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[northseacrashes]

Hello, I was introduced to the website and forum by my boss of all people, after I mentioned I barely sleep at night now due to night sweats.

I'm nearly 53 and have always been very resistant to HRT, hoping to get through the menopause without it.  I never got on with the contraceptive pill and perhaps that's clouded by judgement. 

My periods have been almost non existent for the past 2-3 years although I had quite a heavy one over Christmas.  I feel a bit down but I believe this is due to the lack of sleep.

I have decided to try to see the doctor tomorrow to ask about HRT.  I'll try anything to be able to sleep properly at night, although I also see from some of your posts that it doesn't always help with sleep problems. 

This is a fabulous forum, I've done a bit of research so will report back on how I get on.  Thanks for listening 

[cubagirl]

 

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and welcome to MM northseacrashes
Do write out all your symptoms and questions for your GP visit - it really helps to make th appointment go more positively. So many women have no idea what the menopause can do - it really messes with so many things and sleep deprivation is one of the worst. In my experience HRT does really help with sleep and as no one can tell you how long your meno symptoms will last ( the average is between 5-7 years) it is definitely worth giving HRT a try and get your life back on track.
5 years of HRt in your 50s will protect your heart and bones for the long term, so whilst there can be side effects with HRT, the benefits can be very good.  Getting the horrible night sweats and daytime flushes under control is really great on HRT. 
Do ask for Femoston 1/10 first as this tends to suit many women very well. Here is the link on this site that has all the different HRT types for the peri meno stage - print it out to show the GP: http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/perimeno.php
The hormones in HRT are different to The Pill - they tend to be more natural - so you'll probably be fine.
Good luck and keep us posted  DG xxx

[northseacrashes]

Thank you for the warm welcome.

I didn't take details of any particular medicine to the doctor, though I did have a preference for patches.  However I was prescribed 1mg Elleste Duet tablets for 3 months.

A few things I got told made me a little unhappy - I am apparently menopausal and not peri-menipausal because according the doctor I saw, menopause happens at 52 (I'll be 53 in March).  However, I had a period over Christmas which would suggest otherwise!  My understanding was 52 is an average and she should be know that.  In light of her thinking, she seems to think I will only need to use HRT for 2 years max.  I wasn't very convinced by her but felt I had to take her word for it and wait and see if I can prove her wrong.

I know it'll be a while yet before it kicks in but if I can get a decent night's sleep without the sweats I'll be happy.

[CLKD]

GPs don't know nowt  - it depends on when one has the last bleed, literally!

Doesn't matter about age, girls can have one period then go into menopause  - some GPs feel that certain ages are set in stone!  Your GP is also behind on recent guidelines about when and for how long HRT can be prescribed.  If it is working for a lady and when that lady has been advised about the apparent risks, it can be prescribed for ever when necessary so don't give up hope!

Do look round for a GP who has an interest in womens' health!  Or for a meno-clinic near to you?

[Dancinggirl]

northseachanges - Oh dear, another GP who doesn't understand the menopause.  Peri meno is when you are still getting periods, even if they erratic with long or short gaps between bleeds.  Many women still get periods beyond 55. Post meno is when you have gone at least 12 months without a period and are over 54.  52-53 is just an average age. So you are peri meno.  Why she thinks 2 years will be enough HRT is another strange comment.  5 years of HRT in your 50s will protect your heart and bones for the long term and these days it's not unusually to keep using HRT beyond 60 if you need to. Risks of HRt are very low and benefits are very high at your age. 
Elleste duet 1mg can be OK to try (it happens to be the cheapest) - it suits lots of women very well but if you find that the progesterone stage of this HRT gives PMT type symptoms then try Femoston.  The HRT patches are medium dose, so probably too high a dose, and it's good to start on the low dose you have been given first.
You may find that within a week or two you are sleeping much better.  Good luck and keep us posted.  DG x

[Hurdity]

Hi northseacrashes

 

Good job you have done your research! yes your doctor is quite wrong. You have reached menopause if you have gone 12 months without a bleed and that's that. This is not to say that you will never have another bleed - but it is the point beyond which any further bleeding is referred for investigation to rule out endometrial cancer. You can only date menopause in retrospect and in many cases ( like me) if you start HRT before getting there - you never know exactly when it would have happened.

Yes the average age of menopause is around 51/52 and your doc should be aware both of this website and the NICE Guidelines, which state respectively that up to to the age of 60 if you are experiencing menopausal symptoms then the benefits of HRT exceed the risks, and secondly that there is no age limit for taking HRT provided that the risks ( as are known) are explained and that you accept them - and are not contra-indicated medically.

She should also know that some women continue to experience menopausal symptoms for years and there is n knowing whether you will be one of them - so why stop after two years just to see?

I hope the Elleste works for you and you feel better soon. Do expect your body to go through a period of adjustment and you will have a withdrawal bleed every month - but if these are not ideal - there are plenty more to choose from.

Good luck and let us know how you get on

Hurdity x

Edit - I see while I was writing you;ve had other replies - good job we all agree!

[northseacrashes]

Thanks for the replies, I'm glad we are all in agreement!  It's hard to tell a doctor they're wrong but if I see this one again next time, I will do so 

I think she's a locum as she was covering for my usual GP who is on maternity leave.  I deliberately asked to see a female doctor so was quite surprised at her attitude.  She wasn't young either....but clearly a bit behind on things.

I did say I'd tried to avoid HRT for a couple of years so I think she pounced on this.  But I'm allowed to change my mind, aren't I?  I will have a look for specialist menopause clinics in my area as a potential back up if I feel I'm not getting the support I need, particularly if in a couple of years' time I'm told to come off them.

I'll let you know how I'm getting on in a week or so

[CLKD]

Don't go in all guns blazing though  - approach with caution  i.e. 'I have found MM Forum and it seems that newer thinking is ..... '

[Katejo]

Thank you for the warm welcome.

I didn't take details of any particular medicine to the doctor, though I did have a preference for patches.  However I was prescribed 1mg Elleste Duet tablets for 3 months.

A few things I got told made me a little unhappy - I am apparently menopausal and not peri-menipausal because according the doctor I saw, menopause happens at 52 (I'll be 53 in March).  However, I had a period over Christmas which would suggest otherwise!  My understanding was 52 is an average and she should be know that.  In light of her thinking, she seems to think I will only need to use HRT for 2 years max.  I wasn't very convinced by her but felt I had to take her word for it and wait and see if I can prove her wrong.

I know it'll be a while yet before it kicks in but if I can get a decent night's sleep without the sweats I'll be happy.

this average age thing seems very odd. I am a year older than you (54 in march) and have been in menopause since Feb 2014. I haven't tried HRT yet and this is partly because my practice appears generally opposed to it. i have tried locally applied Estriol cream and the GP was reluctant to give me that. how old is your GP approx?

[northseacrashes]

Hi Katejo, the doctor I saw today was in her 40s I'd say - it's always hard to tell these things though!  Are younger GPs more likely to be supportive of HRT?

[Katejo]

Hi Katejo, the doctor I saw today was in her 40s I'd say - it's always hard to tell these things though!  Are younger GPs more likely to be supportive of HRT?

I don't know. I have wondered whether doctors who have already experienced menopause would be better. My current GP is probably in her 40's but isn't keen on it all.

[Hurdity]

this average age thing seems very odd. I am a year older than you (54 in march) and have been in menopause since Feb 2014. I haven't tried HRT yet and this is partly because my practice appears generally opposed to it. i have tried locally applied Estriol cream and the GP was reluctant to give me that. how old is your GP approx?

This is terrible Katejo! You should be able to make your decision about whether or not to try HRT based on all the information out there - ie scientific evidence (combined with your own preferences) and not be influenced by the ignorance or prejudices of doctors in your practice! I just find this appalling and especially about the Estriol cream too - they really need to get up to date so that more women do not suffer! Grrr!

Hurdity x

[samweller161]

Why not try to see one of the specialists (they are listed on this site) to speak to an expert?  A GP is just that - a "general practioner" and whilst they know a little about a lot, they don't all know the ins and outs of the menopause.  Its costs of course to visit one but you get a whole hour I think so plenty of time to discuss symptoms with somebody who knows it all inside out.  I have a grand daughter and I just hope that by the time she gets to my age, there will be better systems in place to help women - or at least no dinasaur GPs left 
I was reluctant originally to try HRT but I was told there were more risks associated with being overweight, drinking regularly or being a smoker - as I don't do any of these, I thought well I would rather feel ok in the here and now rather than worry what might happen in 20 years time - as somebody said (possibly Hurdity), we could get run over tomorrow.
Keep posting and let us know - most of us monitor this forum daily!

SP X

[northseacrashes]

That's me completed one week of HRT.  I think there was a placebo effect as I slept like a baby for the first 2 nights, but since then I have woken through the night, but usually just to go to the toilet - the night sweats are nowhere near as bad.

It's early days of course, but I'll keep you posted on how I get on over the next couple of months.

One thing I have noticed is flu like symptoms - aching all over and extreme tiredness - the other night I had to go to bed at 9pm and could have been in there at 7pm, I was so tired!  I don't have any other symptoms of the flu, so I don't know if this is a coincidence or related to me starting on the HRT.