms but hopefully if you decide you want to go down this route it is definitely worth pursuing.

Headaches are so debilitating - my female gynae GP also said they could be caused by low oestrogen. A specialist gynae also mentioned low testosterone as a cause - but of course replacing oestrogen would be the first thing to try. Some synthetic progestogens actually cause headaches in some sensitive women - so many of us prefer to opt for a cyclical HRT type but this means you have to have a withdrawal bleed - which I can imagine might be a shock so long after menopause. I still have a bleed in my 60's though! Started HRT around 54.

If we can help any more please ask and I am sure there will be women along who have started HRT later post-menopause - I know there are such members


Hurdity x

[Kacee]

Thank you ladies.
Lovely to be back...though I would rather not...lol..
My alias was loobieloo or loobyloo... and not a clue what my password was 
Can't be sure if I am having flushes or not, or if symptoms all menopause or general health and age. I am on thyroxine and B12...
I certainly had a break from migraines which were cyclic and manageable. Chronic headaches however are not playing fair and I did wonder ...as they appeared a few months into menopause... if related.
I will read through the link as had already seen some testestone feed back and my libido has also gone awol .
Hopefully armed with info I shall brace the surgery and embark on a new quest. The quest for eternal lubrication .