Dancing girl is correct that I had very bad side effects to hrt, which I tried for 2.5 months. It made me realise how powerful it is and what damage it can do. I wrongly rushed into it. A simple example would be, if you have a headache coming on, do you run to take headache pills or do you stop and think. Most headaches are due to dehydration, so perhaps drink some water first....before rushing for the pills. Of course, if it develops into a bad headache and the rehydration doesn't help, then think about the pills. For me, it's the same in this case.
I definitely think instead of rushing for hrt, give some thought to diet etc.. realise that, yes, you may have some hot flushes etc, but you may be one of the many where these symptoms will ease and pass.
If you go the hrt route immediately, then you won't know if you are one of those and will end up on hrt for decades, too worried to come off it, because when you do, you will get the same hot flushes etc as your hormones decline.
I am not having an easy ride as I have had bad hot flushes/night sweats and stiff joints, but these have definitely eased... I take good supplements and try to excercise as much as I can.
I'm finding that black cohosh may well be helping with hot flushes. Still trialling it. Have taken it for 3 weeks so far.
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