Talk to me about HRT

[Crankin]

I had a horrible peri-menopause, starting at about age 38 and then my periods stopped at age 48. I was happy.
I had no symptoms for a year. Then I had hot flashes, some bad, but only maybe 3-4 a day. This was right at the time I started riding. I exercised before, but something about being outside helped me. I didn't gain weight, or have terrible insomnia, but all of my little medical things got worse. I just kept a water bottle on my desk when I was teaching and drank liberally when a flash came. That seemed to stop it. They went on for 5 years, some of it prolonged by a medication I was taking for osteoporosis. The only symptom I had that really bugged me was the vaginal dryness and I got an E-string for that. I would have had the osteoporosis anyway, as it runs in my family, and I took several meds that probably made it worse. I had signs of it in my early forties.
Since I had horrible reactions to birth control pills, such as pains in my legs and chest, I knew I would never take HRT. It scares me. I think diet can help, and avoiding chemicals, etc is always good, but "natural" things aren't always a panacea. And, I would be careful in investing in supplements or things that are not research based.
I would add that you might want to try acupuncture. I tried it when nothing was helping me with a wide array of medical symptoms that was diagnosed as fibromyalgia, but I am not really sure it is (was). I definitely have auto-immune stuff, so I was desperate. While I can't definitely say it was acupuncture that worked, because I was doing a lot of other things like yoga, meditation, therapy, I kept seeing the acupuncturist for a long time. Some of them specialize in women's issues; it might be worth a try.

[macski]

I started peri menopause at around 48 - the worst symptom was 'mashed potato brain'. I took some natural supplements and that helped and then it all just seemed to disappear. Great! - I thought. But alas it was only a brief respite.

I started getting full blown menopause symptoms at around age 50 - return of mashed potato brain, hot flashes (an average of 15 per day during working hours) and night sweats. I was a mess and couldn't function properly in my job or in life. I tried the natural supplement that had worked before but it made no difference. Then I tried several other natural supplements with no improvement. I gave in and tried HRT and haven't looked back. I no longer have any of the previous symptoms (with the exception of a very occasional hot flash if I drink wine - not all the time, just occasionally so it must be a specific type of ingredient that sets it off - haven't seen a pattern yet).

I have been taking Premia for around 5 years and my doctor also subscribes to the theory that you take it as long as you need to. We're soon going to schedule a staged withdrawal to see if the symptoms have eased.

[Dogmama]

I started peri menopause at around 48 - the worst symptom was 'mashed potato brain'. I took some natural supplements and that helped and then it all just seemed to disappear. Great! - I thought. But alas it was only a brief respite.

I started getting full blown menopause symptoms at around age 50 - return of mashed potato brain, hot flashes (an average of 15 per day during working hours) and night sweats. I was a mess and couldn't function properly in my job or in life. I tried the natural supplement that had worked before but it made no difference. Then I tried several other natural supplements with no improvement. I gave in and tried HRT and haven't looked back. I no longer have any of the previous symptoms (with the exception of a very occasional hot flash if I drink wine - not all the time, just occasionally so it must be a specific type of ingredient that sets it off - haven't seen a pattern yet).

I have been taking Premia for around 5 years and my doctor also subscribes to the theory that you take it as long as you need to. We're soon going to schedule a staged withdrawal to see if the symptoms have eased.

Sounds like me. I took Estroven for awhile and it helped -- until it didn't. Loved "mashed potato brain!" that's me! Teaching spinning last night, I forgot the word for "shoulders." I do recall that the brief time I took HRT, my brain returned - what a relief!

I do suffer from IBS/C & it returns with HRT. Wondering if anybody had that issue & if so, does it go away? I looked pregnant with the bloating & I was so uncomfortable. That was the main reason I stopped.

Did anybody have trouble wearing contact lenses? My eyes turn into sandpaper & contacts seem to adhere to them & are so uncomfortable. Eye drops are just a temporary fix - if you had that - did it go away?

[rocknrollgirl]

Hi All,
I have not posted on here in ages, but I saw this thread and had to add my 2 cents. I had a partial hysto when I was 42, and slowly started down the meno road. I probably would have sucked it up, except that I teach high school and it was not fair to my students. I had mashed potato brain to the max and could not sleep.

I am doing bioidenticals, a mix of estrogen patch, a progesterone pill that is compounded. I am adding my 2 cents because it took a few tries to get it right. Once they did I had immediate relief. I feel like a new person.

Could it be that perhaps your doc needs to change your formula or combination of drugs?

[Dogmama]

My gyn ("Groin-a-cologist, per Archie Bunker) put me on Elestrin. It's a pump, very small amount of beta estrodial that I can titrate up & avoid side effects. It is a bioidentical hormone but not compounded. He doesn't like compound labs because there is no quality control. In fact, a compounding pharmacy here got in trouble due to slip shod practices.

Said we'll have to add progesterone eventually. The goal at present is to stop the hot flashes. It was 107 degrees in Tucson today. Thinking of the old Dwayne Wade commercial where he's locked in a room & pounds on the door chanting, "Get me outta here! Get me outta here!"

[rocknrollgirl]

That sounds like a positive solution. I sure hope it works for you.

My doc uses only one compounding pharmacy, and it is in Utah, so I send for my meds. He said he had tried a number of them and this one is the bext that he has found. So far it seems fine. I have been on it for two years.

[SueDavis]

Im sooo glad I'm not alone. I have been going through some rough times the last couple of years. I'm 42 and know that I am pre menopause...YEA NOT!!! Doesn't help much that my oldest just graduated and is starting college. STRESSSSS doesn't help much either. I have found that for the sleepless nights I usually take CalMag in a powder form and mix it with water then drink something else to get rid of the taste not that it taste that bad but not the first thing I would want to drink if I were thirsty. Exercise helps with anxiety and depression too. Thats all the symptoms I have so far and by the sounds of it I don't want anymore!!!