I just wanted to feed back my experience of coming off HRT. It took me such a long time thinking about starting HRT. I’m 56 now and went on about 20 months ago. I was one of those that was determined to not take HRT but when the symptoms of menopause really Kicked in, I got to the point I just couldn’t live with the hot sweats any longer. Night and day, lack of sleep, the palpitations, feeling dizzy and trying to work customer facing whilst physically melting in front of people, I counted 40 one day, I finally decided to give HRT a go. I started on Evorel patches and Utrogestan, the hot sweats started to lessen and I was so pleased but then I began to get my hormonal migraines back, they stopped when my periods had 12 months before and the mood swings, the aches. I had got rid of some symptoms only to get some others. I just didn’t feel myself. Over the next 18 months I persevered, I went to the Newson clinic and was diagnosed with Histamine Intolerance, this helped me make sense of lots of things over the years. The clinic were great, advising on dietary changes I could try to combat the histamine, changing my doses of patches, trying a Utrogestan vaginally, nothing seemed to help. We would sort one problem but cause another, so 8 weeks ago I decided to stop HRT completely. This was as difficult a decision as it was to start because I was afraid of what might happen. That’s the thing, HRT is such a big decision for most, difficult starting then equally difficult stopping and all because if you’re like me, we just want a good quality of life and menopause often steals that.
I wanted to post to say, I’m ok after stopping, currently I’m so much better. I actually feel so much more me again, I’m happier, less up and down emotionally, the aches are better, headaches have improved. HRT just wasn’t for me and the best thing I did, was recognise that. It’s the most wonderful thing for lots of ladies but for some like me, it just doesn’t suit......but I tried. The hot sweats are back but nowhere near as bad. I’m really thankful for trying HRT because for me it allowed me to do perspective of both options.
