There has been a lot happening on this thread over the weekend... and a lot of interesting discussion.
Taz - I'm pleased you were able to have a good discussion with your doctor about the whole issue of HRT and your situation. I tend to agree with what's been said re HRT and anxiety (ie the lack of oestrogen being a major factor) and also not letting the second window of opportunity pass you by.
However it is your body and your situation and from what you've said on here you have read and thought about it a great deal, and I imagine if your gut feeling said you wanted to go back on HRT I am sure you would argue your case strongly! Also if you have suffered from anxiety in the past then maybe in your case lack of oestrogen may only partly be the problem?
I can see how you want to feel better immediately and perhpas the ADs will help with this in the short term and you maybe be able to re-start HRT if that's what you really want?
It is such a difficult thing though for us who are getting older - because those of us who do not like being on constant progesterone (due to side effects), do have to go through some sort of cycle for as long as it takes, or as long as we are on it, and this does get harder and harder as you get older so I can understand the dilemmas.
Whatever you do Taz I wish you well in your decision and hope you feel better as soon as possible - and especially so you can enjoy those gigs you mentioned below!
Re the NICE guidelines - it is the Menopause Guidelines Development group which is producing these. Here is the link:
http://guidance.nice.org.uk/index.jsp?action=byID&o=13891The final scope of the guidelines which went out to consultation, have been published here
http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG/Wave0/639/Scoping/Scope/pdf/EnglishThere are two lay members of the group who will hopefully talk about women's experiences. I applied to become a member (there were two lay positions) but was unsuccessful.
Interesting to read the extract from the RCOG - which I haven't read yet but on another thread I posted the current guidelines about HRT which don't mention age as far as I can see ( haven't looked in depth - just the bit about stopping):
http://cks.nice.org.uk/menopauseAlso the British Menopause Society and Women's Health Concern statement last year (Nick Panay etc al) where they say the same thing re women over 60:
http://min.sagepub.com/content/19/2/59It is great to be able to talk about all of this!!
Hurdity x