Has anyone gone off HRT after 6 years on it?

12 years ago

I know there is a menopause forum but it is not very active. I live in Canada. I took (until Tues. Nov. 19, 2013) one 100 mg Prometrium (fish eye like capsule) otherwise known as progesterone and one shot of Estrogel (normal dose is 2 shots but my doctor prescribed just one shot when I went into menopause at age 57 - I am now 63). So as of Nov. 19 I started to take one Prometrium and one shot of Estrogel every second day to wean myself off of both products. Prometrium can't be chewed or cut in half - so every second day. There were no health reasons that would have stopped me from taking it in 2007. I have always had extremely dry skin - naturally dry so no acids etc. for me. It helped and was one of the reasons I wanted it - and okay, vanity. But as a diagnosed insomniac, who is allergic to anti-histamine and decongestant - and who is also the devil to put under for surgery - I take zip at night. So I take the Prometrium in the a.m. I have never had a hot flash - but then I have never been warm - not good living in the freezing snow belt. I have thin facial features - all of my weight is on the bottom so appear thinner than I am - so am expecting the worse. Last year I began spotting a bit so had to go for the Water Ultrasound - there was some thickening of the uterine lining and small fibroids. So I had to see a specialist for the dreaded biopsy. I was told since it was a first to take 2 Prometrium for a few months to see if it would stop the spotting. It did and I went back to one pill a day. Jump forward a year and the spotting started again - perhaps for about a week and a half at a time - and then zip. So another dreaded water ultrasound and biopsy (if the gyno wasn't able to get enough at her office then I will have to have the biopsy in the hospital under a General - wonderful - me who doesn't stay under). Results will be in by mid Dec. Mammos are now every two years in Ontario - I was having them yearly from age 40 but that changed. Except last year there was some density to my almost flat boobs so I had another one last week - so after one year - waiting for those results now. So now the gradual weaning myself off of HRT. The specialist suggested cold turkey - she is about 35. My GP likes the weaning method - she is in late 50s - I am with her on this. I expect to age significantly overnight and as everyone knows there is a big difference between 50 and 60 and 60 on! I wish I didn't have such dry skin. It has been less than a week and I can tell a difference in how I feel - so far my skin hasn't started to "crepe" - which is miracle to begin with - both before the current HRT regimen and before. My derm thinks I am a marvel - and I can't have fillers - allergic - no surprise there. I can't eat soy etc. - hey, I also have rosacea - facial and ocular - and a ph of about 3.5. All in all I guess I could look worse. Certainly our provincial health care plan and my husband's office plan have done well by us - I just have my HRT and he has 2 eye drop prescriptions. That is it - we do not even cover the cost of the premiums he has to pay. So soon there will be just about nothing for me - unless of course something does happen. Anyway, I just wanted to see if anyone else has gone through this. Thanks for any help.

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Comments (11)

mary3444
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I got you beat, I was on HRT for 28 years. I had to go cold turkey this year because of my TKR. I was on them for this long because of the hot flashes.

I decided not to go back on the pills after the surgery for a lot of reasons. For me I have not had any side affects. I have now found out the hot flashes were not from menopause but from the cancer I had 20 years ago.

I was 40 when I went through the change & I am 68 now. Good luck.
Orchidllauraga
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Right after my hysterectomy there was that big blow up about HRT. I was on the patch, but I quit wearing it and have been free of hormones. I had a full hysterectomy, the surgeon took everything so I really have no hormones and I am okay..
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SunnyDJ
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I've been on Premarin for well over 30 years, because of hot flashes, sleepless nights and itchy skin...Because of the cost of the RX, I decided I wanted to quit taking it... Thought I was doing a great job by weaning myself off and then all the nasties came back, full force and I was well into my 60s...When I told my heart doc, I wanted to stop, he suggested, cutting back, getting the lower RX and/or taking it every other day...He also didn't like the idea of me not taking it, said my body needed whatever was in the RX...But, I still hate to pay and have been cutting down to every 3rd-4th day.....I'm not 76 and I have a feeling I'll be taking it until, you know when.....
Good luck with what you decide......
SunnyDJ
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I meant to say, I am now 76......
chloecat
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Get off those horrendous drugs! They're awful! (IMO) Do your research - pharmaceutical companies are getting rich off you!!!! :(

I had a full hyst at 33, and my ovaries removed at 39. Been in full-blown menopause ever since - which is a normal, natural part of aging.
yayagal
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I was on HRT as I had a complete hysterectomy when I was 31, stage four endometriosis. I took estrogen for 28 years and then, within the course of one year, two of my sisters got estrogen positive breast cancer and my dr. told me to go off cold turkey. Nothing really happened and remember I have no way of making estrogen, you do. I didn't age fast, in fact I still look younger than I am. I did within a year get hypothyroidism but I doubt that's connected. You'll be fine I think and, if not, then call the dr. for advice. Breakthrough bleeding, if benign, can be stopped by taking a small dose of progesterone, speak to the dr. about it. Good luck on your tests.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
There are foods that are rich in natural estrogens. Incorporating them into your daily diet can be enormously beneficial. I'm a 'survivor' of very early menopause and a total hysterectomy and have been eating an estrogen rich diet ever since.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
There are foods that are rich in natural estrogens. Incorporating them into your daily diet can be enormously beneficial. I'm a 'survivor' of very early menopause and a total hysterectomy and have been eating an estrogen rich diet ever since.
3katz4me
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I always wondered how you discontinue HRT if you ever start. I never had a problem with menopause symptoms so never took it. Last year I had a complete hyst (TAH BSO) for a hormone dependent gyn cancer and now also take an estrogen blocking medication. Still no real problem and throughout all of this I've never noticed that I aged overnight. Having cancer does put your troubles in perspective though. You're happy to be aging rather than the alternative - dead.
lindaohnowga
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
HRT "caused" my uterine cancer, which thanks be to God was contained and everything removed. I tell every woman I possibly can to "never" go on HRT. The hot flashes and mood swings won't kill you. Cancer can. Don't put those chemicals in your body.

If you really feel that you need "something", go to Walmart and get Estroven. It is all natural and won't hurt you.
eccentric
Original Author
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Thanks everyone. I am still waiting on the tests. Thankfully I have not had to have a hysterectomy and was lucky enough to be 57 when menopause hit. Re the food and products from the health food store, I did try both both but couldn't handle the recommended foods (actually I used to eat a lot of them which contributed to my acid based kidney stone at age 40 - but, hey, I probably owe my skin to said foods). In Canada - at least according to my GP, the Gyno and the pharmacist I have to take both Prometrium and Estrogel - not just the Prometrium - who knows? I just hope the doctor was able to get enough from the biopsy that she did without sedation so that I don't have to go into the hospital for a larger biospy - I figured it would be under a local - nope they knock you out. I had the mammo last Tues. - the results will come in the mail with a copy to my doctor. I may end up like SunnyDJ - taking something every 3rd or 4th day depending on the results and how I fare without it. Of course a lot will also depend on my test results. Cost wise it isn't cheap but since they are my only prescriptions and I will be covered under my husband's office plan for 18 months I won't worry about that. Our provincial insurance does not cover the cost of prescriptions until you turn 65 and then only some are covered - and not fully, there is a deductible and they are about to cut back on a lot of them - somehow I don't think HRT will be covered! I guess I should feel grateful that I have never experienced a hot flash. I don't sweat - ever - which of course is not good and no doubt accounts for my high body acid. And why I love the heat - but not the sun.

Has anyone gone off HRT after 6 years on it?

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Has anyone gone off HRT after 6 years on it?

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