topic HRT in Wellness

HRT

nanny24 — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 21:16:27 GMT

Have any of you been on Hormone Replacement Therapy and then weaned off slowly? I had been taking a low dose for years because of a hysterectomy, and Dr. is weaning me off slowly, but Ladies, I am the grouchiest person lately. I am generally a nice person, but everything is getting on my last nerve, especially my husband. I have gone from one full dose daily to 1/2 dose 3x a week, and the rest of week full dose. I just wondered if anyone had done this. Thanks!

Re: HRT

Kachina624 — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 21:32:27 GMT

I didn't wean off slowly. The day the news came out about its dangers, I quit cold and never took another pill. Really had no effect on me at all.

I did take amitriptyline (Elavil) for pain for years and it took 2 months for me to wean myself off if it. I was very grouchy during that time and was well aware of it. Thankfully, I live alone.

Re: HRT

Love my grandkids — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 21:27:48 GMT

@nanny24 Just turned 73, was on HRT about 30 years ago and reports were coming out about possible long term negative effectis. I had only been on them a short time and just quit.

I also changed doctors as I felt that my doc, who was a woman, was totally out of touch with HRT.

Re: HRT

NicksmomESQ — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 21:48:12 GMT

With all the talk that HRT contributed to beast & cervical cancer I never went on it. I pushed through menopause on my own with the help of standardized Black Cohosh which I only took for about 60 days.

Re: HRT

chrystaltree — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 21:52:10 GMT

I had a hysterectomy in my late 30's so I went into surgical menopause immediately. It was brutal. I was on HRT for about a years and then my doctor said I'd be on it until I was the age for menopause. Huhhh?????? After what I was reading about HRT, there was no way that I was going to take it for 15 years. She told me we could taper off but I stopped cold turkey. There were no problems or side effects.

Re: HRT

SeaMaiden — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 21:56:19 GMT

I went through Menopause naturally with a combination of natural estrogen herbs like black cohosh and using topical natural progesterone cream plus a good healthy diet. I Had a few hot flashes and night sweats......but really nothing else for a few years and I went into full menopause at age 47. I do not know if that is considered early or not. I am now 65.

Re: HRT

Sage04 — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 22:00:19 GMT

@chrystaltree wrote:
I had a hysterectomy in my late 30's so I went into surgical menopause immediately. It was brutal. I was on HRT for about a years and then my doctor said I'd be on it until I was the age for menopause. Huhhh?????? After what I was reading about HRT, there was no way that I was going to take it for 15 years. She told me we could taper off but I stopped cold turkey. There were no problems or side effects.

@chrystaltree I had a complete hysterectomy when I was 38. Took HRT for about a year. I just don't understand this. I never went through menopause and I don't know if there is a way to find out if I ever did. People say I would know if i did because it's horrible.

One question. If you had a total hysterectomy, did you have a problem with frequent urination? It's still happening and I was told that it's because the bladder has no support. I heard about some sort of surgery that would take care of it. Any opinion on that and yes I know you are not a Doctor lol.

Re: HRT

ECBG — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 22:04:47 GMT

@nanny24

I used HRT for 10 years following a complete hystercomy. My doctor told me to split my remaining pills and increasingly space them out for about 2 week. I never had hot flashes.

Re: HRT

LuvmyLab — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 22:09:21 GMT

I consider myself lucky in that I have never ever had a menopausal symptom and never needed to go on HRT.

Re: HRT

Meowingkitty — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 22:15:41 GMT

I took HRT for several years and the first time I tried to go off of them I did it cold turkey. I was miserable at about 5 days. Cramps, hot flashes, headaches etc. so I went back on them for another year or so. That time I decided to ween myself off gradually. First I cut the pills in half and took half a dose for about a month, then I cut the half in half and took that for about two weeks, then I took a quarter of a pill every other day for a couple of week, then every three days and finally no more pills. Worked great. Didn't have any symptoms of withdrawal even though it took what seemed like forever to stop taking them.

Re: HRT

Azcowgirl — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 22:20:01 GMT

After having been on HRT for several years

I quit cold turkey the day I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The prescription that I take to help prevent reoccurrance, causes killer hot flashes and and other icky side effects that trigger grouchiness . 😩

Re: HRT

mac116 — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 22:37:28 GMT

I did a very gradual weaning off of HRT. It probably was a 6 month process (maybe more). I was fine with few hot flashes, but was really "witchy" without the meds for probably another 6 months or more.

Re: HRT

Shopchickie3 — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 23:51:11 GMT

I've never been on that but times are hard now due to covid and everything is amplified. Can you get another opinion and also remember that spring is coming! Everything will seem lighter. 🤗🌺

Re: HRT

Skyegirl21 — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 02:17:52 GMT

Right when I turned 50, the daytime flashes and night sweats started. The nights flashes were so intense and constant, there was no sleeping. Eventually I started on a HRT patch. I thank goodness for these medications!! It's worked great for 9 years. Twice I have tried to wean off slowly, but the symptoms come back every time at same intensity. My mom had meno symptoms for 25 years, they never went away. Keep trying Nanny, and I hope it works out for you!

Re: HRT

gidgetgh — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 02:20:56 GMT

I took Premarin for years after a hysterectomy at age 40. In 2012, I had a horrible fall and developed blood clots, which almost killed me. I was in the hospital for several days. They had me stop the Premarin immediately, no weaning off. I did fine with it and never even had one hot flash.

Re: HRT

Flatbush — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 09:14:11 GMT

I have been on HRTs for about 30 years and am still taking them. I tried going off them and was miserable: hot flashes frequently during the days and nights.

My family Dr.wanted me off them, but I was uncomfortable with his rec. I went to an ob-gyn and he told me I had probably not lost height ( as had most of the women in my family ) because of the HRTs.

I will continue taking them . Quality of life is important to me. This is just my experience.

Re: HRT

nanny24 — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 12:23:12 GMT

Wow, thanks for the wealth of information. I do feel that maybe other issues may contribute to the grouchiness. The year 2020 was terrible for me and being stuck in the house with DH 24/7 for 14 months has not helped. He is the sweetest person, but does not understand I need time ALONE!!! I don't have any other side effects such as hot flashes or night sweats, so I'll keep on weaning off. Thanks again for your help.

Re: HRT

tototwo — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 12:44:55 GMT

I had a complete hysterectomy at age 40 (30+ years ago). They put an HRT patch on my tummy during surgery and I continued to wear HRT patches for a few years. At some point, I took off a patch and never applied a new one. My doctor insisted I needed some kind of HRT because it helped prevent some cancers. So I took Premarin for a couple of years, and quit that too. I never "weaned" off, just quit. My doctor disagreed with my decision.

It was a long time ago and my memories are a little fuzzy. I remember that at some point I had hot flashes, drenching sweats, mood swings, uncontrolled crying, etc., but I got through it. Finally!

Re: HRT

ProudMa — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 13:57:05 GMT

SIL and dear friend were on HRT for over a decade each...

Both had strokes in their early 60's....

Is it worth the risk? Not in my book...Ill sleep with the window open and pluck the chin hairs I get...

Re: HRT

Effie54 — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 15:14:07 GMT

I never stopped taking it. Why stop? I feel great on it, and I don't give into the media hooplah about cancer. I've had genetic testing done and feel pretty secure that it works for me, without worrying about cancer. But then again, I go to a functional medicine Dr. and not a conventional doctor. There's a huge difference.