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[Flowergirlphilly]

Hi everyone

Some of you kindly helped me with a question in another thread.

I was wondering if you could give me pros and cons of using hrt.

My biggest fear is the added risk of cancer. I don’t have a family history so don’t know if it is indeed a risk in my case.

I’m 52 and probably still perimenopausal although my periods are now several months apart. In fact my last one until this week was last May. So I thought I was almost out of it. But …nature has a different plan  🙄

My biggest challenges I would say are my moods. I’m a single mom (my ex husband left me when I was 9 months pregnant- and I has had no contact nor support since). I am raising an almost 13 year old son. No other family in my life. He is my world and such a blessing. I typically am upbeat and positive. But lately I just find myself in tears and on edge.

Is this menopausal? Would HRT help this? I don’t want to go on anti anxiety meds.

When I feel overwhelmed emotionally - I work out and that helps. Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance

[CLKD]

Why not anti-anxiety medication until you get yourself sorted, even it is hormonally linked? 

However: what have U been reading that worries you about cancer?  Quality of Life is important. 

Nature certainly throws in the curved ball occasionally.  Periods may wax and wane for several years: mine came for months, disappeared for months, then back again.  I knew it was The Change ...... we are told to be at least 12 months without a period until we can consider having moved from peri into menopause = literally, last monthly bleed.  Sometimes however 

Make sure that your diet is good: lots of fruits and veg.  If the body is hungry it can cause anxiety surges, I have to eat little and often.  Gentle exercise.  Lots of fresh air.  Take note of what is around you - and breathe ;-).

HRT can help but isn't always the 'cure' that we expect. 

[CLKD]

U can see several repeat threads: glitches. Apparently 

[Flowergirlphilly]

Sorry do not know how that happened. I tried removing the others but it won’t allow.

[Flowergirlphilly]

Thank you for the reply. I’m nervous about anti anxiety / anti depression meds bc my older brother took his own life when he was 21. He was on and off of them for 6 years and i know it’s anecdotal but I watched him struggle more whilst on them bc I believe he saw them as a cure all instead of using them as supplemental.

I know they are a life saver for so many and truly respect that. So perhaps need to move beyond my own bias.

[sheila99]

IMO hrt is more appropriate for anxiety caused by hrt than ads. I share your concerns, I was offered them instead of hrt but refused. The scare stories are mostly based on the old type made from horse urine. Transdermal hrt carries a very low increased risk. The risk is less than if you drink, smoke or are overweight so you can mitigate it by having a healthy lifestyle. For me hrt was life changing though perhaps I was worse than you to start with. There are also long term benefits to your heart, bones and (probably) brain. Serious design flaw in women expecting them to live in an oestrogen state for 40 years... Why not have a chat with your gp? Sounds like meno symptoms to me.

[CLKD]

U can't remove your own threads ;-)

Tnx sheila .......... if the GP isn't up to date mayB ask to see a dedicated menopause specialist FLowergirlphilly?  Not a gynae though.

Sorry about your brother.  It may be that he felt better whilst taking medication but they didn't work when he stopped.  That happened to me, because my depression is cyclical.  So low-dose ADs it is.  I have a specific as necessary tablet to stop anxiety when it hits.

Let us know how you get on. 

[Penguin]

I totally understand your fears. I suffer badly from health anxiety, all focused around fear of cancer, no other illness. It took me over a year to pluck the courage up to start hrt and I'm so glad I did. I do believe there is a part of my anxiety that is hormonally driven and which my anti depressant didn't reach (although it defimitely helps, i need both!). It'd flare up at certain times of the month amd then abate. I manage any perceived risk (and believe me I am scared of soooo many things that can contribute to cancer) by living as healthy a life as possible, eating well, exercising, all things in moderation, and by taking part in regular screenings offered to me so that any things are caught early. But I  do agree with CKLD that it does come down to quality of life and that's the thing that tipped it for me, my quality of life was so diminished with all the peri symptoms, that the potential benefit ended up outweighing the risk. Do you have a nice doctor you can talk to who can provide some reassurance or just at least help put things in perspectivf a bit re the currenr risk rather than all the outdated stuff that still circulates? x

[Penguin]

Also, if you wanted an anti depressant but were worried about taking it, you could agree a series of check in appointments with your doctor like I did, so they can keep an eye on your mental health while you get used to the meds. Acts like a bit of a safety mechanism.

[Ayesha]

I was your age when I decided to try HRT because the hot flushes were so draining and exhausting. I only wanted to be on it long enough to get me over the worse of the menopausal symptoms and I stayed on it for five years. I now only take topical HRT for Vaginal Atrophy, which will if you need it be available for you in the future.

You could try HRT for the short term and see how you get on, its usually trial and error until you find the one that suits you but I would say well worth it to relieve some of the nasty symptoms of menopause.

[CLKD]

Let us know how you get on. 

[Flowergirlphilly]

Thank you again for all the great insight. I have an appointment with my gynecologist on Thursday and will go over everything you lovely ladies suggested.

I have never smoked and don’t drink any alcohol, am average weight- menopause has added a few but I do try to do some type of work out everyday. So perhaps hrt might be the answer.

Will let you know how I make out.

[Flowergirlphilly]

Forgot to say that the new gynecologist I am seeing has a concentration in menopausal studies so hopefully she will have the best answers.

Also I apologize for my utter ignorance but I notice when others talk about HRT they talk about still go through menstruation  Does the HRT “restart” your cycles? Am a bit confused.

[Flowergirlphilly]

One last thing. I guess my gynecologist will explain but I had to get some blood tests and my results were

8.9 Fsh
104 estradiol


Do they seem like menopausal ranges

[Penguin]

I still had periods before starting hrt but they were lighter, shorter and I had other menopausal symptoms. You can have hrt when in perimenopause (before periods stop) like me, or in menopause (after periods have stopped). I still get regular bleeds on hrt once I stop the progesterone phase. I'm sure others can explain it better!