topic Re: Hormone replacement therapy in Wellness

Hormone replacement therapy

Natureluvr — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 13:43:47 GMT

I know many are against using HRT from previous threads. I am currently going through the transition and aside from very irregular periods and awful night sweats, I have absolutely NO energy whatsoever. For those who are taking or have taken HRT, has it helped with fatigue/energy?

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

evelyner — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 14:00:19 GMT

I've been on HRT for 23 years. I have a patch for my estrogen and a pill for progesterone. I still have my ovaries and uterus. Still not ready to give it up. I am on the lowest level. I feel great.

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

Ainhisg — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 14:07:14 GMT

I have been on HRT for 12 years with no plans to stop anytime soon. My doctor is 100% on board with this, and I have had NO issues. There are some legit reasons why a woman shouldn't be on HRT, but my doctor is up on the current research (unlike many doctors), and HRT is very safe for the majority of women.

HRT is so beneficial for the bones, heart, and brain. My bone scans are so good! You are probably extra fatigued because of the night sweats. I had horrific night sweats (along with every other symptom a woman can possibly have) and going on hormones was a blessed relief. Quality of life is worth a lot! You will be so glad you gave HRT a chance! I will tell you that it takes 3-4 weeks after beginning hormones for full relief.

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

CatsyCline — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 14:37:22 GMT

i was on HRT for 4 years with the combi-patch, then just the patch and progesterone pills. mostly i was on it because helped with the night sweats which were just horrible. i would wake up in pools of sweat a few times a night.

was 53 when going on it and lost a lot of hair though. a TON of my hair fell out within 6 months after starting it, all at one stretch of a few months. that's mainly the reason i stopped.

i had already started taking Biotin w B Complex vitamins. my energy level improved 100% and my mood. before the B complex i had brain fog and confusion. for sleep i take Trazodone. its a fairly common sleep aid.

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

Effie54 — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 14:53:28 GMT

Yup, I still take it (very low dose). No issues at all and I feel excellent. Just because some have had issues, it doesn't mean you would. I wouldn't be without it. I can still jog, and hike pretty darn well.

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

Meowingkitty — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 15:06:25 GMT

I took it for maybe 7 years and felt great. My periods stopped immediately and forever as did my cramps and hot flashes. I've been off of them since 2013 or so (I'm 68). I can't imagine not taking it. It did take me about 6 months to go off of it. I had to gradually taper my dosage by cutting pills in half. I tried going cold turkey and my symptoms came back with a vengeance so it tapered off and feel great.

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

Icegoddess — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 15:11:59 GMT

I took it for years. Never had a problem. Can't say whether it helped for energy but it did help with the night sweats and sleep. My Gynecologist wants women off of them by 65 though. I have no idea whether that's been proven to be incorrect advice or not.

I'm currently using a low dose of Gabapentin (aka Neurontin) for the night sweats. Tried the Trazadone for sleep, but that was a disaster. If that's a low dose, I can't imagine taking a higher one for it's intended purpose.

I've been thinking about asking the doctor to put me back on just the Progesterone to help with sleep. I know that was the component that helped with sleep before and I'm reading that it's safe to take post menopause and long term. I'm holding off for now only because we got a new mattress a few weeks ago. My husband is sleeping a lot better which helps me since he doesn't toss and turn and get up and the mattress has that anti-transfer feature so I don't feel him moving around.

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

cheriere — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 15:26:40 GMT

@Icegoddess Just wondering what kind of problems the Trazodone for sleep caused. My dr started me on a dose for this at bedtime. I'd like to know what I may in for?

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

CatsyCline — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 15:39:17 GMT

@cheriere some report vivid dreams, which i have.

last nite my dream was i was still working and had to travel for my job and we stopped at a restaurant. there was a cafeteria- type line and i could see i mixed grape soda and seltzer to drink with my meal. wierd i know.

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

cheriere — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 15:52:13 GMT

@CatsyCline wrote:
@cheriere some report vivid dreams, which i have.

last nite my dream was i was still working and had to travel for my job and we stopped at a restaurant. there was a cafeteria- type line and i could see i mixed grape soda and seltzer to drink with my meal. wierd i know.

lol, I love grape soda and seltzer 😃. Kidding aside, I've always had pretty vivid dreams. As long as they're not bad ones, I think I'll be okay. I'm really appreciative you answered my question. The dr didn't mention any symptoms at all. So, thank you 😊❤️

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

Icegoddess — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 16:38:45 GMT

@cheriere @CatsyCline I've always had just weird dreams. They make no sense. I do have a few repetetive themes such as flying, breathing under water, being naked and not able to find clothes to wear, and the dreaded elevator dream. I should never get on an elevator when I'm dreaming.

The only side effect my doctor mentioned was that I might feel groggy in the morning until I got accustomed to it. So, I did wait until I had a few days when I didn't need to be anywhere in the morning. Still, groggy was an understatement. To start, I felt the effect of it within minutes of me taking it. I usually don't go to bed until about 45 minutes to an hour after taking my night meds. When I used to take the Progesterone, I would start feeling the effects of that around that time and knew I had to turn off the computer and go to bed.

Even though I had nowhere to go the following morning, I did need to get up at 6:30 to feed the cats. I was extremely groggy at that point. I have to hang out between the 2 rooms I feed them in to make sure each cat got only their food. Houdini wants to eat his food and then go eat Queso's food, but Queso just wants to eat Houdini's food, but he is on a special diet. I did go back to bed after that.

I slept until about 9 and then made myself get up. While I was brushing my teeth, I suddenly got nauseus. I had to stop and went and sat down on the stairs, but eventually had to go lay down on the couch until the nausea went away.

That's pretty much what I remember of it, but I also felt kinda crappy the rest of the day.

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

cheriere — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 16:49:10 GMT

@Icegoddess Lord knows I need something to help me sleep at night, but I sure hope it doesn't make me that groggy the next day. I have a terrible time staying asleep. I'll wake up a couple times a night and never feel well rested. Hopefully, if this does happen it won't last too long.

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

Icegoddess — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 16:58:29 GMT

@cheriere Yeah, everybody's different. I also had a bad reaction to Tramadol for headaches.

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

Pittfanatic — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 17:11:04 GMT

I think you should do your research and listen to your body. I started menopause very early, in my middle 40's. I became mean, irritable, and just no fun to be around. The night sweats were unbearable. I would wake up soaked. I have been on HRT for almost 20 years. I am 61. I feel great and exercise almost every day. At my annual GYN check-up I talk to my doctor about it, but there is no reason to come off them. Do what is best for you.

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

msgb — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 18:14:54 GMT

Hormones aside perhaps have your doctor test your B12 level as that a cause of enegry level ups and downs.

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

Still Raining — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 18:20:40 GMT

Totally not a fan of HRT, but did it for a couple of years to take the edge off. Did not really "cure" all my issues, but helped.

I was prone to periods that dribbled on for months. Keep in touch with your doctor about biopsies.

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

Nightowlz — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 18:28:13 GMT

My OBGYN prescribed bioidentical progesterone cream I had compounded at the pharmacy. I used it until she retired. After that I bought Emerita bioidentical progesterone cream since I couldn't get any help.

My next couple of doctors wouldn't do anything. They as much told me it was part of a women's life to deal with it?

I said geez Thanks while I'm supposed to deal with it your busy prescribing men Viagra. Why aren't they dealing with it? I never used any of the regular HRT.

I was miserable with hot flashes, mood swings etc. You name it I had it with the symptoms.

IMO after menopause I'm no longer the same person. I don't like the new me either.

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

Natureluvr — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 19:02:00 GMT

Thanks for all of the responses! They are very helpful! I have done a lot of research but like hearing first hand feedback. My GYN is a member of NAMS (North American Menopause Society) and said HRT has been extensively studied more recently and she is happy to prescribe it if we both decide it would provide a better quality of life. She has concerns about some people with particular health problems that she explained at my last visit, but I don’t fall into that category.

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

Natureluvr — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 19:04:24 GMT

@Nightowlz - That must’ve been very frustrating! Deal with it?! Geez, great response 🙄

Re: Hormone replacement therapy

Effie54 — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 20:12:10 GMT

@Nightowlz wrote:
My OBGYN prescribed bioidentical progesterone cream I had compounded at the pharmacy. I used it until she retired. After that I bought Emerita bioidentical progesterone cream since I couldn't get any help.
My next couple of doctors wouldn't do anything. They as much told me it was part of a women's life to deal with it?
I said geez Thanks while I'm supposed to deal with it your busy prescribing men Viagra. Why aren't they dealing with it? I never used any of the regular HRT.
I was miserable with hot flashes, mood swings etc. You name it I had it with the symptoms.
IMO after menopause I'm no longer the same person. I don't like the new me either.

@Nightowlz Ugh! That's frustrating! Most OB/GYN's and GP's don't study hormone replacement very much. They know the basics. I made sure I found a good functional medicine doctor who knows how to prescribe HRT and took me seriously. I get my hormone levels checked 3 times a year to be sure I'm on the right dose. You could also ask your compounding pharmacy for names of other physicians who might be able to prescribe it for you. I would not give up. Your quality of life is very important.