Hi
I've just been pointed in the direction of this website and wish I'd known about it years ago. The information here is amazing and it's easy to get lost reading. The knowledge members have is so helpful😮
I'm 56. Menopause age 41. I knew nothing about menopause as wasn't expecting it to happen so early. In fact I was stressed at the time and it took a while to sink in(I actually thought I could be pregnant). I went to the doctor who did blood tests and confirmed menopause and asked how I felt about it. I knew nothing about it other than the cessation of periods which had become very heavy since the birth of my daughter a few years before. So to me it was welcome....a relief from erratic heavy periods. So I said I was happy!!!
I plodded on, I suffered anxiety, stress, lack of interest in sex, depression none of which I linked to menopause!
I was also diagnosed with osteopenia, at that stage I changed doctor and the new doctor convinced me to use the contraceptive pill as HT.
I did so for a few years, wasn't really happy to be on it but got on with it until I had very heavy periods. I went for a scan and had small fibroids and a polyp. The doctor wanted me to persevere but I was getting weak from anemia and decided myself to stop the pill. It turned that the fibroids which had shrunk after menopause had regrown. Also at that time HRT was not in favour and I lumped the pill into the same category and was glad to be done with hormones! After about a year I took an osteoporosis medication which has now been withdrawn from the market.
Fast forward to now...I'm 56 and have osteoporosis. The osteoporosis medicines scare me. I saw a doctor recently to try and pick a course of action...i.e. An osteoporosis med and she said she would come at this from a different angle altogether ...hrt! I didt consider it an option at all so lon after menopause but since it's almost but not quite 10 years since I took the pill apparently it is an option.. she suggested a continuous patch as her best option for me. Maybe starting off with half a patch etc.
I don't know what to do know, it's adding to my dilemma.
I know little about hrt and reading on here realise it's not straightforward! So many types and problems which can arise which require trial and error changes. I'm also wondering if the fibroids which shrunk after I stopped the pill will grow again and cause problems. I suppose I can ask for a scan to check on them.
Can anyone offer me any opinion /help? Has anyone been in similar situation to me ...i.e. My biggest concern is bone loss, I do have other symptoms which I can live with but hrt would possibly help with them too.
Sorry for the long rant.
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