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[Elsiebear]

I am Coming off HRT soon as it really hasn't helped with what i wanted it for which is general anxiety causing me to feel faint.(I don't really care about hot flashes)
I have changed to a lower dose to get me though to January and then i have a whole month off work so i am going to stop it completly then....if i go crazy mad at least i won't have to be worrying abut work

Here's the thing ....I've just read that some ladies keep a pack of estrogen and just take them if they need a boost ,is this a thing ? is it ok and does it help mood etc .I feel fantastatic on estrogen ,its the god horrible progestrogen and PMT it causes that I can't/won't tolerate

Have you found it a big shock to the system coming off HRT or lowering the dose over night ...my doctor is totally useless,waste of my time Last week to get this lower dose it took 40 min of her looking on google and  5 text books ,We knew so much more than her and she still didn't know which product to put me on  ,my husband was totally at his wits end with her ,and her specialist field is gynoclogy (can't spell that !!)

!!!So that's it i'm finished with Dr's and medical intervention I am going back to natural where i feel so much better anyway

[Dancinggirl]

Elsiebear - you need the progesterone to stop the womb lining building up. If you occasionally use oestrogen this is not going to help as you will get fluctuations that could make you feel worse.  Also even if you use the occasional dose of oestrogen you would still need to use progesterone at some stage or the womb lining would build up and thicken so problematic bleeding is likely to occur.

It can be a good idea to go to a lower dose before stopping but this won't stop meno symptoms returning if they are going to. WE are all different so how you will feel when you stop HRt will vary - it usually takes 2-4 weeks fro my flushes etc to return when I stop HRt.
I stopped systemic HRT back in July - I've coped reasonably well this time.  I'm taking St John's Wort daily and also a high dose of Red Clover - I have never taken this combination before and I'm finding that my flushes are a bit less and I think the St John's wort is helping with irritability and low mood.  I am eating as well as I can and taking omega 3, calcium, Vitamin D and Magnesium for my joints and bones.  I do a lot of walking and practise Mindful Meditation so I believe it takes a range of strategies to really cope with meno symptoms without HRT.
DGx

[Dawncam]

Hi Elsiebear - I know exactly how you feel and have been at the 'throwing in the towel' stage many times myself but I just can't cope without oestrogen replacement at the moment although it's probably a good idea to lower doses from time to time and see if you can cope with less. I think it's agreed amongst many professionals that this strategy should be attempted after a few years on hrt.

It sounds like your Doc is a bit clueless and it seems unfair on both you and your supportive OH and potentially damage your relationship whilst undergoing a drastic change in meds without guidance and support from a professional.

There are specialists who will prescribe 'off licence' regimes which are more bespoke to your personal needs. Unfortunately, they're almost entirely private, I think there may be one or two who'd do so on nhs but they'd have to be in your area in order that you can be referred by your GP.

If you're still a little unsure about continuing entirely hrt free and are willing to pay, then it may be a solution to seek out a specialist who will prescribe 'off licence'. If you decide on this route, you may need to continue with the same specialist and therefor incur those fees as some GP's are twitchy about following off licence regimes prescribed by private gynaes.

It's another option for you. I hope you find your solution.

Dxx

[Hurdity]

Hi Elsiebear - sorry to hear about your dreadful experience with yet another ignorant doctor FFS 

Looking back at your posts - I see you were on Femoston but wanted to change type and we advised you on several possibilities. Did you suggest these? I presume from your reports of Googling that your doc didn't know what to advise from your suggestions? What was the outcome of your appointment? Did the doc just give up?

Really though there is no excuse for this and absolutely no need to go private nor should you have to feel you want to give up HRT due to failure of the medical profession!!!! Even worse that this doctor professes to be a gynaecologist!!!!

Firstly - can you find another doctor in the practice who knows about HRT? I presume not as everyone thinks this doc is the one? Can you ask at reception or at the dispensary (if there is one at your practice) - which docs are coming through with a variety of HRT prescriptions. Can you change doctors to a practice where you know there is a doctor sympathetic to and knowledgeable about HRT? Finally can you ask to be referred to a menopause clinic - given that this one has not come up with anything? A good GP or menopause specialist on NHS will be able to look at your individual circumstances and work with you to prescribe accordingly - we have only to read some of the wonderful stories on here - but such a great pity that it is such a lottery still 

I also can't remember where you are in menopause ie re cycles etc, before starting HRT?

I agree with Dancinggirl re the not taking oestrogen as and when - this would be a bad thing to do!

Also did you have other tests re blood sugar, thyroid etc and did you need to modify your diet to try to stabilise blood sugar in case the faint feelings were partly due to this. Sorry I can't see all your past threads (would take too long to read them!) as there are several so you may have answered these Qs already!

Hurdity x

[kenny]

Hi, I went cold turkey with HRT 8 weeks ago and up to now I feel fine. I am 59 and went through the the menopause at 47. I had tried 4 times to come off it but went back on within a week due to unbearable headaches. In the summer although on HRT I suffered dreadful hot sweats, my GP changed my HRT and within 2 weeks I was dreadful, crying anxious and 2 migraines. My GP asked me to stop the new HRT immediately due to the migraines, she asked me to see her a week later as she knew I was very anxious about the headaches..bizarrely I had a headache within that week that only lasted 2 days. I keep expecting the symptoms to return , but nothing to date. My GP is really good and has agreed if my syptoms return I can go back on it but certainly for now there is no need to. Good luck I no I was scared when she told me to stop taking them but I'm great up to now.